Dogs or Cats - Which is the Best Pet?

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     The answer to that question is easy for most people. If you are a dog person, it will be a fluffy puppy that you can love. If you are a cat person, you won't want to share the attention that a dog needs. It is probably an easy decision.

There are distinct characteristics of each pet.

Cats

House cats enjoy being outdoors occasionally. They may wander off from time to time.

The only thing cats need to be trained to do is use the litter box and not to claw the furniture or draperies. They won't stand for much more.
Cats will allow you to have a more serene and independent life.
Cats don't mind being left alone, unless you are in need of being alone.

Dogs

Dogs thrive on routine exercise. They love walks outdoors or being allowed to run free in a fenced yard to do their business.

Dogs need more training. Dogs love to be trained. It gives them quality time with their owners. Dogs love to please their person and training provides that opportunity.

Your dog will greet you with gusto. It doesn't matter if you went outside to take out the trash or have been at work all day.

Dogs are not happy when left alone. They will thrive on interactions with dogs and people if properly trained.

While your dog may delight in being there to serve you, a cat will allow you to serve.

Assuming your choice is a dog, there are several things you need to consider. Your first step in choosing a dog is finding the one that suits your lifestyle. Are you a stay at home person, or someone on the go every day? Logic may seem to dictate that a smaller dog would be less trouble. This is not necessarily so. A mastiff may love to lie around the house all day and wait for you to come home. A jack Russell terrier will bounce his way around the house whether you are in attendance or not. Terriers need a lot of exercise and stimulation.

How old should your dog be? Puppies are cute. They also will increase your responsibility. They will require house training and behavior training. You will have to tolerate chewing and accidents. If you do not have the time to devote to these steps, you will be happier adopting an older dog. Not all older dogs are available due to bad behavior. They are often relinquished because of changes in the family status, moving or illness of the owners. By dealing with a licensed rescue, you will know a lot about the dog before you adopt your new best friend.

If there are children in your household, you may benefit by an older dog as well. Puppies are fragile and toddlers look at them like their other stuffies. This can injure the puppy and it could be a severe injury. Older dogs that are adopted will have a special bond with you. There is no doubt that you will be appreciated every day they are in your life.