Is a Pet Good Practice For a Baby?

Is a Pet Good Practice Before a Baby?

March 4, 2010

A user in Group Therapy is newly married and wants something to care for, but she's not sure if it should be a dog or a baby. Some might say if it's a question then the answer is definitely dog, but it also makes a good point: pets are often baby step to the responsibility of caring for an actual baby. Is test-driving caregiving with a Labrador good practice or a bad trick?

40 Comments

danakscully64 2 years 51 weeks

Oh, and Goldfish, with proper care, live longer than dogs. Their next year baby will be in high school, maybe even out of college by the time it passes.

danakscully64 2 years 51 weeks

Oh, boy! If you mean too much as in money, Goldfish are actually pretty expensive. I know people think you can just get a bowl, the fish, and the food, but that will kill the fish. They need a whole tank setup (over 20 gallons) with the filter and everything. My fish cost me as much as my dog did. Tell them to just not get any pet, they would probably just kill it.

2 years 51 weeks

Friends of mine, forty-somethings, married almost two years ago, agreed a baby would be on the way within a year. Okay. No baby yet. They talked about a dog, but that was too much. They are now trying with goldfish. Really. I'm not kidding!

tlsgirl 3 years 11 weeks

How about neither? Wait and see if you still want something in a year. Don't get a dog that you might not want and have to give up to a shelter just you want a practice run. This seems so selfish to me.

bribella27 3 years 11 weeks

I have a dog, and my sister just had a baby, and while I love my nephew to pieces I am glad I have a dog. Dogs are not babies, nor do I think that they are good practice for a baby. Besides being depended on, the needs of a dog and the needs of a baby are entirely different and let's face it - if you want to be a crappy dog owner and leave your dog at home in kennel 12 hours a day every day you can and no one will stop you. You have no relief from a child unless you plan as putting children in kennels is frowned up. :) So unless you really want a dog don't just get one as practice for a child.

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 11 weeks

I should say that I've had dogs nearly my whole life, and I KNOW I could take proper care of one and love it to bits. However pass me a child and I haven't the foggiest what to do. Babies and pets are so amazingly different, and each have their own unique needs. You could always try to keep a fish if you want to give responsibility a go, but don't buy a puppy if you're thinking of having kids. Both puppies and kids require a lot of thought, planning and commitment.

Autumns_Elegy 3 years 11 weeks

I should say that I've had dogs nearly my whole life, and I KNOW I could take proper care of one and love it to bits. However pass me a child and I haven't the foggiest what to do.Babies and pets are so amazingly different, and each have their own unique needs.You could always try to keep a fish if you want to give responsibility a go, but don't buy a puppy if you're thinking of having kids. Both puppies and kids require a lot of thought, planning and commitment.

claw 3 years 11 weeks

I'm glad the sentiment has been put out there already but I'm here to reiterate: PEOPLE: DO NOT get a dog unless you are serious about the commitment/responsibility. Owning a pet is a long term things and requires much more than feeding. Dogs required attention, excercise, veterinary visits, bathing etc. If you want to get practive for a baby, just offer friends or family to babysit.

claw 3 years 11 weeks

I'm glad the sentiment has been put out there already but I'm here to reiterate: PEOPLE: DO NOT get a dog unless you are serious about the commitment/responsibility. Owning a pet is a long term things and requires much more than feeding. Dogs required attention, excercise, veterinary visits, bathing etc.If you want to get practive for a baby, just offer friends or family to babysit.

KadBunny 3 years 11 weeks

SKG, I am that cat-obsessed girl haha. However I didn't adopt my cat thinking "oh I wonder if I'm ready for children, let me get a kitten for a test run". I just adore cats. I will say though, caring for her since she was little (5 weeks old) has certainly opened my eyes to how exponentially harder having a baby must be. The first few months were challenging for me, and this girl didn't cry and keep me up at night. Didn't scare me off though :) Just enlightening. But yes it's completely unfair to get a pet for the sake of gauging your abilities. Why not just babysit? <_<

