stace79 Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 Four of my sisters have ALWAYS owned a dog, as has my mother. They ALWAYS take the best care of their animals, with regular checkups at the vet and never neglecting them. Hell, they even buy the vet-recommended food that costs a fortune. So no - in the cases I have personally known, which are numerous, the dogs aren't eating other animals' excrement and puke because of malnourishment, neglect, or abuse, nor any kind of parasite. I know this as fact. My mother co-founded our local Humane Society. My family doesn't neglect their animals. Ever. Lol -- well if you'll read articles about it, there are also other reasons why they might do it. No need to get up in arms... just saying that having worked in vet hospitals with actual doctors, other animals besides dogs do it, too.
Author jw90063 Posted October 29, 2009 Author Posted October 29, 2009 Four of my sisters have ALWAYS owned a dog, as has my mother. They ALWAYS take the best care of their animals, with regular checkups at the vet and never neglecting them. Hell, they even buy the vet-recommended food that costs a fortune. So no - in the cases I have personally known, which are numerous, the dogs aren't eating other animals' excrement and puke because of malnourishment, neglect, or abuse, nor any kind of parasite. I know this as fact. My mother co-founded our local Humane Society. My family doesn't neglect their animals. Ever. I had a dog for years who was fine, and she ate it all the time. It must taste like dog biscuits.
paperchase Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 Four of my sisters have ALWAYS owned a dog, as has my mother. They ALWAYS take the best care of their animals, with regular checkups at the vet and never neglecting them. Hell, they even buy the vet-recommended food that costs a fortune. So no - in the cases I have personally known, which are numerous, the dogs aren't eating other animals' excrement and puke because of malnourishment, neglect, or abuse, nor any kind of parasite. I know this as fact. My mother co-founded our local Humane Society. My family doesn't neglect their animals. Ever. By the way, cats puke too -- especially after eating hairballs which have no redeeming nutrient value. Just being devil's advocate. I'll let it go.
Author jw90063 Posted October 29, 2009 Author Posted October 29, 2009 Actually, cats and most animals can become prone to that, also known as coprophagia. Here are some reasons why, if you just happen to be curious. http://www.pet-comfort-products.com/why-dogs-eat-poop.html I just realized something. This is hard core evidence that a dogs IQ is no better than a cats. Here are a couple of the reasons as to why they eat fecal matter: 1). Some dogs will simply eat poop to pass the time. Dogs will eat poop because they are bored or lonely. It can be a sign of neglect. ( yep, I'm bored and I need to pass time, let me go eat some crap-yum). 2). Your dog might see others dogs eating poop. From this, they learn to eat poop too. (If I see someone else jump off a mountain, I will too-how clever is that) 3.) Many dogs simply like the taste of poop. This obviously doesn't make sense to dog owners but that's irrelevant. Some dog like to eat it and that's that. It's warm, moist, and very much like what your dog was given as a very young puppy. (do they even have taste buds?)
donnamaybe Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 By the way, cats puke too -- especially after eating hairballs which have no redeeming nutrient value. Just being devil's advocate. I'll let it go. Did I say cats don't puke? And they do not EAT HAIRBALLS. Good gawd! They clean themselves and GET the hairballs if they have long hair that happens to be in the shedding stage.
stace79 Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 I just realized something. This is hard core evidence that a dogs IQ is no better than a cats. Here are a couple of the reasons as to why they eat fecal matter: 1). Some dogs will simply eat poop to pass the time. Dogs will eat poop because they are bored or lonely. It can be a sign of neglect. ( yep, I'm bored and I need to pass time, let me go eat some crap-yum). 2). Your dog might see others dogs eating poop. From this, they learn to eat poop too. (If I see someone else jump off a mountain, I will too-how clever is that) 3.) Many dogs simply like the taste of poop. This obviously doesn't make sense to dog owners but that's irrelevant. Some dog like to eat it and that's that. It's warm, moist, and very much like what your dog was given as a very young puppy. (do they even have taste buds?) Actually I could say that about children, too, then because some of them like to eat inanimate objects like clay, paste, PlayDoh, etc. In fact, there are even cases where pregnant women have the urge to eat inanimate matter like dirt or clay!
donnamaybe Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 Lol -- well if you'll read articles about it, there are also other reasons why they might do it. No need to get up in arms... just saying that having worked in vet hospitals with actual doctors, other animals besides dogs do it, too. Sorry. I get a little testy when someone claims the only reason my sister's and mom's dogs eat crap is because my family is mistreating them.
