How do I convince my wife to let me get a dog?

We've always been cat people, but my wife got a telecommuting job and was lonely at home. I decided to try a small dog breed that gets along well with other animals and is low maintenance. The one that I picked was a Rat Terrier. It totally made my wife a believer. Ours only weighs about 15 pounds and hence presents few problems that you won't get from a cat. The big difference is how devoted and attached the dog is verses the cat. I like to say that our Rat Terrier is a combination of a great dog and a great cat.

Reality check: There are problems with the dog and the cat. The cat is gone most of the time now. The cat is a neutered female, fully equipped cats might mark the house. Dogs really needs to be looked after. You can leave a cat in the house with big pans of food and water plus a sandbox and go on vacation for a week. Now we have to consider the dog when we plan even short trips. With a dog you need to take it along or find someone to care for it. Dogs are territorial and can present barking problems. One of the reasons I liked this breed is that they live longer than most large dogs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Terrier
 
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Hey I ask my mom what she would do if this happened to her and my dad before he died and she said she would have reminded him that a relationship is a 2 way street. So, maybe you can tell your wife it's a 2 way street so that results in comprimises.
 
It sounds like a small dog would be a good bet.

I would imagine that dogs are far less destructive to furniture in general than cats are and a small dog is less physically able to destroy furniture. It's actually possible to train a dog not to do something as well.

The cats probably piss all over the house anyways.

Point number three isn't a bad argument. I don't know what to say about the vet bills, but a small dog won't eat all that much.

Small dogs also have small bowel movements. Because the excrement is small, it has a disproportionately high surface area according to the square cube law. Because it has a disproportionately high surface area, it dries out and dispels very quickly.

We have two 15 pound pugs (and they are adorable, which might be another strategy to take with your wife), and whatever mess they leave in our backyard isn't a problem.

Also, it should be possible to train a dog to use a particular section of your backyard.
 
mycroftt said:
I'd check the local statutes first. In the county where I live it is illegal to let a dog roam but not so for cats. If you start stealing peoples' cats, you could be held criminally and civilly responsible - and rightfully so. Just let the dog chase 'em out of the yard! :) I heard that mothballs will keep cats from crapping in your garden but I have found that chicken wire laid flat and burried a half inch or an inch deep works even better.
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I will check before spending money on traps. Cats are included in leash laws in many cities and counties. But are they here? I'm not certain. The animal control officer sets out traps regularly to catch problem stray cats.

Albuquerque puts to sleep a thousand stray cats every month...

I keep my dog on a leash or confined in our own yard. I expect the same courtesy from other pet owners, regardless of their pet's species.
 
If you get a dog, and I have not been without a least one in almost 20 years, please consider the breed specific health issues that plague so many of today's pure breed dogs.

Give your local animal shelter a look see to find out if they have anything there that appeals to you. All breeds have behavioural characterists and find those that suit you the closest.

If your wife loves cats I think she will soon weaken towards the dog. If not I like the cable tv and pool table additions to the doghouse.
 
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