A few months ago, I went to the Bory Tucholskie forests. It was a cycling trip. On the route, we met various families. Many adults were using bike trailers for the younger members of their families.
I’m not sure which trailers were more common – those with dogs or those with children. Probably the first. Just a few years ago, when my kids were small enough to fit in bike trailers, I hardly ever saw dog strollers on bike paths. But today, it’s part of our everyday life. Dogs not only have their own strollers, but many other gadgets: car seats, leashes designed to prevent pulling, pajamas for sleeping, hoodies, and even little shoes.
"I Have One Fur Baby"
Paulina is 35 years old and has been married for eight years. Three years ago, they adopted Nastka from a shelter.
Paulina calls herself a dog mom, and her husband is a dog dad. They don’t plan to have children and joke that if they adopt a second dog, in the future, their dog kids won’t argue over who will inherit their house with a garden.
They are a family of two plus a dog and have no desire for human offspring. They fulfill themselves as pet parents. After work, Paulina and her husband pack Nastka into the car and go for a long walk – to the forest, by the water, or to the park. Nastka loves running around and discovering new places. She has two beds at home, one with "Royal Puppy" written on it.
Nastka's food and toys are delivered by courier. Recently, Paulina took Nastka to a seamstress. The seamstress took Nastka's measurements and is sewing a yellow cape and a polka dot scarf for her.
Nastka will also find a gift under the Christmas tree. This year, she’ll get a dog tipi. When Paulina is not at home, Nastka brings Paulina’s slippers to her bed, missing her so much.
The love between dogs and their owners can be compared to parental love. Zofia Zaniewska-Wojtków, a behaviorist and dog trainer, doesn’t compare whom she loves more – her children or her dogs. As she admits, she loves each individually.
With a dog, I have a different love story than with my children. However, the strength of the feeling, the attachment, and what I am willing to do for another being is very comparable. That’s why we shouldn’t make it a competition about which love is stronger – for children or for animals, she says, encouraging us to simply give ourselves the right to love.
I often hear the question: "If your dog and child were standing by a cliff, who would you save?" Why even ask such a question, about whom we would save in a critical situation? We are not standing by a cliff; we don’t have to make such choices. That’s not what giving love and care is about.
Read also: A Devastating Report on Toys from Shein and Temu: Serious Threat to Children.
Dog Parenting: Two Plus a Dog
Dog parenting is a term that has been around for a few years. It means that adults treat their dogs (or cats) like their children. They often refer to themselves as dog moms, dog dads, and their pets as "fur babies." According to an article in American Forbes, family structures are changing, and we should no longer be surprised that more and more young adults are choosing a different way of life than the traditional path of work, marriage, and children. Often, animals take the place of children.
"Adults who prefer pets over children feel societal pressure and are criticized for not creating conventional families with 'human children.' However, this criticism doesn’t make them change their minds. They consciously organize their lives around animals," reads an article about couples who form two-plus-a-dog families.
The Hotel Charges 100 PLN per Dog per Night
Kokos is a purebred Shih Tzu who lives with Ewelina and Grzesiek. He sleeps in his owners' bed and has pajamas with a bear made from organic cotton. Kokos gets his paws washed every evening. Sniffing his paws before bed is a must-do ritual for Kokos's "parents." They smell so lovely.
On the left, me; on the right, Grzesiek; and Kokos between us – says Ewelina. Kokos goes on vacation every year. Ewelina can’t imagine leaving Kokos with her mom for two weeks. She prefers to pay extra for Kokos – some hotels charge 100 PLN per night for a dog – but have her "son" with her.
Hotel owners are well aware that ignoring families with dogs means losing profit. They are eager to cater to dog owners. On their websites, they advertise that dogs are welcome. A few years ago, it was unthinkable to go to a hotel for the weekend with a dog. Today, it’s a given.
In restaurants, dogs are greeted with bowls of water and treats. And fewer and fewer people are surprised to see her, him, and a dog sitting at a restaurant table.
Conditioner with Glitter and Puzzles for Lazy Afternoons
For dogs, boutiques are popping up where owners can buy soft blankets, royal dog beds, jackets styled after Burberry plaid, onesies, pajamas, sweaters, bibs, slippers, automatic ball launchers, cosmetics – including those with glitter – strollers, and toys: interactive games, puzzles, modular brainteasers, and logic games.
