getting a pet for my daughter?

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my daughter has "probable autism" and is 3 on the 29th, I'm thinking about getting her a pet, would like some ideas on which to get please as she cannot talk and tell me what she likes.

we currently have 2 dogs, which she's not keen on because they touch her and always get in her personal space which sets her off, she likes them when they're sleeping though and will pet them now and again when they are being still and quiet.

She enjoys small animals, I had to drag her away from the squirrels and pigeons eating out of peoples hands this weekend, they havea guinnea pig at her preschool which as soon as class ends she runs to the cage and just stands there watching it.

I kind of just want an animal she can watch, doesn't need too much attention but can be touched and stroked when she feels up to it, will give her her own space kind of thing, because she just mainly enjoys observing the animals.
I'm not keen on anything fluffy like rabbits or hamsters just because they are so messy which kind of puts me off, I was thinking a bearded dragon but I'm not sure what she's like with lizards, will probably take her to the reptile shop down the road soon just to see what she is like with them and see if they interest her.
but I'm not sure I want locusts and crickets around, I knoww how to look after a bearded dragon as I have had them in the past.

what pet would you suggest with her?
do you think a bearded dragon would be a horrible idea, or a pet at all?

I think 3 is a bit young to get a pet for. If you have family pets then your child can interact with them if she wants to, but having her own pet at that age probably wouldn't be a good idea unless you plan on doing absolutely everything for it and her taking an interest in it when she wants to.

If you want something for her to look at etc, from time to time why not plan trips to a pet store or the zoo? Those can be things she looks forward to and you can keep reminding her "Tuesday we are going to the zoo".

I'm inclined to think three is a bit young for a pet too. Guinea pigs are the most gentle of pets but they are fluffy and can be messy. I can't see the appeal of reptiles especially for a three year old. How about a budgie? They are fun. Can be a little messy I suppose. Don't get a hamster they have a terrible bite!

Hi
I am Aspergers and my 'Little' girl ( she is 15 but is VERY thin for her age ) is also AS
Now she wanted a pet , but like your girl does not like things in her 'bubble' also my daughter does not like ANYTHING with feet that may scratch her, Obvious pet was a FISH but I have those already and she finds them boring.

Eventually she choose a snake, as one no feet , two she can choose to pick it up or not and does get on very well with it.
It is only a corn snake so therefore very placid.

However as the above OP has said, maybe it is just a little too early for a pet?

Going to petting farms and Zoo's that allow hands on stuff is a great idea, that way you get too see how she reacts ( or freaks out ) to various animals and critters

Hope this helps

Get yourself a middle aged cat from a rescue. Since you have dogs, you won't be able to adopt a declawed cat though.

But older cats tend to be pretty docile and will lay around a lot. Cats also have the brain power to control their eating so you can actually feed them once every few days and it will last.

Taking her to the pet store where they have reptiles is perfect. If she is OK with the idea of having a lizard, that sounds like it would be ideal for you. They are pretty easy to keep and can be fun to watch. We have a corn snake and it is pretty low maintenance. I thought the boys would be freaked out by the fact that it eats live mice or baby rats but they have been OK with that.

Here are my thoughts - Goldfish are soothing and beautiful to watch but the maintenance on the tank is a bit involved ( I have a fish tank and find it worth it). If you get fish remember that they grow and a smaller tank will eventually need upgrading (as I learned the hard way lol... just splurge right off for a slightly bigger tank and don't put too many fish in it so they can grow well)

My daughter just got a turtle - her dad rescued it. This turtle hides in its shell around everyone but my daughter. It is barely bigger than a quarter. It is so sweet to see this turtle swim and crawl around it's tank. Again the care is involved - but I would rather clean an aquarium over a guinea pig cage any day

A bird is lovely - but I would go nuts with the constant chatter due to sensory issues.

Rats can make great pets. My sister didn't even have a cage for hers... she litter box trained her and her cage was a kennel of sorts where she chose to sleep. She came when called and begged for food. They are incredibly smart and well groomed. They also have grooming products if you are still leery about germs. A bigger cage should be used though if you don't let them out and about... they like to climb and play. It is important to let them gnaw or their teeth will keep growing and they will not be able to eat anymore and starve.

We also loved our hermit crabs. We had them for years and years. We had to upgrade their shells as they grew.. the kids were always so excited to pick out new shells.

