Having a pet is so much fun and can bring a lot of happiness and excitement to you, your family, and your friends. You don’t always have to start out with a dog or a cat as these pets can be a little harder to look after, particularly dogs, and you must be sure you are ready for them before getting them. Other options for pets that require just a little less effort however are fish, birds, or hamsters.  However, although they take less to look after them, all animals require a lot of love and attention if you want them to be happy and a part of your family. Sometimes this can be hard, as they may be quite messy, but if this is the case then this list of the accessories might make things a little easier when dealing with a messy pet.

 

Cat Scratching Post

 

Having a cat can sometimes mean that you will have to say goodbye to some of your favorite furniture thanks to their need to scratch. Cats scratch furniture for many reasons, such as removing the outer dead layer of their paws or to mark their territory. While this is completely natural for a cat to do, it does unfortunately mean that if you don’t give them something to scratch, like a scratching post, then they will turn to your sofa instead.

 

A Good Vacuum

 

Sometimes you don’t need any particularly fancy accessory to help you deal with a messy pet. Basic things, such as a good vacuum, are very helpful when it comes to cleaning up after them, especially those designed specifically for pet hair. Quite often, pet hair can get caught up in the inner workings of a vacuum but there are a lot of companies out there whose vacuums are designed to ensure that this doesn’t happen and these would be the overall best vacuums for pet owners.

 

Car Seat Cover

 

Taking your dog to the beach can be a lot of fun for both you and the dog as they run around and play in the water. The fun doesn’t always last long for you though as your dog eventually has to get back into the car covered in sand and seawater. Luckily for you, there is a solution to this in the form of car seat covers and even basket seats. With these, you can just put your dog in the washable and removable basket, with the seat cover behind them, and not worry about how messy they get.

 

Grooming Brush

If your pet is one that sheds a lot then not only should you invest in a good vacuum, but it might also help to get a good grooming brush for them too. Brushing your dog or other pets regularly can result in less shedding around the house and will also leave your dog looking very clean and presentable. While there are many options available for grooming brushes, some are definitely better than others, particularly ones that have an easy cleaning button that you press to release the hair caught in the bristles.

 

Chewing Deterrent

 

A lot of dogs, and especially puppies, enjoy chewing on anything they can get their mouth on, much to the dismay of any dog owner. This can result in a lot of things being destroyed, such as shoes and skirting boards, which is why it is a good idea to use a chewing deterrent to try and stop them. There are many accessories available for this, such as skirting board corner covers but sprays designed to deter and not harm your pet are the best option.

In the wonderful world of social media, you can often see people posting videos of their pet tiger or lion cubs. In the UK it’s more likely to be animals such as foxes or snakes that are on the more exotic side of pets that people can and do keep. Most exotic pets require a license to keep if you are able to keep them at all (some animals such as foxes tend to be rescued that can’t be released into the wild). But for aquatic animals, regulations are a little bit stricter. Fish are hard to care for as it is, with most people replacing Goldfish every couple of years even though their lifespan can be 10+. But for the experienced owners, could they keep something exotic, such as a shark, for a pet?

 

Yes! And No

Well established aquariums such as Blue Planet can keep sharks, as they have the right tools and facilities to keep these animals cared for and happy. Even places such as SeaWorld, with their massive budget, don’t keep their wildlife in suitable habitats and have come under much criticism for this. Sharks can swim hundreds of miles in a day, and as such, they need a large enough area to get this swimming in, and their habitat needs to represent their natural habitat for them to be happy. This means a full-sized shark is not something you’d likely be able to keep as a pet. However, if you know what you’re doing with your fish tanks and aquariums, you could keep a Bala shark.

 

Bala Shark

A Bala shark isn’t really a shark, it’s a fish which originated from lakes and rivers in Asia and is considered endangered, so it certainly isn’t a fish for the amateur pet carer. However, with a dorsal fin and elongated body, it certainly has the looks of a shark and, much like its namesake, they are eager eaters. However, unlike sharks, they are shoaling fish and prefer to be in groups and enjoy hiding in plant life. In the right conditions, these fish could live up to 8 years, and grow to 12 inches in length!

If you are considering owning one of these, you need to make sure you are fully informed on their care, such as how to feed your bala shark and the plants needed in their environment, or other fish they do or don’t get along with (considering the size they can grow to they may eat smaller fish in their tank – something to keep in mind!) If you have all the right components in place, this could be a good fish to keep, as they are quite active and expressive, who dart about and even can jump out the water when they are particularly happy.

