Every once in awhile I get to thinking about how dogs and cats are so different. You're always reading or hearing about the merits of dogs versus cats. Dog lovers and cat lovers seem to be in two completely different camps. We had both as I was growing up, so the differences are apparent to me. Both have good points, but boy-o-boy, are they different indeed! Dogs need controlled, cats roam at will. Dogs are extremely trainable, cats are ... NOT. A dog is always ready to be man's best friend, cats will be your friend IF THEY'RE IN THE MOOD.
I like to watch various dog competitions on TV. They run obstacle courses, do frisbee routines with their owners, and leap off of high platforms to catch a target object before plunging into water, etc. Dogs can be trained for working purposes for people who need assistance. Personally, some of the most fun I've had is playing fetch with dogs. Hilarious! So needless to say, dogs are wonderfully useful with training, whether for work or play.
Compared to dogs, cats seem almost useless. But they do provide company and humor. They just have their own way that's different from dogs. It's what makes a cat a ... CAT.
Actually, cats can be conditioned.
They can be conditioned to plaster themselves on the screen door as soon as you want to go out, which in turn conditions you to throw a glass of water on them to try to make them stop.
They can be conditioned to weave in-and-out of your feet as you're trying to walk, which in turn conditions you to give them a big *SLING!!* with your foot. Which makes them come back and try all the more to trip you.
They can be conditioned to meow incessantly when you have something to eat, which in turn conditions you to give them some, which they promptly *sniff* and decide they don't want after all. Which conditions you to sigh and roll your eyes. "CATS!"
But, like dogs, some of the most fun I've had is playing with cats out in the yard. Dragging a string, yanking the water hose as they're standing on it ... cats have been a lot of fun, too. Cats have more of a teasing way to play (think of mouse-catching --- yuck!), while dogs are just out-and-out active and FUN.
Dogs and cats may be in different worlds, but they do each have their own way that provides friendship, fun, warmth and humor to us humans.
I like to watch various dog competitions on TV. They run obstacle courses, do frisbee routines with their owners, and leap off of high platforms to catch a target object before plunging into water, etc. Dogs can be trained for working purposes for people who need assistance. Personally, some of the most fun I've had is playing fetch with dogs. Hilarious! So needless to say, dogs are wonderfully useful with training, whether for work or play.
Compared to dogs, cats seem almost useless. But they do provide company and humor. They just have their own way that's different from dogs. It's what makes a cat a ... CAT.
Actually, cats can be conditioned.
They can be conditioned to plaster themselves on the screen door as soon as you want to go out, which in turn conditions you to throw a glass of water on them to try to make them stop.
They can be conditioned to weave in-and-out of your feet as you're trying to walk, which in turn conditions you to give them a big *SLING!!* with your foot. Which makes them come back and try all the more to trip you.
They can be conditioned to meow incessantly when you have something to eat, which in turn conditions you to give them some, which they promptly *sniff* and decide they don't want after all. Which conditions you to sigh and roll your eyes. "CATS!"
But, like dogs, some of the most fun I've had is playing with cats out in the yard. Dragging a string, yanking the water hose as they're standing on it ... cats have been a lot of fun, too. Cats have more of a teasing way to play (think of mouse-catching --- yuck!), while dogs are just out-and-out active and FUN.
Dogs and cats may be in different worlds, but they do each have their own way that provides friendship, fun, warmth and humor to us humans.
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