If I had to go with a dog, it would probably be a black labrador. When I was growing up, our neighbor had a couple of them - and they were great dogs.

A freind of mine has a black lab, and ditto on the great dog part. He is fiercely loyal and protective, but not aggressive unless he senses a threat. He gets along great with other dogs.

 

I am by no means saying I don't like dogs. I love dogs, I am just more of a cat person. If I had my way, I'd also have a German Shepherd or a black lab. They are great dogs, but they require a lot of space, and with the size of my house they're out of the question.

 

Actually a dog will eat carrion, it is in their nature.

As I mentioned earlier, dogs will scavange when prey is scarce:

Wolves are carnivores and hunt medium to large animals such as deer, elk, wild boar, sheep and ibex. Smaller animals like rabbits and mice are caught, too. They start eating the viscera and organs, followed by the muscles. In times of scarcity wolves will also eat carrion and sometimes manure. Plants and berries are eaten as supplements to the diet.

Source: http://www.dynamisch.nu/feno/english/e5cat.html

 

Dogs aren't scavengers. They are pack hunters.

I'll have to disagree with that! The dog is designed with long legs for covering large distances at low energy output, and a superb sense of smell for sniffing out carrion and tracks. It's primary food technique is to cover large distances, usually sniffing a sick or wounded animal or carrion and follow it until the dog eventually gets a meal. All scavengers share that trait of being excellent at covering large areas, wearing down weak sick prey and sniffing out opportunity. Scavenger traits typical of vultures etc.

Cat are hunters, they sleep and wait a lot, and spend resources watching and analysing the behaviour of the prey and planning hunting tactics. The cat has multiple weapons including great speed and strenth per pound (much greater than a dog) all designed for a fast kill. All hunting traits, shared by hunters. Animals like eagles etc.

I agree dogs CAN hunt, but their overall design is that of a scavenger.

 

All animals scavange, it is often easier than hunting, less energy required. Why hunt when you can steal? Only humans are stupid enough to purposefully run marathons

I am scared of cats now, lying there in wait, studying its "owner", waiting for the right time to strike...

 

That pretty much sums up what they do, for real.

 

I'll have to disagree with that! The dog is designed with long legs for covering large distances at low energy output, and a superb sense of smell for sniffing out carrion and tracks. It's primary food technique is to cover large distances, usually sniffing a sick or wounded animal or carrion and follow it until the dog eventually gets a meal. All scavengers share that trait of being excellent at covering large areas, wearing down weak sick prey and sniffing out opportunity. Scavenger traits typical of vultures etc.

Dogs are pack hunters, as I've shown by linking expert knowledge on the subject. Excellent sense of smell and ablility to cover large tracks are also traits of good hunters. Abality to sense fear or excitement in prey gives the dog an edge in the hunt. Further, dogs hunt as a pack with excellent communication, coordination, planning and division of labor. This has been extensively documented, so 'opinions' are irrelevant. For example, the previous link proved that dogs bring down medium size prey, such as deer, elk, wile boar and ibex. Film documenting wild dog hunts in Africa clearly show how the pack works together to catch and kill prey, and how they use vocal communication to alert the pack to a kill, so that they may share amongst theirselves. There is just too much documentation to deny. A dog's primary technique for getting food is pack hunting. They scavenge as an alternarive when prey is scarce.

From the earlier link:

A wolf hunts on scent, stalks its prey and tries to pounce on it. If that does not succeed, it will pursue, usually no more than a few km. The pack can also hunt indefatigably, but rarely does. Wolves have great endurance.

 

...
They scavenge as an alternarive when prey is scarce.
...

They hunt as an alternative when there is no easy food lying on the ground.

When there's food around dogs give up hunting behaviour.

But a pure hunter like a cat will go and bring home prey even when well fed.

And if dogs are any good at hunting why do they need a pack? Sounds a bit lame to me.

 

Dogs don't give up hunting behaviour; they scavange when prey is scarce, just as the links have said. It's in their nature to be hunters. In lean times, they scavange as an alternative to starving. Many of the dog breeds are in colder, northern climates. Game moves with the seasons, but the pack doesn't necessarily move with the herds. They hunt in packs because it works best for them. They take down prey that's much larger than any single dog. It takes a pretty intelligent animal to coordinate, communicate and cooperate. Doesn't sound lame at all to me.

