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AIBU?

To feel the doggy-as-child thing goes too far

133 replies

Lovelyideas · 30/10/2016 21:20

I like dogs. I got my parents a dog and she changed their lives. But something seems wrong about dog stuff in our little town. The whole child-substitute thing just goes too far. It is as if all the pressures of child rearing are transported on to dogs.

Example 1 today. I bump into friend K with her cute new puppy. A stranger's puppy interacts with K's puppy. K and stranger exchange friendly doggy chitchat. K's puppy is straining at the lead and they have this dialogue.
Stranger: oh! Yours wants to come off the lead!
K well, I wouldn't trust her yet.
Stranger: oh, what you can do is, take her to the park, you know the enclosed children's playground before the kids get there, it's so good for her training!
K oh right....
Stranger: or the tennis courts, she can have a great time on the tennis courts and she can't get out.
K right, thanks...

This is not an isolated thing, I have noticed it for a while. I am sure that my parents -yes- trained their dog. But then she became part of the scenery, not the big focus of conversation. There were no dog play dates, dog cages or dog anxiety. They did not allow their untrained dog in areas where dogs are not allowed for very good reason. And she was none the worse for it.

OP posts:

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Cherrysoup · 30/10/2016 21:25

YABU. I made my OH wait in the park this morning whilst I went to talk to a bloke with a puppy the same breed as ours. We had a nice dog based chat about what the breed is like. I'm a dog bore with other owners. I spent twenty minutes listening to an old dear who has one the same breed as mine this week. Why not?

I see people doing it about children all the time and endured many a conversation about 'Ooh, when he makes that face, he's having a wee'. Hopefully I'm never as boring with other dog owners.

AndShesGone · 30/10/2016 21:25

I think the tennis court is a bloody great idea, thanks for that!

I've not let my puppy off lead yet and she's not pooed or weed outside so it would be fine, I could start recalling her.

Frankly I'm more concerned about her being stolen than anything.

MrsJayy · 30/10/2016 21:26

Im not sure what your gripe is I think these people were just chatting about the puppy people do chat on dog walks. Although i do hate furbaby it gets on my wick a family member of mine has a runriot furbaby and he is a spoiled pain in the rear but it isnt the dogs fault.

InfiniteSheldon · 30/10/2016 21:27

I luffs my furbaby hth

Lovelyideas · 30/10/2016 21:27

Cherry, I have no objection to doggy chitchat.
But to use the playground as a doggy-joy place?

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Lovelyideas · 30/10/2016 21:28

Is fur baby a real name for dog?

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SaucyJack · 30/10/2016 21:29

I saw a dog with a dummy in its mouth the other day.

I did do a double take.

abbsismyhero · 30/10/2016 21:29

Dogs are not allowed in our childrens play area they have there own fenced off area to play in!

Cherrysoup · 30/10/2016 21:29

Careful with tennis courts, it can destroy their pads, all of mine had cuts one day when I did that and they are adults, with hardened paws. A longline (on a harness, never a collar with long lines) might be better. Let the pup run loose, but always have the longline trailing so you can stand on it or give it a gentle tug to encourage them back. Squeaky toys are brilliant for this, the bloke with the pup used his when she pissed off out of the park!

If yours is a nickable breed, Andshesgone, do be wary, but don't let it spoil your enjoyment of having a pup.

MrsJayy · 30/10/2016 21:30

Why not? tennis court is enclosed puppy gets to run about puppy doesn't run off nobody is there so win/win really

Lovelyideas · 30/10/2016 21:30

Yikes at the dummy.

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sparechange · 30/10/2016 21:32

I thought this was going to be about dogs in pushchairs, dogs in hoodies, dogs being overly paranoid pampered

Nothing about your post suggests anything to do with dogs-as-children. Just dog owners looking for ways to train their dogs
Are you projecting a bit, OP?

MrsJayy · 30/10/2016 21:32

Somebody on my facebook shared a dummy chewing dog the other day it looks dangerous tbh the dog could choke.

Lovelyideas · 30/10/2016 21:32

"Dogs are not allowed in our childrens play area they have there own fenced off area to play in!"

That seems reasonable. There are presumably good reasons why dogs are not allowed in the children's playground?

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Velvian · 30/10/2016 21:33

I feel your pain! My DH has a new furry "brother" (PILs dog)

MrsJayy · 30/10/2016 21:33

I think dog parks like you get in the US would be a great idea

Lovelyideas · 30/10/2016 21:37

Projecting what? (Confused)

Would it be clearer to say that it is very wrong for a puppy owner to use a playground as a dog playground? And a mark of a weird culture that people would actually suggest this to strangers?

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FluffyPineapple · 30/10/2016 21:37

"If you do not treat your children like dogs then do not treat your dogs like children". That was told to me by my grandmother many moons ago. I have never forgotten it :)

As for posters saying they have not allowed their puppy off lead yet as they are afraid they will run off. Puppyhood is the ideal time to let them off. You know....When they follow you like a puppy?

gabsdot · 30/10/2016 21:37

Dhs sister and her husband recently got a dog. They are childless by choice and it's funny to see how the dog has become like their kid.
They fuss about it, talk about it constantly and their lives revolve around the dog and her needs
At one stage last weekend they were chatting on about something that happened at doggy obedience school. It was so boring and I realised that I was experiencing what they probably experience when I talk about my kids.

AndShesGone · 30/10/2016 21:38

Thanks Cherry, had no idea tennis courts had such a rough surface.

Cherrysoup · 30/10/2016 21:41

Cherry, I have no objection to doggy chitchat. But to use the playground as a doggy-joy place

Is that what you're objecting to? Because it sounded more like you were moaning at people discussing dogs? I don't think a child's playground is a good place for dogs to play, no. Tennis court, OK, bit rough on their paws, though.

Lovelyideas · 30/10/2016 21:41

Yes fluffy it seems your grandmother's wise words have been forgotten.

Crawling children should not have to wait for dogs to finish playing, nor should they have to crawl over dog poo smears in the playground.

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Sparklingbrook · 30/10/2016 21:41

The suggestion was to use the childrens playground before the children get there.

I am a bit lost as to what this thread is really about though.

Dontpanicpyke · 30/10/2016 21:41

I don't let mine off the lead in public as she's tiny and we have a huge enclosed garden so that's enough exercise.

I did catch myself saying to the dog 'say thankyou' when a stranger gave her a dog treat from her dogs box.

Just brought her a santa jumper too.

To be honest if I had known how lovely and easy a puppy was I wouldn't have bothered having my kids

toastytoastbear · 30/10/2016 21:42

Surely tennis courts are not ideal cos no one wants to play tennis with the risk of standing in a shite or sniffing up the piss smell at the edge of the court?

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