KadBunny 3 years 11 weeks

SKG, I am that cat-obsessed girl haha. However I didn't adopt my cat thinking "oh I wonder if I'm ready for children, let me get a kitten for a test run". I just adore cats. I will say though, caring for her since she was little (5 weeks old) has certainly opened my eyes to how exponentially harder having a baby must be. The first few months were challenging for me, and this girl didn't cry and keep me up at night.Didn't scare me off though :) Just enlightening. But yes it's completely unfair to get a pet for the sake of gauging your abilities. Why not just babysit? <_<

sparklestar 3 years 11 weeks

In adoption assessment we do look to people who have had experience with animals as a good indicator that they are caring and warm people. However, a dog is a huge commitment and shouldn't be adopted if you are going to have a baby.

sparklestar 3 years 11 weeks

In adoption assessment we do look to people who have had experience with animals as a good indicator that they are caring and warm people.However, a dog is a huge commitment and shouldn't be adopted if you are going to have a baby.

hypnoticmix 3 years 11 weeks

Just want to add that I agree getting a dog for the sole purpose of a test run pre-pregnancy is not a good idea. However, if you have or are getting a dog regardless than yes the peripheral benefit is a good test run.

danakscully64 3 years 11 weeks

I 100% agree with Pink Elephant. NOT a good idea to get a dog as a trial, not fair to the dog. I've seen so many cases where a pet ended up dumped in the shelter and euthanized because the parents can't "handle" both the dog and a new baby. Get a dog for the RIGHT reasons.

danakscully64 3 years 11 weeks

Bettye Wayne 3 years 11 weeks

There is no such thing as a bad excuse when it comes to adopting a needy pet from a shelter.

hypnoticmix 3 years 11 weeks

I think dogs are a good test run especially dogs which are spoiled rotten because they are such attention *hores. I lucked out with my recent adoption though. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect mellow dog who just goes with the flow. Every one is amazed at his character and temperment, so maybe he's not such a good test run lol

hypnoticmix 3 years 11 weeks

starbucks 3 years 11 weeks

We adopted a dog 2 weeks before we found out I was pregnant. She (the dog) is very lively and needs a lot of attention and is not happy unless she's outside 2-3 hours a day. It is really hard juggling both. I don't get the comparison though. If you're not finding yourself capable of taking care of the dog, or willing to make the sacrafices having a dog requires it probably means you're not a dog person. If you want babies you need to think about what that mean and ask yourself if you are ready, no need to practice!

starbucks 3 years 11 weeks

tarabara1229 3 years 11 weeks

@SKG, I am crossing my fingers for Admiral Ackbar!!! (and I don't even have any ties to Ole Miss) :)

spacekatgal 3 years 11 weeks

lol @ Dex. Well, I learned words like that at the very prestigious University of Mississippi. Our mascot is (hopefully) Admiral Ackbar! ;)

dexaholic 3 years 11 weeks

My younger sister (24) started talking about wanting to have kids, so I suggested her and her husband get a puppy. And boy, am I ever glad I did! Kids and dogs are different, yes. But not being able to give a dog the care and attention and training it needs to become a healthy and happy member of K9 and human society is a pretty good indication that you are not ready for children. (Though sadly, I'm not so sure she realizes she's not giving the dog the attention it needs...) And for the record, I have a dog and often think of him as my child, simply because he relies on me for food, for love and for guidance. "Child" may be the wrong word. Perhaps "dependent" would be more appropriate. Of course, with a dog, you are able to leave them alone for a certain amount of time, say, while you are at work, or at the movies or something. No need for baby sitters. SKG, I'm ashamed to admit that I had to look up the definition of "conflate", though I got the gist of what you were saying. For everyone else out there, dictionary.com defines it as "To bring together; meld or fuse". :)

dexaholic 3 years 11 weeks

My younger sister (24) started talking about wanting to have kids, so I suggested her and her husband get a puppy. And boy, am I ever glad I did! Kids and dogs are different, yes. But not being able to give a dog the care and attention and training it needs to become a healthy and happy member of K9 and human society is a pretty good indication that you are not ready for children. (Though sadly, I'm not so sure she realizes she's not giving the dog the attention it needs...)And for the record, I have a dog and often think of him as my child, simply because he relies on me for food, for love and for guidance. "Child" may be the wrong word. Perhaps "dependent" would be more appropriate.Of course, with a dog, you are able to leave them alone for a certain amount of time, say, while you are at work, or at the movies or something. No need for baby sitters.SKG, I'm ashamed to admit that I had to look up the definition of "conflate", though I got the gist of what you were saying. For everyone else out there, dictionary.com defines it as "To bring together; meld or fuse". :)

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