Fun

19 Crucial Distinctions Between Being A Dog Lover And Being A Dog Parent

Written by: Ally Nesmith

February 24, 2016

I don’t know about you guys, but if someone doesn’t like dogs, I have to seriously consider whether or not they’re worth having in my life. I’m talking up-all-night, pulling-my-hair-out, pros-and-cons-list-making consideration.

And while everyone reading this LOVES dogs –if you don’t love dogs, the nearest exit is in the upper left hand corner of your browser window, feel free to show yourself to it! Ahem. Anyways. And while we all LOVE dogs, some people aren’t lucky enough to have one of their own. Here are 20 of the most important distinctions between acard carrying pup parent and a basic mutherpuppin’ pup luvah.

A photo posted by BarkPost (@barkpost) on


 
1. A Dog Lover: Will pet a dog and move on.

A Dog Parent: Will ask the dog’s name, how old they are, basically every detail down to, “where did you buy that leash?

Australian shepherd

2. Every Dog Lover: Tears up when a dog dies in a movie.

A Dog Parent: Will sob uncontrollably, hug their fur baby, and cover their eyes throughout the entire ordeal.

hug

3. Dog Lovers: Go to the dog park to play with and see all of the dogs.

Dog Parents: Go to the dog park and become the authority on everyone else’s pup parenting style.

Dog Park

4. Dog Lovers: Go on vacations as usual.

Dog Parents: Fall down the Internet rabbit hole researching the best ways to bring their dog along for all the fun.

canoe

5. Dog Lovers: Go out to brunch, the movies, a date, they participate in life and in conversations as usual.

Dog Parents: Do all of these things… but are always thinking about what their dog is doing in the back of their minds.

michael scott

6. Most Dog Lovers: Can see a pup and enjoy it as a novelty in and of itself.

Dog Parents: Simply must compare every aspect of the dog in question to the pup they’ve got back home.

dogs

7. Dog Lovers: Know a handful of breed names.

Dog Parents: Are walking, talking encyclopedia with a wealth of dog info — and even have an “expert” opinion on what your mutt is made of.

dog nerd golden retriever glasses

8. Dog Lovers: Get to enjoy your dog’s excited, affectionate energy…

Dog Parents: You get all of that… plus the added bonus of unforeseen poops, farts, and mood swings.

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9. A Dog Lover: Can take a photo or selfie and move on with their day.

A Dog Parent: Will always feel like a photo is incomplete without their precious pups’ face. #TrueStory

mingey

10. Dog lovers: Are usually grossed out by the idea of picking up poop.

Dog Parents: Never miss a beat and are no longer phased by their dog’s seemingly endless BMs.

11. Dog Lovers Get to enjoy a nice, well-kept fur-free wardrobe.

Dog Parents: Don’t even remember what life was like before everything they own became coated in a fabulous layer of fluff.

laundry

12. Dog Lovers Get to spread out across their bed while visions of puppies dance in their heads.

Dog parents Are on the front lines, with that tail, butt, or snout firmly in their face. Ehh…sometimes it’s not so bad.

13. Dog Lovers: Have to invest in something called an “alarm clock”.

Dog Parents Have their own (albeit unreliable) one.

dog alarm clock

14. Dog Lovers: Another investment poor pup lovers have to make: a vacuum. It’s seriously so sad that they have to pick up their food themselves, I can’t even imagine.

Dog Parents: Have a fluffy vacuum who gets ALL of the crumbs.

dog5

15. Dog Lovers Have to come up with crazy excuses for when they want to flake on plans.

Every Dog Parent: Knows the value of having a pup back home when it comes time to make that Irish exit.

ecard

16.If Dog Lovers: Want a partner in crime, they have to send a bunch of hopeful (desperate) texts to find one.

Dog parents: Always have a running, hiking, or adventuring buddy at the ready.

dog man running woods

17. Dog Lovers: Have to convince themselves that the food they’re eating is delicious.

Dog parents: Have the verification of a dog drooling over every bite they ever eat. EVER.

dog german shepherd begging

18. Most Dog Lovers Love all dogs fairly and equally.

Dog Parents: Know, for a fact, that only their baby is the ultimate.

dog smiling

19. Only dog parents get to bask in the glory of a hero’s welcome every single time they come home. And it really doesn’t get any better than that.

Featured Image via Half Guarded

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Written by: Ally Nesmith

February 24, 2016

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