Chapter Twenty: A Guide to Rethinking Dog Ownership

“Wow... this dog is so cute.” Drawn over once more, Zhu Qingyan couldn’t help but praise it again.

There was nothing to be done; girls were rarely able to resist adorable things. Especially kittens and puppies, which were at their most endearing when they were young.

“What do you think of this one?” Song Jiawei asked again, pointing at the dog he’d set his sights on.

The dog Song Jiawei indicated was a tri-colored black-and-white border collie, with a well-proportioned face—indeed, it looked rather attractive.

However, Zhang Congwen was not particularly familiar with a dog’s appearance standards. So-called “appearance,” after all, was about how pleasing a dog looked to the eye. Humans are visual creatures, and first impressions are almost always shaped by appearances.

But what Zhang Congwen knew more about was a dog’s temperament and disposition, rather than its looks. These two things were completely unrelated—just as a person’s unattractive appearance doesn’t mean they don’t have a kind heart, and good looks don’t guarantee a noble nature.

“Thinking of getting a border collie?” Zhang Congwen asked.

“Everyone says border collies are the smartest dogs in the world. It must be fun to raise one, and probably less trouble. Plus, they look nice,” Song Jiawei explained his reasoning.

Zhang Congwen shook his head. “They are smart, that’s true, but if you think they’re easy to raise, you couldn’t be more wrong.”

“What do you mean?” Song Jiawei asked.

“As working dogs, they generally have one problem: an overabundance of energy. If you get a border collie, you’ll have to walk it every day to let it burn off that energy. Even one day of slacking off and it’ll tear your home apart. If you really want one, you’d better have your own place. For people like us renting tiny apartments, if your dog wrecks the place, do you think the landlord will let you off easy?”

Song Jiawei was unconcerned. “It’s just walking the dog, isn’t it? What’s so hard about that? Maybe after a while I’ll even get stronger.”

Clearly, Song Jiawei hadn’t realized just how grueling it could be to walk a high-energy dog every single day, rain or shine, as if it were another full-time job.

Zhang Congwen continued, “And what about shedding? They shed twice a year, each time for about half a year. In the dog days of summer, your house will look like it’s snowing—see if you can handle cleaning that up.”

“Uh...” Song Jiawei hesitated. He wasn’t exactly a neat freak, but the scenario Zhang Congwen painted made his scalp tingle.

Seizing the advantage, Zhang Congwen pressed on, “You also said they’re smart. But do you think smart means obedient? No dog is better at outwitting and outmaneuvering its owner than a border collie. That’s why they’re the least likely of all dogs to respect their owners—they’ve always got schemes of their own. Unless you have serious dog-training skills, I’d advise you not to get a border collie.”

“Alright then.” Song Jiawei abandoned the idea of getting a border collie.

“What about golden retrievers? They’re the gentlemen of the dog world—smart, friendly, you can’t go wrong with that.” Song Jiawei soon found a new target and pointed to a golden retriever.

“For walking and shedding, see my comments on border collies. Especially the shedding—it’s even worse. On top of that, golden retrievers are notorious for their strong doggy odor.” Zhang Congwen replied with a blank expression.

“Uh...”

“And don’t forget the drooling, or the frequent trips to the vet, especially the latter—puppy goldens are particularly prone to illness. They also eat a lot, wreck your house, and...”

“Forget it, next one.” Song Jiawei was starting to get a headache.

“A Shiba Inu. That should be fine. They’re small, not too energetic. Short hair, so shedding shouldn’t be a problem.” Song Jiawei pointed to a Shiba Inu.

“That’s where you’re wrong—Shiba Inus shed a lot too. They’re also stubborn, poorly obedient, not very interactive, and love to fight with other dogs. They’re usually quiet, but some will bark incessantly when startled, and the sound is piercing and unpleasant,” Zhang Congwen said mildly.

“What about a corgi? Corgis are so cute, especially those little legs,” Zhu Qingyan chimed in.

“Corgis are still working dogs and share the same flaws—endless energy, destructive behavior, and a famous reputation for digging. They also put on weight easily,” Zhang Congwen replied.

“But a chubby corgi is adorable,” Zhu Qingyan protested.

“Looking like a gas cylinder might be cute, but it’s terrible for the corgi’s bones. The reason they put on weight so easily is because they’re gluttonous. And that’s not all—their digestion isn’t great, so vomiting and diarrhea are common. Like the Shiba Inu, they’re stubborn, noisy, and love to fight. And of course, there’s the perpetual shedding. Also, corgis have a habit of nipping at heels. It’s in their nature, since herding cattle involves nipping at their heels to get them moving,” Zhang Congwen recited the corgi’s flaws.

The two were momentarily at a loss for words. None of these issues ever seemed to appear in the dog videos they’d watched online.

Song Jiawei felt a little dejected. After wandering the dog market for ages, he finally spotted a new target and asked, “What kind of dog is this? Any drawbacks?”

This time, he didn’t even wait for Zhang Congwen to speak—he asked straight out.

“Huh? They actually have a Bernese Mountain Dog here?” Zhang Congwen was surprised. It was rare to see Bernese Mountain Dogs for sale at a dog market.

“Bernese Mountain Dogs are actually very nice. If there’s a downside, it’s that their lifespan is short—about ten years. They’re also expensive. And since they’re a large breed, there’s no way we could keep one in our cramped apartment. There’s also the usual health issues and shedding,” Zhang Congwen offered his honest assessment.

“So you rate this dog pretty highly, huh?” Song Jiawei looked with interest at the Bernese Mountain Dog puppy before him.

Clicking his tongue, he added, “Shame it’s a large dog. In our tiny place, we’re limited to medium breeds or the smaller end of the large breeds.”

Still, Song Jiawei couldn’t give up entirely and politely asked the price, since Zhang Congwen had given it such high marks. Who knew—maybe one day, in a bigger home, he’d get the chance to raise one.

But when he heard the price, Song Jiawei was startled. The stall owner was asking twenty thousand yuan—far beyond what he could afford.

“If you really can’t decide, just get a poodle,” Zhu Qingyan suggested with a laugh.

But Song Jiawei refused immediately. He didn’t want a small dog; the thought of cradling a tiny pup in his arms when out and about would ruin his manly image.

Zhang Congwen rolled his eyes. With that scrawny frame, he was hardly the picture of masculinity.

After inquiring about several other breeds, it was always the drawbacks Zhang Congwen listed that dissuaded them.

“Zhang Congwen, do you just not want me to get a dog at all?” After pondering for a while, Song Jiawei finally caught on and questioned him as if he’d uncovered the truth.