Change My Mind: Puppies Are Just as Much Work as Newborns

I don't have any kids, but the amount of patience and work my girlfriend and I put into our puppy is just as exhausting. 

Now, before I begin this lengthy rant, understand that someone will find this article offensive or they'll get angry with what I'm about to say--and that is quite alright.

Remember, this is only an opinion, we all have one.

Yes, I have a 10-month-old dog who has more energy than the sun's nucleus, and yes, it's true that I do not have any children of my own (neither does my girlfriend). The whole point to this controversial "Change My Mind" subject is to dive into intellectual arguments and conversations, that way both sides are represented in peaceful fashion.

In other words, there's no need to throw a Luis Vuitton high heel at my face. It's simply a point of view.

Today is Halloween, and I feel like I've been running around the SouthCoast like a madman, trying to accomplish my job tasks for the day, one of them involving a trip to the vet's office here in Swansea.

Since my girlfriend and I both work steady, yet busy (and tiring) jobs, we made a pact to make sure one of us is home by at least noon or 1:00 p.m. to let Jameson, our dog, out of the cage so he's not stuck in there for more than four hours a day. Trust me when I say that this is only temporary, as Jameson is only a puppy and his Weimaraner/Lab/Hound mix breed enjoys chewing EVERYTHING.

That's when we knew it was time to find a daycare. Yes, that's right, a doggy daycare. Can you say "expensive"? Yup.

When it comes to manners, it's unbearably stressful. Don't get me wrong, he's a good boy, but he's a jumper and likes to jump up on people--including little kids. Just like myself, he's "food motivated," so teaching him new things can get complicated and eventually leads to multiple bathroom walks.

Again, grab my wallet, training it is.

Dogs, just like babies, have no sense of time and don't care if you have to be at work for 5 a.m. If they have to go to the bathroom, you bet your backside you're getting up, clumsily searching in the dark for anything to throw on, half asleep and zombified. I can't even tell you how many times I've just stood out on my front lawn in nothing but my boxers, begging to the Gods above to speed up the process. Honestly, how many times do you have to sniff the grass? Just go already!

#PoopBagsArePricey

Whether you're buying food for your children or your pets, we all know how much it can add up. Admittedly, we decided to go with a larger breed of dog (that was my choice, of course), which means more food. There's a method to feeding your pets, because the last thing you want to do is overfeed and give the poor things diabetes.

Last but not least, there's the barking. Just like the hunger cries of a baby, our dog will bark at just about everything, including the fact that he's hungry. If there's another dog outside the window, or even a squirrel, forget about it. His howl is as loud as a foghorn and his high-pitched battle cries will rip through your eardrums like shattering glass or nails on a chalkboard.

Are you still with me? Good.

I told you this was going to be lengthy, but if you got this far, then I'm certain that I've convinced you enough to believe that raising a puppy is equally as difficult as raising a newborn. In a nut shell, if you don't have the patience, the finances or the love for a dog, then perhaps you might want to reconsider getting one. After all, it's just like raising a baby!

Now, change my mind.