Mom and Dog Trainer Claims Raising Puppies is Harder Than Babies!

Raising a baby and owning a pet both carry significant responsibilities. You need to take care of their education, nutrition, hygiene, and more. These are considerations people usually think about when deciding to have a child… but not always when getting a pet. As a result, some individuals feel overwhelmed, and others, regrettably, even end up abandoning their pets.

This is precisely why Destinie Freeman emphasizes in an Instagram post: “I firmly believe that having a puppy is harder than having a baby”. She notes that she speaks from experience, as she is not only a certified dog trainer but also a mother of three children.

Destinie Freeman, who owns a Labrador named Popcorn, explains her reasoning. She mentions sleep as an example: “You can swaddle a baby to help it sleep. If I tried to swaddle my puppy, he would eat the blanket, bark at me, and then tear up what’s left of it”. She humorously adds that “babies don’t usually bite our ankles” or that “you don’t need a 37-step plan to teach a baby how to lie down. You just lay them down… It’s that simple.” She also touches on the issue of potty training, emphasizing: “You never realize how wonderful diapers are until you’re outside at 2 AM in the rain, whispering ‘Do your business’ with bags under your eyes.”

This mother and dog training expert also points out the need to socialize and desensitize puppies to various things quickly (but not too quickly) so they don’t develop fears that last a lifetime. She also discusses societal pressure: “When babies cry, people ask how they can help. When puppies cry, people ask what you did wrong and if you’re qualified to have a dog”. This can be debatable: countless parents face judgment from strangers and even relatives when their child starts crying or screaming!

Regardless, Destinie Freeman concludes by reminding people to think carefully before adopting a dog (or any other animal). “Too many people get puppies just to have a puppy, but the real joy comes when it grows into a dog”, she states, advising those still interested after reading her post: “Still thinking about getting a puppy? Make sure your coffee is strong. Your floors are washable. And your expectations are very low.” The most important thing to remember is that raising a puppy is hard, but if done right, it will ultimately be rewarding and well worth the effort!