Which is a better pet, cats or dogs? This is something that dog lovers and can’t lovers have been arguing about forever. I am going enter the battle by giving my opinion on the subject.
Yes, I know this is a dog blog and it’s obvious that I love dogs so my opinion might be a little biased. And I’ll admit if I had to choose between the two I would almost always choose a dog. However, I do own a cat that I love very much and I think she is amazing! I couldn’t imagine not having her.
Anyway, here is my opinion on the cats vs. dogs battle…
1) Dogs can protect you as well as your home and family, and usually will if the situation arises. Even a small dog that can’t do much against an intruder will at least alert you to possible danger by barking. Cats have nothing on dogs when it comes to this. Dogs get 1 point for this.
2) Dogs are great companions because you can take them just about anywhere and they love it. Cats will usually freak out if you take them anywhere. Give 1 point to dogs for this.
3) Dogs go to the bathroom outside so you never have to smell it in the house or clean a litter box. But the fact that cats go in the litter box is nice because you never have to worry about letting them out or cleaning up accidents. I’ll give them both a point for this.
4) I don’t know if dogs really do love their owners more than cats but they definitely tend to show the love more. My cat is actually one of the most loving cats I have ever seen in my life and she still doesn’t seem to care about me as much as any dog I’ve ever owned. Another point for dogs.
5) Cats don’t listen to what you say like dogs do. Some people like the independent nature of cats but I would much rather they listen to my commands like dogs do. They might do some things you say but for the most part they really don’t give a crap. It’s pretty easy to see that dog training is a lot easier than cat training. One point for dogs.
6) One big argument for each side is which one is smarter. I think both cat people and dog people have very valid points for why their respective side is smarter. Personally I think they are equally smart in their own ways, which are very different. However, dogs appear to be smarter due to their trainability. Dogs are used all over the world for many different things by the military and police. They are also used as guide dogs, guard dogs, working dogs, hunting dogs, and many other things due to their trainability. You don’t see cats doing any of this. Because of that I am giving dogs another point here.
7) When it comes which is more fun to own, I think a lot can be said for both sides. On one hand dogs can be really funny and cute all by themselves plus they can be taken on walks and a lot of other places as well as playing fetch and other games. On the other hand cats can be very entertaining to watch when they are playing with their toys or running around the house, and you can play quite a few games with them too. Weighing it as evenly as possible overall I would say that dogs are just a little more fun to own. Give dogs another point for this.
8) Cats are certainly easier to take care of considering they are very self-sufficient. Give them food, water, and clean the litter box every few days and they pretty much handle the rest themselves. Definitely a point for cats.
9) In my experience cats are a lot cheaper than dogs. They require less food and supplies, and don’t need to go to the vet as often. They usually don’t cost as much to actually buy either. Another point for cats.
10) Cats aren’t as destructive as dogs for the most part. They don’t typically chew things up like puppies and some adult dogs do. They also don’t ruin your carpet with their muddy paws every time they come inside after it rains. Their claws can be very destructive but those can be removed, thus taking away most of their ability to destroy your house. I say cats get a point for this one also.
Add up the points = Dogs 7, Cats 4
The results are in and dogs win the “better pet” battle. I guess there’s a reason they call Dogs “Man’s Best Friend” and not cats.
If this convinced you to get a dog then I recommend adopting a pit bull from your local shelter.
Okay, I’ve given my analysis of cats versus dogs. What do you think?
Comments: | Categories: Dog Information, Dog Intelligence
We all like to think our dog is the smartest dog in the world and I suppose someone does own the single most intelligent dog, so maybe it is you. But I doubt it! What are the chances of that?
Anyway, there are certain dog breeds that are generally more intelligent than others. In this post we will look at the top ten smartest dog breeds from the 10th most intelligent to the 1st.
Don’t worry if your breed of dog isn’t on this list, it’s usually not all that important to have a really smart dog. As long as you train your dog well he will seem smarter than most dogs anyway.
Alright, let’s take a look at the most intelligent dog breeds starting with number ten and working our way to number one. The top 10 smartest dogs are…
#10 – Australian Cattle Dog
As its name suggests, the Australian Cattle Dog was originally bred for herding cattle and they are very intelligent. They need to be stimulated to be happy, as one would expect from an intelligent dog with a working background. These dogs are most happy when they are working so they need regular exercise and lots of mental stimulation.
