This is my favorite photo of the dogs. There is such a sweetness, a gentleness to it. I have it framed and it lives on our living room wall.
I am a dog person. I wasn’t always. When I was a wee child, about 2 years old, a family friend’s dog jumped up on me and knocked me over. I became terrified of dogs – so much so that when I walked to my piano lesson about 6 blocks away from our home, I would cross the street if I saw any dog.
So my parents wisely decided to get a dog. They figured the only way to help rid me of my fear was for me to get to know and love a dog. He was a terrier named Friskie. I distinctly remember the barrier my parents put up between the kitchen and the living room which kept Friskie safely away from me in those first days. Mom would lift me up and carry me from room to room. Gradually, Friskie and I became friends. He slept in my bed with me. I would lift up the covers and he would burrow his way down to the foot of the bed where he felt cozy and warm. Friskie lived to be 16. Other wonderful dogs came our way. (Remind me to tell you the story of Shannon and my dad’s dentures some day.) It was a no cat household until I had moved out (I’m allergic to cat dander) and my sister conned my parents into rescuing a barn cat. Now they have two cats.
I spent years dreaming of having a dog. Because my life during graduate school and beyond consisted of small apartment living and long hours of work, I had to hold off. It wasn’t until Don and I moved in together that we got our beloved Winston, a rescued Aussie Shepherd mix. Then Scout, also a rescue, came into our lives. After we lost Winston at the far too young age of 8, it was just Scout until Riley came along.
I must be honest and say that I wasn’t particularly thrilled with cats until I worked for a Veterinarian. Being around them all the time really changed that and I grew to admire and like them. Nevertheless, I’m allergic and I don’t want to hassle with even more allergy trouble than I already have.
I can’t imagine not having a dog in my life. My dogs are great teachers and make me a better person.
What about you? Are you a cat person? Are you a dog person? Or are you someone who has both a cat and a dog? Or more? Please share. I’m all ears.
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The winners of a copy of Maman’s Homesick Pie by Donia Bijan are Lucille (who doesn’t have a blog) and Sheila of The Quintessential Magpie. Congratulations! Send me an email with your mailing address and I will forward it on to TLC Book Tours.
Claudia,
I love both but now have neither. I love my friends’ animals. Very strict leash laws and picking up poop greatly affected this decision. I am allergic to some cats now as well. But I love them and loved all the ones I had and were part of my life!
Carol
Dogs all the way (just ask Max), but cats are lovely just not for me.
Mere
Both but we have only our sweet boy Clovis the cat now. He is my constant companion to the degree that I must blow dry cat hair out of my laptop. He travels with me and tolerates it very well and hates for me to leave him so I don’t. I keep telling Joe we need a dog and he is mulling it over. When Joe retires and we are in one house I think we will get a dog and maybe another cat. Why not?
Both, but more a dog person. We have 3 dogs and 5 cats. 3 cats in, 2 out.
Dogs and cats. When we were raising our 5 children we always had at least 2 dogs (plus at various times hampsters, rabbits, a white rat, a robin, colored chickens that turned into roosters, yikes, etc.) Our dogs all lived to be in their late teens.
Once our kids flew the nest we were without pets for a few years until a friend brought us a kitten. We fell head over heals and soon got a second one. Our cats were indoor cats only. They too lived a long and happy life. They were perfect for us at that stage of our life.
Hi Claudia,
I’m a dog and horse person, growing up I had a dog, cat and 3 horses. Now I only have a dog, a sweet Lab, no horses because I can’t afford them! I like cats, but never thought to get one. And, I remember being terrified of a little mean dog that lived near my aunt. It went crazy every time I walked to the corner store for her and I was terrified!
-Lynn
A definite dog person here, as is my husband. Cats kind of creep me out even though we had one when I was a child. The long haired cats make my close feel like it’s closing up so most likely an allergy to them also.
Each time we have lost a dog to illness I have said, ‘no more dogs’. But then I go out and get one or two more… Just can’t seem to do without having them around… :-))
*make my throat feel like it’s closing up* Just to clarify on my post above.
I am a dog person…I am also allergic to cat dander.
Love that photo of your two dogs!
I GREW UP WITH BOTH, AND I LOVE THEM ALL. WHEN I WAS A CHILD WE HAD A SMALL FARM, AND WE HAD ALL SORTS OF ANIMALS…I AM AN ANIMAL LOVER ALL THE WAY. MY LAST DOG TO CALL MY OWN WAS REILLY, HE LIVED UNTIL HE WAS 14 YEARS OLD. I LIVE WITH MY DAUGHTER JACKIE AND THEY HAVE 4 DOGS…ACE THE SHEPHERD AND THEIR TWO LITTLE CHIHUAHUA’S WHO ARE INSIDE, AND JACK 1/2 SHEPHERD AND 1/2 MALAMUTE OUTSIDE.
2 INSIDE CATS EMMA AND ALEX, A RABBIT MISS TIBSEY, A HAMSTER AND A GUINEA PIG . NOW THE KIDS WANT A HORSE. MY FAVORITE DOG IS A MALAMUTE. HAVE A NICE DAY. RIZZI
I like both cats and dogs, but I’m definitely a dog person. We have two dogs. A rescue shepherd mix named Abby who is 12 years old, gentle and oh so sweet. And a two-year-old English Springer spaniel named Lilly who is lovable and silly and full of energy.
When I was a child I was affraid of dogs so my parents decided to have a dog. I remember the day my father brought the dog to our home. I hid under the grand piano. So affraid of the little dog. He’s name was Mörli. The -li shows how little he actually was. This still makes me smile. We alwas had a dog but cats too.
