Pet care guides

Find your perfect pet

For first-time hamster owners and lifelong dog people alike: photos, care needs, common health problems and emergency warning signs for every kind of pet.

Labrador Retriever🐕 Dogs

Labrador Retriever

America’s easygoing, endlessly friendly family dog.

10–12 years
Golden Retriever🐕 Dogs

Golden Retriever

Gentle, devoted and happiest at your side.

10–12 years
French Bulldog🐕 Dogs

French Bulldog

Compact clown with a big personality.

10–12 years
German Shepherd🐕 Dogs

German Shepherd

Intelligent, loyal and built for work.

9–13 years
Beagle🐕 Dogs

Beagle

Merry scent hound with a nose for adventure.

12–15 years
Poodle🐕 Dogs

Poodle

Brilliant, athletic and low-shedding.

12–15 years
Dachshund🐕 Dogs

Dachshund

Long body, bold heart.

12–16 years
Border Collie🐕 Dogs

Border Collie

The workaholic genius of the dog world.

12–15 years
Shih Tzu🐕 Dogs

Shih Tzu

Sweet lap dog with royal roots.

10–16 years
Siberian Husky🐕 Dogs

Siberian Husky

Striking sled dog with endless stamina.

12–14 years
Rottweiler🐕 Dogs

Rottweiler

Calm, confident guardian with a soft side.

9–10 years
English Bulldog🐕 Dogs

English Bulldog

Laid-back, loving and famously wrinkly.

8–10 years
Boxer🐕 Dogs

Boxer

Bouncy, goofy and endlessly loyal.

10–12 years
Pembroke Welsh Corgi🐕 Dogs

Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Short legs, big herding brain.

12–15 years
Australian Shepherd🐕 Dogs

Australian Shepherd

Brilliant, athletic and always ready.

12–15 years
Yorkshire Terrier🐕 Dogs

Yorkshire Terrier

Tiny body, terrier-sized confidence.

13–16 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel🐕 Dogs

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The ultimate gentle lap dog.

9–14 years
Doberman Pinscher🐕 Dogs

Doberman Pinscher

Sleek, smart and devoted.

10–12 years
Great Dane🐕 Dogs

Great Dane

Gentle giant of the dog world.

7–10 years
Miniature Schnauzer🐕 Dogs

Miniature Schnauzer

Bearded, spirited and low-shedding.

12–15 years
Pomeranian🐕 Dogs

Pomeranian

A fluffy, fearless puffball.

12–16 years
Boston Terrier🐕 Dogs

Boston Terrier

The dapper “American Gentleman.”

11–13 years
Chihuahua🐕 Dogs

Chihuahua

The tiniest dog with the biggest attitude.

14–17 years
Bernese Mountain Dog🐕 Dogs

Bernese Mountain Dog

Big, fluffy and sweet-natured.

7–10 years
Havanese🐕 Dogs

Havanese

Cuba’s cheerful, silky companion.

14–16 years
Shetland Sheepdog🐕 Dogs

Shetland Sheepdog

A bright, sensitive little herder.

12–14 years
Pug🐕 Dogs

Pug

Charming clown in a compact package.

12–15 years
Maltese🐕 Dogs

Maltese

Silky white elegance with a playful heart.

12–15 years
Bichon Frisé🐕 Dogs

Bichon Frisé

A happy cotton ball of a dog.

14–15 years
Greyhound🐕 Dogs

Greyhound

The 45 mph couch potato.

10–14 years
Australian Cattle Dog🐕 Dogs

Australian Cattle Dog

Tough, tireless and fiercely loyal.

12–16 years
Shiba Inu🐕 Dogs

Shiba Inu

Fox-like, spirited and independent.

13–16 years
Domestic Shorthair🐈 Cats

Domestic Shorthair

The adaptable, everyday cat of America.

13–17 years
Maine Coon🐈 Cats

Maine Coon

The gentle giant of the cat world.

12–15 years
Ragdoll🐈 Cats

Ragdoll

Blue-eyed, laid-back and famously floppy.

12–17 years
Siamese🐈 Cats

Siamese

Talkative, clever and deeply bonded.

15–20 years
Persian🐈 Cats

Persian

Serene, sweet and luxuriously coated.

12–17 years
Bengal🐈 Cats

Bengal

A wild look with a playful heart.

