The 4-legged feud

I've said this before and I'll say it again: You have to start being yourself by at least the second date. This is no truer than when pets come into the picture. It's all too easy to "ooh" and "ahh" and pal around with some hottie's Chihuahua to get her to like you when all you really want to do is drop-kick Fido and score a field goal. Big mistake. A friend of mine is now the proud co-owner of two Yorkies, and both sides of the couple wish the mutts would get into the cleaning cabinet and have a few drinks -- but they can't imagine parting with two members of the "family" (let alone explaining what happened to the kids).
Also, beware of "gateway dogs." You meet her when she has a loveable boxer you truly enjoy scrapin' around with. Flash forward 6 months and dozens of dates. She brings home Puddles, the adorable poodle she's sure you'll love because you get along with Buster so well. Rut row! Can't really say no now. Better get used to walking a gaggle of dogs that all weigh less than a pitcher of beer, bite your ankles, start yipping at 5 a.m., and now share your pillow.
As for me, I'm a cat guy. We grew up with them in the house, sitting on laps and so on. My lady grew up in the country and had cats as well -- she wasn't a huge fan, but she tolerated them. So one day I say, "How about a cat?", and she says "OK". I envision the little furball watching TV from my lap, napping happily by the window on a little bed, and going outside to chase birds and do its business. My lady imagines a cat living in the bushes chasing away lizards and the snakes and mice we don't have in the city, and occasionally tracking us down outside for a little head scratch. You may have now noticed slightly different takes on cat-owning-utopia. Of course, neither of us actually mentioned any of this to the other until Fluffy was ours. I would say hilarity ensued, but it hasn't really been that fun.
So, like I said, you get one date to be a pushover and try to get a second one. After that, you had better be yourself, because if you don't, you'll pay for it later. Not only that, but never assume you guys have the same take on a given subject. Because the ol' "assuming making an ass of you and me" adage is never a bigger deal than in a romantic relationships.