Original Article: https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/why-dogs-are-better-than-cats
If you’re a dog parent, you know dogs are better than cats. After all, your canine companions brighten your day, keep you active, and are generally lovable goofs. What’s not to love?
But what are all the reasons you could list for why dogs are better than cats? We’ve come up with 14 fantastic reasons why canines are so easy to love (don’t worry, we love cats, too, but dogs have so much to offer!). Keep reading to see if your reasons for preferring dogs to cats are on the list!
It is important to note that we are not anti-cat at all! Dogs just hold a special place in our hearts.
The 14 Reasons Why Dogs Are Better Than Cats
1. Better Suited to Change
While felines are very against anything changing their routines in the smallest of ways, canines are far more adaptable. While dogs love their routines, if you move homes or countries, a dog will do better with this change than a cat. Dogs are also better suited to varying living situations, so if you go from apartment living to living in a house or vice versa, they’ll be fine either way. As long as they’re with you, they’ll be happy!
2. Crates Are Awesome
When you leave your cat home alone, you’re taking the safety of your home into your hands, at least somewhat. Cats will do what they want—when they want—whether you’re home or not. Likewise, if you have friends coming over who are allergic to felines and need to stick your kitty in another room, you can be sure that they’ll be scratching at the door and yowling in no time.
But dogs are so much simpler to handle in these situations because they have crates! If a pup has been properly crate trained, they’ll view their crate as a place of safety and comfort and be more than fine being settled into it. That means your home stays safe when you’re away, and friends who aren’t dog fans can still visit.
3. Always Thrilled to See You
Dogs are always thrilled to see you, whether you’ve been gone for ten hours or ten seconds. As soon as you step through the door, you are instantly the center of your pup’s attention, and they have never been happier. While some cats may greet you at the door after you’ve been away for a while, they tend not to be as outwardly thrilled about seeing their humans. They don’t love you less; they just express this love in less exuberant ways.
4. Better Guardians
While we aren’t saying that cats don’t protect their humans (after all, there are videos of cats fighting off everything from snakes to coyotes to protect their people), they aren’t quite as good at being guardians as dogs are. Many dogs have natural guardian instincts, whether those instincts call for them to alert you whenever someone approaches your home or put themselves between you and perceived danger. Plus, most dogs will protect their people no matter what, while not all felines will do the same for their humans. So, some cats may be protective and make fantastic guardians, but almost all dogs are up to the task!
5. Simpler to Train
When it comes to cats and dogs, dogs are simply far less challenging to train! We aren’t saying felines can’t be trained (they can), but even cat owners will tell you it’s a battle. In contrast, most pups take to training well (though some dog breeds are more stubborn than others), and training them takes plenty of dog treats and patience on your part. So, when it comes to training, canines definitely win!
6. More Active
If you’re looking to lead a more active lifestyle, you definitely want a dog in your life rather than a cat. Cats tend to sleep most of the day away, but dogs are almost always up for playtime, a walk, or a grand adventure. And dogs can encourage you to move even when you don’t want to precisely because they need daily walks and playtime, so you become active alongside them. Canines help you lead a healthier life simply by existing!
7. Help Boost Children’s Immune Systems
Did you know that dogs can provide children’s immune systems with a boost? Studies have shown that kids who grow up with canines have stronger immune systems than those who do not. These children are also less likely to end up with allergies. Why is this the case? It’s thought that exposure to microbes and dander from dogs boosts kids’ immune systems.
8. Come in a Plethora of Sizes and Shapes
While felines tend to be roughly the same size and shape, dogs come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes! You can get a teensy pup who fits in your purse or a dog who’s taller than you when they stand on their back legs. You can also get dogs with a typical canine shape or those like Dachshunds with longer backs. The possibilities for canine appearance are pretty much endless as these animals simply come in a wider variety of sizes and shapes than cats.
9. Get Fewer Hairballs
You might think dogs don’t get hairballs at all, but they can develop them if they overgroom. However, it’s far less likely for a dog to hack up a hairball than it is for a cat. It’s just another plus of owning a canine!
10. Encourage You to Be Social
Much like dogs encourage you to lead a more active lifestyle, they also encourage you to be more social. Taking a dog with you to run errands means people will come up and say hello to you and your pup. Letting your pup play at the dog park means you get to meet more dog parents and talk about everyone’s favorite subject—your furry four-legged friends! Having a dog is an easy way to make new acquaintances.
11. Make Better Service Animals
Cats certainly can and do have a place in animal-assisted therapy, but dogs tend to make better service animals because they can do more. While felines can be excellent at working as emotional support animals, they don’t exactly make the best guide or working animals. Canines are far more suited to various jobs, including therapy dogs, police dogs, and military dogs.
12. Love to Play
Dogs love to play, and it’s one of the best things about them! Cats enjoy playing, of course, but they aren’t always up to playing a game of fetch like dogs are. Canines, on the other hand, are eager to play any game, anywhere, at any time.
13. More Dog Than Cat Tech Is Available
If you love tech that makes your life easier, you’re far better off having a dog than a cat, as more dog tech is available. Whether you want a smart collar that will help you keep track of your dog and their health, a smart feeder to ensure they don’t overeat, or a way to check in on your pup when you aren’t home, there’s something on the market to meet that need. Felines have far less tech dedicated to them, making having a dog better than a cat in this regard!
14. No Litter Boxes
Finally, the most important reason dogs are better than cats is that they don’t require a litter box! Let’s face it: litter boxes can stink the house up and cleaning them out is a chore. With dogs, though, you have the ease of them going outside to do their business, which requires less clean-up on your part and no unpleasant odors in your house.
Conclusion
The above is only a sampling of why dogs are better than cats! You probably have a million and one other reasons why you think your dog is fantastic and superior to felines, but the reasons here are some pretty amazing ones.
Remember, all pets are wonderful, so whether you prefer dogs, cats, fish, mice, or a different animal altogether, they’re all pretty great!
Featured Image Credit: Krakenimages.com, Shutterstock
Source: Dogster
