Reasons Dogs are Better Than Cats

Most people consider themselves either “dog people” or “cat people.” Even if they own multiple critters, they may feel like they love either dogs or cats more.

Unsure if you prefer one over the other? Here are some reasons why dogs are better than cats.

Dogs are often known as man’s best friend (and for good reason). They have been faithful companions for thousands of years and will continue to do so as long as we want them to be our friends. They love us unconditionally and want nothing more than to spend all of their time with us.

Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, no matter what you are looking for. Cats are pretty much all the same. You may see some unique Maine Coons, but most house cats are just domestic short haired cats.

Meanwhile, you can get a dog that is smaller than your cat or you can choose a dog that weighs more than you! This allows you to find the perfect breed of dog for you, depending on your lifestyle and even where you live. If you live in a tiny apartment, a little dog can run for hours in it, while a Great Dane might struggle to move around at all. If you are outside all year long, you are going to want to get a dog that prefers that lifestyle to the couch potato one!

Many people get dogs as a way to protect themselves and their families. Most dogs are quick to bark when anyone comes to their home. They want to protect their owners and warn them when someone comes onto their property. Even if they aren’t vicious, their bark may make someone think otherwise before coming into your yard.

Training dogs is easier than training cats. In fact, if you want your cat to do something, it probably isn’t going to happen. They do what they want, when they want to, without caring about what we are thinking.

Many dogs enjoy training sessions. They want to please you and will do anything that they can to ensure that you are happy with them. Most are also motivated by food and will do whatever you want them to.

Dogs just love to play! Most dogs love to play with you and your family. They enjoy playing fetch with a ball or even a frisbee. They will play tug-of-war. They may chase you and your children around the yard. If you have multiple dogs, you may even get to watch them play together. Some people get their dogs together for “playdates” where they can have fun and burn off some steam!

They may even help you get healthy (or stay healthy if you already are). If you have a dog, you know that you are going to have to get up and take him or her outside multiple times a day. Even if you have a fenced-in backyard, you are probably going to take your dog for a walk every day to help him or her stay fit. These daily walks may even help you lose some of your extra weight!

Many people enjoy taking their dogs on walks and hikes around their neighborhoods. You may even find yourself looking for parks and hiking trails to take your dog. Some runners train their dogs to run beside them while they are training. You may even want to try a dog sport like agility, and even diving. These can be a great bonding experience while also keeping you both active.

Dogs go to the bathroom outside. Cats use litter boxes inside of your home, and if you aren’t able to keep up with it, it can really stink up your home. Dogs go outside of your home. Though you should pick up their stools for health reasons, you aren’t responsible for cleaning up their urine. You also don’t need to worry about your house smelling due to their urine and feces (once they are potty-trained)!

Dogs can be more than just your pet! There are many working dogs who have important jobs to do. There are many farm dogs that can protect livestock and herd them from one field to another. There are dogs who work alongside our police and military. Many breeds are good at search and rescue missions. They are often better at finding lost humans due to their sense of smell. Service dogs are helpful for handicapped people and those who are blind.

Dogs can be great companions, as they have shown us for years. They have been faithful friends for thousands of years. This is because they just love us and want to spend time with us. This makes them easy to train, because they just want to please us.

Even better, there are so many types of dogs, you can easily find one that will fit into your lifestyle. If you are gone a lot, you are going to want a smaller dog who may not need as much exercise as a larger one. That being said, dogs love to play and you can find a lot of enjoyment in them. They may even help you stay healthy, by taking them for regular walks!

Not a dog person? My next piece is going to be about why cats are better than dogs. You may feel like you would rather spend time with your cats instead of a dog.

Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.