stace79 Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 Did I say cats don't puke? And they do not EAT HAIRBALLS. Good gawd! They clean themselves and GET the hairballs if they have long hair that happens to be in the shedding stage. Actually all my long-haired cats over the years have eaten their hairballs if we don't clean them up right away.
northstar1 Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 I'm not basing this on stories but scientific evidence. It has been said that in human developmental terms an adult dog is roughly equivalent to a two-year-old which means it knows almost 300 words or signals. The average cat is more akin to an 18-month-old which means it knows about 50 words. Obviously, the more words a creature knows, the better it's able to communicate and the more it is apt to succeed in a social environment. Studies have also shown that because dogs social in packs when in the wild, they are forced to become more adept and reading verbal and non-verbal cues for survival. Notably, dogs joined human families about 14,000 years ago, while cats were first domesticated 4,500 years ago. I do not take credit for all of the information cited. If I throw a stick and tell you to fetch it, would you? Prob not. Dogs will go get it. Cats will stare at you like you are crazy and not move. Now which is smarter?
donnamaybe Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 Have you also lived with lots of doggies? Because I have lived with both, actually several at a time, but again I place greater weight in scientific evidence except when it comes to matters of religion Yes, I have. My ex owned two chocolate labs. Lived with 'em for 5 years, and they were "indoor dogs" so I observed them constantly. You would see a spark of intelligence here or there, but on the whole MY take is that the cats were more intelligent. You'd throw a ball, and nothing was safe. It was like there was nothing else in their world at that moment but the ball. Hell, they even knocked over the grandbaby one time in their quest for whatever the hell they were going after. Stupid arse dogs.
stace79 Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 If I throw a stick and tell you to fetch it, would you? Prob not. Dogs will go get it. Cats will stare at you like you are crazy and not move. Now which is smarter? That would depend on your objective. Dogs are very affectionate, loyal and obedient (for the most part anyway). They want your love and affection and attention, thus by retrieving the toy, they are achieving their goal. Cats are relatively standoffish, so they would not achieve their goal by retrieving the stick.
northstar1 Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 There is also great variation amongst dog breeds in terms of Intelligence. Top Border Collies Poodles German Shepherd Labs/Retrievers Rottweilers Bottom Bulldogs Chow Hounds Pekingese Beagles Mastiffs
donnamaybe Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 That would depend on your objective. Dogs are very affectionate, loyal and obedient (for the most part anyway). They want your love and affection and attention, thus by retrieving the toy, they are achieving their goal. Cats are relatively standoffish, so they would not achieve their goal by retrieving the stick. You're right. Dogs are suck ups.
Author jw90063 Posted October 29, 2009 Author Posted October 29, 2009 http://cats.about.com/cs/menandtheircats/a/realmenlovecats.htm
stace79 Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 You're right. Dogs are suck ups. I can't really say bad about either species. My dog is a wonderful, calm, well-trained dog who I take to visit children at a local hospital. He is brilliant when it comes to determining if children are more fearful of him, at which point he will just sit by the bed and let them reach out to him when ready, or children who adore pets, at which point he will put his paws on the bed beside them or even crawl onto the bed with them (which they love). He has also shown aptitude with children who are in ICU with many tubes and IVs, and he seems to know he has to be extra gentle so as not to hurt them or jostle them. My cat, however, is also very sweet and loving. Since I got pregnant, she's taken to jumping on the couch with me and curling up on my chest. She lets me rub her belly, even, which is almost like a dog trait! I haven't met many animals I don't like though -- just call me Dr. DooLittle or something.
donnamaybe Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 Stace, I love all animals too. I just find dogs to be more - how should I say it? Gross?
Pink Cupcakes Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 I am not a cat person, except for outdoor farm cats. Love them. I agree with a previous poster that litter boxes are the grossest concept ever. I don't like the idea of a guy I'm dating having an indoor cat because of this, but it is not a deal breaker by any means. I don't agree that men who don't like cats are abusive in any way, as I know people who don't like dogs. It's just all personal preference.
boldjack Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 We live on a farm, and have 7 dogs 5 cats and a hedgehog (I don't consider horses, hogs orCattle or chickens/ducks etc, pets) I'v e always found cats to be the stupidest creatures on earth, next to sheep. The reason that cats won't fetch or do any work is because they haven't the wit for it. We have a sliding glass door on our back deck and the cats will ALWAYs try to run through it. The dogs understand glass.
