Some people like dogs and cats equally. I only like a few dogs, but all cats. In general, I prefer that my neighbors have no dogs, but if they must, I hope for small ones, preferably chihuahuas. At my summer home I have five neighbors adjacent to my lot and all five of them have dogs. So I don't think I had better get a cat. But I did luck out on one thing. Two of the neighbors have chihuahuas. I like Chihuahuas. Also, all of the dog owners have nice fenced-in yards, which their dogs usually stay inside, so that makes me happy.
I would not like to have anybody's
dog digging around in my yard.
As much as I prefer for the others to have small dogs, for myself if I were to have a dog, it would be a big one, but one with delicate features, like whippet. They have the most beautiful eyes. Having a dog, whether large or small is a big responsibility, though, and the part I would dread most would be as I could not bear the reproachful looks.
If I were to go to all the trouble of having a pet, it would certainly be one of the family and allowed in the house at least part of the time. That is another reason why I do not have a pet. The main reason, though, is that I like my freedom to travel and come and go as I like. I frequently skip meals, but could not do that to a cat or a dog.
Also, I think that owners of big dogs should live out in the country, with at least five acres of land on which to run around. Either a cat or a dog would help keep gophers out of the garden, the dog by chasing them out, and the cat by leaving little deposits that gophers do not like. On the other hand, check my next post for more on gophers.