SIZE ISN'T EVERYTHING

Australia is a land of wide open spaces – even in the suburbs if you compare the average house block with those in many overseas cities. We are used to a large backyard with room for the kids and the dog to play but times are changing. Bigger homes have reduced the size of the backyard, often reduced further by a swimming pool and barbeque area. Busy lifestyles often mean that a large backyard is hard to manage, or long commutes entice workers to move to an inner suburb or a city apartment. Too often, the longing for a pet is weighed up against the perceived lack of space, especially for a dog.

While Australia enjoys one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, pet ownership is still managed responsibly in many crowded and dense-living overseas' cities. Careful consideration can enable city dwellers and those with busy lifestyles to add a pet to the family.

Dogs are the first choice of most Australian pet owners and with nearly 300 breeds from which to choose there is a dog to suit most lifestyles. It is not always the size of the dog which is the criteria for selecting the most suitable for small spaces. Some of the smaller dogs are “on-the-go, never-stop' canines which would drive both the owner and themselves crazy in small spaces. Far better to choose a larger breed with a lower activity level, content to spend most of its day asleep waiting for the owner's return. Some of the giant breeds are very sedate with slow, even ponderous movement and if taken for a walk each day, cope very well with small living spaces.

Among the small dogs there are many .toy' breeds which exist because their original purpose was to be lap dogs of royalty. Pugs, Pekingese, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Italian Greyhounds, are among those which will not let you forget their regal origins as they lounge the day away –indoors of course!

Cats have no problems adjusting to a life indoors. A spot in a sunny window, a basket in front of the heater is about all a cat asks – until you return home and then its idea of spending time together is not an energetic walk around the block, but sitting on your lap watching television.

For some people, ownership of a dog or cat is restricted by landlord or body corporate rules. In these cases it may be possible to enjoy the companionship of feathered friends. Noisy birds are not suitable for dense living as all birds do tend to call at dawn and dusk. Budgerigars, Lovebirds, Cockatiels, Finches and Canaries are usually suitable.

Birds are not solitary creatures and are best kept in pairs (be careful mixing types as some can be very aggressive to other birds). Birds naturally go to bed at dusk and rise at dawn so if they are indoor birds it is best to cover the cage at night to make sure the birds get sufficient rest and are not living in a false daylight of electric lighting and television. Covering the cage also keeps the birds quieter.

People with very busy lifestyles may like to consider petsharing with friends who want to travel or offer to walk a dog for an elderly or ill owner.

No time, no room, tough landlord? Owners who keep fish know just how relaxing they can be. Not only are some species very decorative, once you get to know them you will find that they can have distinct personalities and the fish will not fret if you go away for the weekend.

Author: Petcare Information & Advisory Service Australia Pty Ltd