Pet Tales

Making the Choice: Dogs Instead of Kids

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I like my dogs. I don't like kids. It was an easy choice for me.

By Beth J. Bates

Very early in life I made the decision not to have kids. And I was lucky enough to fall in love with a man who also does not want kids. It was an easy decision for me as I really don't like children and enjoy the way I live my life. Some people may call it selfish and that's their right. But, it's not something that I feel bad about. Besides, how could I feel bad when I have four-legged fuzzy kids?

I'm getting to an age where my friends have either had or are having kids. It's great for me because when I like them, I can play with them and then give them back. I get to live vicariously through my friends without the pain and aggravation of stretch marks and colic. What I find ironic is how much I can relate their "child" stories to my dogs. Sometimes they are amused. Occasionally they are offended. But, hey, sometimes there is a fine line between dog and child behavior.

Here are some child vs. dog observations that seem to creep up on a regular basis.

They don't listen. Most of the time kids do what they want and don't listen to us. Why should they? What are we going to do about it? My dogs do exactly what they want to do, regardless of how much yelling I do. Run away. Pee on the floor. Just last week, Katie, our Jack Russell, peed on the seat of my office chair.

They cry when they don't get their way. We've all heard it - that baby crying in the movie because he's not getting exactly what he wants. Same with dogs. Just tonight,Hugo, one of my mastiffs, sat beside me at the dinner table and yelped because he wanted some "people food" and I wasn't giving it up.

They act out to get attention. Kids will look for the nearest thing to get into just to see what we'll do. And typically its something they know they aren't supposed to be doing. My mastiff, George, will desperately look for anything that he can find to get into if he feels he is being ignored. His personal favorites are opening the pantry door and heading inside to get into food or grabbing the first thing he can find and putting it into his mouth. Once obtained, he will play "keep away" just to get you to chase him.

Sometimes they need a time out. Let's face it. Kids get into trouble and sometimes they need to chill out. We hope that they will think about what they've done in order to understand they shouldn't do it again. But in reality, we just need them to calm down. Our Jack Russells are notorious for getting themselves in a tizzy over toys, food, each other - you name it. And when they get a little crazy, they get a time out which consists of spending some quality time in their crate. I'd like to think that they are considering what they've done in order to better themselves. But they usually just go to sleep.

As a side note, many people ask me if my mother takes issue with my choice to not have children. She actually has a lot of respect that I made a conscious decision to live my life the way that I want. And, she keeps photos of her "grand pups" on her mantle.

Kids are fine. So are dogs. To each his own.

Comments

I don't have kids, not because I don't like kids. My husband and I decided not to have kids because we did not want to deal with all the headaches of raising a child. Anyway I have four cats and my husband and I just love them, we also had a chihuahua named Klein, he was thirteen years old. I speak in the pass tense because he went to heaven in January of this year. He was our baby. Alot of people say that it's not the same as having kids, because pets don't come to you when you get home from work to greet you, well they are very wrong, my cats know when I get home, they get up from whereever they where sleeping and greet me with all their love.

By Terri Sedillo on April 3, 2009 8:43 PM

I'm so sorry to hear about Klein. We lost one of our dogs, Max, in December and it was just like losing a child. To me, they are my kids with all of the joy and heartbreak that goes along.

By PetTalesBlogger on April 6, 2009 11:59 AM

i totally agree we this article some pets, dogs and cats are like kids, i have two dogs maggie and oscar, they are my babies, i also decided not to have kids and in a million years i would rather have my two dogs than a kid, i love kids, but kids are not for me.

By caromhs2003 on April 8, 2009 8:59 PM

I Agree that dogs and cats are just like children. I have a german shepard, a chihuahua, and a cat. When we first got our german shepard she was 8 weeks old, and I had to wake up every 2 hours to feed her and take her to the bathroom. She eventually got better and slept longer just like a baby. But she is almost 2 now and she still gets fussy when we take her our for the day and are out for a while when she doesnt get her nap. And she talks and tells us shes hungry or has to go the bathroom, And when we tell her something she understands us. She loves to play just like a little kid. SO I totally believe pets are like kids! And some ppl say cats are not friendly and hide alot, Mine LOVES people and loves to be around you and snuggle on your sholder. Cats are more than people let them be! I love pets!!!

By katiedorsey on April 11, 2009 2:29 PM

i can also agree that dogs and cats are just like your kids i have enought i have 3 labs and 3 boxers and one cat in the house.... too many i know.........but you know what you do consider them as your kids...they all have there own personalities.....my first one is a yellow lab her name is lizzy and she loves the water when it is warm enough to go swimming and loves her toys that is her life... and the second one which is a black one maggie loves counter food anything she can reach sometimes i wish i had a camera too see how she gets its all down..... and the third one hes a black one all big and tall and lanky he just kinda sticks hates the water not like the other two....... and the boxers sadie she is a brendle she loves the water like the lab and she loves to go for rides it seems i cant leave the house without her sometimes her favorite fast time is playing pool....... and the fawn his name is rex ........hes just lazy and kinda is the ruler to the other dogs.and i have a white one her name is sassie........ she is just plane out lazy she doesnt like to go anywhere likes to just lay in back yard..but i know one thing i cant wait til summer so they can all go outside and get fresh air and get in there pool to cool off...and the cat lucky she just kinda deals with all of them and runs from them when they chase her but she is a sweetheart too..... they are all loved by both me and my husband........

