What My Baby Has Learned From My Pets

I have two daughters - a one year old and a nine year old. Today, I am specifically talking about my little baby girl, Violet. She has a big love for animals, especially cats I've noticed. She's learned a lot from her pets. Some good things, and some bad.

Violet and Lily with my family's Shetland Sheepdogs. 

Learning to Kiss Like a Dog

Our dog, Shiner, likes to lick people. A lot. And she really likes to lick baby Violet. This is probably because the baby usually has some sort of food substance on her face or hands. Or maybe she just tastes good to a dog, I don't know...

Anyways, after a quick licking session from the dog one day Violet walked up to her big sister and proceeded to lean into her face for a kiss. Awww sweet! And then... she stuck out her tongue and began moving it around like the dog... It was pretty hilarious and we got a good laugh out of it.

All Animals Say Meow

When your kids are young, it's fun to teach them the sounds that animals make. I am working on it with Violet, but for now all animals say meow. She learned how to meow like a cat from Honey Delite. She was absolutely fascinated with Honey D. when she was around. Now, anytime Violet sees a cat or dog or even our rat she says "meow". 

Honey wasn't so fond of Violet... 

If Something Is Dropped on the Floor, It's Still OK to Eat

Kids eat off the floor ever now and then. If they find a snack under the couch from last week, you can bet it's going in their mouth. And why not? The dog would do the same thing right? Shiner is good at eating all the crumbs the baby drops, but Violet has learned she better be quick to pick stuff up if she doesn't want to lose it to the dog. 

Shiner waiting for crumbs to drop. 

Eating Like a Dog is Fun

One day, Violet dumped a whole bowl full of Cheerios on the floor. Shiner was ready almost immediately with the clean up and went to work right away. Violet watched the dog for a few seconds and then proceeded to get on all fours and help with the clean up process... just like a dog. 

I had to laugh for a minute, but then put an end to that game pretty quickly. I also catch her sticking her face in her food bowl like a dog from time to time. 

The Vacuum Cleaner Doesn't Have to be Scary! 

Violet is usually terrified of the vacuum cleaner. Then on some days, she's completely fine with it. Shiner of course isn't a fan of the vacuum either, but she mostly wants to bark at it and bite it. In her senior years, Shiner has calmed down with her vacuum attacks quite a bit. 

Earlier this week, Shiner decided she needed to get down off the couch and teach that vacuum a lesson! Violet stopped crying to help Shiner get the vacuum cleaner. Then, she was laughing and squealing with delight at the dog's new game. I guess if you've got a good doggy to protect you from that loud vacuum monster, there's nothing to worry about. 

Violet and a kitten at the Austin Pet Expo.

Babies and pets, especially dogs, are a lot alike. Maybe that's why it's so easy for Violet to relate with all of our pets. I think it's pretty cool how she's learning their behaviors at a young age. Even if they aren't "appropriate" behaviors for a human (see "Eating Like a Dog is Fun"), it's still cute. Maybe I'm slightly biased though! 

She's even good friends with the rat, but I'm not sure what she's learned from Nibblet yet. Perhaps she's learned to crawl into tight places from her.