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Puppies vs. Kids

Whew!

That’s how I am feeling right now, whew! First week in Puppydom was tough. This week is (so far) a little brighter, but it’s only Tuesday.

Having a puppy in the house is a big adjustment. This is an understatement. Pierre and I decided a few years ago that we were two-and-done, as far as having more children was concerned. Then, we went and got a puppy.

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Yeah. He’s cute, but don’t be fooled. Cuteness in puppies is purely a means of survival. Just like cuteness in children.

I’m slowly discovering (and trust me, it’s been a process), that having a puppy is a whole lot like having another child. Here’s how:

1. The life that you know changes completely. I was at the point, with Benjamin and Nicholas, where we could get out of the house quickly, and (as long as I had snacks) stay out all day. Not so anymore. I’m back to the gotta-get-home-quickly-on-a-schedule-because-someone-(the puppy)-needs-to-eat-pee-nap-poop. The (relative) freedom that I had briefly experienced, with the boys getting a little more independent, is gone.

2. You’ve got to baby-proof. The baby-gates are back! I had to beg, borrow and steal (okay, maybe not so dramatically) baby-gates from friends and neighbors to keep Indy contained. I did NOT miss the baby gates. At least twice a day one of the boys knocks a gate over, or I scrape my foot on the bottom of one. Baby gates are a pain in the bum, but so is having a puppy roam recklessly around the house. The gates stay.

3. Like young children, puppies will put anything in their mouths. I have never put my hand in a dog’s mouth more so than in the last week. So far I’ve removed grass, weeds, sticks, rocks, shoes, and a piece of Lego. On the upside, Benjamin and Nicholas have gotten really, really good at picking up their toys, lest the toys get eaten! Indy’s favorite forbidden snack? Mulch.

4. Potty-training just isn’t any fun, toddler or canine. Enough said.

5. Puppies will wake you up in the middle of the night, so be prepared. Be extra prepared if you have young children AND a puppy. Last night, Ben was up at 11:00 p.m. with growing pains in his legs. Indy was howling at 4:30 a.m. No amount of concealer is covering up the circles under my eyes today.

6. You’ve got to know your puppy. Like kids, the key to living with a puppy is figuring out his rhythm and quirks, likes and dislikes. If Indy pees in the house, it’s usually because I’ve missed the cue that he needs to go. Same goes for my boys. If someone is having an earthquake-sized meltdown, chances are that I’ve missed the tremors. 

7. You will take pride in your puppy. Look, I had absolutely nothing to do with how adorable the dog is, but don’t I feel good when complete strangers come up to pat him and croon over his cuteness:“Why, thank you. He looks like like his father” (I’m just really used to saying that).

8. You will brag about your puppy too. It’ll sound something like this (directed to puppy in a high-pitched, squeaky voice): “He is the sweetest little puppy. He only had one accident all day. What a good boy . And he’s learning to sit, and stay and come when called. Yes sit! Good boy Indy!!”

9. You will seek out friends who are raising a puppy to complain and commensurate. Ditto with raising kids.

Now, there are some differences between puppies and children. It’s not terribly acceptable (at all!) to lock your child in a crate for the night. Nor should you take them outside to pee while potty training, as tempting as this sounds (unless camping or hiking – then anything goes). Feeding your child from a bowl on the floor is unwise, no matter how bad his table manners. And leashes for kids just aren’t my thing.

Puppies and children: both are messy, both are silly, both take up a whole lot of time. 

And, both are completely lovable.

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Especially when sleeping.

xo Naomi

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