Can you love a dog as much as a child?

[Bluemooninmyeyes1]

I’m not a dog owner and I don’t have children so I’m pretty clueless on this subject but genuinely interested! I work with someone who talks about her dog more than her own daughter and is constantly posting photos of her dog on social media.

So..is it possible to love your dog as much as your kids?

YABU- You cannot love a dog as much as a child

YANBU- You can definitely love a dog as much as a child

@AldiAisleofCrap

No, they are not fur babies. They are not human. They are animals, cute animals but still animals.

I hate to break it to you but humans are animals too. We're not a divine being or alien experiment.

In fact thinking about it, I've been stopped far more by people in the street to ask me about my dog, give him a stroke, tell me how lovely he is etc...

Obviously not everyone will be interested in your dog either but I think generally speaking, more people will be interested in your dog/animal than your child.

I'm not talking about extremes like burning buildings and what not but more the OPs examples, social media posts, conversation, walking down the street etc...

People I meet are 100% more interested in my dogs than my child. The dogs are very unusual however and DC is not

I would say the dogs are a hobby for me, I love them and spend a lot of time with them. I also work with dogs and do activities them so it is a big part of my life and I probably post more about this than my DC. Most of my social media is filled with people related to the dogs though so I expect they do prefer a dog post as it’s also their hobby too.

It does not mean I love my child any less. Of course he is my priority. Just because it’s what you see on social media does not make it real life.

I have a friend who was notoriously anti-pets. She wasn't anti-animals per se, just couldn't see why anyone would want one in their house, living with them.

When her son was in his late 20s, he got a great career opportunity that involved him spending 6 weeks abroad. He also had 2 lurchers, and she reluctantly agreed to look after them during the time he was away.

Four weeks in, we met up for a dog walk and a drink. She had been transformed by these dogs, and was utterly in love with them. She told me, in utter seriousness, that if she'd had any idea how wonderful living with dogs was, she would never have had children, just dogs. (Which has always been my position, I'm afraid). She was heart broken when her son returned back and she had to give them back, it was like a bereavement.

So I think it's entirely possible to love a dog more than a child. Especially if the parent-child relationship is a difficult one.

Oh, and said friend now has 6 rescued lurchers. They extended their house to create a dining kitchen, so that they could fit more sofas in their sitting room, for the lurchers.

@Mommabear20

Absolutely! We have 2 dogs, 1 daughter and we're pregnant with our second baby, we have 4 kids! I know some people will say we're stupid blah blah blah, but the way we see it, species is irrelevant, WE as the adults decided to have each and every one of them and therefore they are our children 😁 they all stress me out no end and I'd die for each of them!

So you'd jump in front of a bus for your dog's and leave your two young children without a Mom knowing the dog night live what, a decade and you're children into old age, that your dog would ultimately line the next person along that feeds and is kind to them but you're children will always feel your absence?

For those who think they love their pets more than their children, if you had one piece of food left to either give to your child or your pet, who would you feed? Or could afford medicine for one of them, who would you let live? Can only be one of them and you have to choose.

Whoever you would pick is who you love more.

@SleepingStandingUp I'm speaking about them as individuals. I bet most people would say they'd die for a friend or relative which would result in the same scenario of children being left, I was merely trying to explain how much my dogs mean to us and that they are very much our children and mean the world to us. 🙄

All factors being equal, I don't think most people would actively choose to sacrifice their own life and leave their own children so another person can live. Of course people run into burning buildings and the like, some as a career, but they don't assume they'll die and in non-proffesional circs it's adrenaline not rationality.

[quote Shadow21]@GlummyMcGlummerson

I find it hard to explain but it all comes down to something called ‘Speciesism’. Speciesism is the differing treatment or moral consideration of individuals based on their species membership. This involves treating members of one species as morally more important than members of other species in the context of their similar interests.[/quote]
And you think this is akin to racism? Seriously?

We are supposed to value our own species more. Tell me @Shadow21 do you also personally value the lives of ants equally or more than those of humans? If not why not - afterall, by your reckoning, no species is superior. Would you save an ant who lives in your garden over someone else's child?

I love my son more than anything in my life, I love my dog but it will never be the same. I'd do anything for my son, he almost died at birth and that feeling was terrible, I was distressed and cried everyday for 3 months until he came out of hospital. It's been a hard slog, I'm not a parent that finds parenting easy, but my love for him is bigger then I could ever imagine. Whereas my dog is great I do find her very needy and my son takes up a lot of my time and patience. I think for someone to love their dog more than their child or value its life over anyone's I think they must've been greatly hurt in the past by a fellow human. But I could be wrong.

