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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
) 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.
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@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!
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@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.
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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
), but I still love them so much.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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. -
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.
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.
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@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.
Don't get me wrong, our pup still has a much better life than most, I'm sure. 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!
She is absolutely amazing with the kids.@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.
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@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.
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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!
) 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.
), but I still love them so much.
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