Friend claiming training puppy like having a baby?

[Babymama2022]

I’m not sure why but I’m just feeling really annoyed at my friend for claiming training her puppy is like having a baby if not more tiring? She’s not had a baby and doesn’t ever plan on having one and I’m a single mother who’s absolutely exhausted and hardly had any sleep since baby was born a year ago. She claims she knows exactly how I feel with stress levels and exhaustion because she’s just got a puppy. Maybe I shouldn’t feel this way, but her saying this just didn’t comfort me at all and it just made me feel angry by her claiming having a dog is as exhausting as a baby/child.

That’s extremely insulting, I hate when people say that kind of thing or when they call themselves as dog ‘parents’ 🙄
im a single mother to a 9 month old and I would have said something. I’m getting mad just thinking about it! 😂

She’s talking bollocks.
Maybe one day she’ll have a baby and be mortified with cringe at what she said.

To be fair I've heard lots of people who have also had babies say this. I've never had a pup so can't say if this is true or not. Totally understand why you are annoyed though. Can't put a baby in a cage and go out for a few hours.

It’s ridiculous and I would be honest and say that if she said it again. However even on here the ‘dogs are life’ brigade say having a puppy is more exhausting than having a baby so I’m sure you’ll get some of those comments on this thread, even though it’s bullshit.

I've had multiple puppies over the years and I have a 1 year old (human 😅) now. They're definitely not the same at all of course, caring for a tiny human is on another level completely.
Buuuuut, I do think it's along similar lines in the sense that if you've not had either before getting a puppy can be a real shock to the system with regards to time commitment, sleep, the fact you always have something relying on you/that you have to think about etc. So although it's clearly very different in many ways there are some similarities and I suspect that's what your friend was trying to express (rather tactlessly).

I've got a little one (2) and just got a puppy ..the first few weeks are bloody tiring as they don't sleep for more than 2hrs at a time including through the night, trying to get into everything, chew everything and potty training means you are out in the garden every 20mins during the day so your day is stuck around their toilet/nap/eating schedule, which is pretty similar to a newborn tbf! Major differences too though - I'm not physically fucked because of birth, and puppy's go through the stages really quickly so it's hard going but only for a short period. She's probably trying to find something in common rather than a comparison to put you down.

To be fair, I have done both and came to the conclusion that looking after a puppy is a bit like looking after a baby, but worse because they don't stay still, they don't wear nappies and you don't get paid leave. I don't remember ever crying on DH that we would have to give either of the babies away, for instance.

The upside is that it doesn't last as long, so yes, she is talking bollocks if she's comparing experiences when you haven't slept for a year.

Lol she's incorrect, not least because a) a puppy owner hasn't just given birth, so no birth injuries etc, and b) you can't leave a baby for an hour in a pen while you go out and c) you don't have to wake up for them every two hours and d) you can just put food in a bowl and not have to worry about getting the latch right and e) you don't have to burp puppies and f) puppies can walk and hold their heads upright and... I could go on.

I helped my in laws a little when they had a new puppy and i was living with them for a month. They also had a whole litter of puppies a few years later. The only ONE tiny thing that is easier for babies is nappies (whereas the puppy crawls under a wardrobe and wees there and you can't find the source of the smell afterwards).

I've done both and the skills you need are similar. Having a baby definitely made me a better puppy owner as I knew about setting limits, focusing on the positive and knowing how to sleep train. Although I'm softer on ddog than dd!

I haven't had a baby but one of my close friends who has had both said she found the puppy far more difficult and stressful.

But I would never say something like that to someone as I haven't experienced both.

I guess it must depend on the baby and the puppy and also maybe what order you do things in.

I'll be honest and say ddog was harder as a puppy than my daughter is as a baby. I don't know if it's because she was a particularly hard puppy or if my daughter is a particularly easy baby but I genuinely found it harder having a puppy.

They’re both serious responsibilities if you do it properly but that’s about where it ends. A baby is genuinely for life, (a lot of years), you couldn’t rehome them in quite the same way as a pet.

Feelings and attachment are deep with pets. We had pets before children. But it’s not the same and it’s an insult on the part of your friend to claim it is. Minimises what’s going on for you.

But more and more people are choosing not to have children and saying things like your friend. Maybe trying to liken their fur babies to your baby??

Honestly an 8 week puppy is so much harder than a newborn. Its like bringing home a 9 month old baby and being thrown in at the deep end.

Although you get lack of sleep with a newborn, my experience for the rest of the time was lots of day sleep or time where baby is lying on you. A new puppy never stops

I have a 5 month old human and a 1.5yr old dog and they're definitely not the same but I would agree there are overlaps. When we got our pup he howled all night, needed let out to pee every 2hrs and constant attention and correction and training. Having a baby is equally intense but it lasts for longer than the first while you bring a puppy home because once you've them trained it gets much easier much faster. I would imagine it's your friend trying to empathise with you in terms of the increase in tiredness and responsibility. Obviously it's not the same level as having a human baby but I don't think she means it as the insult you've taken it as.

I have a friend like this and I have to hold my tongue. She actually compared her dog “parenting” her dog to another friend who was discussing her co-parenting struggles with ex-H

Hmm that would probably annoy me too. However, playing devils advocate, might she be trying to find a common ground/show understanding? It does sound annoying but maybe her intentions isn’t bad.

id maybe save the baby talk for another friend who might be more understanding.

I've a child and I've had several puppies and I've found some puppies harder work for sure. My child has never eaten my couch 😂😂

This. It isn’t comparable whatsoever. She probably calls her dog her fur baby 🙄

Puppies are ten times harder!!! I say that as someone who has had many many puppies and three kids. Puppies are relentless, and annoy your neighbours if you aren’t careful. Plus they have very sharp teeth!

The only people I know who've had both say the babies were easier - I've had neither so can't comment.

I've had children but no dogs. I always say to people that having a dog seems like having a baby - and one that never grows up! My friends with puppies have their sleep disrupted, never seem to want to leave the dog alone or go on holiday without it. Ok raising children is more full on, I know but having a dog also seems life changing and exhausting. It's why I'll only ever have cats.

As Someone who has never had a dog is this true???

Like overnight wouldn’t you just lock them in a crate if they were being noisey and shut the door?

I have two children and a dog. I found having a new puppy much more difficult than either of my newborns (though I had easy babies and a bloody nightmare of a puppy… it’s a good job he’s cute!). Puppies don’t wear nappies and newborns don’t chew the furniture.

Now I have a toddler and older baby who are harder to look after (most days at least ).

Some puppies are harder work than some babies. Dogs age quicker though and it’s not so intense for so long.

I would happily take on another baby, as much as I love our dog there is absolutely no way I would have another puppy. I think our daughter was a fairly easy baby as babies go, others would be much much harder.