When Dogs Become Replacement Children

Worldwide trends show that marriage and child rearing are decreasing in popularity. But experts say that the nurturing instinct, especially in women, has not died down. It has simply been redirected towards dogs and other pets. Please continue reading to learn more about dogs becoming replacement children.

Can having a dog replace a child?

Psychologists say that dogs can indeed replace a child. In fact, dogs even hold several advantages over children. For example, dogs are less expensive to rear. You can get a dog even if you haven’t found a life partner or you aren’t ready for marriage. Also, dogs provide unconditional love and less demanding companionship.

Can a dog replace a sibling?

Many single-child families bring in pets like dogs, cats, and hamsters as substitute siblings. Pets can teach children many things like compassion, responsibility, patience, and trust. Moreover, dogs can be playmates for kids without downsides like sibling rivalry.

Why do dogs become replacement children?

There’s been a noticeable decline in children born to women under the age of 29 years in recent years. Parallel to this, there has been a significant increase in small dog ownership among millennials. People are choosing fur babies over human babies for a variety of reasons:

• Dogs are less expensive than children. The average cost of dog ownership is $2,500 to $3,500 per year. Sounds like a lot? Wait until you hear how much children cost. The cost of raising a child in the US is $13,000 to $15,000 per year on average. Even taking the upfront cost of a dog into account, this is a significant different (on a related note, here are some of the most expensive dog breeds in America).
• It is less work to care for a dog.
• Pets offer more freedom. You can leave your dog at home without supervision when you go to work or social gatherings.
• You don’t need to sacrifice career opportunities for a dog. Unlike with a child, a mother doesn’t need to put her career on hold to care for a fur baby.
• Dogs are less final than having a child (sadly, yes, that’s one of the reasons people quote for choosing dogs as replacement children).
• You can live your life with purpose without everything becoming about your pet.

The decisions to become a dog parent versus raising biological or adopted children is a very personal one. There is no right or wrong answer to the question – can dogs become replacement children. The answer varies from person to person. But if you are leaning towards adopting or purchasing a puppy, Puppy Hero is here to help. If it’s going to be your first fur baby, here are some tips for new dog parents.

21 January, 2023