Well..any pet is alot of work. It really depends on what you have time for. I think a dog would be more demanding of your time rather than a hamster who you can rest assured that it will not have eaten the furniture by the time you come home from school. I've never had any other pets besides a dog and fishes so I can't say for the others. I know rats are social and if you do decide to get a rat, two would be better. Ratties need to be played with too though.