Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not have bought my friend's dog a birthday present?

61 replies

Aworryingtrend · 24/03/2011 10:40

Went to a friend's house the other night and during the evening they mentionned that it was their dog's 1st birthday the next day. "Oh thats nice", said I, "are you going out for the day" etc. Yes they were going to the park. Lovely.

The next day we were texting about an upcoming event and she mentionned that several other mutual friends had bought the dog presents for his birthday. She didn't say so explicitly but the inference was 'they are obviously better friends than you, AWT'.

I should say we did get the dog one of those stocking things for Christmas but his birthday? Really? Do people buy presents for their friends' pets' birthdays?

And I should say there is a leetle bit of a back story in that I do not like dogs due to one biting my brother when we were tiny, and the friend in question was not happy when they got him that I would not allow the dog in our house. However at their house I have always been ambivalent towards it ie, not over friendly nor rude.

IABU? Do you buy your friends' pets' birthday gifts?

OP posts:
BeerTricksPotter · 24/03/2011 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

ExitPursuedByALamb · 24/03/2011 11:20

I am always astounded that people would take their dog to anyone's house and expect to be let in. I do take my Dog to my Dad's occasionally, and my friend who has a dog always lets us in when we call round on the way back from a walk - although I always offer to leave him outside.

My cousin used to bring his Great Dane to my parents' house every time they visited. It would steal food, knock drinks over with its tail etc. When they moved to a flat after the dog had passed away, they were very sniffy about my DD (5 at the time) being in their flat and touching their books ffs. I took great delight in 'reminiscing' about their dog and its antics at my parents' house.

I don't buy my dog or my horse a present. Your friends are clearly bonkers.

wonkeydonkies · 24/03/2011 11:21

lol at this

mind you next doors kiddies did buy our dogs a christmas present, which was very sweet lol

KaraStarbuckThrace · 24/03/2011 11:21

AWT - WTF? Your friend is a LOOOON! And so are her other friends for pandering to her lunacy!

I wouldn't even buy them for my own cat let alone someone else's pet. I am Shock you bought something for Christmas.

I should point out my cat is thoroughly spoiled and shares our Christmas dinner Grin

zikes · 24/03/2011 11:24

God I hope there's not a party and birthday cake: I remember Blue Peter making a dog-food cake for one of their dogs. Bleurgh!

QuintessentialShadows · 24/03/2011 11:25

My dhs aunt stopped expecting us to host her dog, after it careered through the house, fell into the pond, which had just had some water treatment, and the dogs formerly white fur was blue-tinted for a few weeks after.

ullainga · 24/03/2011 11:36

"My cousin used to bring his Great Dane to my parents' house every time they visited. It would steal food, knock drinks over with its tail etc"

this can be said about most kids, (well, not the tail part) and we are still expected to let them in (and childproof our houses before that as well, so the parents could relax and wouldn't have to look after the little brat darling, as I've heard some parents stating. How hard is it to put away all your breakables, electronics, cables and install child locks everywhere anyway?).

But back to topic, I don't even give my own pets birthday presents and yes would think a friend insisting I send his dog a card is a bit funny.

RevoltingPeasant · 24/03/2011 11:46

On our dog's birthday we take her to the local butcher's on the way back from her walk and get her a sausage roll. That's about the limit, really.

The dog doesn't know it's its birthday Hmm

OTOH, I think it is kind of sweet if you are disgustingly sentimental like me to get a dog a Xmas present of a bone or something. It's a nice gesture and if I'm going to someone's house for Xmas I'll get something similar for the pet.

ROFL at bowl of water outside for the baby. Make sure you chain it up Grin

LeroyJethroGibbs · 24/03/2011 11:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Madsometimes · 24/03/2011 12:01

My dog only got a stocking at Christmas time because we have children. The stocking was for the benefit of the children, not the dog. The dog was however, very happy to help us finish up the turkey, and this was his preferred Christmas gift. We did not do anything for his birthday (bad owners).

plupedantic · 24/03/2011 12:14

This dig is giving your friends a chance to display their dodgy personality tics and strange beliefs. They're not being very nice friends, either. Fancy peer-pressuring you to get a present, let alone for a dog! How rude!

bonnymiffy · 24/03/2011 12:17

Our dog gets birthday and Christmas presents, only because it is VERY IMPORTANT to DSS who can't see any of the dog's faults. I wouldn't dream of buying presents for anyone else's dog. Dog is DH's from before we met and is barely tolerated by me as a non-dog person (I wouldn't have animals of any variety living indoors, given the choice). How did you keep a straight face? I don't think I would have. If anyone brought a great dane to the front door they would be turned away.
YANBU.

FourFortyFour · 24/03/2011 12:18

As someone who knows what time her cat was born never mind the day I think YANBU. My cat gets presents but other than my inlaws I wouldn't expect anyone else too.

bupcakesandcunting · 24/03/2011 12:20

I will not go into why I think your friend is a crazy lady as I cannot be arsed to deal with the dog-lover-people on here today so I will just say YANBU :)

plupedantic · 24/03/2011 12:22

This dog, not dig!

ENormaSnob · 24/03/2011 12:39

A card should suffice.

Can't stand this sense of entitlement re presents.

moonstonezoe · 24/03/2011 12:44

YABU
That poor dog!
Of course you should have bought it a present. Especially after having bought it a Christmas present, it will have been expecting one from you.
It is also going to be terribly upset when it reads all the unkind remarks on this thread.

KurriKurri · 24/03/2011 12:52

My dog is 14 on 7th of July. She likes squeaky toys.

Just saying.

Original poster
Aworryingtrend · 24/03/2011 12:57

I am Grin Grin at all of your comments. Kurri- its in the post. Just tell your dog not to tell my friend's dog though.

OP posts:
QuintessentialShadows · 24/03/2011 13:01

I used to make whipped cream for my cat on its birthday, when I was a child. It gave me great pleasure. Sadly the cat was put down when I was 15, but I will always treasure the fond memories of my lovely cat lapping up the cream. Her once in a year treat. Usually on the 3rd of July, or whatever day I felt appropriate to call her birthday.

foundwanting · 24/03/2011 13:09

Ha!

I met my neighbour out walking her dog the other day and she said, "It's Charlie's birthday today. She's 2."

"Oh." I said.

"Well, aren't you going to wish her a Happy Birthday?"

WTF? I don't speak dog. And I felt all kinds of fool saying Happy Birthday to a snarling whining rat on a string dog.

clairefromsteps · 24/03/2011 13:26

This thread is hilarious! I have a friend a bit like this (well, she's the DW of a friend) - she has a dog and a cat and they both 'sign' all birthday and Christmas cards. Judging by the size of the cat, I have reason to suspect it gets lots of treats too. However, I'm slow to criticize because she and DH are desperately TTC and about to start IVF, so I think that it may just be her maternal side coming out....

My cats get a tin of tuna at Christmas, and that's usually to keep their minds off sabotaging my turkey.

nannyl · 24/03/2011 13:30

this has reminded me

my grandparents next door neighbours held a full on birthday party for their dog Shock Invites / thank you cards too all from "the dog"
for human friends and doggy friends, made on dog walks. (my grandparents went)
Also several of dogs from the same litter attended

Massive marquay in garden and everything, and loads and loads of (human) food, and photos of the dog everywhere.

QuintessentialShadows · 24/03/2011 13:31

Oh, you should try going

"woof wooof wooof" to the dog, and then address the owner with a quizzical look "I think that was Happy Birthday, but I am not quite sure"