…to be sick of judgemental comments regarding my puppy?!

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I got a puppy a couple of months ago, he is now 5 months old.

He is fed butternut box for his normal food.

For his treats he has natural stuff like rabbit ears, fish skin crisps, chicken feet etc. I buy it from a reputable pet food online store and always stick to the age guidelines of what is appropriate.

My family members who I see very regularly always has something to say about them. They aren’t vegetarian so that isn’t an issue. Every time they see him with one they will say things like ‘I don’t like dogs having those things’ or anytime the dog is unwell in any way they will blame the treats I give him.

I personally think it’s a generational thing, when they owned animals years ago dogs were fed treats full of crap basically, none of the natural treats that are around today. I have tried explaining to them that the treats he has is full of nutrition, minerals, vitamins, good for their coats and digestion etc but it falls on deaf ears.

They pop round anytime of the day so it’s inevitable they will see with him a treat at some point, but I’m sick of walking on egg shells about it and feeling like I’m doing something wrong.

They also make comments about the harnesses that he wears (that they make him look like a ‘poof’) and the stuff I use on his skin (he has irritable skin so I use special oatmeal sprays to condition it all and so far it works) they end up blaming that for his skin condition in the first place. They don’t like the fact that I do spoil him and he does have nice things for some reason.

AIBU to be getting really fed up with this?!

Just the comment about the harness would be enough for me to tell them to fuck off.

You can buy chicken feet online?

Tell them to stfu about it. He's your dog.

Gosh if the think rabbits eats and chicken feet are bad definitely don't tell them about pizzles 🙈🙈

That would annoy me too, just ignore them.

Your family sound horrible.

Ignore! Can I just ask what oatmeal spray you use? Our wee Frenchie is so itchy just now

They are idiots. We raw feed our dog, and she has all natural treats for chews-pizzles, feet, rabbit ears, cows ears (massive, and keep her busy for ages). We regularly get stopped and told what amazing shape she is in, so clearly it’s suiting her well. Vet thinks it’s great.

my grandad was the same as your relatives when he was alive, came from farming stock, so dogs were workers, and slept outside (in a kennel, not on the ground) and got scraps mostly. My DM just ignored him whenever he said anything about the dogs we had as I was growing up. Just smile (grimace) and say “well, it suits us fine, so we’ll keep doing it”.

The person who said the puppy looks like a poof in his harness is clearly a dick, who doesn’t need to be listened to about anything, ever.

You've been able to buy them online for a while, I get them for my dog. I used to get them from local independent pet shop until they closed down. Zoo plus might be the place I got my last ones from.

@gamerchick I buy mine from J R Pets, really good prices and you get a lot in the packet too!

@CinderellaFant oh my gosh, I’ve just looked up what that is - think that’s next on my list haha!

@curlycat I use the bugalugs (think that’s the right spelling!) oatmeal spray - I’ve tried so many others but their stuff is brilliant for sensitive skin. He has the shampoo, conditioner, balm for his nose and paws which get so dry in the heat - his coat is in brilliant condition now!

Thank you to all the comments, it’s just horrible being made to feel like I’m doing everything wrong and putting him in some sort of danger?!

@LoobyDop the same person who said that I mollycoddle him and turning him ‘gay’ by giving him too much attention…

Chicken feet dog treats are a by-product of the poultry industry, just like veal is a by-product of the dairy industry.

If they eat poultry, they’re hypocrites.

Yes this 🤣🤣

If they're rude enough to come over unannounced all the time, I don't see them listening if you tell them the food you're feeding it is fine.

Is this mostly your father?

Turning a dog gay?
You have got to be kidding me. What an ignoramus.
Maybe ask them why they are so scared of The Gay? Are they gay themselves deep down and hugely ashamed of it?

