Golden Retrievers are known as the “family” dogs. They’re the best protectors, they’re gentle with the babies, and they’re full of energy for when those same kids get a little older. There’s nothing like growing up with a Golden Retriever.
If you don’t believe that, there are millions of videos on the internet where Golden Retrievers make their love of their baby siblings clear. On Monday, April 22nd, a new one was posted and it might be the best one yet:
@abigaiilkateWe dont deserve dogs 😭🤍 especially golden retrievers 🤭 To all the mom cops out there, she fell asleep in my arms and i put her in her crib without a sleep sac on so yes we used a loose blanket to help her feel cozy while she was supervised on the monitor 👍🏻 #babytiktok #firsttimemom #momsoftiktok #sahm #newborn #babytok #goldenretriever #sleeptraining #babyroom
Abigail Kate must be feeling so good about her decision to have a baby and a Golden Retriever at the same time. As that baby grows, there’s no doubt that these two are going to be the best of friends!
Related: Baby Stares in Pure Confusion After Noticing Golden Retriever for the First Time
In addition to their Golden Retriever, this family also has a Black Labrador Retriever – another great dog for a baby to grow up with! Their mom, who’s currently on a break from her nursing career, spends an equal amount of time with all of them. Luckily, the baby likes walks just as much as the pups do. They go on nightly walks all together!
Abigail’s account focuses a lot of pregnancy, postpartum, and mom-life in general, but it’s really interesting to see how the dogs weave themselves in there. It seems like dogs are just as big of a part of her postpartum care as anything else. With a Lab and a Golden Retriever, it’s good that she’s ready to jump right in – they’re not going to wait!
Do dogs really improve a family?
Though Abigail doesn’t specifically talk about PPD in any of her videos, we know that it is something a lot of mothers go through. Depending on your risk factors, your doctor may prescribe you preemptive measures to reduce the likelihood of it developing. However, a Japanese study has indicated that having a dog can actually reduce your risk of PPD in those crucial first few months.
That same study, however, did show an uptick in “psychological distress” at around the one-year mark, which makes sense: your baby is more mobile and independent. It can be harder to keep track of them and a rowdy dog at the same time, especially while you’re trying to teach your baby how to behave around the dog.
Even with all of the issues that might arise, once you get the hang of it all, dogs definitely do improve a family. Kids raised with dogs are:
- Less likely to have allergies to pet dander as adults.
- Gentler with their peers and other animals.
- More responsible.
- More active.
Luckily for Abigail and Mabel, they have two big pups to keep them company as they continue growing their family. All five of them seem so happy together!
