By Colleen Sherman
The other day, while talking with a woman I had just met, I mentioned in conversation that my dog has been good preparation for having children... and I think she looked at me like I was crazy. I can only assume she has children... and I can also only assume that IF she has a dog, its something like a lab, or golden retreiver. Something that is self sufficient and that can be left outside in the back yard for hours upon end. Clearly, she doesn't have a french bulldog... because really, I think I have the most high maintenance dog ever (and from what I understand... it runs in the breed). And the more and more I analyze my daily life with Rocco, I really do feel like he has been a good preparation for what is to come (someday). Now, obviously having a child is on a whole different level... but the let me just take you into the daily life with my dog Rocco...
1) "Co-Sleeping cannot be broken" - Rocco refuses to sleep anywhere else but our bed. A bad habit we created, yes, but a habit we cannot brake nonetheless.
The other day, while talking with a woman I had just met, I mentioned in conversation that my dog has been good preparation for having children... and I think she looked at me like I was crazy. I can only assume she has children... and I can also only assume that IF she has a dog, its something like a lab, or golden retreiver. Something that is self sufficient and that can be left outside in the back yard for hours upon end. Clearly, she doesn't have a french bulldog... because really, I think I have the most high maintenance dog ever (and from what I understand... it runs in the breed). And the more and more I analyze my daily life with Rocco, I really do feel like he has been a good preparation for what is to come (someday). Now, obviously having a child is on a whole different level... but the let me just take you into the daily life with my dog Rocco...
1) "Co-Sleeping cannot be broken" - Rocco refuses to sleep anywhere else but our bed. A bad habit we created, yes, but a habit we cannot brake nonetheless.
2) "Late night diaper changes" - Rocco wakes me up at least once a night to go to the bathroom. The poor guy just can't hold it all night. And personally, I think this might be worse than what it will be like to have a child who needs a diaper change... because unlike where our future child's room will be (upstairs), Rocco's bathroom is downstairs in the backyard... which requires me to go all. the. way. downstairs... and all. the. way. back. up the stairs at 3am.
3) "Toys left everywhere" - Every time I'm at the grocery store I can't help but walk down the dog aisle to see what Rocco might want. And 9 out of 10 times, I come home with something new. Sometimes its an actual toy for Rocco to play with and other times is a new bone for him to chew on. And 9 times out of 10... Rocco will work on it for about a day... then just leave it around the house... forcing me to pick up after him.
4) "Lots of spit-up" - While this is something we really feel bad for Rocco about... the dog pukes about once a day. Usually on the wood floor... so its easy to clean up. But then there are the days where he's pukes on our freshly cleaned pillows... or the mat by the slider... or the cement in the back yard (which leaves a stain for a few days).
5) "Do we give him a sibling?" - I assume this is a question that many parents face. They fall in love with their first born... er... first pet... and love him so much that they consider having them be an only child, because "How can I love another child/dog as much as I love this one." And I can honestly say that Kyle and I are feeling this right now. We love our little Rocco (high maintenance and all) so much that we are afraid if we get another pooch for Rocco to play with, we aren't going to love the 2nd dog like we do Rocco. Call us crazy... but this is a legitimate concern of ours. I am now remembering a conversation I had with my sister (who has a real child, along with 2 furry babies)... she said that when she mentioned to a friend that they were considering only having one child, the friend responded with, "The best gift you can give your child is a sibling." And that is something I find to be the case here. Rocco needs a buddy to play with and hang out with. Even though I'm home most of the day... I don't play with him until the evening. I'm usually working on the computer... and Rocco is just sitting and pouting. Where as if he had a sibling, they could play together during the day. Speaking of pouting though...
6) "Pout when they don't get their way." - Rocco is the best pouter I have ever met. As soon as our attention shifts from him to something else, he immediately hangs his head and looks so pathetic and depressed. His favorite place to pout is the mat in front of the sliding glass door.
So, am I not right? Has this dog, at least slightly, started to prepare me for children?? [NOTE to any of my friends and family that may be reading this... NO I am not pregnant.] How about you guys?? Are you dogs just as high maintenance?? Or am I the only one that feels like this?
7 showed me the love:
If anyone thinks that it's weird that you believe your dog is preparing you for children-- mine is even weirder-- I honestly think my cats are preparing me for children. As I explain in this post http://sarahmariep.blogspot.com/2008/05/little-home-improvement.html
My cats are insane... How sad your little pup throws up every day. :( So does our cat Winnie, and 9 X out of 10 I always end up stepping in it. ewwww. yesterday I stepped in puke three times. GAROSS!!!!! And after I cleaned it up and was laying in bed, I heard her puking again in the living room. I totally feel your pain!
So true. To continue where you left off on with #5. Then you get the sibling and then you wonder if there will be sibling rivalry, you don't discipline the second child as strictly as the first, you feel your attention getting pulled from the first one and feel guilty about it. Less pictures are taken of the second one. :) There are similarities between the pups and babies. Not saying that it's the same, but just a good practice before the human kind of babies.
I have friends who have both dogs and children - and the ones with kids say dogs TOTALLY prepare you.
Spike is high maintenance too - and I can't stay strong when he pouts to me. He'll put his head on his little paws and just look up at me like I'm the most horrible Fur-mom in the world.
Totally agree! When Burrito couldn't sleep through the night I thought I was going to kill him... I don't think I'm quite ready for a baby yet.... not to mention he's been the the vet like 5 times already.. talk about $ (but worth every cent).. I can only imagine a real baby!
Ashley: Oh my goodness! I didn't even think about the vet costs!! Our little Rocco has had his fair share of vet visits and traumatic events in his early life. Definitely preparation for Dr visits with a child. :-)
I love this post. However, this line:
"IF she has a dog, its something like a lab, or golden retreiver. Something that is self sufficient and that can be left outside in the back yard for hours upon end"
Is that true? Because I've got a lab and a golden retriever and I certainly can't leave them for seconds. Maybe They've got a little terrier in them. :)
I vote yes for a new dog. I couldn't imagine life without having two. :)
Love the photos!
Rocco is definitely preparing you for parenthood. I think the most pointed similarity between dogs and kids is that they are each unique in their own way and you have to be creative when approaching training/rearing. We've all experienced (whether with our own kid or someone else's) how a child is born with a certain personality right from the start and you can't necessarily apply your previous parenting tactics with the same success/failure as experienced with another child. Dogs are the same, you have to approach your dog with an open mind and realize they will likely respond differently to your training methods than the dog before. Being willing to evolve and see your dog as an individual will make your relationship stronger. Granted, there's still that over all, I'm a human and you're a dog- I'm the boss of you... thing. In either situation, parenting kids or dogs, someone has to take charge and it better be you!
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