Kid Practice |
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 I’ve heard somewhere that animals are great for calming the emotions and relieving stress. I know that’s the case in my house. When I’m crying about something or another my dog always comes over and licks my face right at the perfect moment and cheers me up. I’ve heard of some couples say their dog is sort of a remedy to help cope with fertility issues. My dog… Well, I think he’s good for it all.
It probably annoys people when I compare my dog to their child… But I don’t mean it in a mocking way… It’s just all I have to go by right now. Besides… Dog is family isn’t it? And if you ask me, there’s a lot you can learn from your furry friends. I’ve had Snoop for a year and a half now and he is like my wannabe kid. I worry about him when I leave him alone—I cried when I left for my last vacation because I had to leave him behind. We purposely drove 23 hours each way to our family reunion so we could bring him along with us. I know it’s not the same as a human child, but I think parents have to give us some credit for trying to understand. It took me three years to convince my husband that we should get a dog (much like with this whole kid topic). I knew they took a lot of patience and practice. My family went through a dozen dogs growing up, none of them ever even made it to being house broken, so I was nervous about it, but when the time was right we adopted Snoop from a local shelter. When I hear new moms talk about little things and experiences with their new baby I can't help but chime in with "Yea, I know! With my puppy..." And I usually get the same strange look in response. I don't mean to compare my love for my dog with their love for their child because, believe me... I know there's a difference. But in my eyes, there are a lot of similarities. I have actually been thinking lately of how my dog is great practice for a child. Here are a few things I've thought of: 1. Building maternal instincts: When he wakes up in the middle of the night I jump up... It's become an instinct. He usually has to either go outside to go potty, or rush outside to puke (after sneaking some snacks). 2. Getting “mom smart”: I've learned to learn. I've been reading a lot of "parenting" books about raising a dog, how to be a "pack leader" and really trying to follow through. 3. “Mommy talk” good and bad: It's easy to let your children walk all over you. Same with my dog. Even I have a hard time holding my ground when he gives me his sad puppy eyes, and he knows when I mean business. I turn on my "serious mom" voice and he obeys. I also have my cute googoo mommy voice for when he's being all cute and cuddly. Oh, and I'm beginning to use mom phrases like: "Yea I can see you, I have eyes in the back of my head." 4. Selflessness: ... Baby steps ok? I use to hate to exercise but since getting Snoop and learning daily walks are crucial, I've sacrificed sleep for his fitness. 5. Poop? Who cares?!: I'm used to gross things. Puke, poop, diarrhea. I'm accustomed to it all now. And in my opinion, human stuff isn't as gross, and I know dog farts smell WAY worse. 6. Teaching skills: Just like I want to teach my kids... My dog knows good manners. No jumping on people, sitting before he's pet, that kind of stuff. 7. Puppyproofing: Yea, like babyproofing. I now know I’ve got to put stuff away out of his reach, and make sure not to use chemicals, or leave things around that could be harmful to him. 8. Healthcare: I take him to the veterinarian regularly and stay very in-tune with his health needs. 9. Selective listening: I read a lot of blogs about women who lock themselves in the room away from their kids while the blog... Yea, I do that with my dog. 10. Patience: Lots of carpet shampoo, ripped jeans, chewed up shoes, 5 new sets of blinds, 2 training classes, lots of practice and a bark collar later, I've learned a lot of patience, and boy if you stick with it, it pays off! Sure, you can't throw a kid in the backyard all day, or leave them at home alone, but if you ask me, it's still good practice, and baby steps in the right direction. I love Snoop. No, he's not my replacement child, but he will always have a special place in my heart, even after a human addition. And while I’m waiting for that little one to come… I think he’s good practice (and good therapy). What do you think? Do you have a dog? Does it help relieve some stress? |
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