https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 07:44:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent/page/2#post-2359319 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 09:11:45 +0000 mrs. wagon 2359319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before kids, we were those obsessed pet parents. Outfits, playgroups, home-baked dog treats, everything. Now they are just dogs. We'll always be dog owners and we love raising our kids to be responsible dog owners as well. They're finally getting to an age where they can actually help out (feeding, training) which is really fun for both them and us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent/page/2#post-2359306 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 09:06:18 +0000 jetsa 2359306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Nutella: exactly and it is strange. They're loved and well taken care of but they are no longer the stars, that's a really great analogy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent/page/2#post-2359164 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 05:21:03 +0000 regberadaisy 2359164@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@daniellemybelle: yes!!! To DH he insists his love for our dog has not changed one bit. Yes, the kids are now number one and the dog isn't. But he is much better than I about making more time for the dog.<br /> Don't get me wrong, our pup still has a much better life than most, I'm sure. :P she has slept in. Bed with us since night 2 and always will. It's interesting fitting 4 humans and a dog in bed. Good thing we have a Cali King!<br /> She is absolutely amazing with the kids.</p> <p>@bluestriped bee: haha our dog hangs out by the kids when its meal time. If she starts begging or taking food before the kids are done then she gets banished beyond the room. Otherwise she usually gets to finish the baby's mess. But we never feed her off the table so it's never been an issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent/page/2#post-2359140 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 02:00:38 +0000 daniellemybelle 2359140@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm another that thought I couldn't love a child more than my dog. My dog was my baby. Now he's my (loved, well cared for) dog. He is still a member of our family but I would never dream of putting him in the same category as my daughter. It's just - he's a dog and she's my child. I don't feel guilty at all.</p> <p>DH on the other hand truly loves the dog as much as LO, I'm convinced. It's weird to me but it's also good because the dog gets the attention he needs from DH. Anything I provide is just icing. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent/page/2#post-2359139 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 01:40:49 +0000 BSB 2359139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My one dog (the cocker spaniel) has always had an obsession with used tissues and loves to lick our mouth while we are talking... So when the babies came, he loved the pacifiers. Yup, we definitely got mad at him. Though, I understood and now I make sure we put pacifiers out of reach. He only grabs them if we leave them unattended. He hasn't taken them from the babies mouth yet. Both dogs are pretty good with them. No aggression and I'm thankful. I see jealousy now and then but no anger. My one dog is in different and the cocker spaniel is more curious about the babies when they cry. It's cute! The cocker is still a lap dog and I will let him on my lap still. When I'm feeding the twins, if I give him space, he will sit next to us. Other than the occasional pacifier chewing, it's not that bad. I know when the kids are older, I'm sure he'll have a field day grabbing food from them. I'll probably have to adapt by putting gates up so the dogs are away when they are eating.<br /> I think what has gotten us said is knowing that our older dog is almost 9 years old, we wonder how much longer she'll be around for them. Luckily our vet assured us that she is a very healthy dog and our kids will know her. 😭 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent/page/2#post-2359111 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 00:10:18 +0000 cookiemomster 2359111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh man. This thread is such a relief. Before my daughter we were obsesssssed with our dogs. I remember thinking there's no way I could love a baby more than my dog. AND THEN.</p> <p>both our dogs don't care for her, and haven't since we brought her home. They aren't aggressive and tolerate her but one makes this awful howling/scream noise any time lo cries, and that sound is worse than the crying. It's been 16 months and it still happens every. Single. Time. And she's not in pain or anything, because it's any/all pitches of crying. That same dog also roots through my hamper and eats my underwear. It's disgusting and expensive and I have absolutely no patience with her anymore. </p> <p>The other dog has no ill will but when she gets excited she forgets to check around her and has knocked lo over a few times. It's frustrating. </p> <p>So yeah. Our relationship with both has very much changed. I definitely feel guilty, and it's irrational but I also feel a little resentment that they STILL don't seem to love her even though she adores them and tries really hard to play/snuggle with them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent/page/2#post-2359104 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 00:03:11 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2359104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I often feel badly about our dogs' diminished place of importance in our family. They are still loved and pretty spoiled, but nowhere near as much as they used to be! I also feel like my patience is more easily tried than it used to be pre-baby (e.g. when they bark during naps or huddle under the high chair while my son is eating), and I probably scold them more than I should. However, our son LOVES them, and as he gets older and can understand more how to appropriately interact with them, I know it will be a beautiful relationship. Our walks are definitely shorter (or nonexistent some days :sad: ), but I still love them so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent/page/2#post-2359086 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 23:30:18 +0000 BabyTsMom 2359086@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pinkcupcake: It's more complicated for me than just straight up neglect/changed feelings.... It's that our dog is aggressive towards our LO more often than not, and I do have to protect the human baby over the fur baby. He gets his cuddles in after LO goes to bed, but I still feel bad for him. At the same time, he has growled and nipped at my LO and yes it has changed how I feel about him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent/page/2#post-2359081 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 23:19:43 +0000 lucy123 2359081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Charm54: I feel exactly this way. With more people to care for, there is less time to go around, but she is definitely still a valued member of our family! