puppy or kitten?

I've had both. However, dogs take a great deal more care and attention. My last died in 2005, a beloved black Lab called Bella. I found her passing so awful that I kept putting off getting another dog. In the meantime 2 little granddaughters arrived and I go up at least every other month to spend time with them. I can leave my cat and a friend pops in to feed her - the cat comes and goes in the cat flap and is quite happy. Well I say this as she is always so pleased to see me she 'haunts' me for the rest of the day. When my suitcase comes down she glares at it and potters off grumbling. To say a cat is not affectionate must come from people who have never had them. As I sit typing this she sits next to me purring and rubbing her head on the lap top.
It's all a matter of your lifestyle when it comes to getting a dog. They must not be left more the 4 hours, need two decent walks a day - according to the breed - vet bills, spaying, insurance, wear and tear on your house with a chewing puppy. Why not get a rescue dog - but then it can come with problems too, depending on it's history. Do some research on the type of dog that would suit your needs. I know a lady in her 70's who bought a Border Collie. This dog needs so much exercise, they are better suited to country people as they really are a working dog. In the end she passed the dog onto a local farmer, in it's boredom the dog ate it's way through her furniture.
Puppies look cute but grow into dogs, sometimes big dogs. So as a dog lover really think carefully before committing yourself. Good Luck.

Dogs are fiercely loyal. Cats are total tarts. Both make great pets.

What about a rabbit – that fits your criteria JessM? I had one when I was at university. He was very beautiful, called Pheidippides and used to come to lectures with me. He eventually went to live with a friend's little sister because although he understood that that there was a difference between his litter tray and my bed, he was confused about their purpose and use to sleep in his litter tray…

My elder granddaughter keeps hoping that I shall keep alpacas or llamas when we get to NZ. She is going to be disappointed.

I often used to wonder when the kids were young and we had dogs, cats, guinea pigs and the old pony why there was so much trouble in world when said pets [and us] used to muddle along so happily.

I disagree with those who say one is either a cat person or a dog person, until current circumstances I have always had both, plus ducks, chickens, bantams, sheep and horses/ponies/donkeys!

Mr P and I currently have 3 cats, when I was with exdh in addition to the list above, we had 2 cats and three dogs.

However I would say that cats, especially 2 litter siblings, might be the better option.

Allergic to cats.

Not sure about the unconditional love when it comes to our cats! "I will love you if you feed me and let me sleep on the bed" is more like it. Definitely a pair of kittens for me though. Not quite as demanding as dogs, easier to leave for a day, and I just like them. (Do miss our Border Collie still after 7 years though)

Neither. Said with great, great regret. I do not want to be responsible for anything else, now; we travel a lot, some of it to do with our charity work, and it just wouldn't be fair to a dog or cat, who would need us. It is sad - we have always had pets, but now we just have our "grand dog" who knows us, knows our house, knows where the treats are (ring a bell?)

It is part of what I call our "self- ish" life. as opposed to "selfish". I do miss the unconditional love, though..

What are you suggesting gracesmum? Small soft little things very therapeutic - just to think about even. Feeling tense? Cup your hands in your lap and imagine they are cradling something warm and fluffy. If that fluffy thing happens to be an imaginary kitten/puppy, all the better.

This isn't going to be one of those puppies and kittens threads is it?
Grace and her predecessor also hate(d) getting their tootsies wet and her fur is so thin she dries in seconds if she has been caught in the rain without her designer Greyhound raincoat.

Aha; don't get wet dog when you have a whippet. Won't go near wetness of any kind. Except, possibly snow which fools them in some way.

To be truthful, I adore both and am sad that I have made up my mind that there will be no more of either (once the last Fonts have said goodbye). Good reasons but a sad decision.

Smell of warm puppy is great; but smell of wet dog??

Thats only for the first few weeks, I find; wonderful smell of milk and puppy. I bred a few litters of cocker spaniels and they were adorable [while their mum was still cleaning up the mess ].

Hypothetically absent kittens are adorable. Fluffy balls of cuteness. So I can see the appeal.
Puppies do have it on the smell front though. Not the pee and poo but the smell of warm puppy.

Sounds good doesn't it

I used to know a mare called Rowan. Wonderful to ride but, go in her stable and you were a gonner.

Whatever absent is on, I would like some too, please!

Jess You don't like cats. What on earth are you talking about?

If everything was equal, I 'd have a couple of both. I dream about having five Dobermans, called Daisy, Buttercup, Caroline, Bluebell and Pansy. I also dream about having Figaro the duck, whom you must not feed because he sinks, Alphabet the pig, and the two horses. Rowan is a pretty little mare; the big he-horse is glorious, but I cannot remember his name when I am awake. There was bad moment in my dream when I went to the library and a parking warden slapped a ticket on the he-horses' bum. He bit her.

Actually the only two dogs who have ever bitten me were a chihuahua and a Pekingese with no teeth but VERY hard gums!

I've known a few chihuahua's in my time. I think fang is a very appropriate name .

Definitely puppy. One like the guard dog called fang that the concierge for our building has.

It's a chihuahua

I was planning to have a dog in my retirement, but dog-proofing the garden would have been quite an undertaking, and the temptation to paddle/swim in the brook at the end of the garden would have been overwhelming. Standard poodle would have been my choice. A cat would have met its end on the road which is quite busy.
Get one of each Jess, if you're really thinking about it.

Basset when of course the rules don't apply

Lightbulb moment!! Dogs are supposed to come when you call them. Cheers nina I've just explained that to my 3 year old basset. She gave me a withering look and says that is wrong

Always a puppy....love the challenge!

Oh I forgot about the curtains. We had cats/kittens for years that never climbed curtains and then, for some reason they all did. I've only just got round to buying new curtains after years of scruffy curtains with catches all over them. And I used to have two lots of clothes; my cat clothes and my going out clothes [the latter being the ones without catches all over].