"Everything is good, but within reason. Short-haired dogs need jackets on cold days, and dogs after surgeries should sleep in pajamas. The problem starts when dog owners forget about their pet's real needs, preferring to invest time and energy in quick fixes. They buy, for example, a leash meant to stop the dog from pulling during walks, instead of focusing on educating themselves about dog care, training the dog, and going for long walks," says sociologist and dog trainer Zofia Zaniewska-Wojtków, who, along with her husband, is the author of books for dog lovers, including "Dogs and Children: How to Tackle the Topic."
They Don’t Want Children Because Dogs Are Easier
"When we go on vacation abroad, Nastka stays with my mom. I tell her that she's going to grandma's. Luckily, I have two brothers, and they have five kids between them, so my parents accept that they have a dog grandchild from me," says Paulina, who loves Nastka like a daughter. She admits that life with a dog is easier than with children:
"I see my sister-in-law, who has small kids. It’s a whole different dimension. I sit on the couch with Nastka in the evening, we cover ourselves with a blanket, and watch TV shows. My sister-in-law, after work, revolves around dinner, cleaning, bathing the kids, and putting them to bed. When I want to read a book, I take Nastka on my lap and enjoy my reading. My sister-in-law hasn’t finished a single book in years, except maybe a children's book," says the dog mom.
"I understand people who don’t want to have children because a dog fulfills their need for closeness. A dog is a wonderful companion and is easier than a child. It grows up faster and doesn’t need constant care like small children do. A one-and-a-half-year-old dog can be left home alone, a child can’t," says Zaniewska-Wojtków.
Shopping at Dog Bakeries and Big Birthday Parties for the Dog’s Friends
Until recently, psychologists and sociologists observed DINK families (Double Income, No Kids). In recent years, the DINKWAD families have joined them: Double Income, No Kids With A Dog/Cat. These are families where adults work, don’t have children, but have dogs and/or cats.
It’s unknown how many DINKWAD families there are in Poland. The Central Statistical Office (GUS) does not track how many childless couples have chosen to create a family of two plus a pet. But we can assume there are quite a few.
Thanks to data from the National Census, we know that, compared to 2011, in 2021 there were 373,500 more childless marriages in Poland. In 2021, there were 4.2 million marriages with children and 3 million childless marriages. According to data from the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) from 2022, half of families in Poland have a dog at home. It’s one of the highest rates in Europe.
Producers of pet food, supplements, and cosmetics are well aware of this. They don’t lack customers, and their product range increasingly resembles that for small children. And it sells well because dog parents will spend any amount to bring joy to their dog – and to themselves.
The pet industry – as we can read in many industry reports – has been recording profits for many years. In China, the United States, and here in Poland.
Reports indicate that the trend of humanizing pets has been growing for several years and is driving the development of many sectors of the pet industry.
Rapidly growing categories include treats and supplements for dogs and cats. More and more human-inspired products are appearing on store shelves, such as cookies, ice creams, smoothies, and even herbal teas.
The pet industry is continuously expanding its services. Pet owners can take their dogs to dog gyms, shop at dog bakeries, hire a company to professionally organize a birthday party for their dog and its friends, and buy a pool for the dog and a swaddle blanket for a puppy at a dog boutique.
Swaddling and Carrying Like a Baby
Owners of small dogs often care for them as if they were babies. They cuddle them, carry them in their arms, dress them like infants, wrap them in blankets, and treat every action of the dog as if it could think and react like a human.
The author of the book "Dogs and Children: How to Tackle the Topic" points out that dogs are not people, and the phenomenon of anthropomorphizing (humanizing) dogs can be dangerous. It’s worth remembering this as we immerse ourselves in love for our pets.
"Attributing human traits to dogs can be harmful if we don’t understand the species' needs and can’t properly interpret their signals. A dog panting with its mouth wide open often seems to people like it’s smiling and happy. They think, ‘he’s smiling so sweetly.’ But that’s a misinterpreted signal. When a dog does that, it means it’s stressed, scared, or uncomfortable. And a stressed dog can bite."
