It is amazing how having your own kids changes everything.
I love my dog, and because of him I love almost all dogs. I hated leaving him home so much that I would not go to restaurants that don’t let dogs in the patio. (With Whiskey Cake being a notable exception.) Every grocery trip, I would buy him a new toy, and many times I had arguments with my wife because he had too many toys. Every vacation we would have a huge argument because I wanted a dog-friendly vacation where we could take our dog.
Once I saw a friend’s child being rough with their dog, and the dog growled back. My friend got mad at the dog and put him in the crate. In my pre-fatherhood mind, this was a horrible injustice. I knew enough not to say anything, but I thought to myself I would never do that.
And then I had my own child. Initially, I was treating my dog and my son equally. If I bought a new toy for Ayden, I would get one for Simba too. Simba slept in bed with us while the baby slept in the crib.
But soon I found myself favoring the baby over the dog. Started to leave Simba at home so we could go sit inside the restaurant with a/c. Buying toys for Ayden without buying anything for Simba. Now I sleep with Ayden, and Simba sleeps on the floor.
And now I find myself disciplining Simba if he growls, even if it was Ayden who was being rough with him. Baby changes everything.