https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 03:24:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1516095 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:29:42 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1516095@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes I think so!</p> <p>I had to wake up super early every morning to let them go out to pee, potty train them, take them to dog discipline school, put them in doggie daycare if we were gone for an extended period of time, feed them, bathe them, groom them, take them to the vet. Give them enough exercise to burn off energy. It's a lot of work. Nowhere near as much as kids of course, but still… they definitely helped teach us some responsibility and having to work our schedules around their needs! They even kept me up at night when they were puppies (i.e. newborns) with all the whimpering and crying! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1516030 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 22:04:28 +0000 Colee 1516030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Having two small dogs absolutely helped ease our transition to parenthood. We got used to everything @kjpugs mentioned. But I have a very high maintenance yorkie who didn't STTN until he was three or four months old. He is six years old and still requires a lot of attention... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1516001 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:28:36 +0000 yoursilverlining 1516001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Puppies do somewhat, because they can't hold it through the night, so (like with babies) you're up with them every 2-3 hours. Besides that, I don't think having pets really help prepare me for parenthood, though pre-parenthood I thought they would! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515990 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:19:07 +0000 mrsjazz 1515990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. Not at all. Maybe if we had dogs there would be a percentage of that would be comparable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515983 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:11:57 +0000 photojane 1515983@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No! We have the laziest, low maintenance dog. He was like our child before Sadie, in that we gave him tons of attention, but he has never been hard to take care of at all. He practically potty trained himself. I mean, we had to feed him, groom him, etc. but it was never difficult or demanding like parenting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515979 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:07:49 +0000 kjpugs 1515979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on how devoted you are to your pets... ie, lap dog vs outside dog.</p> <p>Our 3 pugs DEFINITELY prepared us. The not being able to go away/out on a whim, arranging child/pet care, vet/doctor costs, staying calm when something is wrong health-wise, being woken up in the night, cleaning up pee/poop/puke... SO many ways. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515978 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:06:57 +0000 Pepper 1515978@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope! Pet ownership just isn't on the same level. At least not for me! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515974 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 21:03:54 +0000 skipra 1515974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! The responsibility of a life depending on you... I think some aspects of having a dog are harder than a kid. Like you don't have to take your kid for a walk before bed when it's freezing and raining. DH and I always comment how similar having a LO is to a dog but we don't actually say it to other people because it's not a very popular opinion. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515562 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 15:20:46 +0000 Rockies11 1515562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While kids are obviously harder, I think that my best parenting lesson came from my dog! She was a wild strange puppy, and my previous dog was very obedient. So I expected the same level of obedience from her. She was a big challenge to train, so I kept on reading books and doing different and increasingly intensive course with her, and she did not respond at all - maybe even became worse. We did not have the best relationship because I was always struggling with her. Finally after about a year of this, I decided "f*ck it" and that I was going to be who I was as an owner and let her be who she was as a dog, and see what happened. Once I let go of her being well behaved like my other dog and got back into who I was as a pet owner and focused on who she was as a dog, our relationship improved greatly and her behaviour improved as well. So as a parent, I avoid applying any method that doesn't fit right with who I am or who my baby is. I avoid taking parenting advice very seriously, because it all conflicts and people are super worked up about how what worked for them is the correct method, and really everyone is just guessing (like with dogs). And I don't mind changing what we're doing if it's not working for us - I don't feel attached to any particular method. So I am super glad that I screwed this up with my dog so that I could have a happier and more relaxed time as a parent of a baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515485 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:00:01 +0000 Dandelion 1515485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No...because I've had animals my entire life. They have never completely changed my life the same way having a baby did. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515476 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:44:46 +0000 emg86 1515476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ha, I wish it was that easy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515475 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:44:08 +0000 Greentea 1515475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: yes! I too have cared for pup prebaby - I spent a whole summer nursing her back to health- all my time, all my money! :wink: it does prepare you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515459 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:25:49 +0000 IRunForFun 1515459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I make myself feel better about my blind, deaf, and geriatric dog by telling myself she's preparing me for a baby. She's 100% dependent on me and she's been waking up in the middle of the night when I have NO idea what she wants, so I try all the things. Food? Water? Potty? Snuggle? I've been up as many as 7 times per night with her and I think, this MUST be serving some purpose, like preparing me for parenthood. Right? Right!?!? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515438 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:12:45 +0000 Silva 1515438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515423 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 13:03:46 +0000 Beyond2 1515423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not at all... And we have a whole farm. Raising kids is still way harder! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515420 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:59:44 +0000 Greentea 1515420@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took her everywhere, gave her tons of attention/paid attention to her, had to train her, feel what it was like to love something that much when they are sick (or ran off in the case of my dog!), in addition to the other things mentioned. .. she was also a very wild puppy. I think pets also develop patience, I think yes in a million ways, I could go on... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515415 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:47:53 +0000 autumnlove 1515415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515414 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:46:21 +0000 catlady 1515414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, not at all. We only have cats though. They are easy peasy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515410 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:44:51 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 1515410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. NO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515408 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:42:28 +0000 sotofamilia 1515408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No. Not at all. Not even close! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515394 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:34:56 +0000 snowjewelz 1515394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I absolutely think so. Of course, the magnitude of having pets is nothing compared to kids, but my dog forced me to revolve my life around her (having to make sure she is taken care of before we do anything/go anywhere). I've stayed up all night b/c she was sick, spend $ on them, worry when they're sick, etc! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515378 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:29:22 +0000 MrsH 1515378@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think so, it changed our lifestyle because we had to be home, care for something, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515374 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:28:17 +0000 Greentea 1515374@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it does! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515346 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:09:34 +0000 Cherrybee 1515346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was a good starting point. It's like in Kill Bill when Uma Thurman is coming out of a coma and planning her revenge but, "first thing's first, wiggle your big toe". Having dogs was like wiggling my big toe and having a baby is like being a total ninja. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515311 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 11:32:19 +0000 californiadreams 1515311@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515309 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 11:29:35 +0000 sorrycharlie 1515309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>not at all. i think my baby is easier than my dog! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515306 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 11:29:10 +0000 mamimami 1515306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes! If course pets are easier but for sure </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515295 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 11:23:44 +0000 Mamasig 1515295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not at all! Pets are so much easier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515272 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 11:04:49 +0000 .twist. 1515272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Haha yea, pets gave me a very small insight into parenthood. Maybe the 'keep me alive" part, but nothing else! Haha </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-think-being-a-pet-owner-prepared-you-for-parenthood#post-1515258 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 10:57:30 +0000 DillonLion 1515258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it gave me a 5% heads up on what parenting would be like. </p>