Pet owners referring to each other as mummy and daddy

[Perfidy]

We’ve got an adorable scruff of a puppy. First time dog owners as adults, had cats before. Dh has grown up kids and the dog Is to help with a bit of empty nest.

I’m finding the being referred to as ‘mummy’ by dh, as in go find mummy she’s got your dinner’ a tiny bit cringey. What to do instead....or just get over myself!

I refer to myself as being the dog's mum. Can't say that my mum (definitely not a dog person) was impressed when I referred to her as "granny" - and even less so when I suggested DDog give granny a goodbye kiss on the cheek

You’re right to find it cringeworthy. It’s awful. I judge anyone harshly who refers to themselves as the mum/dad to their animals, and even harder those who call them their fur babies and treat them like they’re their kids.

You’re not the parents, you’re the owner. To responsibly train you have to make that difference.

It’s mental isn’t it. Anyone referring to me as mummy to my human kids would have got short shrift (that role does not define me, fuckers)
but with the dog and cat? Bring it on.

I rang my dd the other day and said 'guess what your sister has done.' She doesn't have any human sisters.
My 8 year old dgs says their dog is his brother.

Our pets are family members.

My cat actually had kittens so my kids (the human ones) started to refer to me as “Granny” fuck the fuck off you insolent arseholes. So it could be worse OP.

I judge anyone harshly who refers to themselves as the mum/dad to their animals

Judge away

To responsibly train you have to make that difference

I disagree.

I’m about as far from twee as you’d find. So is DH. We’re mummy and daddy to the dogs. Learn to live with it 😁

I’m my cats Daddy, my son tells people he has a big sister, he does, she just small and fluffy thats all.

DH and I do this. I like it and I’m not even sorry

We do a mixture of mum, mummy and our names.
When I give dcat his yoghurt (lik-e-liks proper cat yoghurt- not a muller corner) after his dinner at night, I say things like 'who's got the best cat mummy, yes you have, haven't you'
And when dcat meows at dd I may say things like 'don't talk to your sister like that it's rude' 😳

You’re not the parents, you’re the owner. To responsibly train you have to make that difference.

What absolute poppycock! Or, at least, it's poppycock unless your idea of bringing up human children is to indulge them and let them run wild.

I find it terribly cringeworthy.

Fur babies, mummy daddy etc makes me 🤢 but I'm also switched on enough to understand that not everyone is like me and don't articulate it (other than here because I'm empathising with OP).

But if my husband referred to me as mummy of any of my pets I'd tell have to have a word with himself (fortunately we're on the same page with this).

I am mum. Dp is dad. I will ask the dogs to get their brother, meaning ds. Or sister, meaning dd. And off they go.

Mums dog is my dogs, uncle. As in 'shall we go visit nana and grandad and uncle fido'.

Its seems easier. The dogs heat the kids call me mum to get my attention. They here my parents referred to as nana and grandad. Fair enough, no one calls mums dog uncle. I will say to dd 'wheres your brother?'

But the dogs definitely know who is who from the names. So it works. 🤷‍♀️

Mum here.

To responsibly train you have to make that difference

Surely to responsibly train you have to understand the basics of classical and operational conditioning, including the use of consequences - reinforcing, aversive and neutral. Know how reinforcement schedules will impact the efficiency of your training and the animal. And apply all that is a way that gets you the behaviour you want with the minimum amount of stress to the animal?

I am the cats Mum and DH is her Dad. We are the nearest thing to parents she has.
She is not though our ‘furry baby’.
And she has never been the DC’s sister because that would be a step too far and a bit cringe/weird.

We are Mammy and Daddy to our cat. Treats are yum yums which I am now finding a bit embarrassing when I want to get him in. A 52 year old woman shouting " Haribo, yum yums" is not very dignified .

I think it's also about whether you talk to them. That's where is all goes wrong. If you don't have two way conversation with them, then you don't need to name family members.

Once you enter into conversation with your pets, all is lost.

The vet refers to my as mummy, the dog trainer refers to me as mummy. Believe me hearts my dog knows who is boss in this family. She’s well trained as are the dcs. I’m still working on dh

you would hate me then....I am called "Mammam" by dh when talking to our cats and I do too ..ds & dd are the cats brother and sister

Ah to hell with it...I'm not embarrassed- I loves them

Well we are "Mummy and Daddy" to our spotty girl! When "Daddy" comes home from work on his bike ,She gets excited and gets hugs and ear rubs! "Mummy" gets a kiss ,and then we all talk about our day (Someone barks about hers!) I know what you are thinking .we are all barking mad and you are right (but we dont care) Woof Woof Woof!

I am human (apparently) My cats aren't. So therefore I can't be their ''mummy''

But if it makes you happy,go for it.I'm sure I have traits that others find cringe worthy too

I say to the cat "go and ask the old man" instead daddy lol. I refer to myself as "the favourite" or "your favourite". I actively avoid mummy and daddy because it's weird and I've enough bloody kids!

We use our usual names, eg Arthur and Martha. And never use the phrase "fur baby", can't bear it

I am mummy. Dh daddy. Dd surprised me when she referred to ddogs as her siblings. They don’t have to be human. I adopted them....

A good friend does this and refers to me as her dog's 'auntie'. I do find it a bit cringe but hey, it's harmless, each to their own!