#9 – Rottweiler
Although you may have heard differently, the Rottweiler is actually a great family dog, and this breed is not nearly as fierce as many people believe. They are very good with kids and are extremely loyal and loving to their family members. They are very smart dogs and are easy to train. Rottweiler’s are also renowned for their guarding ability and are known as the best guard dog in the world.
#8 – Papillon
The Papillon is a lovable and intelligent dog that is very protective of its owner. As with most intelligent dogs they are usually quite easy to train.
#7 – Labrador Retriever
These are one of the most popular dog breeds because of their good nature, love of children, intelligence, and ability to easily socialize with other dogs. Labradors need a lot of exercise and have a tendency to develop weight problems.
#6 – Shetland Sheepdog
This is a dog breed that was bred for herding sheep and other livestock. To do their job well they obviously need to be intelligent and that is why they come in at number six on the smartest dogs list. They’re not quite as good as some of the other breeds on this list at socializing with other people or children, but they are excellent pets with their own family.
#5 – Doberman Pinscher
Despite their reputation, Dobermans can be great family dogs and really good with children if they are trained properly. It is important that the Doberman be trained early on in its life or they can be temperamental. They are very smart, and like many intelligent dogs are very protective of their home and family.
#4 – Golden Retriever
These are one of the most popular breeds of dog in the world and they are great with children, and are a very loyal and loving dog. It’s quite common to see Golden Retrievers winning dog competitions where intelligence is important.
#3 – German Shepherd
This is a dog breed that is often associated with police, military, and service dog work. It’s chosen for these jobs because it is intelligent and very capable in most situations. German Shepherds make great family and guard dogs, and are good with children. They need to be trained and know who their master is from a young age to ensure both they and the family get the most out of their relationship.
#2 – Standard Poodle
The second smartest dog might surprise a lot of people because they aren’t usually associated with being so intelligent. They are one of the easiest dogs to train and don’t like to be left alone because they love people so much. However, they are very protective and can be quite vicious if an intruder comes on their property.
#1 – Border Collie
The smartest dog in the world is the Border Collie. This is another dog breed that is often seen winning competitions where intelligence is important. Because they are so intelligent, they need to be stimulated regularly and are most happy when they’re working or performing in competitions or dog trials.
There you go, the top 10 smartest dog breeds. If you own one of these breeds and you have trained your dog properly, you can be confident that you have one of the most intelligent dogs in the world.
Finally, let me end by saying that the breeds above are overall the smartest dogs in the order given. It’s a generalization of most dogs of each particular breed. There are always exceptions to any rule so it’s possible that the single smartest dog in the world isn’t from a breed listed above. It’s also possible that the single dumbest dog in the world is from a breed on this list. However, in general the above dog breeds are the top 10 most intelligent dogs.
Comments: | Categories: Dog Breeds, Dog Intelligence
There are many benefits in giving your dog the right toys to play with and chew on. While most people think that dog toys are only to relieve boredom that is not the only use for dog toys.
Yes, dog toys are excellent for relieving boredom and are especially good when you have to leave your dog on it’s own for a while, but there are other reasons why you should consider buying your dog toys.
Some dog toys are designed to boost their intelligence where they will only get a reward after they have performed certain tasks.
These toys are a very effective method of training.
Other toys help dogs to know what they can chew on, which will help you save a lot of money by not having to replace expensive items around your house that have been destroyed by your dog chewing on them.
There are chewing toys that will help your dog strengthen and keep their teeth clean and there are toys that will help train your dog to retrieve or hunt.
It’s your job to decide what you want to get out of a certain toy before buying and also to determine what the personality of your dog is before you can get the right toys for it.
Some toys are designed to last for a short period of time and then be replaced by new ones, and these are often the chewing variety. Some are designed to be very stong and durable to last a long time
Some toys of the chewing variety are flavored so you will need to check first to see what ingredients they have used for the flavoring or you might be buying a toy that your dog is allergic to. These toys with flavoring often have preservatives in them so beware of that as well.
With such a wide variety of toys available on the market these days there is certain to be something that your dog will enjoy and make their life all the more happy while increasing their intelligence.
You can get most of these toys at any pet store or dog toy website.
Comments: | Categories: Dog Intelligence, Dog Training