Pet fish vs. Pet dogs

[Brent419]

So my sister-in-law recently told me that fish are too much work. Her two rambunctious large dogs were "so much easier to care for". I know there are some very delicate fish species out there but I dont keep any and over the years (since I was a kid) have really ironed out my processes for fish keeping and for my fish, things seem pretty easy. Anyways, her comment got me to thinking and I have come up with this list.. Please add to it if you think of any.

Why pet fish are better than pet dogs:

1. Fish don't need to be taken outside to go potty
2. If you did take your fish outdoors to go potty, it wouldn't jump a fence and run 3 blocks away with you running down the street chasing and yelling its name
3. Fish don't leave turds in the yard
4. Fish don't leave turds in your living room
5. Fish don't have killer farts (although without a dog, I have no one to blame my killer farts on)
6. Fish don't shove their noses up your crotch to say hello
7. Fish don't hump your leg
8. Fish don't have that awkward sound dogs have when they are licking their own crotch
9. Fish don't chew up your furniture
10. Fish don't require a license from the county (although some fish are illegal and I think all dogs are legal… go figure)
11. I don't pay taxes to support a "fish warden"
12. Fish don't bark mindlessly when a squirrel is in the yard
13. Fish don't leave slimy slobber prints all over my clean windows
14. Fish don't shed all over my house, furniture, clothes and car
15. I don't trip over "fishie toys" left all over the house
16. I have never had to yell at my fish to shut up when the pizza guy comes
17. My fish don't hog the bed.
18. I have never had to put a diaper on my fish for "girlie days"
19. I have never had to take a diaper off of my fish during "girlie days"
20. I have never had to follow my dog around on a walk in a park carrying a "crap sack"
21. No kid has ever said "my fish ate my homework"
22. Fish generally do not leave their enclosures. On the rare chances they do, they don't often get too far.
23. Most fish do not require expensive trips to the vet.
24. I have never had a coworker call off work because their fish died (although I almost have once or twice)
25. I have never had to put a sweater on my fish
26. I can usually sneak 1 or 2 new fish into the house without my wife immediately catching on. I have found this not to be true with canines.
27. Adopting a fish requires way less paperwork
28. I have never had to potty train a fish
29. I have never felt the urge to waste money on a Christmas stocking full of goodies for my fish or for any of my relatives fish
30. I have never had to get out of bed in the middle of the night to let my fish outside
31. My fish have never kept me awake at night with incessant howling and/or barking

 

[davenmandy]

Love fish, don't get me wrong, but I never had a dog die in a power outage nor did I ever have a fish prevent a break and enter into my home. As deep as I am into this, if I was given an ultimatum to keep one or the other, dog will win without a second thought.

 

[Betta132]

Fish can't give you love, though. They can recognize their owner, but any sort of enthusiastic greeting is usually going to be based on the possibility of getting food. Dogs not only act like they love you, recent studies have shown that they experience the same release of chemicals in their brains as their owners, which means they are actually feeling at least genuine affection.
There are a lot of advantages to keeping fish, but I'd say it's very subjective whether or not the affection you get from a dog outweighs the trouble.
And I've never had a dog flood my room, jump out and die in the middle of the night, or stab me with a set of sharp fins.

 

[Freshwater4Life]

Apples and oranges. Both are great for completely different reasons. But no way in hell is my pitbull easier to take care of than my fish or any dog for that matter unless your a negligent owner

 

[xraycer]

7. Fish don't hump your leg

I'm a fish guy, but I gotta admit I actually enjoy this one.......when I'm witnessing it happen to other people, that is.

 

[Freshwater4Life]

Love fish, don't get me wrong, but I never had a dog die in a power outage nor did I ever have a fish prevent a break and enter into my home. As deep as I am into this, if I was given an ultimatum to keep one or the other, dog will win without a second thought.

Yea it's not even close. Like the old cliche a dog is like family. I'm sad when my fish dies but losing a dog will mess me up for awhile .

 

[Mikegoeshard]

Funny post. But nonsense none the less your comparing apples to oranges. Fish seem harder because you have to provide a whole world to a fish not just let him in the structure you live in or the old tie out in the backyard but the work would probably amount to the same but cost the fish may win out in the long run imo i spend way less money on my fish then my dog but if you add in the electric bill it may add up to the same. But fish all the way for me and i dont buy pets for affection so that's a no go for me.

 

[joshua752]

Sorry but my dog wins every time that's my,hunting partner I love fish don't get me wrong. But dogs actually care about you they will work for you and they give you all the love!

 

[xraycer]

i dont buy pets for affection

+1

 

[spotfin]

Dogs rule!