This thread is batshit.

@CaptainSandy

If you rehomed your children they'd form a bond with a new family too.

Not necessarily - fostered children and those who've been removed from their homes have deep seated issues that run well into adulthood, they sadly have lower mental health and sociological outcomes as well. And they remember their parents, unless separated at a very young age (though even tiny babies can experience separation anxiety that affects them throughout their life). Dogs easily move on and forget their last owners. People need to remember that dogs will pine for their dog mum, not human mum.

I'm really not sure why people without kids are coming in and saying they prefer their dog. The question obviously isn't aimed at you

And FWIW I much prefer other people's children to their dogs. I find the vast majority of dogs annoying, jumpy, badly trained and they put me on edge. I know it's fashionable to dislike other people's kids but I don't

@GlummyMcGlummerson

And FWIW I much prefer other people's children to their dogs. I find the vast majority of dogs annoying, jumpy, badly trained and they put me on edge. I know it's fashionable to dislike other people's kids but I don't

Me too. I have no interest in people's dogs and dont want to see photos of their puppy. Im quite happy to hold their baby though or chat about their kid.

@Mommabear20

Absolutely! We have 2 dogs, 1 daughter and we're pregnant with our second baby, we have 4 kids! I know some people will say we're stupid blah blah blah, but the way we see it, species is irrelevant, WE as the adults decided to have each and every one of them and therefore they are our children 😁 they all stress me out no end and I'd die for each of them!

So you would die for your dogs leaving your children motherless? Yes I know it's hypothetical but I'm interested in your answer

How did we go from questioning whether you can love a dog AS MUCH AS a child to love the dog more?

People I meet are 100% more interested in my dogs than my child

I wouldn't be but it would be a but weird to go "awwwwww" and run up to your baby stroking it and saying "he's so cute!" but it's acceptable to do this to a dog! Which I think says it all in how we regard our dogs be our children - we are more protective of our children, more distrusting of others, but most people let any old weirdo strike their dog

*STROKE their dog. I hope people aren't letting weirdos strike their dogs

People I meet are 100% more interested in my dogs than my child

This is true and testament to how bizarre British culture is. I went to a pub in the daytime with my DC and some friends. My dc were primary aged. They sat down quietly and were well behaved. My friend brought her dog along. Everyone who walked past out table cooed over her dog. My dc got endless dirty looks for even being there. Im sure other countries aren't like this.

How did we go from questioning whether you can love a dog AS MUCH AS a child to love the dog more?

I dunno but there are some questionable mothers in here. Sometimes this place actually makes me rethink my feelings about having kids. I don't think I would be a very good mother, but if people who love their dogs more than their own kids manage, then I'd do better by far. Hopefully a lot of them are just saying it for a reaction and don't actually mean it, or just don't understand the question, but even that's worrying.

Absolutely! We have 2 dogs, 1 daughter and we're pregnant with our second baby, we have 4 kids! I know some people will say we're stupid blah blah blah, but the way we see it, species is irrelevant, WE as the adults decided to have each and every one of them and therefore they are our children

BS. If your house was on fire you would save your children first.

@dontdisturbmenow

How did we go from questioning whether you can love a dog AS MUCH AS a child to love the dog more?

But even as much as it questionable.

I have 3 kids. I would absolutely give up my life for one of them and risk them being motherless. I hope they know that although I have my life for Dave, is have done the same for Steve and Kev. They would have each other, a relationship that will hopefully last their entire life. I absolutely wouldn't risk leaving them without a mother for a pet, no matter how beloved that pet was and I wouldn't have to contemplate who I'd save between Fido and Steve.

[quote Mommabear20]@SleepingStandingUp I'm speaking about them as individuals. I bet most people would say they'd die for a friend or relative which would result in the same scenario of children being left, I was merely trying to explain how much my dogs mean to us and that they are very much our children and mean the world to us. 🙄[/quote]
So you wouldn't leave your kids childless then for your dogs? That's how it should be.

There's no friends or relatives other than my kids of die for. I don't think any parent has a friend they'd life for and leave their kids motherless?

I'm a few months in to having our first family dog. After he ran off on a walk the other day (got him back), I realised just how much I love him. I also tend to put more photos of him on social media these days as my DC are older and don't want their photos everywhere. However, my love for my DC is different and if I had to rescue them or the dog, I'd choose them every time.