When I had children I could not imagine to go for walks with them AND a dog. I didn’t even have enough arms and hands for the boys.
So this is what I am today: a cat person. I like them because they are independent. They come in for food but stay outside. They really love the place we live, because there is no traffic, beautiful meadows and lots of mice. I don’t have to walk the cats. They don’t feel lonely when I am not around. They are easy to live with. :-)
I have always had a dog or dogs(Boston Terriers) in my life but when our boys were growing up we got a cat and then a stray came along that we decided to keep. The stray lived 20 yrs and our other one 18. They were both very sweet. Now we have 2 Chihuahuas that are the joys in our lives. I don’t think I like living without a pet and I believe that all that have passed on… I will be reunited with someday.~Hugs, Patti
I am a dog person for sure. Though I think some cats are gorgeous (My friend had a persian that was breathtakingly beautiful) I can’t imagine our house without my Max.
Blessings, Joanne
Dog person. Definitely. Big dogs, mostly. I have both big dogs and little ones, and the big ones are so loyal and friendly. The little ones…eh, well, they are loyal…to some of us.
I am also allergic to cat dander, but years ago we bought an 1860 farmhouse with an old foundation and the mostly useful way to control the mouse population was to get a cat. That was 17 years and 2 houses ago and we still have that cat. My allergies actually died down a bit after living with cats.
We live on a farm and having a dog is a must. They are my doorbell, raccoon deterrent, and alarm system all rolled into one. I can’t imagine life without dogs.
~cathy
I am a cat person. I currently have two. However, I think I could be a dog person too. In fact, I’m wanting to adopt a dog whenever we get a house of our own. :-)
Both, but I have only had dogs for the past 26 years. Ex was allergic to cats and son was too..so dogs it is. :D
I often think someday..a cat, but I hate the whole litter box thing. growing up with cats in the country they roamed- no litter boxes :D
xx
z
I am definitely a dog person!!!! I hate most cats except my neighbour’s cat. My neighbours cat is adorable and doesn’t annoy me at all. I have a dog called Harley and he is a bichon frise (poodlish thing) and he never acts like a poodle at all!! He acts more like a pig. But he loves cuddles.
I have had both dogs and cats, and I love both. I would be hard pressed to choose between them because I have loved my cats as much as my dogs. They are all wonderful. Gogs are like babies, and cats are like teenagers. Dogs love everyone, but cats are picky. If you are loved by a cat, you have accomplished something BIG. LOL! And if a dog loves you, they love you to death and beyond. They are loyal to the core. So that’s BIG, too. You just don’t have to work as hard, but the returns are enormous.
That being said, I will turn to another matter. I am thrilled about my win, Claudia. I sent you my address already, but I can’t thank you enough! YEA! I will read and report on this when I get the book. It made my day!
XO,
Sheila :-)
Wait a second. I was ready to comment on the gray haired one and then it disappeared on me. Oh, well, just know I’m so jealous how nice your’s is going. I went virgin about two years ago and it’s very slowly going. At least it’s not a zebra stripe. Call me crazy, but I love the gray stuff. Wisdom for the years.
I’m definately a cat lover, I love their air of independence. Having a cat around the house is the thing that I miss most now that we live in rental apartments here in Sydney. In my dreams of returning to live in the New Zealand cottage a cat and a few chickens always feature.
I love both but right now, we just have one kitty due to too many travels. But one day again, we will rescue a fine dog!
Oh, I am a dog person! I have three and they are so much a part of our family. We love them all dearly. Twyla
Cats.
My husband has said if you believe in reincarnation, you want to come back as one of my cats ;-)
I like dogs if I know their owner but I’m not naturally drawn to them.
I am definitely a dog person. I like pretty much all animals, but dogs are just super special… especially my shaggy mutt. I love him so much… and totally understand your love for your sweet furbabies!
Hugs,
Jill
Claudia, I want to thank you again for the book. I look forward to reading it with all my heart. It is truly my sort of book. I will let you know what I think after I have finished reading it.
As for dogs and cats, I am a dog person. As for cats, I adore them but just to look at them. I have a fear of cats that began in childhood. My mother and her sisters were afraid of cats and passed on to me their fear. Strangely enough, it went away for a while when my daughter-in-laws cat took to me. But, after he died, my fear returned. I can’t explain it. And, even more strange, they seem to be attracted to me. I think your parents were fantastic to do what they did to rid you of your fear of dogs. I have had four dogs in my life and they did enrich my life and they are such good companions. I would not want another one. I can’t see myself getting up at dawn and going through the elevator thing and all that.
Claudia, I forgot to mention how much I love that photo of Scout and Riley. It’s so obvious that those two dogs love and trust one another. They look so comfortable together!
I love kitty cats. We have two. But I also love all the doggies that belong to my neighbors and friends. When I was growing up we had cats and dachshunds, abd a turtle, and a guinea pig and a parrot…
I guess I really do just love all animals.
What’s your best guess? ;-) Actually, I love both, but cats have a way of wrapping me around their little dewclaws (meaning, I’m really hooked on them)! :-)
Totally a dog person here … we have six of them! And quite actively not a cat person.
Just found your lovely blog and I’m hooked already.
I’m more of a dog person although I like both. I too, am very allergic to cats but we have a neighbor cat that likes to visit that I seem to be able to tolerate.
I too, can’t imagine my life without dogs. They are great teachers.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated” Mahatma Gandhi
~Sandy