Of course you are not unreasonable but you just have to pick your battles. I have had a dog of my own since I was a teen and things have changed so much. My old dog loved a raw hide chew for instance. Now our pet shop doesn't even sell them because they are understood to be so unhealthy/dangerous. My old dog never had raw meat or a bone - the dogs I have now love a raw chicken wing as a treat.

I either use a very nebulous "they" - "they" say that these are the most healthy treats or "they" say that this conditioner is the reason his skin is under control. Or "Current research shows......"

Your pup sounds very well loved and cared for! We are also a natural treats household and have had a few funny comments but i've just said she's our spoilt baby so she gets the grossest stuff as she loves it.
But honestly why are you having someone who is so weird they make homophobic comments about a PUPPY in your house anyway 😂

My dog is also fed butternut box and he eats natural treats only (tripe sticks/chicken feet/ cow ears etc- I get a box delivered every month). My MIL in law turns her nose up at the natural treats but her dog is fed these rawhide treats and tinned dog food for her meals and constantly as the shits. My dog doesn’t! Just ignore ignore ignore

Chicken feet are grim and I won't be getting them for my puppy again 😂 we are on the air dried organ meat treats right now (livers the fave atm). I'd tell them to fuck off. The harness comment would set me off fierce.

Sounds like my FIL, who refused to get a female dog on the basis that he'd be too humiliated walking one.

People are strange.

Ugggh I remember this OP. Not so much from family but neighbors and other dog walkers, they always had a ‘comment’ or ‘suggestion’ to make about my labrador puppy (yep big energetic lad who they all expected to walk like a guide dog from 12 weeks old 🙄). Sometimes advice is great - but when you ask for it, people making random comments is just irritating, when you and your pup are trying to learn from each other. It’s a special time and new puppy owners can get upset by these silly people. Now my boy is a lovely gentle almost 3 year old, I always offer encouragement to a new puppy owner, not judgement.
The gay comment is just ridiculous and immature. Put your dog in whichever harness is comfortable for him and you. People kept on at me to get mine on a Halti head harness as he pulled but I hated the look of them and wanted to train him to walk nicely. With time and patience he now does! Ignore them OP, they sound ridiculous. Find a supportive doggy community with puppy classes or walking and just enjoy him!

How old are your family? my mum in her mid 60s and her dad fed their dogs raw bones from the butchers and pig trotters and animal carcasses from the allotments. so I'm not sure it's a generational thing more and arsehole thing maybe.

I went from not being a dog person to a total dog person after getting my dog and my extended family tease me about it but in a normal family teasing kind of way apart from fil who also used a homophobic slur about dh and the dog and was told if he didn't like it

My mum will make jokes that my dogs diet costs more than ours, or that her bed cost more than her sofa but it's all lighthearted and my mum always wants me to take her to her house when I go and always has the digs fave treats there ready.

My dog knows when we get near her house and starts getting all excited in the car.

I'm not even going to look up pizzles 🤮

I don't currently have a dog 😪but when I did she didn't get pigs ears or anything like that. She got fed well & treats that weren't obviously a part of an animal but not vegetarian!

I am vegetarian (largely eat a vegan diet & largely ethically vegan) I just can't face watching them chew on a pigs ear etc.

but my friends do give them to their dogs and I keep my mouth shut! Most of my friends give them them in another room etc as they know how I feel, but I don't bang on about it, the same way we respect each other's eating habits.

As for saying his harness makes him look like a poof & will turn him gay. I haven't heard anything like that in years!! Took me right back to my '70's childhood. What did you say when you stopped laughing at him??

YOU keep on treating YOUR dog how YOU want to & just tell them 'ok
ok, so you've said, it's now repetitive & boring. MY DOG MY RULES'.

They sound quite insecure op. I know very little a out dogs but I suspect that this is the same as some grandparents take it personally when their children raise their grandchildren very differently. Usually it's because deep down the recognise that your way is probably better and it makes them feel bad so then they try and put your way down to ease their guilt.

Definitely generational, I had the same