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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this isn't a great idea in a petshop?

103 replies

Ninnier · 19/02/2025 10:29

Went into Pets At Home and they were doing sign ups to the in store Vets.

I'm already registered elsewhere but was given a tote bag of goodies. Sticky note pad, pens, cards and these...

DS was in the kitchen unwrapping them, about to feed them to the dogs when I doubled checked.

They're for humans and they're chocolate.

I can't see very well without my glasses on and I could see

  • a dog silhouette
  • the word tasty treat (often associated with dog treats)
-the word nutravet

But the part that says 'for humans' is much smaller and white, so harder to read.

Ultimately it's the recipients duty and responsibility to check what it is they have recieved.

But AIBU to think it's not blindingly obvious these are not for dogs?

And it's a strange choice considering chocolate is toxic to dogs and PAH have a lot of 'pet safe' chocolate for easter/valentines etc

I just thought as a marketing thing it wasn't thought through very well!

To think this isn't a great idea in a petshop?
OP posts:
Hdjdb42 · 19/02/2025 10:55

I agree it's not a great idea at all. Chocolate with animals on the cover?!

Original poster
Ninnier · 19/02/2025 10:57

I think the 'for humans' should have been bigger and a darker text than the rest.

Maybe black or even red?

I agree it's weird that dog chocolate Is even a things, seems so contradictory, but they do sell a good amount of it in the shop so I guess my brain was thinking it was an extension of that.

OP posts:
FabuIous · 19/02/2025 10:57

Ninnier · 19/02/2025 10:48

Thankyou for confirming that.

I know that not EVERYONE would make the assumption it's for dogs.

But my point was that a few people might and it could have devastating consequences if someone gave all of them to one small dog because ifs not 100% clear

If it was a Cadburys Twirl of something it would be obvious.

Show quote history

Yes, maybe most people find it obvious, but some won’t and it’s just stupid of them.

berksandbeyond · 19/02/2025 11:07

People like you are the reason that bags of nuts have a warning that says may contain nuts

Original poster
Ninnier · 19/02/2025 11:09

berksandbeyond · 19/02/2025 11:07

People like you are the reason that bags of nuts have a warning that says may contain nuts

It's hardly the same thing, is it?

It's chocolate with a picture of a dog, the word vet on, the word treat, sold in a shop that has an extensive range of dog chocolate products.

And 72% of people feel the same way according to the poll.

Don't be a goose!

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 19/02/2025 11:13

Ninnier · 19/02/2025 10:35

Maybe my brain was marred by the fact they were giving out valentines chocolates to dogs at the till too?

With the silhouettes of dogs and cats on there, I can absolutely understand how it would be easy for someone with sight issues ( and there are many pet owners with these) -
Also
WHO wants to use a chain of vets- far better if you can to use an independent vet.

BertieBotts · 19/02/2025 11:14

I think you're right and it was a poor choice of text colour.

Being on a thread on the internet it seems different because I'm thinking in terms of corporate gifts (those free branded pens, keyrings, chocolates etc) and I doubt any of them would have dog specific chocolate as an option.

But I can also see that in context it could come across as a product for dogs.

Tortielady · 19/02/2025 11:15

I think it looks ambiguous. As it's very important to not feed dogs (and cats) chocolate for people, 'for humans' (only) should be in a dark, bold font. The picture of the dog, the cat and the fact that it's from a vet supplier might lead people to think this product is something it's not. Many cat and dog keepers know that chocolate for us is toxic for our furry companions, but a lot don't. The manufacturers should get their packaging changed.

oakleaffy · 19/02/2025 11:15

berksandbeyond · 19/02/2025 11:07

People like you are the reason that bags of nuts have a warning that says may contain nuts

Don’t be so daft- Many people with sight issues would see the cat and dog shape - Especially as they were giving out dog chocolate at the tills according to OP.

Squidtentacles · 19/02/2025 11:15

I agree, OP. The small white text of 'for humans' does not stand out as much as the larger 'nutravet' and the bold silhouettes of the animals. I don't think it's that obviously a human treat. As you're son proved, it isn't obvious enough.

Coconutter24 · 19/02/2025 11:16

Ninnier · 19/02/2025 10:39

Perhaps.

I'm autistic so the picture of the dog, the word treat and the fact they were given to me in a pet shop made me think they would be for the dog.
And I don't think I'd be the only person in the world to think that?

Maybe other people with ND issues or the elderly might not click either?

