My dog and I have a very close relationship. In fact, the first time I held her and looked into those brown puppy eyes of hers, I melted and swore to love her for the rest of her life. I named her Baby after Jennifer Grey’s character in the 1987 film Dirty Dancing. It has also proven to be the best name for this furry child because Baby turned out to be somewhat of an actual baby. Thinking of my relationship with my puppy, and the relationships between my friends and their dogs, I have come up with seven indicators that your dog is actually your child.

1. You reason with them as if they completely understand every word you’re saying.

You do it, don’t you? You give your puppy pep talks, and you also try to explain to your doggo why they’re in trouble. I do it, too. Here’s a conversation I had with Baby:

Baby: *barks at pizza delivery guy*

Me: Baby they’re giving us food, so it would be in your best interest to not scare the poor person who is just trying to do their job. Go sit down.

2. You cry when you drop them off at the groomers.

This can also apply to dropping them off at a friend’s while you go on vacation. The major point is saying goodbye to your little dog is the hardest. The groomer is especially hard for Baby because she hates getting her hair cut, and hates being away from her family. Seeing her cry is the hardest part of dropping her off. I cry when I get back to the car – every time.

3. You share all your puppy-safe snacks with them.

Baby loves toast with butter. She also likes broccoli, cheese, watermelon and chicken nuggets. How can you say no to your puppy’s sweet little face?

4. You have a panic attack every time they do something stupid and dangerous.

One time Baby got loose from her collar and ran out into traffic. We both almost died. I was so mad at her, that I threw her in the back seat, and just bawled and scolded her for a good solid 10 minutes. But the thing about this is you always end up saying “I love you so much” at the end of scolding them.

5. You give them weird nicknames.

Baby Boo, Boo Boo, Babe, goofball, monkey butt, poopy head… These are all of the names Baby responds to.

6. You miss your puppy more than anyone else while you’re away.

This summer, I went on vacation with my best friend, and about a week in, I cried because I missed my dog so much. I love her so much, it hurts.

7. The best day is a day spent with your furry child.

Literally anything with your dog is the best – walks, hikes, naps, going on drives, or taking her to Petco. Sometimes, Baby and I will binge watch animal planet together. We have the best time.

Dogs have a reputation for being man’s best friend. For some of us, our relationship with our dogs is deeper than having a best friend, and that’s okay. Being a puppy mom to Baby has been the best experience with an animal I have ever known, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.