We have an eye leash crested gecko right now. They come out at night though - between 7 - 9 pm. Oh he is so cool though. I never ever ever thought I would be able to touch him... but as needs must I find myself holding the little guy and totally love him. They get pretty big. He is so awesome the way he jumps hand to hand. Easy to care for too. Just be sure to be religious in giving calcium supplements and vitamins... or else they get a really awful calcium deficiency that is a slow painful death. They live on live food and tropical fruits.

Before going for any pet - consider the sensory implications of the smell off the cages. I can smell almost anything very quickly. The sound of rattling cage doors.. Animal chatter.... I learned the very hard way on these things...

Try taking your daughter to the pet store and watch her reactions to the animals.. she may not be able to talk yet but I bet she will get more excited over certain animals and you can choose that way

Hope you enjoy your new pet

**Sorry - took me so long to type my response some of what I said is above in posts now lol

I was about to say this. Specifically ask for a lazy and relaxed cat, because some cats are pretty active. As a kid I really liked cats and I still do, but I didn't like dogs because they are often very active and noisy and they jump up to people and I didn't like that when I was young. I still don't like dogs, but cats always cheer me up.
As an aside, I think declawing cats is horrible. Where I live it is illegal.

I'd be pretty careful about bringing a cat in to a home where two dogs already live. I guess it depends on the dogs, but my dogs would do everything in their power to kill the cat. We have an outside cat and when he's gotten in by accident, he's almost been bit a few times. Luckily, he's quick and can get under things they can't get under. They don't bother the bunny though, they seem to be afraid of it for some reason.

As for declawing cats, I don't like it either because if they cat gets out it can't defend itself or climb a tree, etc. My mother's cat is declawed because her apartments said that if she kept the cat it had to be declawed, because it was tearing up the carpet (as well as my mothers furniture and also scratched her bad enough to give her cellulitis). That cat is mean to begin with though, always was.

What about having an outside cat that you bring in when the dogs aren't around? That would keep any confrontations from happening and you also wouldn't have to worry about trying to keep them out of the litter box, etc.

Yes, it depends on the dogs. Some people in the street I used to live in had a dog and 2 cats, and the cats would tag along when they walked the dog. And every single cat I've known scratches the furniture. That always makes me smile, especially if it isn't my furniture

I do plan on being the career and owner for this pet of course btw which I am not keen on getting her a small fluffy animal as I don't really like them and as i will have to be the one cleaning it and handling it most of the time I'd prefer something I am comfortable with.
I took her to the pet shop today thinking maybe we could jsut do weekly trips there instead of actually get a pet, they haeva large avairy in the back and she loves birds so thought she would LOVE that but sadly it was closed, wasn't good, she had a huge meltdown cos it was too cold, so utterly failed trip, then a woman gave her a funny look because she walks funny, hmph

will try again when it's warmer and see how she does just visiting the pet shop, I'd take her to the zoo but they are all too far away

also to add I would get her a cat as she ADORES cats, her first "word" was MEOW which she learnt in a day after going to visit my mum with her 4 cats, she was so happy around them and it was amazing, but sadly I am living with my dad at the moment and he does not want a cat and his dog can't be trusted with one so it has to be a caged animal if anything.
I will get her a cat from a rescue when she is older and we live alone I think though, but that will be when shes old enough to choose the perfect cat for her so i would say 10+ years old

I'd get a fish but I am useless with looking after them lol but we got her a fake tank with fake fish in it which bubbles and changes colour

If she likes birds I'd stick with just going to the store to look at them or the zoo. I have always heard that birds in the house bring very bad luck.

I used to be a science teacher and I love animals so we have had many pets. Some of the easiest for my children when young were a frog rescued during a rain storm - fed it crickets, a hermit crab, a small lizard (can't remember the type, kind of like a gecko), and a box turtle (tortoise).

I wouldn't get her a bid anyway, the pet would be living in my bedroom and birds will irritate the hell out of me! lol

Tortoise: Low maintenance, doesn't bite, doesn't run fast, doesn't make ANY sudden movements. If she gets a little rough before you are able to intervene, he can "turtle up" and protect himself a bit. Tortoises are nearly the perfect pet in my opinion. If well cared for, they can also live for a very very long time.