Show quote history

I’m not sure what being autistic has to do with it? I don’t think it’s that. At first glance it may be assumed they are for the dog but then you pick it up, look at it and notice it isn’t for dogs because you read ‘for humans’. Anyone thinking of giving a dog a treat would surely read the label first especially something given to you

Huckyfell · 19/02/2025 11:19

No chance I would eat that with the dog on it.

oakleaffy · 19/02/2025 11:21

TemporaryPosition · 19/02/2025 10:45

My aunt gave her 3 dogs a kitkat most evenings, they seemed fine

Show quote history

My Whippet stole a family pack of Maltesers- and thankfully was ok!

Barleysugar86 · 19/02/2025 11:22

Totally agree with you OP- that humans font almost completely disappears! It's not usual for human food to have a big dog picture on it. The packaging looks like pet food packaging. I'd feel odd eating it, even with the humans bit.

I think they've badly designed this.

Original poster
Ninnier · 19/02/2025 11:22

Coconutter24 · 19/02/2025 11:16

I’m not sure what being autistic has to do with it? I don’t think it’s that. At first glance it may be assumed they are for the dog but then you pick it up, look at it and notice it isn’t for dogs because you read ‘for humans’. Anyone thinking of giving a dog a treat would surely read the label first especially something given to you

Show quote history

Because I have very literal thinking.
If something has a dog on it and it's from a pet shop I would very much believe it was for dogs without really questioning it.

It's called 'Black and white thinking' and is a very common trait of autism.

OP posts:
Strawberryorangejuice · 19/02/2025 11:23

I don't think it's clear and can see people glancing and feeding it to their dog.

Actual 'dog chocolate' is made from carob rather than chocolate.

KimberleyClark · 19/02/2025 11:24

I wouldn’t expect dog treats to be packaged like that in gold foil tbh.

Original poster
Ninnier · 19/02/2025 11:25

KimberleyClark · 19/02/2025 11:24

I wouldn’t expect dog treats to be packaged like that in gold foil tbh.

They sell lots of things packaged in a more human way.

They have Easter eggs in foil and boxes and these!

To think this isn't a great idea in a petshop?
OP posts:
SoftandQuiet · 19/02/2025 11:31

I would have assumed it was for the dog. I also love reading so think I would have realised before I gave it to my dog- but not before I’d said “Oo look some sweeties for you”. She would have been very disappointed when I ate it.
I agree very poor planning on someones part.

oakleaffy · 19/02/2025 11:34

KimberleyClark · 19/02/2025 11:24

I wouldn’t expect dog treats to be packaged like that in gold foil tbh.

Have you seen their range of pet chocolates 🍫?
EasterEggs &c

Anonforthis58 · 19/02/2025 11:41

Ninnier · 19/02/2025 11:09

It's hardly the same thing, is it?

It's chocolate with a picture of a dog, the word vet on, the word treat, sold in a shop that has an extensive range of dog chocolate products.

And 72% of people feel the same way according to the poll.

Don't be a goose!

Edited
Show quote history

They weren’t being sold though … they were given away in a bag containing human items - sticky notes, pens, cards, sweets, chocolate 🤷‍♀️ They clearly state For Humans 🤷‍♀️

Karou · 19/02/2025 11:41

I agree with you OP. I’m dyslexic with poor eyesight and would have just assumed given the images that it was for a pet.
dog chocolate was certainly around 30 years ago, I remember buying it for my first dog.

Pinkywoo · 19/02/2025 11:43

Fairyliz · 19/02/2025 10:45

Another reminder that I’m really old. We had dogs as a child and they ate meat. I didn’t even know there was such a thing as dog chocolate.

I'm pretty old and remember buying "doggy chocolate drops" in the 80s, they looked a bit like chocolate buttons.

Funykeudfh · 19/02/2025 11:46

Ninnier · 19/02/2025 10:39

Perhaps.

I'm autistic so the picture of the dog, the word treat and the fact they were given to me in a pet shop made me think they would be for the dog.
And I don't think I'd be the only person in the world to think that?

Maybe other people with ND issues or the elderly might not click either?

Show quote history

I'm ND and this clearly says for humans, as the rest of the stuff is clearly for humas too I wouldn't have thought any of it would be for a dog. Plus I have cats so I can't see why they'd only be handing out dog chocolate when there are a range of pets out there - much more likely the entire bag is for humans and I like the extra touch of it saying clearly on the front 'for humans' just to make it extra clear. Sorry YABU.

Sprogonthetyne · 19/02/2025 11:46

It doesn't say "tasty treat" it says "tasty chocolate treat" all in the same font, so even if you didn't initially see the "for humans" bit, the word chocolate should have prompted you to have a closer look.

It also doesn't make sense to me to put dog chocolate in the goody bag. Customers at PAH could have dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, fish, reptiles, birds etc, so a dog treat would be unusable many customers, but all customers are human so are much more likely to want a human treat. (I know PAH also give out dog treats, but these are offered to people who know what they're getting, not to everyone in a blind bag)