To think pet owners should stop calling themselves “dog mums” and “cat dads?”

[TheDeftAquaViewer]

It just feels a bit much when people treat their pets as if they’re children. AIBU to think this trend has gone a bit too far?

You don't get to talk for other people's dogs or say what they enjoy.

My grandad took his dog in a pushchair to his shop to get his daily paper, and then took his dog to the park. The dog would get fuss and a biscuit when in the shop, and loved being out. He could still smell the air, see lots of things without it causing issues for his arthritis.
My best friend used a pushchair for her old dog too, and she loved being in it.

Please never get a dog.

Aww that is lovely 🥰

Yes I do. I don't believe dogs get any benefit from being in shops there crowded,hot and loud. I also don't think being pushed in a pushchair is classed as a dog walk. It's like saying I'm taking the dog for a walk and carrying it around in your handbag. That's not a dog walk.

Each to their own. As long as they care for their animal properly, I don’t see that it matters.

We have lots of animals and use terms like dog mum and fur babies when we are around certain family members who are like OP, because they are hateful about animals and it annoys them when we do it.

It's cute. Human parents don't own the term. Plenty of people have stepparents that aren't blood but are still their mum and dad. A pet carer is a pet mum and dad.

And that's before you even get to the poor folk who desperately want to be parents and call themselves cat dad. They aren't hurting a soul. Go be angry at people who call themselves mum and dad and do fuck all for their kids.

Well said

I disagree. Whilst I wouldn’t want to take mine to the supermarket I will be taking her to John Lewis in a few weeks, mid week early morning when it’s quiet, to grab some Christmas decs. She has the biggest smile on her face and loves going to see the lights.

She’s already been to the range and the pure joy on her face watching a musical light up ornament was lovely. She was well behaved, the shop allows dogs. Then we will pop to our local cafe and she may have a puppicino (or maybe just some pre cooked chicken and carrots). And go home via park where she can play with her frisbee. It’s a nice time for both of us.

@Differentstarts

Dogs in pushchairs are in them because they cannot walk far. But they enjoy the stimulation of being outside, taking in their surroundings, all the sounds and smells. Often owners get them out at various intervals so they can walk a little bit until they need a rest. Or do you think elderly dogs should just sit in their dog beds at home all day? That really would be cruel.

My last dog hated shops. I never took her in them. The dog I have now loves them. We live in a very dog friendly area. Several shops allow them and she loves going in to see her favourite shop assistants, get the odd treat or two from the jar on tbe counter and browse any pet aisles. Obviously, if it is hot and stuffy, I take her outside again.

@BobbyBiscuits Only if the CEO was another cat person I knew well and the conversation turned that way! 😆

I once counted all the nicknames - not just passing endearments, frequently-used nicknames - one of my cats had. It was fifty!

@Catsmere haha, that's so cute. My old cats had a couple each, but my current ones have dozens! 🤣 X

We have used a dog pushchair for 2 of our dogs in the past, one who was older and one who was recovering from an operation. Both could enjoy a walk in the woods/park but couldn’t manage that and the actual walk to and from the woods/park. The pushchair was perfect for them to still enjoy life.

I take our dogs to our local cafe and I’ll pop in a shop with them if I need something on the way back from a walk, but I wouldn’t take them in shops for hours.

You're taking your dog Christmas decoration shopping and you think that's for the dogs benefit and not yours

I really can't believe some people get so worked up about what we call our pets. There are some miserable fuckers on this thread. We have grown up DC and they all have pets and they're our grand pets
As none have kids yet.

Someone dictating how money shouldn't be spent on pets! Well I spend a huge fuck ton of money on our animals because I can. Likely more than you moaning miseries can afford to spend on your kids AND I also donate to charity. Because hey guess what, it's possible to do both!

@Differentstarts

You are ignoring the fact that dog owners know their dogs. Some dogs will enjoy shopping, whether for Xmas Dec's or something else. As I said in an earlier post, one of my dogs didn't like shops so I didn't take her. My current dog loves shops, along with long walks in the countryside.

I've got less imaginative over the years, my current pair have far fewer! 😸😸

She’s sociable, likes to go to places, meet new (friendly) people and there are usually several who come and say hello and ask if they can pet her. Yes I have a purpose for going but she’s enjoyed it the last few years and no reason to think she won’t now. She gets four hours worth of walks each day and is loved and cared for. I’m not sure why that would upset anyone?

Do you think we should return to the days of dogs sleeping outside in all weathers and not having their health needs met?

So long as the dogs are well behaved and trained, and are not going to places where they’re banned, what’s the problem?

If this is what's stressing you out you need to get a grip. People have pets for loads of reasons: infertility, loneliness, just because they like them. If they're treated well, what's the issue? It's really not harming anyone and I actually think it's quite bizarre to make an issue about it. As for people spending cash on their pets... so what? I'm getting my pet a Christmas present - something cheap, because I'm fond of her. And when it's just me and her I call her my baby. But, to calm you down, yes, I'm fully aware she's not actually human.

Taking a dog in a pushchair around shops is not for the dogs benefit

It is if the dog is elderly. They still like to get out and about.

I think it's awful that people are so judgemental.

One of our friends had a dog. He changed his and his partner's life - they were deliberately child free, but both suffered from depression due to work/menopause. My friend (bloke) got out and went for walks, doted on him, it was absolutely lovely to see. His partner had him in bed with her and it calmed her enough to sleep.

The judgemental, nasty, horrible shots at these people are disgusting. I haven't read the full thread, just the first page and that's all I need to see.

I've got two kids and this couple dote on them. They're brilliant. They also loved their dog. When he died, they were absolutely grief stricken as he was a rescue and already old. Horrible bastards who'd put down that grief.

Oh, and they did take him in a pushchair. He had arthritis and couldn't walk but loved being out. His whole demeanour would change. It made me smile to see it, and every other person in our village - and not in a snide way either. It was lovely.

As for a falling birthrate as has been mentioned, unsurprisingly by particular people...so? Some people don't want kids. Some people can't handle them. There are a huge variety of reasons why people don't want children, but it doesn't mean they don't want to care for something special to them. Children are different than animals, we all know that and they aren't disputing it either.

Just as women should be able to choose to abort, they should be able to choose to not have kids, and if their joy in life is a fucking puppy...so what?

Yes, it's just a thinly-veiled swipe at women who dare to be happily childfree, isn't it? Same as the now-deleted thread saying the childfree shouldn't be allowed to own pets.

As the owner of a much loved and spoiled pup we don't use mum and dad (our vets do) but they don't bother me but I really hate the term fur baby!!

It absolutely is, and it makes me so angry. I have loads of child free friends, and they have a gorgeous relationship with their pets. It's not a replacement. They still don't want kids! I hate the rhetoric that it must be because they're sad and deep down they're longing for it.

Fuck that.

I restrained myself from the other thread, but this one got right up my nose. I'm so tired of hearing it! I do have kids and I adore them, would throw myself in front of a bus for them, but I can see why women don't want to do it! It's hard, it's draining, and you know what? Why not cuddle up with a lovely loyal labrador or a snide little tabby? No, they know it's not a child. That's the fucking point!

Doesn't mean they can't call themselves a "mum" or "dad" though. Who is it harming? I'm so sick of this horrible debate. I think it comes from miserable people angry that other people aren't as miserable as them, because they found their own way to be happy. Not 1am puking, like I'm currently dealing with. 😆

❤️❤️❤️👏👏👏

You say that as if you think you're the only one.....?