> Dom/Sub Domestic dogs co-evolved with humans. While they can survive on their own, their evolutionary niche is humans. The most successful strays will still

> Dom/Sub Domestic dogs co-evolved with humans. While they can survive on their own, their evolutionary niche is humans. The most successful strays will still forage human garbage. Don't get a dog if you have anger management or emotional problems. It's not fair to the dog. > Apartments Agree with this - being left in an apartment all day isn't fair to a dog, especially for large/athletic dogs. It's also not fair to your neighbors (if you live in a city) to have a dog at home barking a good portion of the day. Our dogs have a 1 acre fenced yard that we give them regular access to, and we walk them 6 or 7 times a day. It's a lot of work. > Parental instincts It's true that dogs can fill an emotional need as "fur babies". It might seem gross, but if it means fewer humans (and the dog was a rescue anyway) then surely it's a net positive in terms of resource use/environmental impact. If you're pursuing a DINK plan towards early retirement, every little thing you can do to fool your genetic programming is good. > Dog industry If you're going to get a dog, get a rescue mutt. Most of the modern breeds are a) relatively recent inventions (~150 years), b) genetically inferior due to cross breeding. Dogs are by default mutts. (Excellent book: "What is a dog?") If you're new to dog ownership, don't rescue a mutt (or "pure" breed) that has a reputation for aggressiveness or neurosis. (Having made this mistake and rescued a pit/boxer as our second dog.) Fostering rather than adopting is a good way to try-before-you-commit. Rescuing a middle aged or older dog who has already been trained may be a good way to get into dog ownership, as you're signing up for a 4-6 year responsibility rather than 10-12 years. Yes, you miss the puppy stage, but middle aged dogs can be plenty charming. > Western (/first world) dogs After having lived in the US for half of our lives, we now live in a country where the local relationship to dogs is very different. Almost all customers at the local vet are expats. A dog will often "adopt" a local household and end up being fed, but usually they're not restrained, and the emotional bond is different. If the dog wonders off into the wilderness, locals aren't going to spend much time looking for it. The average lifespan for typical dogs who live like this is much lower than those owned by expats, or those kept as pets in the US. Is free, wilder and short-lived better than kept, domesticated and long-lived? Somewhat depends on the circumstance in which the dog is kept, and the owner - so probably sometimes.