Puppies vs. Babies

You know that feeling when you have a new baby and your mind is completely happy about it but your body is so tired you don’t care? All the sleepless nights caring for them and worrying about them. Days filled with cleaning poop and feedings. You have a list of everything the child has done to show the doctor. The days blend in together and before you know it, they’re old enough to take care of themselves. Yet, you have no idea how it happened? It’s the same thing with puppies. Well, almost the same thing.

Puppies are a lot easier than babies. You can put them in a crate and walk them around the neighborhood on a leash, in the rain, without getting written up here. They don’t poop as much. You can leave them alone for a few hours. But the basics are the same.

1. You clean up poop. Either off the floor or scooping it up out of the yard. You really need to scoop the poop. Otherwise, the kids may track it into the house, up the stairs, and down the hall. Then realize they have stepped in poop and run back out the opposite way they came in.
2. You feed them. You have buy the most nutritionally balanced food, the perfect feeding bowl, the right treats. They like the treats.
3. They whine.
4. They hide behind you legs and peek out when they are scared of a new person.
5. They are snuggly and warm.
6. They slobber everywhere.
7. You have to puppy proof your house. Especially the books at the bottom of the bookshelf.
8. They leave paw prints on the walls.
9. Your house smells like poop, urine, and Lysol.
10. You keep track of when, what, and where they eat, sleep, and poop. You do this because you feel the need to have the vet examine the list and declare them healthy and normal. You also have a written list of questions at home that you forgot to bring.
11. The vet comforts you and gives you tips on health, safety, and social skills. You forget everything by the time you get home and vow to take a notebook next time.
12. You feel like crying when they get their shots.
13. Your pockets are full of ‘bargaining’ treats.
14. In spite of it all, you think they are the cutest, sweetest things that ever walked the earth and you like it. You really, really like it.

The puppies are pooping outside, yesterday was accident free, the vet says they are very healthy, and they stopped whining as much. Yeah!