Is getting a puppy a logical first step toward having kids? not necessarily. Christina Peden talks about the alike and different ways dogs and babies are.
You and your partner have made the leap and adopted a puppy. Great news! enjoy it. And then be ready for an “Ooooh, so I guess you catch the next boys!” Comments from family, co-workers, and sometimes random strangers. Meanwhile, you’ll be thinking, “Babies? Now?” There are, however, some defining similarities (and notable differences) between babies of the human and fur varieties. Let’s get down to the list, shall we?
Similarities:
You can swear in front of them …
Although with a child, this only lasts for a limited time. Before you know it, they’ll start repeating these things, and no one wants to be that parent. You don’t want your child’s first word to be “S*%!”. On the other hand, there is no time limit for your dog. You know they can’t hack “[email protected]$% you!” To another puppy bothering them in the garden (what a relief!). So by all means, keep riding a storm (if you feel like that inclined) while you still can.
You’re responsible for cleaning up their feces, urine… and anything else that rears its ugly head
Let’s call this person even (and your “parents” will probably disagree with me on this – that’s fair). Most dogs can absorb urine very quickly, so you won’t be changing urine pads as many times a day as you can with diapers, but you will have to catch your dog’s poo when they’re gone. all. Not connected. time. Like any pet, a dog will have accidents sometimes, so it never really ends. Babies can be in diapers for over two years, and I’ve heard from friends with babies that there’s nothing quite as disgusting as baby poop (wow, can’t I am waiting to experience it for myself). In addition, there are all spitting.
You have to raise them to be good citizens of the world…
Variations:
You can put your puppy in his crate at night or when you go out…
Ummm, not so much with a baby. Many people who have never owned a dog think crates are harsh, but they are meant to be a calming place for your puppy; A den or a safe haven for them only. Sure, you can get a cot or crib, but are you going to leave them there and go out shopping or to dinner or a bar? I do not think so! At the end of the day, dogs and children (while they depend on you) have very different needs, and puppies grow much faster than children. By the time your puppy is eight weeks old and ready to go home, he’s already walking.
If you don’t feel like it, you can have a lazy day and your dog won’t mind
Suppose you were sick, or tired, or (horror of horrors) you were going out last night leeettle much to drink. At the end of the day, dogs are adaptable. If you’re not feeling well, she’ll usually sense it and lay it quietly on your side, wanting to make you feel better. If you are getting lost and need to sleep? They are generally happy to keep company in the snoozing department. children? There is no time to downtime with the kids. Postal code. nothing. Nada. You can’t take a “day off” – your kids need three healthy meals a day (don’t shovel a few cupcakes into a bowl!), parental supervision, fun and learning. Can you imagine a two-year-old hanging around all day just because their parents are tired, sick, or lazy? No, I didn’t think of that.
At the end of the day, there are some sure similarities between bringing home a puppy and bringing home a baby, but let’s face it: A puppy is less of a commitment than a full human being.
Now, that’s a good thing. I don’t plan on having children anytime in the near future, nor do I do much public servants. Life is more precious now than our parents’ generation. Factor in outrageous student loans and how difficult it has been to find a decent job since the economic downturn; The reality is that it takes longer to establish yourself than it did 30 or 40 years ago.
But a puppy? A puppy can be a great place to start. You get used to having a living creature of yours completely dependent on you. It was not You want To go for a long walk on “lazy Sunday,” but you do it anyway because you know it’s the next best thing for your pup. It really sucks when you have tumbleweeds of pet hair rolling around your apartment even if you are merely two days ago, but you realize it comes with the earth, sucks (with the void, once again) and deal with it.
It can also give you great insight into what kind of parents you and your partner might be, and that’s exactly what I’m going to talk about next week. Being pet parents together introduces a whole new dynamic to your relationship and sometimes you face challenges that you might not expect. What happens when the two of you have completely different parenting styles? Will the dog need treatment when he gets older?
Christina Peden is a lifelong animal lover and avid wordsmith. She lives in Toronto with her boyfriend Ryan where they are proud parents to two pets, Matilda and cat, Oscar. In her spare time, she can be found enjoying Toronto, which is a very short yard season in Canada, taking advantage of the city’s many parks or curling up with a good book.
