To not include the dog in a Christmas card

[WeCalledTheDogIndiana]

Writing Christmas card to sister in law and brother in law (DH’s sister and her husband) and remembered that last time they sent us a card (a few months ago) it was signed “from SIL, BIL, and Fido” - Fido being their dog…

Can we just write “Dear SIL, BIL, and DS” and leave it at that? Or is this doomed to be taken as a passive aggressive slight that will spawn it’s own mumsnet thread and lead to them going NC?!

I am veering towards “it’s a bit ridiculous but if it makes them happy just do it”. DH is firmly in the camp of “I am not addressing a fucking card to a fucking dog”

For context: we’re not particularly close, we don’t see them often as they live in the US, the family has a history of finding fault in everything everyone does, yes we both like dogs but no we don’t have our own (cause small children), and they didn’t have the dog last Christmas so it wasn’t an issue then. And yes I do have more important things to worry about but this is a pleasing distraction (and I am genuinely interested in views of dog owners and non dog owners alike!)

Can’t do voting on the app but:
YABU - just include the dog, why wouldn’t you
YANBU - fucking dogs don’t get fucking cards

Ahh this made me sad as my dog died earlier this year and I’m still heartbroken and feeling especially sad as it gets closer to Christmas.

Sorry to hear this. We has to have one of our dogs pts just over a year ago, he was only young. It’s so hard as they’re such a part of the family. I hope you’re doing okay.

I would include the dog. Christmas cards are just a nice/polite gesture, not a legal document.
This is a very fair point

Although some people think it’s the correct etiquette not to write the names of the recipients on the card at all and just write the names of the senders. I don’t like this approach myself, but it would get round your dilemma.

OK but this is mad. Is it definitely etiquette and not just a way of saving writing to get to the mulled wine quicker?

I would include the dog. Christmas cards are just a nice/polite gesture, not a legal document.

My MIL seems to believe they are a legal document. We got a phone call one year because it was the second week of December ‘and still no card’ with a passive aggressive ‘are you all ok, we presumed you must be ill to not have sent it yet’ 😬😂

@WeCalledTheDogIndiana

That's perfectly OK. You just need to send a separate card to the dog.

Genius!

As they've just had a baby, should I send the dog a "congratulations on becoming a big brother" card too?

Absolutely

We have a dog. There is no way I would sign his name in a card (nor the two cats either). And I cringe slightly when my dog-obsessed friend signs cards to me from herself and Rover.

[quote imnotacelebritygetmeoutofhere]@ChardonnaysPetDragon Oh I cross-posted with you, great minds think alike [/quote]

Ahh this made me sad as my dog died earlier this year and I’m still heartbroken and feeling especially sad as it gets closer to Christmas.

Oh, I'm so sorry I made you sad. Glad it made you smile a little too. for you and your DDog

I will include the dog in the hope that it makes them smile too

My MIL seems to believe they are a legal document. We got a phone call one year because it was the second week of December ‘and still no card’ with a passive aggressive ‘are you all ok, we presumed you must be ill to not have sent it yet’

😂😂

Totally agree with you that it's ridiculous.

My SIL is the same with her dog. We also get pics of the dog every day with him splashing in a river, eating something, cuddling them. I just don't care.

I would feel the same as you and not really want to put the dogs name as it's not a child. I probably wouldn't to be honest but then I'd feel guilty that they would've appreciated the dogs name in the card.

I'd think someone who added their dogs name to a Christmas card was a saddo.

I send a Christmas card to my DB and DSIL, and a separate card just to their dog, I draw little paws and bones inside, so I'm not the best person to comment here I adore their dog.

I find this delightful. Just read it to DH who says if I do it in this card he'll divorce me

Is this a real problem?

Rest assured I'm suffering in a number of MN-acceptable ways in other parts of my life

@WeCalledTheDogIndiana

That's perfectly OK. You just need to send a separate card to the dog.

Genius!

As they've just had a baby, should I send the dog a "congratulations on becoming a big brother" card too?

AND a present. Box of treats for the very good boy/girl who no doubt deserves them very much.

Not a dog owner (but a dog lover) and I definitely appreciate cards addressed from dogs (but I appreciate pictures of them more).

I find this delightful. Just read it to DH who says if I do it in this card he'll divorce me

Something to bear in mind if you’ve had enough of him at some point in the future. 😂

We generally sign cards off including our dog. He goes on to the 'nanny' and 'grandad' cards from the kids

If we know the neighbours dogs names etc we'll send Christmas cards to them including their dogs (because we generally only know them because of the dogs, ha!).

We always have a little smile when people address cards to the dog too as it's nice to include him but would never be offended if someone didn't.

My neighbour always sends me a card which includes my dogs names, signed with her, her DH and their dogs name, I return the compliment.
However, I wouldn't put my dogs names on anyone else's
They'd think I was barking....boom boom.
Sorry, couldn't resist 😳

One of my ex’s was mad about one of my cats. So I’d send him a Valentine’s card from the cat . Goodness knows what the etiquette is on that, but you can now buy Christmas cards and Valentine’s cards that say “from the cat”, or “from the dog”, so clearly there’s more than one of us out there.

I send a Christmas card to my DB and DSIL, and a separate card just to their dog, I draw little paws and bones inside, so I'm not the best person to comment here I adore their dog.

I love this so much

Yanbu.

I sign our Christmas card including our cat only when sending to certain people who are "cat people" and specifically like/express interest in said cat. I don't expect cards back to reciprocate.

He can't actually read

I send cards to people!! When a dog can read a card, it will get a mention.

One of mils friends sends us a card (no idea why) and includes her budgie!!

In the past, I had the bright idea of getting an inkpad and putting the dog's pawprints in my Christmas cards. Jasper the Staffie made his views on this abundantly clear by escaping before I could get the wet-wipe to him and leaving his inky pawtographs all over the cream carpet. Served me right.

I don't think your family will take offence if the dog's not on the card. In the unlikely event that they do, you can apologise and arrange for a gift-basket of continental meats to be delivered to the aggrieved mutt.

Or just tell them that you got distracted and forgot.

Best wishes to you. x

I usually include the dog when signing cards from us. It’s nice when others address them to him too but I don’t expect it. He’s getting on a bit now so I can’t leave him off in case people think he’s died!

OK but this is mad. Is it definitely etiquette and not just a way of saving writing to get to the mulled wine quicker?

The only way to get through writing cards is to have a constant supply of mulled wine on tap!

I am a crazy besotted dog owner but my dogs names rarely appear on cards that I send or receive - just occasionally when I send them to someone who I've met through dog ownership. Having said that my dog sent a Mother's Day card to his own mother (care of her owner of course - I'm not daft!) so perhaps I'm not the best person to answer this!

I have never addressed a Christmas card to the family pet, I have however included our pets in ones we sent before DC.