12–16 years
British Shorthair🐈 Cats

British Shorthair

Plush, calm and wonderfully easygoing.

12–17 years
Sphynx🐈 Cats

Sphynx

Hairless, warm and endlessly social.

9–15 years
Scottish Fold🐈 Cats

Scottish Fold

Owl-like face with folded ears.

11–14 years
Abyssinian🐈 Cats

Abyssinian

Athletic, curious and always busy.

12–15 years
Russian Blue🐈 Cats

Russian Blue

Silvery coat, emerald eyes, gentle soul.

15–20 years
Norwegian Forest Cat🐈 Cats

Norwegian Forest Cat

A rugged Viking cat with a gentle heart.

14–16 years
Devon Rex🐈 Cats

Devon Rex

Pixie-faced, curly-coated mischief maker.

9–15 years
Exotic Shorthair🐈 Cats

Exotic Shorthair

A Persian in pajamas.

12–15 years
American Shorthair🐈 Cats

American Shorthair

America’s easygoing working cat.

15–20 years
Birman🐈 Cats

Birman

Sacred cat of Burma with white “gloves.”

12–16 years
Savannah🐈 Cats

Savannah

Tall, spotted and astonishingly athletic.

12–20 years
Domestic Longhair🐈 Cats

Domestic Longhair

The fluffy mixed-breed shelter favorite.

12–18 years
Rabbit🐇 Small Pets

Rabbit

Social, clever and more involved than you think.

8–12 years
Guinea Pig🐇 Small Pets

Guinea Pig

Chatty, gentle and great for families.

5–8 years
Hamster🐇 Small Pets

Hamster

Tiny, nocturnal and fun to watch.

2–3 years
Ferret🐇 Small Pets

Ferret

Playful, mischievous and full of energy.

6–10 years
Chinchilla🐇 Small Pets

Chinchilla

Velvet-soft acrobat from the Andes.

10–20 years
Fancy Rat🐇 Small Pets

Fancy Rat

Smart, affectionate and wildly underrated.

2–3 years
African Pygmy Hedgehog🐇 Small Pets

African Pygmy Hedgehog

Spiky, solitary and endlessly charming.

4–6 years
Gerbil🐇 Small Pets

Gerbil

Curious, active diggers that rarely bite.

2–4 years
Fancy Mouse🐇 Small Pets

Fancy Mouse

Tiny, busy and fun to watch.

1.5–3 years
Degu🐇 Small Pets

Degu

Chatty, clever rodents from Chile.

6–8 years
Sugar Glider🐇 Small Pets

Sugar Glider

Gliding marsupials that need a lot of attention.

10–15 years
Roborovski Dwarf Hamster🐇 Small Pets

Roborovski Dwarf Hamster

Super-fast, super-tiny speedsters.

3–3.5 years
Holland Lop Rabbit🐇 Small Pets

Holland Lop Rabbit

Floppy-eared, compact and sweet.

7–12 years
Budgerigar (Parakeet)🦜 Birds

Budgerigar (Parakeet)

Small, cheerful and surprisingly talkative.

5–10 years
Cockatiel🦜 Birds

Cockatiel

Affectionate crested whistler.

15–25 years
African Grey Parrot🦜 Birds

African Grey Parrot

One of the most intelligent animals on Earth.

40–60 years
Canary🦜 Birds

Canary

A song-filled, hands-off companion.

10–15 years
Lovebird🦜 Birds

Lovebird

Pint-sized parrot with a big attitude.

10–15 years
Sun Conure🦜 Birds

Sun Conure

Dazzling colors and a very loud voice.

20–30 years
Green-Cheeked Conure🦜 Birds

Green-Cheeked Conure

Big personality, apartment-friendly volume.

15–30 years
Zebra Finch🦜 Birds

Zebra Finch

Cheerful, chirpy and low-maintenance.

5–10 years
Pacific Parrotlet🦜 Birds

Pacific Parrotlet

A big parrot in a pocket-sized body.

15–20 years
Blue-and-Gold Macaw🦜 Birds

Blue-and-Gold Macaw

Spectacular, intelligent and a lifelong commitment.

35–60 years
Cockatoo🦜 Birds

Cockatoo

Affectionate, theatrical and extremely needy.

