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

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Tired of those assuming they know my dog better than me

35 replies

honehmooh · 27/08/2021 14:05

She's a chihuahua, who is fully grown, and not much bigger than a teacup. Earlier this year she needed an expensive operation for a condition called Luxating patella that she developed in her leg, that she could easily develop in the other, that was caused by an injury of walking/jumping too much. We have been instructed to make sure that she doesn't jump on/off things, doesn't use the stairs, and is only allowed a certain amount of excerise to try to prevent her from developing the condition again, which she covers in the house quite easily. We don't have a garden she can use.

She's a territorial dog who is scared of other dogs, and she could easily be stood on. She is small enough for a seagull or any other large bird to consider her as prey. Taking everything in to consideration, we'd like to still be able to go out, and for her to be able to enjoy and see the outdoors. We initially tried carrying her which wasn't practical and she was out in the open, kept trying to get out of my grasp to bark at other dogs. So we decided to buy her a pram.

We get judgemental looks when I take her out in a pram. Some have spoken about it in hearing distance, some have said things to our faces. They think it's as if we don't know what's best for our dog, as if we are incapable of making a reasonable decision, as if she is some sort of accessory to us. It's made us feel very uncomfortable going out.

AIBU to wish that sometimes people would just mind their own business.

OP posts:
Eilatan2018 · 27/08/2021 14:09

Oh my word I can totally relate!

I have a toy poodle, she is 5 and she also has luxating patellar. She is teeny tiny and 3kg but luckily she hasn't yet had surgery as the vet didn't think it was necessary. She is also territorial and barks alot, small dog syndrome I reckon!

I am a dog lover so maybe I see it differently but when I see people with dogs in push chairs I just want to speak to them and ask why! I always assume the dog can't walk for some reason or another and that taking them out to get fresh air is a lovely idea!

Don't worry what other people think, it's none of their business.. you're doing a nice thing not leaving her home on her own. I hope she recovers well and is back to walking and barking at other dogs real soon! xx

AnyOldPrion · 27/08/2021 14:11

I love seeing dogs in proms! Maybe I’m weird, but I tend to assume those who put dogs in prams have dogs that can’t walk well, but like to get out (or whose owners enjoy taking them).

Sorry you’re getting comments OP. If I saw you, I’d smile, not criticise.

CounsellorTroi · 27/08/2021 14:11

YANBU.

CounsellorTroi · 27/08/2021 14:12

We got our JRT a dog pram when she got old.

girlmom21 · 27/08/2021 14:15

You're being precious. She can still walk with a luxating patellar. They grade them based on severity. What grade is it?

ZaraCarmichaelshighheels · 27/08/2021 14:18

It can be really hard to keep a small dog safe from trampling feet, people just don’t get it as they could be easily injured or worse, try and ignore people, your dog has an injury and you are trying to protect them however I don’t think you should use the dog carrier all the time though, your dog needs socialisation and exercise so I would use the carrier in crowded situations and until their leg gets better. I would also ask for this thread to get moved to the dog house, you will get roasted it Aibu. Hope your dog recovers soon.

itsgrand · 27/08/2021 14:24

@girlmom21

You're being precious. She can still walk with a luxating patellar. They grade them based on severity. What grade is it?
I've had dogs with luxating patellar who recovered very well and were able to enjoy walking again. It is probably important for her recovery to have some walks if possible.
girlmom21 · 27/08/2021 14:26

@itsgrand same here. My boy races round like a lunatic since his surgery (two years ago now so did recover properly!). What's the point in the surgery if you're just going to restrict their quality of life?

wetotter · 27/08/2021 14:30

Tell people that she is on permanently limited exercise owing to an orthopaedic issue.

But do let her down from the pram from time to time to have good sniff around. She needn't actually move much to get the benefit of a good nose around.

Also, does your insurance cover either/both physio or hydrotherapy? After initial recuperation from the op, building musculature in optimal ways is a strong protective against further deterioration

Hekatestorch · 27/08/2021 14:30

I grew up with chihuahuas. One only weighed 2lb (the runt). Also had luxating patellar.

Tbf we just walked him and picked him up if was busy. Then put him down again.

With chihuahuas they can be come very territoral and then being carried everywhere and not socialising at all, probably doesn't help.

pigsDOfly · 27/08/2021 14:31

Just ignore them.

I actually bought a dog buggy for my dog as she wasn't well for a while a few years ago and often got very tired on walks.

As it happens I didn't actually use it as I just ended up carrying her and now she's fine and hopefully will be running around for years to come.

I did however, get loads of comments from complete strangers when I carried her telling me I shouldn't be carrying my dog, because obviously they knew better than me as to why my dog was being carried.

