Every month I take photos of my baby. And every month, without being asked, Júpiter walks over and sits next to him. He positions himself perfectly, stays still and looks at the camera like he has been doing this his whole life. Because in a way — he has. He has been part of this family since before the baby arrived, and he intends to stay in every photo.
This is why I let my baby grow up with two German Shepherds. Because of moments like that. Because of the bond that forms between a child and a dog when you give them the space and the time to find each other.
What my family said — and my answer
When people around me — family members who are not used to animals — saw my baby near the dogs they got nervous. Be careful. Do not let them get too close. They are animals — you never know what can happen.
I understand that perspective completely. If you did not grow up with animals, a large German Shepherd next to a small baby looks scary. The size difference alone is alarming to someone who does not know dogs.
My answer was always the same — I know my dogs. I am always present. And I believe that including animals in my baby's life is one of the most beautiful gifts I can give him.
What my baby is learning from Júpiter and Pluto
My baby is 11 months old and he is already learning things from the dogs that no book or class could teach him. He is learning gentleness — every time I guide his hand softly over Júpiter's fur and say soft, he starts to understand. He is learning to read another living being — watching how Pluto reacts when he is startled, noticing when Júpiter wants to be left alone.
He is learning that the world is full of creatures that deserve love and respect. That animals feel things. That they communicate even if they do not speak words. That caring for something other than yourself is part of being human.
These are not small lessons. These are the foundations of empathy.
Responsibility, empathy, gentleness, reading non-verbal communication, unconditional love and the understanding that other living things matter. A child who grows up respecting a dog grows up respecting the world.
The monthly photo tradition
Every month I photograph my baby to document his growth. It started as just baby photos. But Júpiter kept inserting himself into the frame. At first I thought it was a coincidence. Then it happened again. And again. Now I know — Júpiter considers himself part of these photos and he is right.
Now our monthly photos always include Júpiter. Sometimes Pluto too, though Pluto is more unpredictable about sitting still for photos. These photos have become a record not just of my baby growing but of a relationship growing — the bond between a child and two dogs who love him unconditionally.
One day my son will look at these photos and know that from the very beginning he was surrounded by protectors who loved him. That is something I want him to carry with him his whole life.
Why dog hair does not bother me
My baby crawls on the floor. There is dog hair on that floor. There will always be dog hair on that floor — I have two German Shepherds and it is shedding season for approximately eleven months of the year.
My baby has dog hair on him regularly. My family sometimes comments on this. I smile and keep going. A little dog hair never hurt anyone. And my baby is growing up understanding that the world is not perfectly clean and sterile — it is full, textured, alive and full of creatures worth loving. Including two very fluffy German Shepherds.
The hardest part — managing all three
I will not romanticize this. Having a baby and two large dogs is genuinely hard work. My biggest daily challenge is managing all three at the same time — making sure the baby does not get knocked over by dogs running, making sure the baby does not grab a tail, making sure the dogs have their needs met even while the baby is demanding most of my attention.
There are days when it is chaotic. There are moments that are stressful. There are times when I am in three places at once. But every single day there are also moments that make all of it worth it — the baby throwing Pluto's ball across the room and laughing, Júpiter positioning himself next to the baby for a photo, all three of them napping in the same room in perfect peace.
Raising a baby alongside large dogs is harder than raising a baby alone. But it is also richer. The love in our house — between the dogs and the baby, between all of us — is something I would not trade for anything. The chaos is the price of the joy and I pay it gladly every day.
What I want my son to grow up knowing
I want my son to grow up knowing that animals are not things to be feared but creatures to be loved. I want him to know gentleness with living things. I want him to look at a dog and feel warmth, not fear.
I want him to remember Júpiter as the protector who was always by his side. And Pluto as the playful, innocent companion who thought he was the best ball-throwing partner in the house. I want these dogs to be part of his childhood memories in the way that only a family dog can be.
Including our dogs in every part of our family life — in the photos, in the daily routines, in the quiet evenings and the chaotic mornings — is my way of giving my son a childhood full of love in every form it comes.
✅ A child who grows up with dogs learns empathy · ✅ The bond between a baby and a dog is irreplaceable · ✅ Dogs teach gentleness, responsibility and unconditional love · ✅ The chaos is worth every single moment · ✅ Every photo with the dogs is a memory the baby will carry forever · ✅ Including pets means raising a child who loves and respects all living things
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🐾 Written by Júpiter & Pluto's mom — real experience raising a baby alongside two German Shepherds. Always supervise interactions between dogs and babies and never leave them unsupervised.