Life with Dogs After Baby

I have heard so many people say... after you have a baby, your dog becomes just a dog. I would always judge them, thinking they obviously did not love their dog as much as I loved mine. My dogs are my first babies. We got Lana as soon as we moved to Maryland, barely a month after buying a house. For two years, Lana was our whole world.

Lana went to obedience class. We signed her up for agility. We set up agility courses in the backyard and took her to agility trials. We spent afternoons and weekends at dog parks, dog festivals, and other dog-friendly events. 

When Lana was two, we decided she was lonely and needed a best friend. So we got Ginger.

A year later, the family was growing again. While I was pregnant, the dogs were extremely loving and over-protective, which at the time was cute. We involved them in the process of preparing for a baby and did everything they say to do to try to prepare them for what was coming.

Once Raegan was born, the dogs were apprehensive, but okay with it. Both dogs were gentle with the baby and we never had any issues with jealousy or becoming too wild around the baby. If anything, they were happy someone was home all day and that we spent majority of the time napping and going on extra walks.

A year and a half later, the family was growing again. By this time, I am sure both dogs assume every year they get a new family member (I can assure you our family will not be adding any more humans or animals). By now, Raegan has become a crazy toddler who chases them, tries to play with them, climbs on them, kicks them (something we are working on....), and screams in their face. Toddlers are a dog's worst nightmare, especially when you have two neurotic dogs. Ginger does not let her get within a foot of her. Lana at best tolerates Raegan's attempts at hugs and cuddles. 

Add a new baby in the equation and the attention given to the dogs is cut again. There are many days when I am trying to balance wrestling with a toddler and feeding a newborn that I feel awful for my dogs. I feel awful that we rocked their world with these two needy humans. I feel awful that sometimes I just want to take a walk without them. I feel awful that on nice days we go to a playground rather than a dog park. I feel awful that their schedule depends on the schedule of the baby. I feel awful that I get mad at them for barking. I feel awful that when other people come to the house they beg them for love and attention like they never get it. I feel awful that sometimes I think of how much easier things could be if we didn't have them.....

Then I think, well life would be easier if we didn't have Rory- parenting one child seems like a breeze now that we have two. Actually, life would be easier if we just never had kids- ahh just thinking of those pre-baby days makes me smile. Life would be easier without a house where we constantly are pouring money into the roof, appliances, hot water heater, etc. 

So basically, even though they are an additional responsibility on the LONG list of responsibilities... they are still my babies and I love them to death. Our family just wouldn't be complete without them. 

However,  I will agree: 

When the babies are napping and the dogs start barking at other neighborhood dogs that apparently are not allowed to pass our house or at someone just trying to check their mail... the dogs are just dogs. 

Every time something else is wrong with them and I have to figure out how to take and entertain two kids at the vet... the dogs are just dogs. 

When hubby is away and I am home alone and have to dress two kids in coats, hats, mittens, and blankets and load them into the stroller because the dogs need a walk.... the dogs are just dogs. 

When years of training go to waste because your toddler decides it is more fun to feed the dogs than eat and there is nothing you can do to stop it... the dogs are just dogs.

When you have a brand new baby and the dog decides this is a good time to start peeing in house.... and it takes months, numerous trips to the vet, and hundreds of dollars to fix a UTI... the dogs are just dogs. 

When your five year old dogs still occasionally chew things up... the dogs are just dogs.

When the baby cannot even crawl on the rug without getting dog hair stuck to their face... the dogs are just dogs. 

When you are up all night with the babies and finally get to sleep knowing you can get at least a couple of hours of sleep in the morning... then remember the dogs will wake you up at 6:30am demanding a walk.... the dogs are just dogs.

But... just look how cute they are with the babies: