It's a bloody dog!

I have several dogs and don’t buy them presents as they have treats etc all year, they don’t know it’s Xmas day or any other provided they get fed and exercised they don’t care, I think it’s all the humanising of them that gives them behavioural problems

Incredible. Thoroughly depressing though.

My primary aged kids wanted to get the dog toys, and he always has one on the go to stop his chewing so fine, but adults need to grow up.If someone does buy for their dog it's a particularly kind things to do, if they don't that should be considered the norm. Whilst he came with us on Christmas Day he stayed on the lead and has impecible behavour and barely moved away from my ankle. he also had a bath the day before so he didn't smell. He is not my child, and I asked before taking him, if they'd say no we would have left him at home and left their house earlier, or asked a neighbour to let him out. DOGS ARE NOT MINI HUMANS.

Yep people are like that

It's not about what they feel themselves, the post is about when people expect others to feel the same way.
It does matter because it's denying reality, and it takes energy and patience to deal with people who do this.
It's means biting your tongue at ridiculousness, and it's tiresome and requires considerable effort.

But the question is rigged. The better structured choice would be- a strangers child or a strangers dog.

Whilst in reality most people would leave the saving of any living thing to the fire brigade - you know, the people trained to rescue people/pets from fires and other dangerous situations . So it's all bullshit really .

And to the person who called me insane - it's not the insult you think love. I own my insanity ans still prefer my dog (hell, any dog) to people like you 😘

I would save my dog each and every time. No apology; The dog is adding a lot more to my life.

Yes, x posted, apologies.

Sorry, x posted.

I missed the crossed out section. I've edited to apologise already.

She said exactly what I’ve quoted her as saying. I can read.

Sorry, I missed the very last line. I do apologise. Edited.

@Fleetbug wow v interesting. But the question is rigged. The better structured choice would be- a strangers child or a strangers dog.

No it wouldn't, because there's not really any dilemma here. I imagine 99.9% of people would choose the human. But it definitely gets trickier when you bring someone's own dog into the equation. A strange child, or a dog who you consider a family member?

In your opinion it’s insane behaviour. It’s not hurting anyone, if it’s not affecting your life - does it matter?

Just a question as we're talking about losing a pet - when your pet dies, would you consider getting another one?

My last dog had been I'll for a long time - diabetes and other chronic conditions. He had a marvellous quality of life and then decided himself when it was time to go, so drifted off peacefully in his sleep. My husband and I still cry for him as he was such a larger than life character and funny and loving (when he felt like it) and string and obstinate.

Because his end of life was so long coming, we had time to prepare and discuss what we were going to do. We decided thst we needed another dog in our lives and didn't want to wait too long for that to happen. So we got our pup 5 weeks after the old boy died. It doesn't mean he's a replacement, but he's made the grief easier to deal with.

Does it? It was a response to “If people prefer humans to dogs crack on but I’m glad you’re not in my life”.

That seems unnecessarily nasty.

A lot of people are probably glad they’re not in your life, tbh!
I’ve got both children and dogs, btw.

It's very useful for people to show that they are like this in real life....makes it easy to avoid them.

My young golden is still at an age where he fights sleep and gets massively overstimulated and then nippy and a pain jn the arse. So we absolutely have to take him somewhere quiet to enforce a nap (we ignore him while he badgers us for attention). It's for his own sake, plus ours and anyone else who we are around.

He, and his predecessor, are full members of our family though. Our slightly weird, ramshackle family that is mostly made up of friends as neither of us are close to actual family. We might not refer to ourselves as mum and dad, but other people do from the vet to my step daughter....who, incidentally calls our puppy her favourite brother or her little brother, depending on how annoying her actual brother is currently being. She's 30 this year and he is 27. He also refers to our dog as his brother.

The only people I've met who refer to fur babies have been parents of actual children. I think it's a silly term, but what harm is it doing really?

Some of us actually do prefer having pets to having children, so I'd never compare the two as having children to me is a foreign and undesirable concept, whilst having a dog is lovely and warm. But if people prefer humans to dogs, then crack on I'm just glad you're not in my life.

@owlexpress its our evolutionary history. Humans would otherwise not have survived well as a species. We have important behaviours around protecting and prioritising our young. What’s interesting is how this is changing in the modern world- and why. I don’t believe we’ve got to the point yet where many people - even anonymously-would prioritise a dog’s life over a child’s.

@Rummly wow v interesting. But the question is rigged. The better structured choice would be- a strangers child or a strangers dog.

I can't believe the outrage in here over this.It is not wrong to love your dog and treat them as a family member if you want to, who the heck is it hurting? I don't know anyone that expects others to play along or buy their dog gifts, I certainly don't do it. As I said before I call my dog my furson, it's a joke 😆I'm seriously not treating him like a human child, get a grip you miserable fun sponges . A mean spirited poster quoted my post adding "seek help" 🙄 For crying out loud, really ??? it's just light hearted fun!

From my knowledge of dog owners, and being one myself (quite dedicated and no kids) I would say this is quite high end dog dedication / obsession if you see if like that. Maybe 5-10% max dog owners would be like this. I get being gooey but I wouldn't expect other people to get my dog presents if I had never hinted at it at all. I may leave a gathering if my dog is tired/stringy. I accept that seems OTT for some people but I am not ashamed of being dedicated to the dog. But I draw lines on making other people get it gifts and play with it joyously if they are not dog people. My parents will not have her in their house which I dislike but have not confronted them over....yet. We are 16 months into having her for info.

Why can’t your Mum just call the dog over for a treat, or your husband call the dog to sit beside him (if he wants it to)?
Why do you have to manage it’s interactions with everyone else?

You realise that the majority of people wouldn't want your life? They wouldn't understand why you do what you do, chose the partner(s) you have, made the choices you have, do the job you do, chose one kind of pet over another or no pet.

The fact that you have made different choices to some and behave differently to others doesn't make you insane. It just makes you, you.

Choosing to treat a dog like a child isn't insane behaviour from these people. It's just different to what you would do.