Dog or cat? | The Boneyard

Dog or cat?

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To play off the other pet thread. I'm thinking of getting either a dog or cat. I like dogs and cats equally and am a bit conflicted on what to get. Since I live in an apartment in the city if it was a dog I would lean towards non active breeds, bulldog and pug come to mind....I've always loved Beagles and Jack Russell's but they need to run and explore, living in a city apartment wouldn't be fair to them. A cat is certainly a lot easier. Any recommendations on good apartment dog breeds, non barkers and what cat breeds tend to have the best/most fun personalities?
 
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Go buy a guitar. Or take up sudoku. You sound bored. Get a hobby to fill some time that doesn't go to the bathroom on the floor, throw up hairballs, claw furniture, rack up vet bills, wake you up in the middle of the night, drag their rear end across your light carpet, get old and have to eventually be put to sleep that sends you into weeks of depression.
 
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Go buy a guitar. Or take up sudoku. You sound bored. Get a hobby to fill some time that doesn't go to the bathroom on the floor, throw up hairballs, claw furniture, rack up vet bills, wake you up in the middle of the night, drag their rear end across your light carpet, get old and have to eventually be put to sleep that sends you into weeks of depression.

I bet you’re fun at parties. Lol
 

storrsroars

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I've had five dogs and four cats and am firmly a dog guy. In your situation a cat probably makes more sense. But I've never owned a small dog.

If you do get a dog, read up on the breed. For instance, beagles are known for being difficult to train. Not sure if it's because they're stubborn or stupid.

And get a good vacuum cleaner.
 
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To play off the other pet thread. I'm thinking of getting either a dog or cat. I like dogs and cats equally and am a bit conflicted on what to get. Since I live in an apartment in the city if it was a dog I would lean towards non active breeds, bulldog and pug come to mind....I've always loved Beagles and Jack Russell's but they need to run and explore, living in a city apartment wouldn't be fair to them. A cat is certainly a lot easier. Any recommendations on good apartment dog breeds, non barkers and what cat breeds tend to have the best/most fun personalities?

Have you ever had a dog before? I never had one but wanted one my entire life, so when I was in an apartment that allowed dogs I got a rescue. I got my dog when she was 12 weeks old.

Now everyone told me dogs, especially puppies are a ton of work, but I thought I was ready.

If you have never had a dog before I want you imagine how much work is required and understand it is easily 100x more than that.

The food, vet appointments, bathroom trips exercise, clean up after accidents, clean up after destruction of toys and other things around your apartment, obedience training, the lack of sleep, the separation anxiety. My dog had aggression issues and I had to hire a specialist. Also you have to plan everything you do now. No more going away for a weekend on a whim without a plan for the dog.

Now having said all that, they are beyond worth it. My dog was an absolute nightmare for the first 8 months I had her, but I persevered and the two of us are so bonded. I can't even imagine life without her, she is truly man's best friend.

TLDR: Dogs are more work than you expect but so worth it.
 

c29328

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I went with a pair of cats. I can travel some and if you like animals they are still fun. Less fuss. 2 for 40 when I got them from the death house at county animal control. I honestly only wanted one but her sister was so ugly and stand offish I knew she would get the gas if I didn’t take her. Worth it.
 
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I figure it depends on where you are in life if you should even have a pet in the first place.

I've lived with kittens and cats (one at a time, just in different living situations) and have had the most bad-ass little French Bulldog for almost 3 years now, since he was 8 weeks. I'd go with a dog, if I neither have nor expect young children to be in the picture. Kids mess with your sleep. Dogs mess with your sleep. Dogs are about as useless compared to cats -when it comes for caring for one's self- as are newborns. Not trying to deal with both at the same time.

There are no upsides to having a cat, unless you constantly travel, and somehow feel compelled to buy a living animal to live in your house like it's its own. I think travel and leaving them home alone is the only direct cat > dog "pro" for cats. A cat has so few redeeming qualities on its own, again if you don't feel some need to have a living thing roaming your place, a breathing table ornament with claws if you will, I don't see a point.

I will give this to cats: one way or another, they're fine to live with. They're either that antisocial jerk who lays under the bed all day to be ignored, or they're the sweet snuggly kind you enjoy. A dog with a bad personality will impact your daily no matter what.
 