donnamaybe Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 We live on a farm, and have 7 dogs 5 cats and a hedgehog (I don't consider horses, hogs orCattle or chickens/ducks etc, pets) I'v e always found cats to be the stupidest creatures on earth, next to sheep. The reason that cats won't fetch or do any work is because they haven't the wit for it. We have a sliding glass door on our back deck and the cats will ALWAYs try to run through it. The dogs understand glass. Oh, BS. I've seen many dogs ram into glass doors or tear a screen out of a door window or try over and over and over ad nauseum to go through a doorway with a stick in their mouth. Cats don't fetch because it's beneath them. Dogs, on the other hand, will do anything for a pat on the head.
threebyfate Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 Ahem...my cat shakes a paw, sits and still fetches sometimes, when he feels like it. He understands a combination of voice and gesture commands for different things. Not all cats or dogs are identical. We're also getting a dog in the next year, since he loves pets too but works too much to care for them on his own! So if I judged S. since he has no pets, as being a red flag, I would be 100% wrong.
Author jw90063 Posted October 29, 2009 Author Posted October 29, 2009 I was thinking I actually like kittens more than grown cats. I have 2 very cute kittens right now, and they are both very, very cute, smart and sweet. I can't imagine how someone could dislike them. One of the kittens actually sort of fetches. You throw a toy and she will go get it, pick it up, and bring it back, although not right in my hands. I've seen her collect toys in one basket and keep them all there. Its very cute. They do so many cute things!
GorillaTheater Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 I can barely tolerate my daughter's two cats. We have an old tom that we took in as a stray when he was much younger that I'm actually fairly partial to, though. I kind of admire the way he goes into the back yard for the specific purpose of facing down our (big) dogs.
Sam Spade Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 I like cats, which also makes me a good boyfriend, since girlfriends are like pets - you need to spoil them, cuddle them, give them treats, and every once in a while - discipline them when they act out :lmao:.
paperchase Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 Yes, I have. My ex owned two chocolate labs. Lived with 'em for 5 years, and they were "indoor dogs" so I observed them constantly. You would see a spark of intelligence here or there, but on the whole MY take is that the cats were more intelligent. You'd throw a ball, and nothing was safe. It was like there was nothing else in their world at that moment but the ball. Hell, they even knocked over the grandbaby one time in their quest for whatever the hell they were going after. Stupid arse dogs. And what do you think a cat will do if a bird or mouse are within eyeshot. Nothing will be safe. Cats rely more on instinct than intelligence. That's why they tear up furniture regardless of any discipline and don't respond well to negative reinforcement. When my ex declawed her cat it didn't even know it was clawless. I remember it jumping to off the couch to grab the lace curtains it used to swing from and falling. The cat did that again and again. By the way, I did not advocate declawing the cat. I understand you love cats and will defend them to the end. I love all animals but I guess I'm just not a cat guy. I'd accept a cat into my home again though if it accompanied the woman I love. So a guy that doesn't like cats is a deal breaker for you, but I have no problem embracing a woman that is a cat lover.
betamanlet Posted October 29, 2009 Posted October 29, 2009 And what do you think a cat will do if a bird or mouse are within eyeshot. Nothing will be safe. Cats rely more on instinct than intelligence. That's why they tear up furniture regardless of any discipline and don't respond well to negative reinforcement. When my ex declawed her cat it didn't even know it was clawless. I remember it jumping to off the couch to grab the lace curtains it used to swing from and falling. The cat did that again and again. By the way, I did not advocate declawing the cat. I understand you love cats and will defend them to the end. I love all animals but I guess I'm just not a cat guy. I'd accept a cat into my home again though if it accompanied the woman I love. So a guy that doesn't like cats is a deal breaker for you, but I have no problem embracing a woman that is a cat lover. YOu're right about instinct, but cats scratch things because they have claws, and they need to keep them sharp. And yes, they go after moving things, because that's what cats do. I'm watching my kitties play with a shoelace right now. They're not gonna go to harvard, but they are both self aware and don't go nuts when they see a mirror. I think they also have short memories.. But dogs are instinctual too, though I think dogs have been far more domesticated than cats have... Dogs were once wolves, but the smallest toy poodle doesn't seem much like a wolf, but a cat looks pretty much just like the african cat it's descended from. They love scratching my couch because it's made basically out of burlap.
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