 

A freind of mine has a black lab, and ditto on the great dog part. He is fiercely loyal and protective, but not aggressive unless he senses a threat. He gets along great with other dogs.

Thats rare as hell. A black lab that would actually spend the energy to protect something other then its food bowl? Having two mix labs one pit/lab the other Shepard/lab. And having known 1000's of labs delivering pizza's when I did that. I can tell you a lab that would even ever bite is exceptionally rare. Labs are about the sweetest dogs on the planet and your couldn't make one bite even beating it. Thats not saying you didn't get a 1 in a million dog. But most labs are so lazy they don't do jack past the age of 5 except eat and sleep. I love em. There big sweet dumb fatazzed dogs that love to sleep and sunbathe.

 

Labs are hunting dogs, far from lazy. They might be content to lie around when nothing is going on, but when it's time to do their jobs, they are spot on. I used to toss sticks into the lake, and he would swim out to retreive them. He wasn't formally trained to do that, it was all instinct. And as I said, he was not aggressive, but he was protective, due to being very loyal.

 

Labs are hunting dogs, far from lazy. They might be content to lie around when nothing is going on, but when it's time to do their jobs, they are spot on. I used to toss sticks into the lake, and he would swim out to retreive them. He wasn't formally trained to do that, it was all instinct. And as I said, he was not aggressive, but he was protective, due to being very loyal.

I definitely agree with that. I don't think I have ever met a single lazy dog. Perhaps some bloodhounds could be called lazy, but really any dogs I've ever seen were always excited, hopping around, and happy to see someone

I have to admit, cats ARE very lazy, compared to dogs

 

 

I definitely agree with that. I don't think I have ever met a single lazy dog. Perhaps some bloodhounds could be called lazy, but really any dogs I've ever seen were always excited, hopping around, and happy to see someone

I have to admit, cats ARE very lazy, compared to dogs

That's because cats add muscle mass just laying there.

 

In my book, supremacy is directly proportional to boxing prowess, so let us check out a dog and cat duking it out, and end this debate on a decisive note.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mgc0g-gTBAs

 

Cause your gog will come sit with you even if you have been sprayed by a skunk and fell into the septic tank. Dogs have the only true unconditional love on the planet. Bet our wives would all pass on the opportunity for a hug like that. Mines so unsympathetic she would ask what I did to **** off the skunk and what I though I was gonna do swimming in the septic tank with all my clothes on still.
Bob

 

Cause your gog will come sit with you even if you have been sprayed by a skunk and fell into the septic tank. Dogs have the only true unconditional love on the planet. Bet our wives would all pass on the opportunity for a hug like that. Mines so unsympathetic she would ask what I did to **** off the skunk and what I though I was gonna do swimming in the septic tank with all my clothes on still.
Bob

Hahaha, Bob, you have my sympathy

I just had to mention that that sort of loyalty is not limited to dogs. If brought up correctly and treated well, cats can be just as loyal. My Siamese (especially the male) wouldn't care in the least about the smell. His only concern is that he gets attention from me at least before bed and first thing in the morning (oh, and of course he needs to be fed. If he doesn't, he literally rips the bottom of the cat food bag open until it spills out ).

I love dogs, and I always will, but I can tell that I will still always be more of a cat person anyway.

Der Strom

 

I had a tomcat that used to take me for walks down the street. He was a big fighting cat about 10kg (22 lbs) (not desexed) and he would disappear for days, then turn up and make a fuss for me to follow him. Then he would walk off down the street six or seven houses, turning and myowing every few yards if I was slow to follow. Then he would disappear up the side of someones house and pop up on top of their hot water heater, looking real proud. He was showing me his new territory he spent a couple of days fighting to conquer.

He was a very cool cat, and had a huge head and real big teeth, and a real deep throaty "myowl" voice. None of the dogs on the street would go near him.

 

I remember my brother living in a neighborhood where a bobcat had been adopted. All the other tomcats had a haunted look about them.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g85wBkhFhjo

Just had to...