Dove

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To play off the other pet thread. I'm thinking of getting either a dog or cat. I like dogs and cats equally and am a bit conflicted on what to get. Since I live in an apartment in the city if it was a dog I would lean towards non active breeds, bulldog and pug come to mind....I've always loved Beagles and Jack Russell's but they need to run and explore, living in a city apartment wouldn't be fair to them. A cat is certainly a lot easier. Any recommendations on good apartment dog breeds, non barkers and what cat breeds tend to have the best/most fun personalities?
Cats crap and pizz in an open box while tracking litter.

So....
 
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Maybe a cat for the city but can’t go too wrong with a dog either. My sister and her boyfriend have a pitbull and they live in West Village, and the active breed is not too much of a problem for them, they walk him a few times a day, plus they come out to Suburbia semi-consistently on the weekends to give him some space to roam.
 

jleves

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Whatever you do, get two things whether it's a dog and a cat or two dogs or two cats. If you go dog and cat, get them both young so they bond early. No matter how much time you think you can give to a pet, there will be more time they are alone, so having a buddy around makes them happier and less destructive. Make sure you get lots of toys and a cardboard scratching pad (if you get a cat). Toys are imperative to reducing/stopping furniture and shoe damage.
 
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As far as dogs, as I said above, I have a Frenchie and live in downtown SD in a smaller apartment, and half-caved to my girl's desire for a Frenchie because I knew the German Shepherd or Husky of my dreams would hate being cooped up so much every day.

There's no guarantees as to breeds that don't bark. My Frenchie literally only barks when my girl and/or I are home and he hears what he thinks is our front door opening. Other than that, he just snores but obviously doesn't bother neighbors. Many Frenchies do bark, and in many in super-obnoxious ways. Pugs are similar, I believe. I don't think Boston Terriers bark much, and I believe they're lower maintenance than bulldogs and pugs (still have the same short-snout issues though).
 
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I have both. I use my dog for hunting. I think he loves hunting more than me. He is very loyal. The cats hang around the house and attack the curtains and lampshades. But we have cats because my wife loves cats. That being said, if you live in an apartment in the city, you are probably better off with a cat.
 

UC1995

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Have two Mastiffs right now (hooch from Turner and Hooch and Fang from Harry Potter). Nothing like coming home and they can't wait for you to get through the door. I Just lost our Siamese/Burmese who was like a dog. My wife said that she would never love a cat but that breed is fantastic.
 
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I figure it depends on where you are in life if you should even have a pet in the first place.

I've lived with kittens and cats (one at a time, just in different living situations) and have had the most bad-ass little French Bulldog for almost 3 years now, since he was 8 weeks. I'd go with a dog, if I neither have nor expect young children to be in the picture. Kids mess with your sleep. Dogs mess with your sleep. Dogs are about as useless compared to cats -when it comes for caring for one's self- as are newborns. Not trying to deal with both at the same time.

There are no upsides to having a cat, unless you constantly travel, and somehow feel compelled to buy a living animal to live in your house like it's its own. I think travel and leaving them home alone is the only direct cat > dog "pro" for cats. A cat has so few redeeming qualities on its own, again if you don't feel some need to have a living thing roaming your place, a breathing table ornament with claws if you will, I don't see a point.

I will give this to cats: one way or another, they're fine to live with. They're either that antisocial jerk who lays under the bed all day to be ignored, or they're the sweet snuggly kind you enjoy. A dog with a bad personality will impact your daily no matter what.
I've had the opposite experience. If my cats run out of food they will wake me or my wife up at any time of the night (and they are relentless). My dog's food bowl could be empty and I would never know unless I walked by it. I guess I have needy cats.
 
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To play off the other pet thread. I'm thinking of getting either a dog or cat. I like dogs and cats equally and am a bit conflicted on what to get. Since I live in an apartment in the city if it was a dog I would lean towards non active breeds, bulldog and pug come to mind....I've always loved Beagles and Jack Russell's but they need to run and explore, living in a city apartment wouldn't be fair to them. A cat is certainly a lot easier. Any recommendations on good apartment dog breeds, non barkers and what cat breeds tend to have the best/most fun personalities?

Firmly a dog person, but not ever again in an apartment - ive done it what a pain in the ass
 

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