DuckHairback wrote:
So yeah, another vote for 'try before you buy' but for a slightly different reason.
Are there any pet stores by you? Or animal shelters? (I hope they're open, because scamdemic.) It's fairly easy to visit one, and ask to "see" an animal or two. "See" means go into a gated alcove, and play one-on-one with that dog or cat. I (37, male) did that a number of times, and it was great every time. The animals seem to like me, especially the dogs. That being said, I'm good at interacting with pets, and know when to push the interaction and when to back off.
One quick heads-up: puppies like to nip, and some cats can bite or scratch. They're animals, and they do what they want. I've gotten nipped and scratched, although the animals get rabies shots when they arrive, so you won't need more than a bandage. (There are posted flyers in pet stores and waivers you sign in animal shelters warning you about it, because America is trigger-happy with lawsuits.) But all in all, it's worth it. There's absolutely
nothing more adorable than a puppy climbing in your lap and trying to lick your (masked) face, as you sit on the floor. And whatever skin injuries you get, it's just collateral damage with an amusing story behind it.