It's a bloody dog!

[MammaKel]

Ugh, I didn't realise how batshit crazy people were about their "furbabies."

We went to a family gathering yesterday where SIL and BIL and their DDog were - they don't have kids, and DDog is their baby but omg.

I could get past the calling each other mummy and daddy, calling my in laws grandma and grandpa and telling my kids he was their fur cousin and showing us pictures of taking him to see " Santa Paws" but there were two instances that genuinely made me cringe a bit ..

We were exchanging gifts, and they asked me where DDogs were, I laughed because I thought they were joking, but nope, totally serious and was upset he'd be left out, so I apologised (for some reason) and moved on very quickly..

The next one was that the dog was getting a bit agitated, and they said he was tired and getting a bit cranky, so they were leaving so he could have a nap..

I'm mostly being light-hearted, and I'm an animal lover (have 4 cats), but I just didn't realise how far it went AIBU or is this just the norm now?

Well they are clearly barking.

Having said that I quite often use our dog as an excuse to make my exit or disappear for a walk, when I'm done with being sociable!

They are whatever they say they are to THEIR dog

I'm a huge animal lover, we have horses and dogs but I don't refer myself to them as their Mum! I think life is too short really to worry about how others live their lives unless of course it does actually affect you. So it doesn't bother me if others refer to their animals as their "babies" and they're the parents

Ahh I don’t mind this. Dogs bring so much joy to people that I couldn’t be wound up. If you buy that dog a present next year they will be elated.

There was a thread on here a while back about that! Some people saying you should refer to yourself to your dog as your first name... as it was "disrespecting your dog" if you didn't.

Well my two love to rip the paper off a present. And I love to see them having fun.
Some of my family buy them gifts - as I am doing for their dc and their pets. But it is never expected.
They are never ‘furbabies’ ( yeuch) but they are family. And really, it’s not anyone’s business how I feel about them.

Because I feel bad now.. I might let the kids pick something out for him next year.

I have two pets... one literally came out of the other.

Thus the older one if factually the younger ones mam. Sometime they fight and its like 'oy, don't bite your mam'. It would be really weird if I pretended to be the mam instead of them.

I don't really see why its less weird if you can't see the animals birth mother, it still has one.

If someone who doesn't have parents pretended their pet was their mam/dad, called them mummy/daddy, said they couldn't come out because Fido grounded them etc... all said with a serious nature, expected everyone else to acknowledge their dog as their mam & dad then argued you can't tell me my dog is not my mother as much as your mother that birthed you etc... then you would think it was MH issues and genuinely worry for them so why is it different this way round.

It’s just a fact. They’re not even the same species.

My lot dogs abd cats got left over turkey which they loved went of to nap by themselves but I’ve used the dog as an excuse when I’ve had enough to sorry.

I'd have thought it impossible to have parents younger than you?

How does affect you?
I see my dog as family. That has no affect on you.. yet you insisting she not family to me... has an affect on me. Why do it? What are you achieving?

TBF in the same breath .. it's pretty impossible to have a child that's a different species to you.

We had a very much loved dogling. I buy Christmas gifts (name stamped biscuits) for 3 others plus birthday for one. My choice, would the owners be upset if I didn't? No. It's a nice thing to do if these pets are part of your life, no more.

It affects you in scenarios as described by the OP when people take it too far and fall out with friends/relatives because they havent bought their pet, sorry substitute child, a Xmas gift.

It's certainly impossible, however, for people who don't want/can't have children, then a pet might fill that space. I'm not saying dogs and cats are our children, but we look after them and we protect them just like a parent would with their child.

Oh its definitely cringe, especially when starts with the baby talk. I have a relative who does that and in a ridiculous high pitched voice too. "Mummy wummy lovesy her little poopiepoo". I find it really irritating to have to listen to a stream of that with a polite smile on my face.
I find the people who do this tend to have badly trained dogs too. No matter how bad the behaviour, it's just being 'cute' or friendly.
They're welcome to get as ridiculous with their dogs as they like but it's bad manners to expect other people to have to listen to it and deal with little poopie-poo and his complete inability not to jump up on everyone and everything.

Dogs are like kids in many ways. They hate being left out. If the biscuits are brought out in my house, the dog starts looking for a treat he has saved and hidden away for this purpose - he can’t stand not to have something when everyone else does. Now my kids are older, the dog is the most excited person in the family to open his Christmas presents. He loves getting a present. I couldn’t leave him out.

When I was a kid, we had a little poodle and one Christmas no one got him a present. I’ll never forget his little face as he realised he’d been left out. He was devastated. Luckily, my nan arrived with a pile of presents and a big stocking for our lovely little dog, who was just the sweetest, most sensitive soul.

The point is, dogs might just be dogs, but they do have feelings. They’re not like cats in that respect. And what’s the big deal really if you have to buy a little ball or a packet of chews or something just to keep the peace? At least your present will be gratefully received - which isn’t something you can guarantee if the recipient is human!

Just this very evening, on a local FB group, there is a post from a woman whose cat has been run over and killed. She goes on about how the cats were like her children to her - fair enough - then goes on a rant about how the driver is a murderer etc. then she has gone and stood in the middle of the local main A road near a bridge with a sign saying all drivers are evil cunts. Police had to talk her down and hopefully she will get the right help.

I’d say it’s a little bit odd. I don’t mind the phrases and language etc but getting a present seems a bit silly. I remember an ex SIL once got pawsecco for my parents’ dog, which was a nice gesture.

Some women can’t have children, so a dog is often a substitute. I think when you have a good bond with them and don’t have human children, this comes out naturally.

It’s not aimed at you or any individuals specifically. It’s a societal issue. As I’ve said on here before I think it’s a sign of how broken and sick our human society has become that we try to impose human frameworks on animals or seek this level of intimacy from them. Whether you accept this or not animals aren’t conscious in the way we are and have no ability to understand or reciprocate these sorts of feelings or behaviours. I’m sorry this upsets you.

There's a world of difference between treating a dog with love, care and kindness, and being hurt because the extended family didn't buy it Christmas presents.
The first is normal. The second is nuts.

For the first one I’m with you because noone ejse should be expected to buy presents for a dog that isn’t theirs if they choose not to.( or don’t give a d* about the dog). On the second point I’m with your relatives. It is important that owners are in tune with their pets needs. A cranky dog is not nice to be around and in some circumstances not safe either. So it is the responsible thing to do to take it away from a situation that it is finding stressful.

Nobody is sat here expecting their pooch to graduate, get a job with an exceedingly good salary, get married and make mummy and daddy into 'fur grandparents'.

Nobody is imposing human frameworks on animals.

Just because a dog is not a human, doesn't mean it doesn't have the capacity to love and feel happiness - these are feelings that a dog can reciprocate.

I certainly wouldn't be upset at people not buying our dog presents, but we bought her toys ourselves, wrapped them..she loves unwrapping them and will help anyone to do theirs! 😅
We refer to mum and dad for us due to our kids all adults our daughter calls her the furry sister, though! 😂
She's not called our furbaby, though.
I put her in another room if I can see she needs a break or is tired. She does stay home if we go to friends, she can and is left on her own.