And although they aren’t really are a shark, you still get the satisfaction of telling people you own a shark, even if it is under technicalities.

If you are looking for a bulldog but you find English Bulldogs to be a bit big, then you have the pointy-eared relative as an alternative. You can have the Frenchies if you only have a small apartment.

Frenchies were bred in the 1800s by mating English Bulldogs and the already extinct toy bulldogs. French Bulldogs have become popular over the years. Just take a look at the hashtag “French Bulldog” on Instagram and you see millions of French Bulldog posts. But before you go crazy and get one for yourself, there are many things that you need to consider.

French Bulldogs are Expensive

Because of the popularity of French Bulldogs, you get to see a lot of breeders selling these dogs for a lot of money. These French Bulldogs could easily cost more than $1000. And given the traction that it is having on social media, don’t expect the demand to slow down any time soon.

They are independent-minded

A lot of French Bulldogs tend to be very independent. Don’t be too surprised if your dog suddenly knows how to entertain himself or herself. Just give the Frenchie a toy and you can already leave them alone. When it comes to other dogs, they are also playful but compared to other breeds, they can easily be entertained even if you leave them alone.

They chew a lot

They are also chewers. If you want to avoid this scenario from happening, you must provide them with something that they can chew. Perhaps, you might want to buy a lot of tennis balls. They can destroy tennis balls quite fast. However, this can save your furniture.

Can weigh up to 50 pounds

Though they look small, they are heavy. A lot of French Bulldogs can weigh from 40 to 50 pounds. On top of that, they are also prone to being obese because of their appetite. You want to make sure that you don’t overfeed them and to give them enough exercise because their hips are also prone to injuries.

They fart a lot

If you are a new dog owner, don’t be surprised if the dogs tend to fart a lot. Some factors contribute to this problem. First, you have the brachycephalic structure of French Bulldogs. It means that they tend to breathe via their mouths. Air enters their stomach and therefore, this explains why they are a bit airy. Next, they have sensitive stomachs and food goes down pretty fast compared to other breeds.

Life Expectancy

The life expectancy for Frenchies is only from 8 to 10 years. So if you are looking for a dog that will last more than a decade, then this might not be it.

If you are considering to have a Frenchie, this can be a good decision. They are small plus they don’t need to be walked around the neighborhood a lot. They easily get tired just by playing around the house. Apart from being nice to children and other dogs, they are also cuddly and cute which makes them popular nowadays.

If you are new to having a French Bulldog, one of the things that you may have noticed is that they fart a lot. Flatulence is innate not only to Frenchies but also to English Bulldogs. The reason behind this is their extremely sensitive stomachs. Compared to other breeds, French Bulldogs are known for this. Some things can exacerbate the situation. For instance, if you are going to change their diet, you’d notice that they tend to fart a lot. And also, they are known for having their food to come down faster than other breeds.

You can also blame the brachycephalic breeds’ structure for this characteristic among bulldogs. These types of dogs have flat and shushed faces and they tend to swallow a lot of air too. Combined by the fact that they tend to get their food down faster than most breeds, then you have a recipe for a lot of farting episodes.

Though this is the case, bulldogs are fun to be around with. French bulldogs in particular are friendly to children and other dogs. They are also not picky eaters. You can easily tweak their diet to make sure that they aren’t too gassy.

If you will look at social media and Instagram, you’ll notice that there are lots of people posting their Frenchie or French Bulldog. But what makes it so popular? Why should you be going for a French Bulldog?

First, they are relatively small. Even if they can be considered a medium-sized dog, they are still at the bottom of the spectrum. Next, they don’t require a lot of outdoor exercises. You don’t have to walk them every day. You can easily give them some toys at home and they already have their dose of exercise for the day.

Another reason why you should get a Frenchie is that they require minimal grooming. They don’t shed a lot which makes them ideal for those who want to maintain a clean apartment. You don’t need to visit the groomer every now and then.

Unfortunately, they are prone to obesity. You will have to make sure that you watch out what they eat to make sure that they don’t suffer especially during their senior years. Their meals should be high protein but low in fat.

Apart from being friendly, cute, and cuddly, the Frenchie is a perfect dog for those who don’t have any experience with dogs before. They are fun to be with and require only a few things.