By jiandjb06 on April 12, 2009 4:39 AM

This article was so great. My husband and I have been married for a year. The question we get on a daily basis is when are you going to start having a family. We reply with we have 2 wonderful puppies.

By amandyv on April 15, 2009 4:27 PM

I am so glad to hear that I am in such good company! Kids are OK, but dogs (well, pets for that matter) are the best.

By PetTalesBlogger on April 20, 2009 11:50 AM

I made the decision not to have children in my early 20s. I was born with a rare blood disorder and was advised against ever getting pregnant, my body simply would not be able to handle it. I've never once felt like I was missing out. The love I receive from my two Jack Russells (Juliet and Lily) is more than I could ever imagine. It's a family affair (I have the babies, my mom had their mother). My dogs have "sleepovers" at "grandma's." They greet me at the door, they entertain me when I'm well and they know when I'm sick. After every surgery they curl up next to me, careful of any incisions and they lay very still. I always recover from surgery at my mom's house and if she is downstairs and I need something, one of my dogs goes to get her.

I watch my friends with kids and they have to make so many arrangements before going out...babysitter, dinner, emergency contacts....I just give my girls a hug and they watch themselves for a few hours! It's the best of both worlds!!!

Now, they do have their moments, but, luckily my girls are generally well behaved! Although, the toy bucket is usually scattered through several rooms and any blanket on the couch or bed immediately becomes their bedding! They have truely unconditional love (and I never have to hear "I hate you mom")!

By sunshine6420 on June 19, 2009 10:08 AM

I love the article and agree with it 100%. My hubby and I have been married 11 years and were not able to have children between us. (We have children from previous marriages and are older.) We rescued a puppy after our 2nd year of marriage and though she was a Christmas gift for me , Mackenzie took up with my hubby right away. She became "Daddy's Little Girl." We had 7 grea years with Mackenzie. She became very ill last year and left her with diabetes. We all learned to give her injections , monitor her urine and diet. She then became blind but still mananged to get around eaisly and keep up with the cats and other 2 dogs.Mackenzie became very ill again and we were not able to help her this time. Day after Father's Day we took Mackenize to the vet's and had a [peaceful way to heaven. THis was extremely heartbreaking and difficult (even now) . We all knew that this was the best for her in her condition and that she was suffering so much. My hubby was devasted. We told our friends that it was asclose as we ever wanted to get to losing a child. We had always considered her our child. We hae 2 other dogs, and love them dearly. They too, became depressed and sad. We now hae managed to talk about Mackenzie with lightheartedness and fond memories.

Thank you for the article and allowing to talk about my dear baby.

By ruannie on July 18, 2009 10:43 PM

I think people who decide to not have children is the oppisite of what most people think. I think it is a very smart choice. I think that it is very selfish for people who do have children and our not good parents. I have a daugter myself and i love her very much and wouldnt change a thing. But that is a choice i made and i do my best to make sure that i am a very good parent. I also have 2 Yorkies that I also love very much and consider them my paw kids. I love and care for them no different than i do my daughter. When their sick i make sure they get the care that is needed. I have friends who also decided not to have children and I admire their choice. Some people just are not ment to be parents but are!!! I feel sorry for these poor kids. Anyway love the artical.

By Princess & Puds on August 24, 2009 3:05 PM

I really enjoyed this article. Not that I need to be reassured on my decision to not have children, but it's nice to hear other people feel the same way about their pets! I've been married 11 years and we currently have 3 dogs, 2 rott mixes and a lab mix. We haven't ruled out having children, it just hasn't been a priority for us. I'm the youngest of 6 children, and have been an auntie since I was 7! I'm even a great auntie twice! I love being an auntie, and a fur-mommy. I love my kids like they were "regular" kids. My family is finally getting used to our unconventional family, but some still question why we don't have/want kids, especially my nieces and nephews. I just tell them if they'd been better kids, maybe I would want some! :-) People often ask what I'm going to do with my dogs when I do have kids, like it's one or the other! I just couldn't image life my kids!

By JennyPenny98 on September 15, 2009 1:42 PM

I don't dislike kids, (well maybe when they are annoying in the grocery store) :-)
I just prefer my Chihuahua!
He does act like a child. If he is mad at me he will show it... by going to grandpa's lap and not look my way. He cries and gives me those eyes if he really wants something.
There is no better feeling than seeing him wag his tail when I get home from work! He sleeps in my bed and he is my alarm system and guard dog. I take him everywhere I can, in his carrier, because I have to protect him like a would a kid. I don't even like to go out very long and leave him alone in the house.
Some may call me crazy and I never thought I would be this envolved with a pet but I love him to death!!!

By Just Me on October 19, 2009 12:32 PM