https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 02:07:26 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-33176 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:32:49 +0000 Navy_Mommy 33176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've had conversations with my friends who have infants on the similarities between having a puppy/dog and having a baby; they all joke that my house is better baby proofed than theirs is because of my dogs and I don't have a baby yet, lol. Outside of those conversations (which are specifically about the similarities) it's never been brought up, but as an avid dog lover I can understand why it would!</p> <p>It seems weird that she's trying to take attention away from the baby though, I don't think that's normal... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-33076 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:57:02 +0000 oliviaoblivia 33076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katdevargas: I totally agree. It sounds to me like she is trying to relate to the experience, not to one up with the dog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-33032 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:17:06 +0000 owlmom 33032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@photojane: my husband does that too! Too funny!</p> <p>DH and I actually sort of do this with our own baby and dogs, but not other people's babies. It took us until about 3 weeks after DD was born to stop accidentally calling her "puppy" occasionally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-33021 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 13:05:08 +0000 katdevargas 33021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: yeah, I can see how the over-board, comparing everything could get really tired, really fast, but I would just try to be kind {not that you aren't/haven't been}. you have all these things she's longing for, it seems like &amp; she probably, hopefully {thinking very optimistically here} just wants to contribute &amp; this is the closest thing that she has? I know that a lot of the time to show that I'm sympathetic or listening or because I'm not sure what else to say but want to be supportive, I'll tell a story that I feel relates to what a friend is talking about. maybe that's what she's trying to do &amp; this is just the closest thing that she has to talk about?</p> <p>but yeah, it definitely sounds like she really wants attention. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32940 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:15:10 +0000 heffalump 32940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@katdevargas: My friend is older than me and doesn't have a husband or family, but I know she would love to have a family and kids. I think she's doing what you said, and making her dog her baby now. Which does make me feel bad for her... but it's still weird to me. </p> <p>I think it's ok to compare a few things here and there, but she compares EVERYTHING. And I just want to tell her, you're dog and my baby are very different things. But of course I never actually say that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32937 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 12:11:51 +0000 katdevargas 32937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I call my dog my baby, but it's definitely not the same thing &amp; I know that. sounds like girl is just wanting the attention. that said, I do have friends that cannot have children &amp; adoption is not an option who have little lap dogs who are their "babies". if they talk about their dogs as children, I'm more inclined to be sympathetic &amp; not judge them the same way that I would someone who is being overtly attention grabbing, you know? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32893 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:44:17 +0000 prettylizy 32893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I never do it to the parents, but DH and I will sometimes draw comparisons to try and liken it to our current lives.... but mostly, it's just for us, and we both realise that there are monumental differences between dogs and babies! lol! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32879 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:28:54 +0000 heffalump 32879@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: Yeah that's pretty crazy. My mom has random dogs showing up to her house, but it's pretty well known that she's a dog lover (because she LOVES her granddog and tells everybody about him). But like I said, I would never show up to someone's house with my dog without asking first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32870 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:11:08 +0000 Adira 32870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: I completely understand people not wanting (or able) to leave their dogs at home. My FIL's dog is getting quite old and I think they are afraid to leave him alone too long for fear he might drop dead on them. As much as I dislike dogs and am allergic to them, I would allow them to bring their dog to my house. My issue is they didn't even ASK. They just assumed it would be fine because they consider their dog like a real child. I'm sure your family appreciates that you ask them first before bringing your dog with you. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32868 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:08:55 +0000 heffalump 32868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: We also bring our dog with us everywhere... but of course we ask first! He has seperation anxiety so we hate leaving him home, both because he gets so upset and because he tears our house apart. I've been known to sit outside with him at my brother's house because he's not allowed inside. I even did that in the Florida heat when I was very pregnant so we wouldn't have to leave him home alone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32867 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:01:59 +0000 Adira 32867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: I feel for your parents! I don't <i>mind</i> dogs, but I <i>am</i> allergic to them! I mean, it's one thing if they ask me upfront "Hey, is it okay if we bring our dog?" because of course, I'll say "Sure!" but people just showing up with the dog and not giving me any advance warning... that's just rude! The last thing I need is dog dander all over my house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32850 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:38:59 +0000 rachiecakes 32850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Adira: my parents get this all the time and they are NOT dog people! friends and other family will show up on Christmas with their dogs :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32832 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:58:12 +0000 ladyfingers 32832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Argh, I totally do this. I never have tried to one-up anybody with my dog (weird) but I have totally countered, when a friend is telling me about what their baby does, how they react to the baby, with stories of us and our dog. I catch myself often and say, "Sorry, I know that's weird. Your baby is not a dog, why do I keep comparing them!?" lol... but still. I agree it's annoying, and also I do it :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32823 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:49:54 +0000 Adira 32823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband's family is kind of guilty of doing this. They don't compare their dogs to children, but they certainly treat their dogs like they are part of the family! My husband and I hosted Thanksgiving this year and both his dad and his grandfather showed up to our house with their DOGS! No warning or nothing! Sorry, dogs are NOT part of the family and do not get an invite just because I invited YOU. Not the same as kids AT ALL! