It's the age old battle, the one between cat lovers and dog lovers, which is the better of the two? There are pros and cons over both species and certain aspects of one will outweigh the aspects of the other depending on the owner's needs and wants. However, this article takes on the side of the dog and will delve into some of the many reasons why dogs are better than cats.

Here are ten great reasons why dogs are better than cats.

• Dogs are highly trainable. They have a more malleable nature that enables the owner to teach them to be obedient, or to perform some kind of service or need. Guide dogs for the blind is an excellent example of a dog being able to be trained to do as they are told. After all, you never see guide cats for the blind.
• Dogs are more functional within society. This touches a little on reason 1 in that dogs can perform many services within life. Dogs are used to sniff out drugs, they are used to herd sheep or assist in hunting. They are used by the police in helping keep our streets safe. They are an extremely versatile and useful animal that man has used well.
• Within the home, they are far more loving than cats. Cats want attention when they want attention, whereas a dog is always up for a pat or some loving.
• As an extension of reason 3, a cat tends to be far more independent and treats your home like a hotel, going in and out when it feels like it. A dog is part of the home, he will always be there for you and is a constant source of company.
• You can take a dog for a walk and enjoy the exercise together. How many cats have you seen on the end of a leash? How many cats would allow that?
• Security. A dog will give your home so much more security than a cat ever would. A cat may attack if an intruder ever got into the house, but a dog's barking will ward off any potential burglar from entering in the first place.
• Sure, dogs can cause damage to your belongings, but you can at least put any loose items away to prevent such damage. A cat, however can climb up onto furniture, use the sofa as a scratching post and even damage curtains.
• When you arrive home from work, a dog will greet you with a happy smile and a wag, he will be excited to see you again. A cat may walk in a little later, not too bothered about your arrival and demand to be fed.
• Dogs are surprisingly intelligent and do understand words you say. It is said they can have the intelligence of a two year old child and perhaps have a vocabulary understanding of up to a couple of hundred words. Therefore, communication is much more fluent with a dog, you can talk to it and it will understand. A cat understands one word only, "me".
• And finally, having a dog is like having a friend. He understands empathy much more than a cat and will come to you when you are down or sad.

So, ten great reasons why dogs are better than cats. They are fantastic and versatile creatures and are loyal to you and love you for who you are rather than what you can give them.