Nancy, I respectfully disagree with your comment that given the choice you would rather a dog live in the city than a dog live in the country and never leaves his back yard. First, who says that just because a dog lives in the country means that he's always in his back yard? And just because a dog lives in the city, that his owner takes him for walks? It all boils down to a pet owner who takes the times to exercise his pet. I have two dogs who are both high energy. Tucker is an English Setter and Maddy is a 3 year old lab. I live close by two public parks. I take my dogs to one of them off leash where I see several regulars who all pick up after their pets. In this small town, I see dogs who are tied up all the time when they are outside. There is one family that has two dogs (one a chow and the other a spaniel of some sort) that have about a 10 foot lead to their dog houses. These people could take their dogs to the park but don't. When I walk by their house with my dogs, their dogs constantly bark. The owner usually comes out the door and tells her dogs to shut up. The point is, these people live as close to the park as I do but I never see them there. I suppose it's possible for these people to walk their dogs when I am not watching but I don't think they do. When I've seen the family outside, the dogs are still tied up. My heart goes out to dogs who live in solitary confinement like that.
It doesn't matter whether a dog lives in a city or in the country. What matters is if the dog is being well cared for and getting the exercise, proper diet, and socialization that he needs.
I don't think it's fair to stereotype a dog owner because of where he lives. Alyssa

Hi Aylssa,
We agree! Maybe I got a wee bit defensive thinking that people would think that dogs don't belong in the city.

Nancy, I can understand how you could get a little defensive about people thinking that dogs don't belong in the city. I feel that those people are the ones who don't have dogs or like them very much. No problem. Not everybody loves dogs and in that case, it is better for them not to own one. Nothing worse than having a dog just for protection instead of a loving pet. And sometimes you get those well meaning individuals who love dogs but once they own one, they realize how much work they really are. The shelters are full of surrendered dogs because their owner didn't have enough time to devote to them. And although I feel bad when I see that, I also can breathe a sign of relief knowing that perhaps somebody else can make the commitment to give that dog the life in which it deserves. My dogs are a very big part of my family. When I come home from work or wherever, they are the ones to greet me at the door to say "Hello...when's dinner?!" Everybody else just talks to me from the couch. Alyssa