My toddler Lucy thinks she’s a dog.
I actually think Lucy is more of a cat person than a dog person. She loves our cat Raquel. She hugs Raquel enthusiastically, grabbing her by the neck to deliver sloppy toddler smooches, and follows her around the house like a smitten Belieber. Lucy transports via shopping cart her toy cat skeleton (a Halloween decoration fondly referred to as “dead kitty” she became very attached to) and insists her new larger-than-life cat pillow accompany her on every car ride. She trails behind the neighborhood cats, Charlie and Orbit, grabbing fistfuls of fluff and being lulled into a false sense of cat-related security by their pleasant demeanors and general toddler tolerance.
Lucy loves cats. She wants to be best friends with cats. She’s named after a cat (a mean one). But at her core, she identifies as a dog.
For the moment it’s absolutely endearing, but I expect we’re rapidly approaching a time when it becomes distinctly otherwise. We long ago trained our doggo Jack out of bad habits such as mounting other dogs, but you never know… Anyway, there are a few ways Lucy’s puppy identity manifests itself.
- Lucy eats the dog’s food. This doesn’t phase me in the least, but it horrifies my husband. We have to actively keep our toddler away from the dog’s dinner bowl. If it’s empty, she brings it to us. If it’s full, she does her darnedest to secure a few handfuls before we can wrestle it away from her. When she does manage to get a mouthful of stinky, dry kibble, she suddenly has jaws of steel – no amount of prying or coaxing will have her relinquish her treat. On the flip side, Lucy absolutely won’t touch the cat’s food. I think she respects Raquel too much.
- Lucy doesn’t talk. As far as she’s concerned, the dog doesn’t talk so surely we can’t expect her to. She is, however, excellent at barking, whining, and panting. And none of this is to say that Lucy can’t communicate her needs and desires. Just like Jack the dog lets us know when he needs to be let outside for a potty break, or when he’d like a snack, please, Lucy does the same. No words required.
- Lucy likes to be taken for walks. I realize this doesn’t necessarily seem like a canine characteristic. Children enjoy going for walks. It’s a thing. But Lucy will find the dog’s harness, put it on, and bring the nearest adult the leash. My parents humor her and let her walk around the yard, leashed, with the harness loosely around her waist. Me, not so much. I don’t need any sanctimommies on my case. Regardless, Lucy enjoys her walks as a dog would – she pants, barks at other dogs, and lifts her leg on the occasional tree or shrub (symbolically, for now).
In the grand scheme of toddler challenges, this one isn’t so bad. I’m fine patting my daughter on the head and telling her what a good puppy she is, as she pulls blankets and pillows into a pile on the floor, turning around three times before lying down. It’s sweet, it demonstrates great creativity, and – probably – it’s temporary. Sleep well, puppy baby.
