New player hunter can I play without pet/pet talents

haven't really been using a pet much because back in the day when I played during MOP I remember I didn't ever utilize a pet and I did fine in dungeons and pvp but man I've been dying a lot I'm level 15 and have probably died about 100 times,

I haven't really been spending my talent points either because I just don't know which ones to take to be a hunter that doesn't use a pet

I also don't get why my pet runs away and why I'm not able to re-call it when it leaves me

I kind of regret being a hunter now honestly but it's taken forever for me to get to level 15 so I doubt I'll be changing anytime soon