I used to be one of those doting dog moms. At the time I didn’t realize how over-the-top I sounded, but after having two children I see things very differently.
Of course you love your dogs. You bathe them, dress them, feed them, sign their names on cards and celebrate their birthdays with special treats. You care for them deeply and invest time and attention in their well-being in ways that can resemble parenting.
But saying a dog is the same as having a baby is misleading. The differences become obvious the first time you bring a newborn home and experience a level of responsibility that is nothing like pet care.
If someone insists their dog is just like a child, ask them a few simple questions.
Having A Dog Is Not Like Having A Baby
Have you ever put food in a bowl on the floor and left a baby to eat by themselves?
Have you ever put on Animal Planet and left a baby home alone for five hours?
Have you ever punished a child by locking them outside?
Have you ever tethered a baby with a leash so you could go somewhere without them?
Have you ever confined a baby to a cage?
Have you ever laid down newspaper for a baby to use as a bathroom?
Have you ever shouted at a baby for asking for a bite of food?
Have you ever rocked a dog to sleep after a bad dream?
Have you ever read a bedtime story to your dog?
Have you ever used a syringe to clear a dog’s nasal passages?
Have you ever taken your dog to sit on Santa’s lap?
Okay, that last one is admittedly common—and a little silly.
I understand how you feel. Loving a pet often involves real care and responsibility. Dogs are companions, and many owners build deep emotional bonds with them. Still, equating pet ownership with parenthood blurs important differences in needs, vulnerability and dependence.
