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Parenting with a Pooch: The Good, The Bad, and The Chewed-Up Toys
Parenting is already a wild ride. Add a dog into the mix, and you’ve got a household that’s equal parts chaos and comedy. If you’ve ever stepped on a Lego with one foot and a half-eaten dog toy with the other, you’re in the right place.
I always thought getting a dog would teach my kids responsibility, encourage compassion, and give them a best friend for life. What I didn’t expect was finding stuffed animals with missing limbs, discovering my toddler’s sandwich buried in the garden, and catching the dog stealing dummies straight from the change table.
This is the reality of parenting with a pooch: it’s messy, it’s noisy, and it’s full of love.
The Good: All the Tail-Wagging
Positives
Built-In Best Friend for the Kids
There’s nothing like the bond between a child and their dog. Whether it’s morning snuggles or afternoon adventures, that tail-wagging friend is always up for a cuddle or a game of fetch. My toddler’s first word wasn’t “Mum” or “Dad”—it was the dog’s name.
Emotional Support, Furry Edition
Kids have tantrums. Dogs don’t judge. When the tears flow, the dog is the first to nuzzle in and offer silent support. Sometimes I think our dog is more in tune with the kids’ emotions than I am!
A New Level of Entertainment
Who needs TV when your dog is busy chasing bubbles, barking at the vacuum, or getting the zoomies around the lounge room? Forget Bluey—our dog is the family’s top-rated comedy show.
The Bad: The Things You Don’t See on Instagram
The Mess Factor
Let’s talk about fur. It’s everywhere. On the couch, in the food, on the baby. Then there are muddy footprints, chewed-up nappies (yes, really), and that delightful wet-dog smell that lingers long after bath time.
The Toy Wars
Dog toys and kids’ toys? Apparently interchangeable. The dog has no problem stealing a plush unicorn or gnawing on a teether. And if the toddler finds the dog’s squeaky toy? You’d better believe it’s going in their mouth.
Training Challenges
Trying to toilet train a toddler while house-training a puppy? A logistical nightmare. One’s peeing on the floor, the other’s giggling about it, and you’re wondering where it all went wrong.
The Chewed-Up Toys: Collateral Damage and Life Lessons
My children have learned about heartbreak the hard way. A missing Barbie shoe, a shredded picture book, a decapitated action figure. While it’s infuriating in the moment, there’s a weird kind of beauty in watching them learn patience and problem-solving—often with a dramatic sigh and a “Mum, can you fix it?”
The dog isn’t malicious. He’s just… opportunistic. If it’s soft, chewable, and left unattended? It’s fair game.
Why I Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way
Despite the mess, the chewed-up belongings, and the chaos, having a dog in the parenting mix brings a kind of joy you can’t replicate. They teach our kids empathy, loyalty, and the importance of cleaning up your toys (before someone else eats them).
When my toddler wraps her arms around our dog and whispers secrets into his fur, I know we made the right decision.
Survival Tips for Parenting with a Pooch
Designate Toy Zones
Have a kid toy basket and a dog toy box—and enforce the difference (as much as possible). Clear boundaries help, even if neither child nor dog respects them fully.
Embrace Durable Everything
From chew-proof toys to pet-resistant fabrics, your furniture and belongings will thank you.
Stock Up on Cleaning Products
From fur to footprints to the occasional mysterious stain, be prepared. A good vacuum and odour-neutraliser are your best mates.
Train Both (and Yourself)
Consistent commands and positive reinforcement work for toddlers and dogs alike. And for you? Patience. Lots of patience.
Take Photos. Lots of Them.
You’ll want to remember these years—even the messy ones. That photo of your baby covered in yoghurt while the dog licks it off? Priceless.
Call to Action: Must-Haves for a Harmonious Household
Want to stop the toy wars and keep your home from looking like a fur-covered battlefield? Discover our top picks for dog-and-kid-friendly essentials:
3.Training Tools
Because if you’re going to raise little humans and a four-legged furball together, you deserve a home that survives the storm—and maybe even thrives in it.
Final Verdict: Embracing the Chaos, One Paw Print at a Time
Parenting is already a full-contact sport, and adding a dog into the mix? That’s just turning up the difficulty level—and the fun. Yes, you’ll find yourself refereeing toy disputes, scrubbing muddy footprints off the couch, and questioning why your toddler thinks the dog’s water bowl is a personal splash pad.
But for every chewed-up Barbie and stolen sandwich, there’s a moment that makes it all worth it. The giggles when the dog gets the zoomies, the quiet comfort of a furry cuddle during a meltdown, and the unwavering loyalty of a pet who’s always up for adventure.
The mess is temporary, the memories are forever. And if you can survive toilet training a toddler and house-training a puppy at the same time, well, congratulations—you’ve officially unlocked next-level parenting skills.
Would I do it all over again? In a heartbeat.