Comments on: Raising Dogs Vs. Raising Kids

By: The circus for children – I’m a kid at heart!

The circus for children – I’m a kid at heart! — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:52:20 +0000

[...] Personally, I didn’t think it was at all in the spirit of the circus. I mean it’s for children for goodness sake! But I guess that’s Manhattan for ya! One major difference between this [...]

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:01:46 +0000

I have no words of wisdom other than to offer comfort that I share your same situation! Our pup is a 65lb boxer so when we go to the dog park it is quite mortifying when she is Miss Shy Girl. The same thoughts have echoed in my mind about future children and the possibility of babying them to much. All I can tell myself is that being aware of how we treat our fur babies and how we want to treat kids is a step in the right direction. There might be hope for us, Jen!

By: Tracy A.

Tracy A. — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:02:31 +0000

I don’t mean this to sound cynical, but as a teacher, what I’ve experienced is this–if a parent actually cares about her child, that child will be ok (the cynical part comes from the many parents who don’t care, and I can’t even tell you how crazy that makes me) All kids are different–just ask my own mother, she’ll tell you that she super didn’t get what she bargained for (Can you say crazy OCD at age four? Yep, that was me!) But the main thing is that you are thinking about parenting skills already. You clearly care about raising a happy, well-adjusted son or daughter. That will mean the world to the well being of your future child.

By: Steph

Steph — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 02:20:10 +0000

Unfortunately potty training a pet is significantly easier then training a child. Or perhaps I should say some children While I do believe that a child will often choose a path in life based on how their parents raise them I also believe that they are born with their basic personalities already formed. Both my husband and I are outgoing people and although we are not outright risk takers we are not overly cautious and do not mind trying new things but our eldest is highly stressed by new people, situations and items in his life. And no, he is not autistic or have any other disorder that would be the cause of the stress. He just likes his life to be predictable.

By: Sol

Sol — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:49:04 +0000

If only potty training were that easy with children. lol.

By: Kelly Jo

Kelly Jo — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 23:23:23 +0000

So, the only correlation I have ever drawn between these two is discipline and potty training. I have neices who are nearly 4 and aren’t potty trained. I always tell my husband, if we taught our dog to go only outside in less than 6 months, cetainly a Kid can catch on just as quickly.

As far as personalities, I think it really has more to do with how he/she views Mom and Dad interacting with people.

By: Frugal Vicki

Frugal Vicki — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:00:46 +0000

I really think that it is just like having a girly girl or a tomboy. You can influence to a bit….but they are who they are.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:23:26 +0000

Raising a kid can in no way compare to raising a dog. My first was a total Mommy-only baby. Passing her around to others was NOT going to happen (her choice, not mine) but now, at almost 4 years old she is a social butterfly in the making.

I think a lot of it will have to do with their own unique personalities. You can push and expose your kid to tons of adventures and opportunities and STILL get a wuss. Or you can baby them and shelter them to the extreme and get a rebel.

You just never know

By: Christa

Christa — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:06:59 +0000

I didn’t get one of the extra social babies – I got one of the leg hangers. I wish I knew how to help her be more confident. At the same time, she’s 14 months old, so I don’t know that there’s much I can do at this point. Maybe I should bring her to the doc park? She loves the vuff-vuffs!

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 15:16:18 +0000

I always thought I’d be the disciplinarian but it turns out it might be The Captain! lol