Ponderings on parenting puppies and people...

[Julie and Maggie]

Ever since I made my first step into the world of Puppy Parenting, I have been really amused at how similar it is to People Parenting. So many of the concerns and issues I've come across learning about how to raise a puppy have had their corresponding situations with children. Do we make our own baby food? Buy Gerber? Organic or not? How to transition to another formula? How do you get your baby to sleep through the night? Do you let him cry it out? Do they co-sleep with you in your bed? If you do one or the other will you be scaring them for life? Is your child's personality and temperament set for life by age 5? Vaccinate or not? How can two children come from the same parents and be polar opposites in personality? If you don't send your child to preschool will you be stunting their intellectual growth? Are you a permissive parent? How can you be authoritative without being authoritarian? Baby Wise or Baby Whisperer?

 

You see how I can go on and on.... It's been putting a smile on my face as I learn more about what I am getting into with raising a puppy. Every time a new consideration appears I just realize, "Oh, I get it. It's just like when I had to... (blah blah blah) with Nicholas or Benjamin. Makes me realize I probably know more than I thought I knew already about puppies. 

 

One thing I have observed however is a very stark DIFFERENCE, between puppy and people parenting. Tell me if you agree.

 

With PEOPLE parenting, you receive a little baby person who is utterly and completely dependent on you for survival. If left alone the baby is totally incapable of feeding himself. There is nothing the baby can do for himself, except fall asleep and poop. As time goes on you and the child work through a series of "training techniques" and at the end of it you hopefully achieve the ultimate result: which is a well-rounded adult who has learned to become totally and completely INDEPENDENT of YOU. The entire point of parenthood is to raise a child who will leave you and your home so that they can go off into the world and start the process all over again for himself successfully. 

 

With PUPPY parenting, you receive a little baby puppy who is rather independent of you for survival. If left alone the puppy will forage for food, whether in an appropriate way or not. In theory, the puppy could go out into the wild, and with a little luck make his way into the world. Won't be the best he could be but it is survival. But if he is your pet, as time goes by you and the puppy work through a series of "training techniques" and at the end of it you hopefully achieve the ultimate result: which is a well-rounded dog who has learned to become totally and completely DEPENDENT on YOU. The entire point of training a puppy is that you will produce a dog who will abide by the concept of nothing in life is free, you are in charge, and certain behaviors are expected for you to be properly appreciated in the human world. This lasts the dog's entire life. 

 

What do you think about that? I really think the premise is true. Although my boys will always have a certain dependence on mom and dad, and my puppy will receive a place in my heart as a member of the family, I think that when you get bare bones in it all, this is what it is all about. And it guides the choices we make as parents, of people and puppies!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Ooooh so true, Bonnie.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Very nice post! It is very interestingand true!