“I Had a Puppy and a Baby at the Same Time… 8 Mistakes I Made”

When my son was two years old, I decided I would give him a sibling. But unlike friends who were expanding their human family, I chose to add a furry brother to the household.

Some people might think that’s crazy. Why put yourself through the work of potty training a dog at the same time that you’re potty training a human?

However, I can honestly say that seeing my son and my dog grow up together has been a beautiful experience, and they are the best of friends. There are so many ways having a dog benefits children. Pet ownership may make children happier, healthier, and more caring and responsible. That doesn’t mean it’s easy having a baby and a puppy. Learn from my mistakes, and think about these things that are important to consider when adding to your family.

It’s Going to Cost a Lot of Money

Having a baby is hardly cheap. But adding a pet along with the baby is like bleeding dollars.

A puppy has extra expenses in the first year of its life, just like a human child. Besides vaccines and veterinarian visits, puppy food, toys, and all the basics like a leash, collar, crate, and bedding all add up. And you’re spending this money at the same time you’re buying clothes, diapers, toys, and everything else you need for a rapidly growing child. Plus, you may need to spend money on dog training, but more on that later.

It’s a Huge Time Commitment

Becoming a parent to a human child is a huge life adjustment. Your time is no longer your own. And the same goes if you decide to add a puppy to your household. Having both a puppy and a baby means free time is basically gone. Both have needs that are completely different and must be met. If you choose to go the route of getting a puppy while you have a baby, make sure you can handle the amount of care a new dog needs. It’s not fair to the puppy to be put in a position of possibly suffering neglect.

Training, Training, and More Training

The most important thing I did when I had a puppy and a baby at the same time was invest in training pretty much immediately. When you have a mobile child and a puppy, both need to know how to interact with each other safely and appropriately. 

I had a trainer come to the house and teach the family how my son could play with the puppy, and how they could learn how to interact with each other in the right way. For example, my son’s favorite game became throwing treats to the puppy for performing commands like sit and stay.

Schedules for Everyone

Just like human children do well with a sleep schedule, so do puppies. I kept my puppy on an eat, play, sleep schedule just like you would with a baby (except you have the added responsibility of outdoor bathroom breaks!).

Set Up Boundaries

My puppy had separate play areas with gates that were just for him, as did my son. These were safe spaces where we didn’t have to worry about the puppy getting into the child’s toys, and likewise. Your dog’s special space can have toys, their bed, and their water, all things that children like to get into. Separate spaces and boundaries also ensure safety and a place to decompress if a puppy or child is hyped up by the other one’s presence. 

Teach the Right Way To Play

Puppies are still learning to interact with humans properly. They can be mouthy, bark, jump, or chase,  which can be accidentally dangerous for babies and small children. It’s extremely important to teach puppies the right way to play with humans. Additionally, young children can learn the right way to interact with a dog. For example, children can be taught to stand still from a young age instead of running or screaming.

Supervision Needs To Be Constant

Both puppies and small children need an eye kept on them, both separately and together. This is a day-in, day-out part of life when you have a young child and a puppy. If you need to take care of your child, make sure your puppy is safely in a crate or gated space while doing so. Additionally, you’ll have to think about how you want to handle your child if your puppy needs a walk or an outdoor bathroom break. That’s where strollers and baby carriers can be a big help!

Put the Work in Now for a Better Future

Puppies and babies are exhausting. From sleepless nights to potty accidents, it feels like you’ll always be cleaning, feeding, or supervising. But eventually, this too will pass. Taking the time upfront to devote to making sure your puppy is properly trained and knows how to behave around your child will save time and effort in the long run. 

Now that my son and dog are both nearly teens, they are each other’s favorites and connected in a special way that I always hoped for. And while the result was worth it, it’s a lot, and I do mean, a lot of work and frustration up front. If you’re thinking of having a puppy and baby at the same time, it’s not for everyone and you should know your limitations. But if you can find a way to spend the time and money, it’s worth it in the long run.