There's a certain amount of grumbling parents do when pet owners try to make comparisons between their four-legged “children” and the two-legged variety.

Anyone who has gone through hours of agonizing back labor to bring a human child into the world knows there's just no comparing the two. Babies cannot be put in training crates, and toddlers can't be left alone in the bathroom while you run out for an hour to the grocery store.

Case closed, right?

Well…maybe not.

Adding a puppy to my family was decidedly more simple than becoming a parent, sure. No pregnancy. No labor. No maternity leave. No trying to figure out thousands of snaps on a spit-up covered onesie while operating on a half hour of sleep.

I can't even blame a single stretch mark on the puppy.

But when you're not in the thick of trying to keep a teeny tiny human alive, you get a minute to step back and start to see something surprising. These two entirely different things are …well…not always that different?

Consider:

Small child goes to the bathroom on a toilet. Small child receives an M&M as a reward.

Puppy goes to the bathroom in the backyard. Puppy receives a treat as a reward.

Small child gets brand-new toy in the morning and has it covered in teeth marks by lunchtime.

Puppy gets brand-new toy in the morning and has it covered in teeth marks within minutes.

Parent puts small child in crib and prays they'll finally for the love of all that is good and holy sleep through the night.

Owner puts puppy in crate and prays this will be the night they finally sleep through the night without a potty accident.

Parent places small child on the floor and turns back for approximately one point five seconds, only to turn around and find small child is eating a dirty tissue that parent HAS NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

Owner places puppy on the floor and turns back for approximately one point five seconds… and you know where this is going.