A pet is lifelong commitment. It is important that you pick the pet that best suits your needs and lifestyle. Before buying a pet, consider the following:

• Is your living environment suitable for a pet?
• What type of pet will suit your living environment?
• If you want a cat or a dog, what type of breed will suit your living environment and lifestyle?
• Do you have enough daily free time to give attention and care to a pet?
• Who will look after your pet when you are on holidays?
• Can you afford a pet (eg. registration, food, veterinarian bills, grooming, pet supplies)?
• Are you prepared to spend time training your pet?
• Do you already have pets? If so, will your new pet fit in with those pets?
• Who else lives in your household (eg. babies, toddlers, seniors)?

Finding your new pet

Breeders

Every breed of dog has its own traits so always do your research before buying a dog. A good start is to speak to your local vet or dog breeder. You can also use the select-a-pet test or visit Dogs NSW or the NSW Cat Fanciers Association.

Pounds and Shelters

Many people choose to rescue their puppy/kitten or adult dog or cat, either directly from pounds or from various rescue organisations. Woollahra Council's pound, the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, has joined the 'Getting to Zero' initiative, working towards a goal of not euthanasing any healthy or medically or behaviourally treatable pets. Visit the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home to read about the 'G2Z' initiative and browse through their dogs and cats that are currently looking for a home.

Rescue Groups

Rescue groups are groups of volunteers who rescue pets directly from the pound once their holding period is up and they are at risk of euthanasia. Through a network of volunteers and foster carers, they ensure they are up to date with all their vetwork and look after these animals until their forever home can be found. Browse through PetRescue to see all the cats and dogs currently in care with rescue around the country waiting for the perfect family to come along.

Dogs as pets

Dogs are characterised into seven distinct groups which help determine how much exercise and mental stimulation each breed needs. It is important to remember if you are looking to buy or adopt a cross or mixed breed puppy, that they could take on any mixture of characteristics from their parent breeds and as such it is important to familiarise yourself with all of these possibilities and be prepared for any or all of them to surface as your pup grows up.

Gundogs

These dogs were bred for flushing out and retrieving game, as well as bring loyal companions for field sportsmen and hunters. This group tends to be medium sized with weights between 20-40kg and an average lifespan of approximately 12 years. Dogs include the Pointer, Golden Retriever, Labrador, Setter and Spaniel breeds. They have lots of energy and make wonderful family dogs as long as you train them well and exercise them regularly.

Hounds

These dogs are natural hunters, whether it's in a pack, alone or using sight and scent to track their prey. The hound group has the widest weight range of 9-50kg. Their lifespan averages 8-13 years depending on the animals size. The group includes a wide variety of dogs from the Dachshund to the Irish Wolfhound. Also included in this group are the Beagle, Greyhound, Whippet, Basset Hound and Afghan.

Utility dogs

These dogs were bred to guard and herd stock, as well as rescue and pull sleds. With the exception of the mini Schnauzer and Samoyed, they tend to be large in size with weights ranging from 7-50kg and a lifespan of 10-15 years. Dogs include the Alaskan Malamute, Boxer, Great Dane, Samoyed, Schnauzer, Siberian Husky, Newfoundland, St Bernard, Doberman and the Rottweiler. They are formidable characters and require extensive levels of training to reign in their strength.

Terriers

This is one of the oldest groups of dogs in the world. They were bred to hunt and have lively and strong personalities and require high levels of training and exercise to ensure they don't become the 'boss'. There is a large selection of terriers to choose from with weights between 6-22kg. They tend to live for up to 13 years and include the following breeds; the Australian Terrier, Bull Terrier, Jack Russell Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Fox Terrier and American Staffordshire Terrier.

Toys

These dogs have been bred to be companions, and because of their small size they make popular choices for inner city dwellings and people with small yards. They tend to weigh between 2-8kg and being small they have a long lifespan of up to 15 years. Breeds include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Pekingese, Bichon Frise, Pomeranian, Chihuahua, Maltese, Lowchen and the Pug.

Working dogs

These dogs were bred to help farmers herd or 'drive' their livestock, and have lots of energy. They are highly intelligent and require a lot of mental stimulation as well as exercise. They are inexhaustible and can get bored quickly in an urban environment if not exercised regularly. They weigh between 10-45kg and live around 9-15 years. They include the Australian Cattle Dog, Border Collie, Briard, Australian Kelpie, German Shepherd and the Old English Sheepdog.

Non-Sporting

These dogs were not bred to do anything specific, however some were used for guarding while others were used as companions. Weights in this group vary from 6-54kg with life expectancies of 9-17 years. They include the Dalmatian, British Bulldog, Lhasa Apso, Poodle, Shih Tzu, Shar Pei and Great Dane.

Cats as pets

Cats make fantastic companions because they are low maintenance, have tonnes of personality, and have a tremendous capacity for love. Unlike dogs, they are not pack animals and lead a more independent lifestyle. Cats are also self cleaning and do not need to be exercised, which is why cats suit people with busy lifestyles and families.

Like dogs, there are many different breeds of cats to choose from, each with their own characteristics, needs and benefits. It's important that you carry out your own research before buying a cat to see which breed is right for your lifestyle. Speak to your local vet, breeder, pound or rescue group for more information

Remember cats need to be microchipped and registered with Council and should be kept inside at night to prevent fights and attacks on native wildlife. Many people are now choosing to keep their cats completely indoors with or without supervised outside time, and are very happy with their choice. Most vets, breeders and rescues agree that an indoor cat has on average a much longer, healthier life and cost a huge amount less in vet bills for their owner due to not suffering from car accidents, fights and communicable diseases.

Other pets to consider

• Fish
• Mice or rats
• Guinea Pigs
• Rabbits
• Ferrets
• Birds
• Reptiles
• Hermit Crabs

For more information on choosing the purr-fect pet for you, contact your local vet, breeder, pound or rescue group, or the  at Australian Companion Animal Council.