To think that if you're single and have a dog...

[QuattroFormaggio]

you shouldn't describe yourself as a 'single parent'?

Someone I know is single. She has just got a puppy and keeps going on about how hard it is being a 'single parent' (to the dog, she has no kids). I'm disproportionately offended by this. I'm not even a single parent, but my sister is and I know how hard it is for her. Heck, I find it hard enough with two parents around.

Is this expression normal for pet lovers now?! I have no pets so willing to be educated but can't promise that it'll stop me feeling offended by how it minimises how hard parenting actually is Just to clarify, I'm sure having a puppy is very hard work, it's the expression I'm offended by.

My first AIBU, I await the flaming.

She's just a great big eejit, that's all.

Wtf. No flaming here. She's going to offend so many people!

I have a friend like that, it really doesn't bother me. No one really compares a puppy with a baby, but it's not offensive to compare the 2. Really not a big deal

Well some cat and dog owners describe them as their fur babies etc.

Actually having a puppy is insanely hard work and I'm not sure how a single person could do it! Much easier with two of you in the puppy stage to split time working from home and picking up from doggy day care and looking after it in the evenings.

I think it's incredibly offensive to compare the two.

She is not a single parent. She is a single dog owner. Which is not the same thing in any way at all.

YANBU! I am single and wondered what the OP was going to be about! I would be embarrassed to describe myself as that to any pet. What are people thinking!

Your friend is a twat.

YANBU. A dog is not a child, despite what some loopy dog owners seem to think.

Single mother... to a pet dog?
Your friend is weird.

I'd chill out, it really doesn't matter.

Someone I know calls herself a single stay at home parent with her dog.

Can I ask whether she is happily single or whether she would like kids/a family but it hasn't happened for her?

If the former, yes she is a twat. If actually it's to plug unhappiness and loneliness at not having become a mother to a human child, I would go easy on her. However hard parenting is, in my opinion it's not as hard as wanting to be a parent and not having that privilege.

You'll love this OP

Gender reveal for a dog, I've seen it all now .

This reminds me of an episode of Jeremy Kyle. A woman said that she couldn't work because she has to look after her dog. The audience roared & she got shitty & stormed off stage.

Wouldn't and doesn't bother me at all.

My DD3 was just two when I got my labrador as an 8 week old puppy. She is almost 15 now and he is almost 13.

OK, I wasn't a single parent, but was the one at home most of the time. Human babies and toddlers are very hard work 24/7, puppies are crazily and insanely hard work.

Whilst I am not my dog's parent, as such, I am still his carer and the person responsible for him in much the same way as if he were a child. They are just as much of a tie and responsibility. He is still part of the family and needs fed, watered, taken out, groomed, taken to the vet, given time and company. Just as we all do.

How others describe their relationship with their dogs doesn't bother me at all. I am a dog owner and a parent to three human girls, mostly now almost grown up.

Thanks for not flaming me, for validating my reaction and above all for making me laugh a lot. Especially Logical- wtaf?!

McTufty- I don't actually know her that well (friend of a friend), but good point about whether she's using the dog to fill an emotional gap.

And those of you who think I've overreacted, I probably agree with you and you've helped talk me down but it did feel good to let it out on here

YANBU. I work with a woman that has a flexible shift pattern because of her "child care ishoos". She has two Yorkshire Terriers and refers to them as the "girls".

Sounds like she's just trying to be funny/ironic and slightly missing the mark.

It wouldn't bother me, I hate the culture of claiming to be 'offended' by everything.

Get over yourself OP.

Why does it matter to you how another person describes themselves?

There's so much I'd like to let out on here OP, but I know I'd be torn apart

Ooh that's more like it Bombardier, I was hoping for at least a mild flaming.

Pigface - I'm normally very laid back and not at all offended or enraged by things but this did rattle me - perhaps on behalf of my sister?? Dog single parent woman is definitely not being ironic, she's deadly serious.

Coffee - oh go on, you know you want to

She's clearly a bit clueless or she is making a joke. Nothing to be offended over imo. No one could possibly reasonably compare a dog to a baby 😂 I've had dogs forever and honestly, I cannot understand how people seem to think they're such insanely hard work tbh.

I hate hearing people comparing having dogs to having kids full stop. Although I just don't "get" pets in general, I'm not an animal lover at all.

awaits ultimate flaming

Puppies are NOTHINg like as much work as babies.
I speak from much experience of both!

Also, I am not my dogs' parent, or their mum.