First comes loves, then comes marriage, then comes the puppy in the baby carriage?

Hold on, did I say puppy? Didn’t I mean Baby?

Nope, this is not a typo, I meant puppy! It seems that it isn’t uncommon for couples to welcome a new pet into their lives, like a trial baby to practice their co-parenting skills. In fact, you probably have a friend, or at least know someone, who has decided to get a puppy with their partner, thinking that it will prepare them for what it will be like to have a baby together. But, will having a pet prepare you for parenthood?

I love when friends of mine talk to me about their puppy parenting challenges. We actually do end up talking about similar topics such as finding a name that both parents love, being woken in the middle of the night, having to wake up early in the morning, potty training, socializing, teething, and even finding babysitters!

BUT the big question is, does raising a puppy really give you a glimpse into what life will be like with a baby?

As someone who has raised a few family pets and is currently raising my 18 month old boy, I thought it might be interesting to finally get to the bottom of this big, burning question.

Sleep deprivation

I mean sure, I’ve been woken up early to let my puppy out, or throughout the night if they were sick or barking because heard an unfamiliar noise, but this was pretty rare. I may have felt frustrated about losing out on a perfect night sleep, but sleep deprived? No.

With my baby, YES I learned what it truly means to experience sleep deprivation. There were many nights that he nursed THE ENTIRE NIGHT, lying on top of me, waking every hour and lasting many, many nights.

I would have to say that in the sleep department, my puppy did NOT prepare me for having a baby.

Having to clean up poop

Yeah, I was a responsible dog owner and did the dirty deed of picking up their poop while we were out on a walk. There is no question that adapting to cleaning up poop is unpleasant but you do kinda get used to it.

However…

Just wait until your baby takes a poop while you are having a nice relaxing bath with them. That’s next level shit.

My conclusion: Nothing can prepare you for a spontaneous baby poop in the bath, not to mention the up-the-back car seat poopslosions.

Teething

A teething dog can destroy your home. Like literally, chew through everything imaginable. I once had a puppy who ate the wooden floor moulding that ran through the hallway! An unsupervised puppy who is teething is something to fear…seriously.

When my son was about 10 months old, and teething, he actually went through this phase where he would try to chew on my nipples. Oh, it was painful. Not to mention how painful it was for him to be teething! Which also adds to the sleepless nights and runny poop, go figure!

Nothing can prepare you for the damage that a teething puppy can do to your home, and nothing can prepare you for a teething baby!

We can’t go out for too long or away on vacation because of the “baby”

Ok, first of all, why would you do that to your life before having actual kids?!?!?

I’m kidding. I get, I’m a dog person! But, maybe think about that for a minute… this is the one place where having a puppy might be harder than having a baby because sometimes you can’t travel with your dog, but in fact traveling with a baby can be pretty simple.

So, did raising a puppy prepare me for parenthood? No, not at all.

BUT, it definitely taught me about why dogs are considered to be man’s best friend and how to love and be loved unconditionally.

As for the reality, you’ll just have to learn what it is really like to have a baby… once the baby is born!