I'm keeping the buggy though, as you never know what's going to happen and if, when she's very old, - she's 10 years old now - she can't walk far I will take her out and about in the buggy so that she can continue to see the outside world and have little short walks in those places she likes.

I don't care what other people think about that, they can mind their own business.

Oldandcobwebbed · 27/08/2021 14:35

The seagull seeing her as prey thing is odd. Seagulls don't have the ability hunt in that way, they will happily take dead animals, and might bully/swoop but the story of one stealing a dog was made up. They have webbed feet so can't "catch prey". I wouldn't be overly worried about that

LittleBiscuit09 · 27/08/2021 14:35

I have an imperial Shih Tzu and I can't relate. He has his pushchair and loads of people stop to talk to us

icedcoffees · 27/08/2021 14:44

I do get what you're saying but it's so important for a dogs' mental health and happiness that they're allowed to walk and sniff outside of the house and garden.

Please let her go for a short sniff.

tillytoodles1 · 27/08/2021 14:44

My daughter's little dog has a pram as she can't keep up with the two younger dogs, but loves being out with them.

FirewomanSam · 27/08/2021 14:46

Sympathies! I carried my small-breed puppy around in a specially designed travel bag when he was too small to walk very far. He had plenty of walks but sometimes we needed to go further than he could walk himself so the bag gave his legs a rest. It was like a handbag that his harness clipped into and his head would poke out.

People would mostly find it cute but I definitely had some tutting and dirty looks and one woman even looked at him and sadly said ‘oh dear’. I guess they assumed I was carrying the poor thing around as a fashion accessory and not letting him walk when he wanted to, or something.

Balonzette · 27/08/2021 14:52

I'm sorry but I'd definitely laugh so much at a chihuahua being pushed along in a pram 😂😂😂😂😂 the idea of it even is making me laught

Thelnebriati · 27/08/2021 14:52

YANBU but you really do have to develop a thicker hide and stop caring what other people think! People only see a snapshot of your day and its pretty silly of them to assume what they can see is all there is to see.

elliejjtiny · 27/08/2021 15:00

Yanbu. I used to have the same commentswith my dc2 when he was in the buggy aged 4 or 5.

My Grandad has a big dog and a little dog. The big dog needs more exercise so the little dog often sits in the basket of his mobility scooter for part of the way.

Shallwegoforawalk · 27/08/2021 15:02

Stick a laminated sign on front of pram saying dog is recovering from surgery? Might help stop some of the ignorant comments.

Hedgesgalore · 27/08/2021 15:04

Had a buggy for our old dog when long walks became too much for him. It meant we could still enjoy being out altogether walking which is something we love doing.

Only ever had positive comments about how good an idea it was and asking where I got the buggy from.

Now I'm using the buggy for our pup as I'm strict on walking 5 minutes per month of age. He gets a walk but when time is up I pop him in. During the very hot weather it was much easier than carrying him, he didn't overheat and neither did I.

Since using it for the pup I've had a few judgy looks/comments but I either brush it off or if asked will explain why I have the buggy, then I get told good idea where'd you get the buggy Grin

Toddlerteaplease · 27/08/2021 15:08

I want to get my cat a pram. I'm sure she'd love it!

Wolfiefan · 27/08/2021 15:11

Depends if the dog is getting some actual exercise or if you’re simply using this to avoid having to manage her behaviour round other dogs.

mistermagpie · 27/08/2021 15:23

I can totally relate. I have a Bengal cat who had the exact same condition, he had a grade 4 (I think, whatever's the worst) patella luxation at 6 months old and had the big surgery etc. His leg still has six pins in it and he's now 12 years old!

As a result of all this, he has never been allowed out. The risk to his other leg was there and obviously cats jump on things and are pretty much unsupervised when they go out.

He's happy as an indoor cat, we have built him a large cat run that he can access from the house and adopted another cat who can't go out (for different reasons) to be friends with him, which she is and they adore each other.

However, I still get criticism for keeping him inside and told that it's cruel etc. I'm not sure what people will have me do? Let him out and let him break the other leg and die because he can't get home? Or what?

So you do what's best for your pet and ignore the comments. Honestly, it's not something worth stressing about. On the plus side, like I say, my cat is now 11.5 years post surgery and he has done really well. If you didn't know he'd had it you would never guess.

100percent21 · 27/08/2021 15:29

@girlmom21

You're being precious. She can still walk with a luxating patellar. They grade them based on severity. What grade is it?
Are you a veterinarian surgeon?? My dog is recovering from this and we have been advised he must not walk for 6 weeks other than toilet break in garden on lead. I think the OP would prefer to listen to the advice of her vet.

OP I hope dog is recovering well. I understand how the recovery works. We are looking for a pram too. Ignore judge people. Good luck

Swipe left for the next trending thread