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent/page/2#post-2359064 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 22:44:00 +0000 Charm54 2359064@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd say I am less over the top crazy dog mom (probably a good thing haha) , but he is still a very big part of our family and I love him to bits and pieces. Besides the shedding, he really is the perfect dog...amazing with the kids, sleeps ALL DAY (lazy bulldog :silly: ) and loves to snuggle on the couch. He's so low maintenance that it makes it easy to have him as a true member of our family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2359047 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 22:20:45 +0000 Nutella 2359047@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jetsa: it's strange isn't it! I didn't think anything would change either - but it has shifted. We still love him &amp; include him as much as we can, but the crazy focus has definitely come off him and he's just there with us rather than being the star of the show. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2359013 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 21:51:58 +0000 jetsa 2359013@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cherrybee: @runnerd: I'm with you guys. I never thought I'd be this person but alas. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2359010 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 21:50:31 +0000 jetsa 2359010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have 3 dogs and just don't have the patience for their bs because kids 20 months apart. It doesn't help that I got a lab/weim mix at 18 months of IF...and got pregnant 2 months later; We tried to train her and she's just crazy, we have acreage so she has room to run and she's just crazy and riles up the 2 smaller dogs, </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2359001 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 21:46:36 +0000 pinkcupcake 2359001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Reading these responses makes me sad. </p> <p>My dogs are still family to me. Having a (human) child hasn't changed my feelings towards them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357837 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 10:24:02 +0000 ElbieKay 2357837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I LOVE LOVE LOVE our cats. I am so glad we got them. (We committed to getting them two days before we found out I was pregnant, so we thought about not going through with it.) They were my therapy pets during my pregnancy, and they are still my fluffs!</p> <p>I used to spend even more time with them, but I think/hope I still manage to give them enough attention. One of them asks to play with our "da bird" toy every.single.night, and some nights I am just too tired. But they sleep in our bedroom and get lots of pets and cuddles and overall it is a good situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357808 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 10:10:36 +0000 snowjewelz 2357808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel the same way! Penny was my baby before. I've had her since I graduated college, so she really was my baby (and then add in DH later to spoil her too). She slept with us, we bathed her ourselves, took her on long hikes, etc... </p> <p>The only reason I'm not TOO guilty is b/c she's getting old too so she's not nearly as active as she used to be. and she's content with chilling at home most of the time. </p> <p>I do feel very guilty that I have zero patience for her and we yell at her a lot :sad: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357692 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 08:53:31 +0000 runnerd 2357692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll be honest, I borderline can't tolerate, stand, or like our dogs now that I have a child. Granted they have a lot of fear aggression and it's really hard to cuddle with the dog just got done growling at your baby. DH still feels a lot of guilt and wants to be better dog parents, but I really really am pushing to rehome at least one of them. It's more than I can handle it it makes me angry on a daily basis – I don't even feel guilty about it anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357680 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 08:47:47 +0000 MrsBrewer 2357680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.KMM: same here! </p> <p>I don't think our relationship with our pets has changed. I mean no we don't take them to the dog park as often as we did before. But I'm home with them so much more now, and they get a ton of attention and love. I don't know, I love dogs though, and I made a point when we got them to always make sure to give them plenty of attention even as our family grows. They are a big part of our family too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357670 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 08:38:49 +0000 JerricaBenton 2357670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think too much has changed. I personally probably have less cuddle time with our dog but dh probably cuddles him more to make up for it lol. He still sleeps with us so we get that time alone with the dog. We take him out with us a lot and lo adores him. Sometimes I think he might wish it was quieter like before lo but I hope he's happy! It's easy to feel guilty though, that their lives definitely change when you have kids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357645 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 07:45:15 +0000 regberadaisy 2357645@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Reese: it's definitely hard. Especially in the early days, especially if you don't have a unicorn baby. I remember with my first, it seemed like she was constantly attached to my boob 24/7. It would take me ages to get her to finally nap. And of course 5 minutes after the dog would start barking and god knows what. Of course the baby would wake up screaming. :( It is really hard when you're getting no sleep and have a fussy "colicky" baby! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357643 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 07:37:38 +0000 SeptMomma12 2357643@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We lost our 8 year old cat very unexpectedly two weeks ago and I have been having so much guilt about this :crying: He definitely got downgraded when DS was born 3 years ago and then even more so when DD came along 6 months ago. I am wishing I had found the time to give him more snuggles instead of seeing him as a nuisance. But like @blackbird: said, I'm trying to take comfort in the fact he slept with me every night and knew he was loved. It's so hard when you just only have so much left of you to give at the end of the day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357633 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 07:09:45 +0000 blackbird 2357633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My cats get attention neglected sometimes because they tend to hide out when the kids are running around and being loud. But they've managed by finding me. Usually when I'm asleep. They've taken to sleeping next to me (or on me). So they don't get loved on as much as they used to (not like I'm sitting on the couch all day watching tv and petting them!) but they've managed to seek me out, so I don't feel too bad. I can tell when they get lonely, though </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357618 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 03:13:57 +0000 Cherrybee 2357618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dog is driving me mad. I don't have the time to walk her daily any more. As a result, she toilets in the garden or, worse, in the kitchen. I'm sick of cleaning it up and get mad at her.... but then I feel bad because I know its not her fault and there's a simple solution (walk her). </p> <p>I wish we didn't have a dog now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357607 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 00:47:24 +0000 simplyfelicity 2357607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dogs used to be my babies. When, I came home from the hospital, they were like pieces of furniture -- I didn't even notice them. Now, I just view them as dogs. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357587 Sun, 15 Nov 2015 23:30:00 +0000 Nutella 2357587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyTsMom: I hear ya. we had issues with behavioural regression too. Aggression to other dogs when we were out with LO etc. Spent a lot of money on training and a lot of daily training exercises. This was so stressful for me. I ended up in tears a LOT! but thankfully months of daily training paid off and he's amazingly well behaved now and adores LO. But I can't help but feel it was all related. He gets a lot of love from the general public when we walk him so I try and take him out daily now. But when it doesn't happen it just doesn't happen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357585 Sun, 15 Nov 2015 23:18:31 +0000 BabyTsMom 2357585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so glad I'm not the only one who feels guilty! Ours has always had socialization issues, we've spent major $$$ on training that has completely failed us. But he was still always our fur baby and we love/d him so much. Then LO came and though I knew it would be difficult, I am sad that he hasn't warmed up at all. IT's like he's on edge all the time and sees LO as a threat rather than a friend. And because we can't spend as much time cuddling and spoiling him, I think he's acting out by being more naughty (having accidents when he's completely trained, etc) and aggressive. He's been aggressive towards LO too and sometimes I"m so mad at him that I secretly want to give him up but I was the one that really wanted him.... major major guilt here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357573 Sun, 15 Nov 2015 22:44:41 +0000 Beth24 2357573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can definitely relate to the guilt of not spending enough time with my dog once DD was born. My dog was great with my daughter and was so patient, but I felt like she went from being my baby to being just a dog like others have said. Not to be a downer, but 2 weeks ago she passed away very suddenly (she was 13 so I guess it wasn't a total shock) but now I wish I could go back in time and give her so much love. I'm suffering from major guilt now that my dog is gone and wishing I had paid more attention to her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357550 Sun, 15 Nov 2015 22:05:09 +0000 ShootingStar 2357550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The fist few months after DS was born our dog drove me CRAZY. It was like everything she did was annoying and loud and in the way. On top of that, our vet said we were feeding her too much and when we reduced her food she started chewing on everything in the house that had breastmilk on it. Which felt like absolutely everything. My patience with her was pretty non-existent. </p> <p>But two years later and things are much much better. My son and my dog behave like siblings; they love each other, the want the same toys, and they love to compete for attention. And while of course DS comes first, she's a close second. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357537 Sun, 15 Nov 2015 21:45:23 +0000 Mae 2357537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I'm just as concerned about their physical health as I always was. But I'm definitely less concerned about their emotional health now. Before if I thought one of them was being unreasonable I was still pretty likely to be concerned about it. But now I'm like.... live with it dog. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-has-having-human-children-change-you-as-a-pet-parent#post-2357522 Sun, 15 Nov 2015 21:30:12 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2357522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think much has changed. They do spend less time in our laps but still get plenty of attention. DH still takes the big dog with him when he runs and the little dog sits next to me when I nurse LO. </p>