Parents' Guide to

Petfinder

By Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 5+

Pet "matchmaking" show is cute, family-friendly.

TV Animal Planet Reality TV 2008
Petfinder Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

Inspired by the pet-matching Web site Petfinder.com, PETFINDER helps pair families with the right animal companions. Animal behavior experts Jarod Miller and Dina Zaphiris meet with families torn by indecision. One parent may want a pot-bellied pig, while another yearns for a teacup Yorkie. And the kids always have their own opinions -- reptiles, rodents, birds, and more. Miller and Zaphiris wade through the discord to find out what kind of pet will please the whole gang, as well as what home will be the best setting for certain animals.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Some of the most entertaining segments of the show are when Miller and Zaphiris bring "Teacher's Pets" on home visits to see how the family members react to different kinds of animals. Reactions range from squeamish to disgust as a pig poops in a sink, a parrot squawks dramatically, and a group of rats wriggles through toy houses.

The experts' ultimate pet choice often provokes moving emotional reactions. Family members must set aside their disagreements when the final pet arrives, teaching a lesson in compromise. And when both kids and adults seem transformed by certain animals, you get a feel-good ending that will please all ages.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about pets and pet care. What did you learn from this show about the right way to choose and care for a pet? What kind of pets are in your family? What kind of relationship do different family members have with your pet(s)? Does your pet fit your family's style? Do you think a different kind of pet might be a better match for your family? How could you find out?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate