I open my front door and there Tango, my aussiedoodle, is: jumping, barking, and trying to lick my face. He’s so excited to see me, even though I was only gone for a few hours. Any dog owner knows it’s the best feeling: the feeling of being appreciated and loved by your dogs, especially after coming home from a long day. And dogs can’t even speak, but their actions speak louder than any words could. 

You know who wouldn’t be there to greet me at the door, though? A cat. While cats can be cute, dogs are the superior companion.

Firstly, dogs have a sense of loyalty to them that is unmatchable by cats. Cats are known for their independence, whereas dogs are known as “a man’s best friend.” It’s more than just being greeted at the door, too. 

Dogs are devoted and loyal to their owners. According to the National Library of Medicine, while 15% of dog and cat owners lose their pets, dogs have a 93% recovery rate, and cats have a 75%. Dogs are also more reactive than cats. From my own experience, every time someone sneezes around my dog, Tango, he never fails to run to you and check on you. And this is not just Tango. Dogs are supportive and used as service animals, whereas cats are not. There can be service, guide, and hearing dogs. According to the US Service Animals.org, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that “service animals are defined as dogs that are trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.” Notice how they said “dogs,” not “cats.”

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Rayma Miller

Rayma’s other dog Cash.

Additionally, dogs have more variety and personality. There’s a golden retriever who is more of a family dog. Or there are hunting dogs like pointers or hounds. Dogs don’t just fit into one category. There are 5-pound weiner dogs or 110-pound great dane. You can go on a hike with a dog or even stay in bed all day and cuddle with your dog.  If you need more protection and security, you can get a german shepard. Dogs are even used in law enforcement to utilize their superpower of smell. 

It is true that cats are generally less expensive than dogs. But cats are less engaged with their owners and not always the best-behaved. This is even seen in the media world. In the movie “Lady and the Tramp,” the Siamese cats are the ‘bad guys’ and the ones that cause all the trouble. Whereas all the dogs in the movie actually care for their owners. 

Or think about “Scooby Doo.” Scooby Doo is an example of the caring, loyal, and helpful nature of dogs. Scooby Doo may be a little reckless and fearful, but he always fixes his mistakes and sticks with his pack. Even in the media world, dogs are superior to cats. 

Overall, dogs offer more than just companionship; they provide emotional support, loyalty, protection, and a relationship unexplainable by words. Cats have their own appeal, but dogs stand out more. Cats are pets, whereas dogs are family.

For myself, I don’t need statistics or movies to know that dogs are better. When I go home today, I know Tango will be there, and he proves my point even further. Dogs aren’t just better; they make our lives better.