Dogs are amazing animals. They are loving. They are thoughtful. They are brilliant. They give more love than essentially any other pet, and for active dog owners, they become a companion that you can take with you wherever you go.
But dogs also take work. They take training. They take food. They require regular walks and play. Before you decide to pick up a new dog, the first thing you should ask yourself is: Do you actually want a cat?
Dogs Are Not Solo, Minimal Attention Animals
We often meet dog owners that are surprised that their dog requires so much work. They bought a dog so that they could love an animal and find some peace and comfort by having the pet in their home. But they want an animal they don’t have to worry about – one that they don’t have to walk, and that requires minimal maintenance.
That’s a cat.
Some dog owners also want a dog that they don’t have to train. They want a dog that they can pet and have on their lap, but also forget about for extended periods of time. They plan to go on vacation, and they don’t want to have to worry about the costs of boarding a dog. They don’t want to worry about the pet destroying their property or having accidents in the house.
Once again, that’s a cat.
Dogs require work. It is a labor of love for dog owners that truly want a dog, and most of us that have dogs know that walking them every day and playing with them is one of life’s great joys. Dogs may take work, but as the saying goes, “do something you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” That’s what it’s like to want a dog and all that comes with it.
But it is also so important that you really, truly think about this – and that you have an understanding that a dog is a dog, and not a cat. If you just want an animal to be on your lap, one that requires very little food, costs, and maintenance, what you want is a cat.
Yet if you are ready to learn how to train your dog, to invest in dog training classes, to play with your dog and take your dogs for walks every day, then that’s when a dog is right for you. We are dog people. We love dogs. But it’s so important that anyone that chooses a dog is genuinely ready for all that the dog needs. Dogs can be a lot of work, but that work is absolutely worth it. If you’re not ready to put in that work, then maybe think about a cat instead.
