If you've had a puppy, and you've had a baby.....

[HarrisHawk]

....are they really comparable?

A friend has just texted to apologise for ignoring me for the last three months but says she's got a new puppy and it's just as hard as having a new baby, so she's sure I understand why she hasn't been in touch.

Now I've had 2 babies, and had difficult recoveries and PND with both (which she knows), but I've never had a dog.

She doesn't have children.

If I'm honest I'm a bit hacked off with the comparison, but thought I'd ask the experts!

So for anybody who's had both...is she right? Or exaggerating how hard a puppy is?

I hate the puppy stage it really is awful. Not sure it can be compared to babies as such but you can't really leave them for long and they do restrict you massively in the first few weeks!

It is hard going, it's a bit like having a toddler who doesn't know any words (as in understand them, because usually a child that's capable of running round and trashing your house understands things like, no, hot or lets go do this instead etc...) with no nappies and their favourite game is biting you, with very very sharp teeth.

Also, you can't take them with youif you need to go shopping, or well, most places and you can't leave them alone for longer than a couple of hours...and even then you have to plan that so it fits round their routine.

So, yep, pretty full on...though of course there's none of the physical stuff from having given birth.

I've had 4 babies and 2 puppies.

The first month or so with a puppy is harder in my opinion (house training etc etc) but after a few months they are easier than babies.

Babies are a pita for a longer period

I always felt much more tired and tied to the house with the pups. Babies are so much more mobile and accepted in a lot more places (quite rightly).

Sounds like it was a lighthearted comment on her part, I wouldn't take it too much to heart. She's just saying she's been busy, but would like to see you.

Obviously having a puppy doesn't compare to a difficult baby let alone PND. But it is hectic and you do have to spend time setting up their routines, socialising them, staying at home until they're fully vaccinated and and getting them used to time alone. All that means you may just drop everything else for a while. If you're at all a disorganised person (like me) then looking after a puppy can make you incapable of organising your way out of a paper bag on any other front.

From your message it sounds like she's made the first move getting back in touch, so I'd take it with good grace.

Ok thank you everybody :)

I have no experience of dogs so it seemed like a silly comparison to me, and like she was making light of my experience with the babies.

But actually now I understand better about puppies I can see why it would have been tough (and she is a scatty person, not used to routine at all).

I have replied nicely and am glsd to be back in touch.

Puppies are harder than children imo