Why does the countryside archetype ....

[WeirdArchitecture]

...such as Country Living and, say... Joules, for instance, put so much emphasis on dog ownership over cats? Having grown up on a farm and living rural/semi rural for much of my life, I find most people are a mix of the two.

Is it a seleling point? I guess dogs can have holidays in ways which cat's could not (dog friendly cottages!), not to mention them being welcome in pubs, etc. But the imagery and inclusiveness really speaks to dog owners as a dominant thing, which possiblyy doesn't reflect reality, more so than it prefers to signify 'gentry' or some such English trope.

What say you?

ahem, selling point.

Because dogs are just better 🤷🏻‍♀️

@Quickchangeartiste

Because dogs are just better 🤷🏻‍♀️

Agree... Most of the landed gentry spend their days traipsing across the fields with their faithful campanions in tow...

Yeah dogs are better though.

My cat says otherwise

We live rurally. Every single one of my DC’s classmates has at least 1 dog.

Because dogs do jobs.

Cats are feckless fuckers.

Because it's pretty difficult to get a cat to pose for a photo compared to a dog?!

And if it’s imagery in Country Living etc you’re thinking of, it’s hard to have a rural outdoorsy photo shoot with a bunch of cats (there’s a phrase for just how hard ) whereas your spaniels, labradors and pointers will happily pose in the middle of a field or up a hillside.

From experience - dogs are more likely to do what you tell them on a photo shoot.

Cat owner implies introvert while dog owner implies extrovert.

I worked in advertising and that's why women in cat food adverts always had to wear a wedding ring 🤣

Dogs have owners who are there friends, people take them on holiday, for long walks in the countryside, they shit outside.

Cats have carers and lodgers who they use for food and being stroked, they won't go for walks with you and they shit in a box in your house.

Cats have staff, dogs have doting owners.

this is ...interesting, thanks!

shit-in-a-box

@Homeontherangeuk Agree... Most of the landed gentry spend their days traipsing across the fields with their faithful campanions in tow...

Misread this as "faithful campervans" 😂

@Jumbojem

Because it's pretty difficult to get a cat to pose for a photo compared to a dog?!

Love it when people say what you are thinking.

Posh breed dog looks pretty and happy in front of the camera. Generic cat sits there and puts a face on like a slapped arse just as the shutter closes.

@NeverDropYourMoonCup

Posh breed dog looks pretty and happy in front of the camera. Generic cat sits there and puts a face on like a slapped arse just as the shutter closes.

😂😂love it ! So true 😁

Having recently been acquired by a cat, I have to disagree. She loves to follow me around the yard, sits on the dash of my car going up to the fields and keeps me company when I am doing fencing. Even if it is snowing! My idiot terriers cannot be trusted not to fuck off over the horizon if they spot a rabbit and the bulldog gets lost in long grass. If the cat finds the going hard, she let's me pick her up and tuck her into my coat. I always thought I was a dog person, but the cat has become my constant companion where ever I am, is affectionate and shits outside. I am going to miss her when she is gone.

But working farms, I grew up on one & still live on another, almost always have both. Dogs to work or be companions depending on breed but lots of cats, usually living in the barns to keep the vermin down

We live rurally and have a cat and a dog. Dog is always around and will happily cock his head and pop up his velvety Labrador ears for the camera the minute you whisper ‘cheese’. Cat is, by and large MIA ( although still expects on-demand dining options). I’ve seen him once today, laying in the shade created by our neighbour’s dormant pony.

[quote louisvillelou]**@Homeontherangeuk* Agree... Most of the landed gentry spend their days traipsing across the fields with their faithful campanions in tow...*

Misread this as "faithful campervans" 😂[/quote]
Those too😁😂😂

Because dogs enable marketing of expensive things. Dogs need walking in muddy fields, so Country Living can advertise a Land Rover, some posh wellies, a posh coat, a posh leather lead, an expensive interior designer dog bed (ditto bowls etc), a pet-hair hoover, posh throws for your furniture ......

Cats require a litter tray, some food, and a servant to stroke them/let them out. Less "stuff" to advertise.

@HappyAsASandboy

Because dogs enable marketing of expensive things. Dogs need walking in muddy fields, so Country Living can advertise a Land Rover, some posh wellies, a posh coat, a posh leather lead, an expensive interior designer dog bed (ditto bowls etc), a pet-hair hoover, posh throws for your furniture ......

Cats require a litter tray, some food, and a servant to stroke them/let them out. Less "stuff" to advertise.

Building on this, it is really easy to hint at class through dogs or dog breeds. Much harder to do so with cats.