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32797 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:20:53 +0000 rachiecakes 32797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: that's cute! :) DH is like that with our cats. My mother has even said, "are you sure he's going to let us hold the baby?" because he's so protective of our pets. When we go away for a weekend he does worry about getting home to our little guys.</p> <p>Part of the dog argument with the co-worker is that - I live in the city, a small townhouse, no yard. And, for me, I could never have a dog here. We work, I don't want to pick up/bag poop, I wouldn't have time to walk/groom/etc. a dog. But, and in IMO, I love the city for our child because there are parks and playgroups and museums, so much indoor and outdoor activity.<br /> I do however realize I'll have to deal with poop when LO arrives, haha ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32786 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:07:00 +0000 dc yoga bee 32786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to not want kids, so my Yorkies were/are my babies. In no way do I go around comparing my dogs to other people's kids though! I realize parenting a kid is completely different- they're humans! BUT, I love my dogs with all my heart, and some people think I'm obsessed with them but I don't go telling them they're obsessed with their kids. I think it can be equally annoying on both sides. But, your friend sounds like she's just trying to be the center of attention which is rude! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32783 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:00:37 +0000 heffalump 32783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: I did judge my hubby's ability to be a dad partly based on how he's a daddy to our doggy. He's so amazing with him, and pretty protective. I figured that, plus he's great with his niece, would hopefully mean he'd make a good dad. And he is! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32774 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:42:38 +0000 rachiecakes 32774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One of my co-workers used to try to tell me that a dog was perfect preparation for a child all the time. Um no, not exactly, lol... I can take my child to a restaurant, I can stay at a hotel with my child. I can go grocery shopping, etc.<br /> I mean, I get what they were saying, responsibility, etc. but no. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32756 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:21:50 +0000 MsMamaBear 32756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's crazy.LOL But some ppl put their pets in the category of a human from what I see sometimes.</p> <p> No one has done that to me though, I'd probably laugh at them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32745 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 01:40:34 +0000 BSB 32745@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yup, I'm guilty. I do this. I only do it because I'm TTC and I don't have any kids of my own. So my dog is the closest thing I can relate to. I understand that a pet and a baby are very different. I'm pretty sure that when I have kids, my dog will become a pet and those baby related remarks will stop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32740 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:02:05 +0000 lemondrop 32740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I consciously try not to compare other people's kids to pets since it can be a sensitive topic. If I slip, I never mean any harm by it, my husband and I are both in the veterinary field, so animals are our lives. </p> <p>Our boy and my pregnancy are constantly being compared to animal stuff, its just normal for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32238 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:27:46 +0000 KRunRun 32238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so guilty! Not of the trying to grab attention away, but of comparing my friends' babies to my two dogs. Although, I hope that most people realize that I'm just kidding around. As in "oh, your LO can't retrieve and give on command yet? haha" when they start in on milestones that I have no clue about. We're TTC, but still don't have much to say about whether or not little Johnny's pincer grasp is refined enough. Although, maybe I would do much better to just keep my mouth shut. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32219 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:11:24 +0000 Rosie Girl 32219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have heard of people comparing their pets to babies. I think its because in their mind, their pets are babies. And yes, they are very different (animal vs human) but they do similar things! I also think that when people don't have kids, just pets, they want to feel included and be able to compare, so that is how they do it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32163 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:36:22 +0000 mrsjyw 32163@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>agree with @mediagirl. We have two "furbabies," but I would never compare that to human babies! When we babysat DH's best friend's two toddler boys, we realized how much EASIER it is to have our dogs (who we let roam free) versus children! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32160 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:34:20 +0000 mediagirl 32160@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have two dogs and they are our babies but we completely understand they are not like human babies. There are just too many differences. For now, I'll love my dogs like they are our babies but when that baby comes? Oops, sorry puppies. You get downgraded one slot!! I don't think I've ever heard of someone comparing their dog to a baby until now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32073 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:33:45 +0000 plantains 32073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Sheesh, it really annoys me when people do that. I have this friend who carries on about how much she knows what it is like to parent a child becaus she has a dog. Makes me nuts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32071 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:30:15 +0000 twodoghouse 32071@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: Thanks :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32064 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:26:42 +0000 heffalump 32064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: I think it's ok to love your pets a lot. I love my dog.... to the point where I literally don't ever leave him home alone. Which isn't easy to do because he's not a tiny put him in your purse dog, he's 65 lbs. I just think people should know the difference between a fur baby and a human baby. Good luck TTC! Hope you get a human baby soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32060 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:21:12 +0000 Maysprout 32060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I still do that. We've fostered a lot of tiny puppies and while LO is different there's definitely similarities that me and my hubby often bring up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-know-people-who-compare-their-pets-to-your-baby#post-32054 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:19:15 +0000 twodoghouse 32054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am that friend! Ok not really, I would never grab attention from a baby and direct it toward my dog. But I do consider my dogs my babies. I don't have any (human) children and it's not for lack of trying. It's been almost a year and every single day I feel the pain of not being a mommy yet. For now, my dogs are as close to babies as I can get.</p> <p>To be honest, your friend sort of just sounds like she wants to be the center of attention and that's rude - but I'm also really sensitive to people being judgmental about the amount that I (and others) love their pets. </p>