I was scrolling through the ‘gram recently and stopped on a picture of someone’s dog, as I often do. My fellow blogger had posted that she is pregnant with her first child and keeps hearing people say that her dog is going to become “just a dog” once she has her baby.
Sprout will turn 7 this month (WHAT.) and there is not a day that goes by that I don’t pay attention to him, give him extra treats, tell him he’s a good boy. (He’s actually the best boy, but we can’t have that going to his head.) He may not have the same attention he had before E came into the family, but he still has my attention in some form.
Take this morning, for example. My mom comes over to help with E during the week so I can work, and Sprout seemed particularly antsy. I thought the hell with it – I can be late to my computer by 15 minutes so my little guy gets the walk he wants. And I grabbed his leash, asked if he wanted to go for a walk (the magic word) and off we went. It may not be the car ride to his favorite store once a week so he can pick out a treat du jour like we used to do, but it’s time we spend together.
Sprout is the first dog I’ve had as an adult, and he will forever be my first baby. I know that probably sounds weird if you have kids and no pets, or if you have pets and don’t see them as anything other than pets. But if you met him, you’d understand. He’s the most gentle soul in a fluffy body (unless you are a cat, in which case he tries to be as ferocious as possible). He’ll get right up close when I’m tearing up because of This is Us and pleads with his eyes for little E when he knows it’s her bath time, because he hates baths so she must, too.
As long as you make the time, your pup will be perfectly content to have an extra member added to the pack. Your time will be more divided than it was before, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing: It just means your time together can become more quality time!
So if you’re a dog mom like I am, and you’re about to bring your first (human) baby into this world, don’t worry. Things will change, but they can be a wonderful change for all of you.
#foreveradogmom
I hear ya…I just picked up Lido (Michael’s dog) and brought him to my house until Monday…he is my baby as is Cody. I treat these dogs just like my babies and love them so much. I am such an animal lover and they know it
I love this, and it makes me feel so much better. I’ve heard people say this as well, that you just forget about your dog once you have a baby. I don’t have a child yet, but right now Lex is my LIFE. I don’t see me just placing him to the side if I have a child! Love the post! XO
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