40–70 years
Indian Ringneck Parakeet🦜 Birds

Indian Ringneck Parakeet

Elegant, talkative and independent.

25–30 years
Leopard Gecko🦎 Reptiles

Leopard Gecko

The perfect starter reptile.

15–20 years
Bearded Dragon🦎 Reptiles

Bearded Dragon

Friendly lizard with tons of personality.

10–15 years
Ball Python🦎 Reptiles

Ball Python

Gentle, shy and easy to handle.

20–30 years
Corn Snake🦎 Reptiles

Corn Snake

Colorful, hardy and great for beginners.

15–20 years
Red-Eared Slider🦎 Reptiles

Red-Eared Slider

Long-lived aquatic turtle with big needs.

20–40 years
Crested Gecko🦎 Reptiles

Crested Gecko

Sticky-toed, eyelashed and easy-going.

15–20 years
Blue-Tongued Skink🦎 Reptiles

Blue-Tongued Skink

Sturdy, docile lizard with a dramatic tongue.

15–20 years
California Kingsnake🦎 Reptiles

California Kingsnake

Bold-banded, hardy and easy to keep.

15–20 years
Russian Tortoise🦎 Reptiles

Russian Tortoise

Small, sturdy and full of character.

40–50+ years
Sulcata Tortoise🦎 Reptiles

Sulcata Tortoise

Adorable hatchling, 100-pound adult.

70–100+ years
Veiled Chameleon🦎 Reptiles

Veiled Chameleon

Color-changing showpiece for careful keepers.

5–8 years
Green Iguana🦎 Reptiles

Green Iguana

A big lizard with big needs.

15–20 years
African Fat-Tailed Gecko🦎 Reptiles

African Fat-Tailed Gecko

Gentle, slow-moving and easy to love.

15–20 years
Betta Fish🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Betta Fish

Jewel-toned fins, big personality.

3–5 years
Goldfish🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Goldfish

Classic, long-lived and bigger than you think.

10–20+ years
Guppy🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Guppy

Colorful, active and easy to breed.

2–3 years
Axolotl🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Axolotl

The smiling salamander that never grows up.

10–15 years
White’s Tree Frog🐠 Fish & Amphibians

White’s Tree Frog

Chubby, chill and always smiling.

15–20 years
Neon Tetra🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Neon Tetra

Glowing blue-and-red schooling fish.

5–8 years
Freshwater Angelfish🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Freshwater Angelfish

Graceful, tall-finned centerpiece fish.

10–12 years
Platy🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Platy

Hardy, colorful and beginner-proof.

3–5 years
Koi🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Koi

Living jewels for backyard ponds.

25–35+ years
Oscar🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Oscar

The “water dog” that recognizes its owner.

10–15 years
Cherry Shrimp🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Cherry Shrimp

Tiny red cleanup crew for planted tanks.

1–2 years
Fire-Bellied Toad🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Fire-Bellied Toad

Bright, active and fun to watch.

10–15 years
Pacman Frog🐠 Fish & Amphibians

Pacman Frog

A round, ambush-hunting mouth with legs.

7–15 years
Chilean Rose Tarantula🕷️ Exotics

Chilean Rose Tarantula

A calm, low-maintenance eight-legged pet.

15–20 years (females)
Hermit Crab🕷️ Exotics

Hermit Crab

Social shell-swappers that need more than a cage.

15–30+ years (with proper care)
Emperor Scorpion🕷️ Exotics

Emperor Scorpion

Large, glossy and relatively docile.

6–8 years
Madagascar Hissing Cockroach🕷️ Exotics

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach

A surprisingly clean, gentle, hissing pet.

2–5 years
Mexican Redknee Tarantula🕷️ Exotics

Mexican Redknee Tarantula

The iconic orange-kneed tarantula.

20–30 years (females)
Backyard Chicken🐓 Backyard & Farm

Backyard Chicken

Fresh eggs and surprisingly big personalities.

5–10 years
Pekin Duck🐓 Backyard & Farm

Pekin Duck

Friendly, messy and fun to watch splash.

8–12 years
Pot-Bellied Pig🐓 Backyard & Farm

Pot-Bellied Pig

Smart, affectionate and much bigger than advertised.

12–18 years
Pygmy Goat🐓 Backyard & Farm

Pygmy Goat

Playful, hardy little climbers.

10–15 years