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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not stop my 3yo being a dog?

84 replies

TheCunnyFunt · 17/08/2014 16:40

DD is 3, one of her favourite games is being a 'DD Doggy' and she does the following commands - sit, lie down, roll over, stay and while she is being a DD Doggy she'll only do something you tell/ask her to do if you say Doggy after your request.

DP thinks we should stop her from being a dog as 'it's not right, is it?' and because of the request thing I mentioned up there ^^.

I think it's fine, she loves pretending to be a dog, she using her imagination well and that is healthy!

Who is being unreasonable?

OP posts:
MintyChops · 17/08/2014 16:44

Your DH is being very humourless and should be sent to his basket.

londonrach · 17/08/2014 16:47

I was a dog for several years of my very young life. Never harmed me...squirrels... Grin. Let her be pretending is important part of learning...

PureMorning · 17/08/2014 16:48

Oh god he would hate my toddler. He will sit next to our dogs and high five,roll over and bark for sausage along side them!

His dog name is pugly

Hes the worst trained of the lot of them. [Hmm]

RJnomore · 17/08/2014 16:54

My ten year old (next month) is frequently a dog.

A pug dog to be precise.

It's better than the time she was a donkey for weeks, which involved wearing a donkey costume for so long that by the time I got it off her she actually smelt like a real one Grin

cricketpitch · 17/08/2014 16:57

I was a horse! Great fun

WeirdCatLady · 17/08/2014 17:04

Dd was a Viking named Olaf.

Make sure you take lots of photos for when she is older Grin

whois · 17/08/2014 17:09

DH is being U. Pretending and play acting is fun.

PacificDogwood · 17/08/2014 17:11

Oh, there are several human puppies in this house - aged 4 to 10 (DS1(11) has grown out of it).
The younger puppies enjoy eating dry Cheerios out of a plastic bowl on the floor.

Your DH IBU.
Enjoy your puppy while it lasts Smile

HauntedNoddyCar · 17/08/2014 17:15

Next door who can hear but not see our garden asked DH how our new puppy was getting on.

We haven't got a puppy.

Ds was in his dog stage so I spent a lot of time in the garden throwing sticks for the puppy to collect, practising sit and fetch and administering (pretend) doggy treats. :)

Frontier · 17/08/2014 17:17

Oh I'm not sure actually. Pretending to be a dog and asking for commands as you describe as part of the game is great. If she's actually refusing to do as she's told unless you/Dh command her as a dog, that's not OK IMO.

NoNoDontEatThatBloodyHellFFS · 17/08/2014 17:20

I was all sorts of animals at that age Grin

If I did a nice 'sit' or 'beg' my NDN would chuck me a twiglet. I still love twiglets to this day Grin

Tell your DH to lighten up and stop being such a misery!

NoNoDontEatThatBloodyHellFFS · 17/08/2014 17:21

If she's actually refusing to do as she's told unless you/Dh command her as a dog, that's not OK IMO.

I think, from the OP, that requests only have to be given 'as a dog' when the DC is in 'dog mode'. Smile

Catmint · 17/08/2014 17:21

DD is much more biddable when a dog. Don't look a gift dog in the mouth, I say!

Voodoobooboo · 17/08/2014 17:34

DS spent time as a cat. Just think for a moment how cats treat their staff and give praise for your dog!

Cyclebump · 17/08/2014 17:42

My younger sister replied to a lot with 'Actually, I'm a goat' and would merrily skip around as one when she was about that age. We still giggle about it now and she's a well-adjusted, qualified vet as an adult.

It's just a game.

FreeSpirit89 · 17/08/2014 17:42

Your DH is BU.

My four year old is frequently a dog. He's (4) as was I in my younger years.

Tell him to get a get a grip

NynaevesSister · 17/08/2014 17:46

DS was a cat. All the way through nursery and reception. I don't think there's anything wrong with it!

LaBelleDameSansPatience · 17/08/2014 17:48

If she's actually refusing to do as she's told unless you/Dh command her as a dog, that's not OK IMO
If it works ... why not do it? It will be a short phase, they all seem to be. DD (8) is often a puppy or a kitten (awfully noisy screechy kitten Hmm).
When she was 3 she would only answer to Bambi for a while ... I had nearly forgotten. Tantrum if I didn't have a little Bambi figure in my bag when we went out. She's lose them for a pastime and I think I should have bought them in bulk ... There are probably still half a dozen around the local area.

MyFairyKing · 17/08/2014 17:51

My sister did this for years as a child. I would like to reassure your DP that she is now 23, a qualified teacher, and no longer pretends to piss up a tree.

addictedtosugar · 17/08/2014 17:53

I had a rabbit for about a month (Nursery even signed him in as Mr Rabbit), then a tiger, while DS2 was a frog.
Just go with it.

notagainffffffffs · 17/08/2014 17:57

I was a cat for 2 years. Costume and all. It was mainly to get out of sunday school tbh

Gen35 · 17/08/2014 17:57

My dd loves role play and she's often a screeching baby hat cries a lot at the moment, or Ariel, who wears the red wig but no clothes...I wish she was a dog! If I call her by her name when she's Ariel or baby or mummy, woe betide me.

icclemunchy · 17/08/2014 18:06

Our DD(3) loves being a dog. I did however have to draw the line slightly when I bought her helping herself to the dog food (dry fortunately!!) and drinking out of their bowl after them Confused

She now has her own doggy bowls

Original poster
TheCunnyFunt · 17/08/2014 18:06

Yes, that's exactly it DontEatThat. For example-
'DD, can you please do x?'
'I'm DD Doggy!'
'Sorry, DD Doggy, can you please do x?'
'Yep ok!'

OP posts:
Harrietsferrets · 17/08/2014 18:08

Currently I have who is a Dalek and one who spends time being a weeping angel.