Doggy parents are a thing!
So there is a debate about whether people with animals can consider themselves "parents". Yes, obviously the animals are not human but they still need monitoring and care as if they were children. I am a brand new doggy mommy. We have just gotten a chocolate lab pup named Tucker. He is absolutely adorable and precious but he has his moments.
Dogs will still go potty on the floor, need a routine with feedings and potty, need constant watching so they do not tear anything up, chew on furniture, shoes, etc or eat anything they shouldn't. Puppy sitters are necessary when being away for a certain amount of time. They need to be walked. The midnight wake ups for potty breaks. They are expensive. They need beds and food and toys and kennels and shots and vet visits. Dogs are children with 4 legs and fur.
We refer to Tucker as our son, our child. We refer to ourselves as mommy and daddy. Tucker has aunts and uncles and grandparents as well.
Not only do dogs resemble the needs of children, they prepare you for children. If you cannot care for a dog then you probably shouldn't have kids. Dogs are lovable and cute but they aren't a walk in the park. People who are not doggy parents or who are not the main caregivers, say a sister or brother, do not understand the real hassle a pet is. This is why many parents get a pet for their children to care for to learn responsibility.
Here's to my first stages of parenting.
So to all of you other doggy parents, keep doing what you're doing and raise those pups to be big, pretty and nice doggo's.