Best Pet for a Child of Seven

Tbh any pet you get her at that age will primarily be looked after by you, so think about how much time and effort you are willing to put in! Hamster, Guinea pigs or gerbils make a good first pet. Rabbits are brilliant, but only if you don't mind giving up space in your garden and your grass being wrecked at first! Unless you are willing to put in a lot of time and effort don't get a dog! Dogs ate wonderful pets, but they take lots of time to train and you would definitely be the one looking after it!

Any pet you get for a 7yr old will probably end up being your pet ! My son was desperate for a dog specifically a beagle when he was little so when he was 7 or 8 I said to him if he saved enough money to pay for half then it would show me he was going to be responsible and care for it. He did jobs for friends and family saved every penny for a year and had £220 in his ‘dog pot’. I matched his pot and we bought his beagle. The dog is still very much his however after 2/3 years the walking got less and became my job as did feeding and everything else !

A fake one!

My friend has a Sharpei and her son and his girlfriend (living nearby) decided they wanted a dog too. So they too bought a Sharpei. Every time they went out or away their dog was dumped on her and conveniently left there longer and longer until finally they never took it back. She is now left with double expense and not being particularly strong she can't even walk them. Her garden is ruined.

Her son is nearly 30!

Fish....minimal noise...also fish tank does not need a lot of cleaning compare to other pets and u can get an electronic feeder, so if u go on holiday it will feed them daily...

A goldfish or hamster would probably be the easiest. Obviously you would need to help with cleaning. I love dogs and they make great pets but they do need a lot of time. If your child is going to be in school all day then a goldfish wouldnt notice. If you have a puppy your going to need to be at home for the majority of the day.

I had lots of pets growing up. If you have a lot of time on your hands and £100 a month spare for pet insurance and food then I'd recommend a dog. If you only have a few pounds spare and not much time then guinea pigs are the best for kids. In my own experience rabbits can scratch and be too scared of people. Hamsters bite and only wake up at night when they bite the bars and keep you awake. Cats are very independent and can scratch if they are scared. Fish become boring quickly. Guinea pigs and dogs are both very friendly and loving if treated right.

If interested in fish. A male Siamese fighter (Betta) is a great pet for a small child.

Easy to keep, and can even be trained to do basic tricks! (Search YouTube) You can only have one though but they come in many pretty colours.

Second fish or guinea pig- would avoid rabbits ....only get a dog if you want to look after one and if you do then this is a great time to invest teach responsibility etc enjoy!