Resenting the Dog After Baby? Turns Out You’re Not Alone

If you’ve ever shot death-stares at your barking dog while holding a baby who just fell asleep, this one’s for you. Because yep, it’s a thing: pet resentment. And if you’re feeling it, you’re far from alone.

Turns out, a lot of new mums are quietly raging at their previously beloved dogs, and the internet (thank you TikTok) is finally giving us permission to say it out loud. ABC journalist Kellie Scott even covered the phenomenon in a recent piece, and let’s just say she hit a nerve.

That Rage Isn’t Random. It’s Sleep Deprivation, Hormones, and Too Many Needs at Once

Before baby, your dog was your fur baby. You made homemade pupcakes and signed birthday cards from them. Now? You’d consider selling them on Facebook Marketplace if they bark during nap time again.

According to animal behaviourist Dr Kate Mornement, it’s not just you being mean. It’s the perfect storm of sleep deprivation, overstimulation, and having zero bandwidth for one more “need.” What used to be an annoying habit, like zoomies at 6am, now feels like sabotage.

And psychologist Nicole Highet hits it right in the guilt. Your pet hasn’t changed, but your world has. Suddenly you’re triaging everyone’s needs, and the dog’s daily walk slips off the bottom of your mental list along with eating lunch and shaving both legs.

No One Warns You That Your Dog Might Become One More Demand

Mikaela Thrift, mum, animal welfare worker and proud parent to six animals, admits even she didn’t see it coming. And if anyone should’ve been prepared, it’s someone who rehabs rescue animals for a living.

But like a lot of us, she got hit with the juggle of rising costs, returning to work early, and trying to meet everyone’s needs. And sometimes, that meant feeling like she was failing everyone, including the dog.

This is the stuff no one puts in antenatal class. There’s no module called “How to Not Lose It When Your Labrador Eats the Last Muslin Cloth.”

It Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Love Your Pup Anymore

Just because you’re fantasising about rehoming your dog doesn’t mean you don’t still love them. It just means you’re maxed out. And while yes, some parents do end up surrendering pets, Mikaela’s shelter saw a small spike, most people are just stuck in that sticky guilt-loop of “I’m not doing enough.”

But here’s the truth. Most pets will adapt. They don’t need a Pinterest-perfect life. They need food, patience, and to not be booted for being a bit annoying when everyone’s knackered.

So What Helps?

Let’s be real. There’s no magic fix. But a few things can take the edge off:

• Adjust your expectations. No one’s nailing it right now. Some days the dog walk will be replaced by letting them sniff the mailbox while you bounce a baby in your dressing gown. That’s enough.
• Baby-step the changes. If you’re still pregnant, ease your dog into new routines now. Baby gates, new car spots, getting used to being ignored for 10 minutes. Start before the baby’s here.
• Call in backup. Can a mate walk the dog once a week? Can your partner handle the pet while you bathe the baby? Split the load.
• Reinforce the good stuff. Praise your dog when they don’t bark, or when they calmly sniff the baby’s foot instead of trying to sit on them.
• Get help if needed. Trainers, vets, behaviourists. They’re not just for the dog. They’re for you too, so things feel less wild.

Give Yourself (and Your Dog) a Break

You’re not a monster. You’re a mum doing your best, and sometimes your best means surviving the day with no major meltdowns (yours or the baby’s). It’s a season. You won’t always feel this fried, and your dog won’t always be the loudest creature in the house.

And when it feels like too much? Put the baby in the pram, leash up the dog, and go for a walk. Not because it’s the “right” thing to do. But because sometimes the only way out is fresh air and a change of scene.

Ever found yourself resenting your pet after becoming a parent? We’re not here to judge.

We’re here to talk. Drop your story in the comments, we’re listening.🐶😊