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

[Aworryingtrend]

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?

YANBU. Your friends, however, are barking.

'you wont let our dog in your house but when you have a child you'll expect the baby to be allowed in the house.'

Good lord... I've heard it all now - what did you say to that? If it had been me they'd have received a very haughty 'are you comparing my human child to your pet?'.

I'm not a fan of dogs but I don't get why people expect to be able to take them to other people's houses - I leave my cat at home, I left my rabbits at home when I had them, same with the guinea pig. When I had a dog as a child we left it at home unless someone said 'oh, feel free to bring the dog'. A dog can stay home alone for a few hours without dropping dead ffs.

I think my eyebrows actually became part of my hairline. I was just about to let rip when he evidently saw me about to release the venom within and he hastily turned it into a 'joke' by laughing uproariously. Oh ha ha.

You're a much better friend than I would be, present or no present! Honestly, if someone told me it was their pet's birthday my first (and only) question would be 'Why the fuck do you know that?'

And I love animals, even though I don't have pets now. We always gave our dog and cat a Christmas present when I was a kid. But this is Psychoville.

Are you sure they weren't joking? My dogs don't get presents, cards, special food at Christmas or birthdays - because they help themselves to my stuff anyway are dogs - but on the odd occasion when friends have given them a chewy thing I've been rather touched and grateful. Usually more grateful than they've been when I've turned up laden with presents for their PFBs.

PMSL at the marquee hung about with pics of the Birthday Growl....

They sound like total lunatics to me (sorry!)

I've got a dog, don't know or care when his birthday is, and CERTAINLY wouldn't expect people to buy him presents (frankly I'd be embarrassed if they did!)... my mum sometimes gets him something at Xmas but it's usually food because she likes his temporary gratitude :o, and in lieu of having any grandchildren.

This thread is amazing. A birthday present for a dog hahahaha

I must admit I have never had anyone try and bring their dog to my house. Babies are welcome, but my asthmatic DH isn't allergic to them....

I do get my dog a birthday and xmas present
Then again I like him a lot more than I like most people! I certainly wouldn't expect anyone else to get him anything though and would be embarrassed if they did so YANBU

I would have wet myself laughing.

You obviously have excellent pelvic floor muscles self control.

Could this be a rather passive agressive and roundabout way of telling you not to expect presents for your future children?

I know a few childfree people and they do very much hate it when parents demand christening presents, birthday presents and Christmas presents x however many kids they have and all they get in return is one measley present.

Some people don't like kids, just like some people don't like dogs. I do think it's up to the owner/parent to respect that and not inflict their little darling onto unwilling victims. If they don't want the child in the house, fair enough. It does usually mean that you'll be seeing less of them and that's the chance they take.