…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?!

My friend had a bit of success with her dog's itchy skin when she upped his fish intake. Lots of salmon. It didn't cure it but she definitely thought it made a difference. There's something else for them to get judgy about!

The harness makes him look like a poof and you’re turning him gay? I don’t care who that person is, they would not be allowed in my house for being such a complete homophobic arsehole. I hope you’ve told him what an utter knob he sounds. I used harnesses on mine with a longline to teach recall, you aren’t meant to use collars with longlines in case you break their neck! This person is an idiot, ignore and ban them from your house.

I thought this was going to be about your puppy having cropped ears or being some massive behemoth you have no chance of controlling and was going to say you deserve it bur your family are knobs if they’re complaining about you feeding healthy treats 😂 tell them to sod off.

Tea Spoonful of coconut oil in his food every day will help his skin too. And deter fleas. I swear by it. Haven't given either of mine flea treatment for years now.

OMG how can you take someone seriously that says shit like that?!

When you inform the idiot that your dog is being neutered (because you're a responsible dog owner), give us all a laugh and film the twat's reaction. If at all possible, go into extreme detail about the procedure as well.

Because you know that if the fool believes a dog will turn gay because it's got a harness rather than an inch thick choke chain, he's going to completely lose his mind over castration.

Well anyone who thinks that being kind and comforting to anyone will 'make them gay' wants yeeting from your life forthwith.

JR Pets is an excellent source of all things absolutely disgusting and therefore fabulous for puppies and adult dogs - I send all my clients there for their disgusting dried animal part needs.

Tell them to fuck off.

There is also the following point you could make about canine dietary choices -

'this is an animal for whom biologically, eating its own (or the cat's) vomit and shit is an entirely viable choice for dinner. Seems like bits of chicken and pig is Cordon Bleu cuisine in comparison'.

It's possible whatever the pigs ears or whatever are preserved in is making your dog itchy.

Tell them your dog your rules so fuck off!

By the way are you aware most harnesses encourage dogs to pull? That’s why they use them on sledding dogs etc. I found this out after my dog had an awful pulling the lead problem so mention it on the off chance you haven’t come across this.

They aren’t usually preserved in anything. They are just dried out.

You're family are crazy - or maybe I'm not the best judge, I take my dog out to breakfast with me on a regular basis, he has the full Barkfast and a puppiccino, so I may be skewed on what's normal or not.

I'm trying to work out why, even for a homophobe, it would be a problem for a pet dog to be homosexual.

Even ignoring the ridiculousness of a harness making a dog look like it's gay through stereotypes of camp or effeminacy as though the dog chooses the harness and makes its selection based on human cultural aesthetics of recent Western origin signalling homosexuality, even ignoring the incredibly silly idea that taking care of a person and being affectionate turns them gay and that this somehow transfers to pet dogs… just why would it be a problem if the dog preferred the affections of other dogs? It's a dog. It's not like it was going to give you grandchildren.

You are unreasonable to think its a 'generational thing' rather than these specific people being dicks

Never write off a whole generation in this way

Oh my word. Just one of those comments would be enough for me to tell them to stfu!!

Tbh doesn't matter whether it is is kids or dogs, some people have an opinion on everything and do not hesitate to share.
Either stop letting them in, wear ear plugs, ignore them or tell them very clearly this is your dog your rules and so stfu.....

Very frustrating tho!!!!

Your dog, your rules. We had a Scottie that had horribly irritable skin. The vet told us to give him a human antihistamine every day and actually recommended the uber cheap ones from Amazon. Apparently they’re exactly the same as the ones vets prescribe that cost ££££. That worked a treat.

Next time the family turn up unannounced just tell them, at the door, that you can't let them come in because you've all caught a maasive dose of GAY from the dog and need to stay in listening to Britney and watching Priscilla until is subsides.

Well, the whole harness/poof thing would be enough to make me think that they are as thick as pig-shit and therefore not worth the time of day.

As an aside, ddog had the most terrible dry itchy skin - he was scratching all the time. We had an emergency and he had to go and stay with his dog walker for a couple of nights who did not have his usual food in. He went from raw, natural stuff to Forthglade and he is SO much better! Nothing like as dry so not scratching so often and his coat is much softer too. If your ddog is so dry, it might be worth tinkering with his food just to see?

Honestly I wouldn't invite them round any more or let them in.
Make it perfectly clear that if they make any interfering or weirdly homophobic comments about the way you look after your pet, they are not welcome in your home. Pull them up on it every single time.

Ps: if you have kids, move away