OT: Wrong pets?

Why do we keep cats and dogs as pets when they're so bloody thick? Why not monkeys?

Reply to
Jimmy Wilkinson Knife
Loading thread data ...

People do not like pets more intelligent than they although with monkeys it's a toss-up. Chimps, which are apes, are smarter. The are also a pain in the ass.

formatting link

I watched the Today show before going off to school. Muggs was definitely the brains of the operation.

Reply to
rbowman

Apes are trouble. Humans are apes. Cats & dogs are generally much better adjusted.

NT

Reply to
tabbypurr

Nice try, but I'm not having you in my home.

Reply to
Richard

You have answered your own question. We want to feel superior. In any case, most dog owners like them as they are like young children, and most cat lovers like them because they are independent and a little daft. They are also cute and stroking a cat which likes it can be a great way to calm down. Monkeys on the other hand need to be with other monkeys. Being intelligent unlike dogs they need companionship of members of their own species, whereas dogs make us into honorary dogs of their pack which is why we must act as pack leader to keep them in check. Also looking after a monkey often requires specialist dietary needs and a good environment or for their mental health.

Now other animals are available of course , but many are really short lived, which means a major problem for the owner every couple of years, or tend to maybe hard to keep, like snakes and reptiles and insects, or fish, and not easy to stroke a fish. Birds, well hard to keep humanely in my view, as they fly and hence that is an issue.

The question of why we keep pets is an interesting one though. Brian

Reply to
Brian Gaff

Yes I was minded to treat him as the troll he tends to be, but Trolls live under bridges not in houses. So I replied in the normal sane manner. Brian

Reply to
Brian Gaff

Parrots are good pets. Quite a bit of mess and you need to keep them away from things they can chew like wires and furniture, but their shit doesn't stink like cats and dogs.

Reply to
Jimmy Wilkinson Knife

You're one of the few sane people in here.

Reply to
Jimmy Wilkinson Knife

Not even if I let you tie me up?

Reply to
Jimmy Wilkinson Knife

Because, like you, they can't be house trained.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

I don't. I want a 'companion animal' because of just that.

I assume you are talking of the intelligence level? It's all part of the relationship. We don't want to trap (any more than we do) an animal that might be longing to be 'in the wild' or requires a greater quantity of enrichment that most people are able to provide in a domestic environment.

They love them because they don't want the responsibility of a dog. ;-)

Or stroking any animal that isn't likely to scratch or bite for no genuine reason, especially in an old folks home etc.

Agreed. They are social creatures.

I guess you aren't suggested dogs aren't intelligent here?

Dogs do also like company of their own species, even if they aren't given it.

I don't think they make us anything, we create that status over them.

Correct (to what degree depending on the character of the dog).

Quite.

I'm not sure it's a 'major problem', picking up another hamster for the kids from the local pet shop and putting the dead one in the bin?

I'd say many of those you have listed are generally easier to keep than cat or dog?

Some people do. ;-)

Agreed ... however, I 'rescued' a pigeon that had a damaged wing and looked after it as a ground based animal for a couple of years with no real issues.

Agree, for anything other than dogs, *if* you are looking for a real companion animal.

That role stemmed from us using dogs to work for and protect us and our livestock / possessions for thousands of years, so they slowly worked their way into our homes as just 'companions'.

Now we further use them to rescue us when lost on a mountain or struggling in water, or to protect us from harm with sniffing explosives and weapons, to deterring crime with the sniffing of drugs or cash to detecting serious illness and disease. Plus all the roles of them acting as auxiliary eyes, ears or hands re all the 'helper' dogs (not cats). ;-)

So, I didn't take on our rescue dogs because I wanted something to feel superior over, I did so because I wanted them to have a good life and knew I would gets loads from them in return.

Having a good dog as a companion is sometimes easier than having human company because *they* are generally happy just to be with you, no matter what you are doing. ;-)

Cheers, T i m

Reply to
T i m

but can be dangerous via Histoplasmosis and others, my dad kept pareetkeets & budgies had about 80 at one time.

formatting link

Reply to
whisky-dave

Everything is dangerous if you believe the propaganda.

Reply to
Jimmy Wilkinson Knife

What even Earths ;-)

Reply to
whisky-dave

Prick.

Reply to
Mr Pounder Esquire

Prick.

Reply to
Mr Pounder Esquire

The planet or the grounding system?

Reply to
Jimmy Wilkinson Knife

Keep your jealousy to yourself, you will never get to play with me naked.

Reply to
Jimmy Wilkinson Knife

Gullible f****it.

Reply to
Jimmy Wilkinson Knife

Unemployable on the dole 43 year old prick.

Reply to
Mr Pounder Esquire

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.