To love my dogs as much as my kid?

[passioninthisworld]

Okay rationally, I know that if I had to choose between saving my dogs or saving my kid, I'd choose my kid of course. But wow, do I love my dogs.

I've had cats in the past and dogs growing up and sure I've loved them and been fond of them but these two are honestly like my children.

They're very small dogs so not sure if that makes a difference as they can be 'baby like' but I honestly feel the same way I did with my daughter when I was bonding with her.

Pure pride, contentment when I'm with them. I still feel this way when with my daughter but she is getting into the teens and is quite moody and sometimes just doesn't seem to like me very much. My dogs are always happy to see me and they keep me company when my daughter is out or at her dads for the weekend.

I just love them so much, I get this fuzzy feeling when I look at them and they've honestly brought me soooo much joy the past year and a bit.

It was hard in the beginning but now that they're all trained they are just lovely.

Does anyone else feel this way about their pets? Is it normal?

No. Adore my dog and but in no way was it the same as when I was bonding with my newborn.

Yanbu at all I prefer dogs to people

I love my dog. Not more than my kids but more than my husband.

I love my dog but it doesn't compare in any way with the love I have for my kids. However my kids are teenagers, so some days I definitely LIKE my dog a lot more 🤣

Hmmm I probably wouldn’t mention it outside of an anonymous forum. It does seem slightly weird but you do you.

I feel that way about my dog and cat. I love them, they’re my companions in life. I love my children but they’re adults now, living their own lives. I honestly don’t need people around when I have my pets.

I probably wouldn't 😂

Maybe that's it, I'm confusing like and love.

Jesus no, I don't love my dog anywhere near as much as I love my children, and I would feel quite hurt if I thought my mother loved an animal as much or almost as much as she loved me

😂

When I was married I always loved my pets more than my husband, but he could be quite an arse while my pets were lovely.

I love my garden more than I love my siblings, so I am in no place to judge.

My garden brings me nothing but joy. Siblings, not so much… (although I do love them)

I really love my dog, but nowhere near as much as my kids, no.

My dog died 22 years ago. I still cry when I think of him now! I don't think it's the same as my love for my child though, that's a different level.

Same 😂

I guess thinking rationally, if I were to lose my dogs I'd be really upset but could go on with my life. Couldn't if I lost my daughter.

What's not to love about that little face

No it's a revolting attitude.

Oh wow

My dogs and cat have kept me going through the hardest of times. Sometimes, my (grown up) kids have made those times more difficult because they didn’t fully understand what I was going through.

I love them all so very much, but for different reasons. My kids because I have to; the animals because I want to! 😁

Don't listen to this prick!

No kids (yet?) but oh my gosh I LOVE my dog op. He is the best. Love of my life.

Sometimes when my kids are away I just sit on the sofa with my dogs or go for a long peaceful walk with them and enjoy their company so much that I feel bad for never feeling that content around my kids. But maybe if my kids would just stop complaining, squabbling and asking for snacks I would, so really it’s their own fault 🤣

I think it's a bit odd. I get you can love a pet immensely but there would be a clear separation in my mind between the love for the dog and the love for children.

Still, as you say, if it came down to it, you know you'd save the kids from the burning building first.

There was a quite disturbing thread on here a couple of years ago where the OP said she loved her dog a little less since having her (still very young) baby. There were hundreds of posts telling her to re-home the dog as it didn't deserve to be owned by such a despicable person. It was horrible really.

I think unless you get to that stage (admittedly this seems to include quite a lot of MN), you're probably fine!

No! Not the same.

Another take on this, when my friend’s dog died she said she was more upset than when her parents died. I do sort of get that.