Dog favorite parent challenge

Dog Favorite Parent Challenge 🐶✨🤣

We always joked about it in our house—who’s the favorite parent? My partner swore it was them. I, of course, knew it was me. But our dog, Daisy, had never made it clear. She was friendly to both of us, wagged her tail equally, and shared her snuggles on a pretty fair rotation. That is, until we decided to settle the debate once and for all with the Dog Favorite Parent Challenge.

The rules were simple: both of us would stand on opposite sides of the living room, call Daisy at the same time, and see who she ran to first. Whoever she picked would earn the coveted “favorite parent” title—plus bragging rights for at least a month.

Day one, we both crouched down, treats in hand, calling her name with our most enthusiastic voices. Daisy sat in the middle like a celebrity overwhelmed by paparazzi. Then, without warning, she turned… and walked straight to the kitchen. No one won.

Undeterred, we tried again. And again. Over several days, we changed strategies. I tried using her favorite squeaky toy. My partner pulled out the peanut butter spoon. We both tried baby talk, dance moves, even dressing up in costumes (yes, I wore a hot dog suit). Each time, Daisy either flopped onto the carpet like she was over the drama or trotted off to nap under the table.

One day, we hid behind doors and opened them at the same time, calling her name to see who she’d rush to. She stood in the hallway, blinked at both of us, and casually wandered into the bathroom instead. We were getting trolled by our own dog.

Then came the final test: the outdoor challenge. We each stood on opposite sides of the backyard. When we called her name, Daisy sprinted toward me. Victory! I jumped up in celebration… only for her to zoom right past me and dive into her kiddie pool.

At that point, we realized the truth: Daisy doesn’t have a favorite parent. We’re both her favorite—for different reasons. I’m the cuddle buddy and treat supplier. My partner’s the fetch champion and long-walk enthusiast. She doesn’t need to pick sides. She’s smart enough to know she’s got the best of both worlds.

So while we didn’t get a clear winner, we did get something better: a whole week of laughs, silly videos, and a dog who now thinks her humans are permanently ridiculous. The Dog Favorite Parent Challenge was a tie—and we’re okay with that.