While the joys of parenthood can be quite different from that of being a pet owner. They share a few similarities. Being responsible to Be A Better Pet Parent. Breathing things that can’t exactly tell you what they want is an experience shared by many new parents and pet owners. In fact, 44 percent of millennial pet owners treat their pets as their starter children. In many households in the United States, furred animal companions are considered members of the family, too.
But how true is the belief that caring for a pet helps prepare you for the challenges of being a new parent? It can vary from one person or household to another, but there are certain experiences and skills from pet ownership that you’ll likely be able to use or apply as a new parent. These are:
Budgeting for Your Pet’s Expenses
While pets offer unconditional love, caring for them comes with a price. Before adopting a furred family member, you need to make sure that you’re financially prepared for this new responsibility. This includes saving enough to afford your pet’s vaccinations and other medical needs, food and treats, toys and accessories, grooming, and pet sitting services.
Some people even include custom dog bandanas and other wearable pet merchandise in their monthly budget to make sure that their pets can stand out and stay stylish no matter where they are. Human children, just the same, should be accounted for when setting a monthly budget.
Losing Sleep Because of Your Pet
Just like people, dogs and cats need a few days to adjust to their new environment. You’ll likely lose a bit of sleep right after adopting a pet, as you’ll be busy making them comfortable, preventing accidents from happening, and keeping a close eye on how they interact with your other family members.
Some pets may also be prone to making noises at night, disturbing your sleep. Babies do the same, as they need to be fed every few hours right after they’re born. Parenting kids can also keep you awake for all sorts of reasons. For example, your kids might force themselves to stay up just so they don’t miss out on anything that’s happening around them.
Training and Disciplining Your Pet
The key to raising well-adjusted pets is ensuring that they receive proper training, discipline, and social interactions. To Be a Better Pet Parent need to be consistent, firm, and patient with how they discipline and go over their daily routine with their pets to ensure that the lessons stick.
The same can be said for children, though they’re a lot more complex than canines and felines. Learning how to say no to your pet and how to encourage positive behaviors can come in handy once you have kids in the picture.
Cleaning Up After Your Pet
Pets tend to make a mess, especially before they’re potty trained. As their owner, you’ll be responsible for cleaning up all sorts of bodily fluids in the most inopportune of times. Once you’re used to cleaning up after your pet, though, you’ll likely be more prepared with the right cleaning tools and techniques when your kids arrive.
Being Aware of Your Pet’s Actions
It’s nice to enjoy a few hours of peace now and then, but silence can be eerie when you have pets or kids at home. Some pet owners know that a lack of noise inside of the house is a sure sign that their furred companion has gotten into trouble and are making themselves as inconspicuous as possible to avoid the repercussion of their actions.
As such, pet parents make an effort to know exactly where their pets are and what they’re doing, even though the pets may not be within their line of sight. This level of awareness can help you stay on top of your children’s activities when the time comes for you to have them.
Dealing with Public Embarrassment
Just like kids, pets can also act out in public. You’ve probably seen one or two videos of dogs that refuse to budge. When they know that their daily walk is coming to an end. How do pet owners deal with such an issue? Having experience in this sort of matter can prepare you for when your child starts crying in the middle of the night or if your toddler throws a tantrum while you’re grocery shopping.
In many ways, parenthood has different rewards compared to owning and raising a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted pet. Parents often think about the kind of people their children will turn out to be. The values that will guide them in making responsible decisions as adults, and the possibilities they’d choose to pursue as independent and self-sufficient individuals. Dog and cat owners, on the other hand, know that they’ll likely be the ones in charge throughout their pet’s lifetime.
Despite these differences, though, there’s no denying that prospective parents can pick up a lot of practical lessons and experiences from caring for a pet before assuming full responsibility for the life of another human being.
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