Dogs don’t need

[Someonelookedatmypostinghistorysoichanged]

after a bemused trip to the park I noticed…..
Dog ice cream, I mean really … do dogs even need or want this ?
I’ve also seen:
Dog bubbles flavoured with bacon
Dog beds for the car
Dog Prams
Dog carriers
Please add your own…

True

What? You mean they saw sucker written across my forehead when I bought this?! 😲 Nooooooo...

While I can very much see a place for dog buggies, they really don't need to visit Father Christmas: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/dec/02/john-lewis-santa-paws-christmas-pet-grotto

I can confirm I saw a Santa Paws event at my local John Lewis last Christmas. It took me a while (longer than it should have done) to work out what was happening....

😂

Dogs don’t need to go in precious, ecological sensitive chalk streams, especially when they have flea and tick treatment.
I feel so angry when ever I see dog owners let their dogs destroy these rare sites.

Dog wine, dog beer, full dog menu at local gastro pub including what temperature you dog likes it served at!

Best myself and the dogs went to bed.

Clearly the wider population does - these threads are very popular and repeatedly occur for a good reason…

My dog doesn’t need much of what I provide for him, however he is my dog, a perfect little hound who gives me so much love and joy and it’s my hard earned money so I will buy him whatever I or he fancies.
You should try it op, sounds like you could benefit from a little joy in your life too.

To go to John Lewis

Neither dogs nor humans really 'need' much at all beyond basic sustenance and shelter. Ice cream, bubbles, and so on are frivolities and luxuries that make life more fun. Most of these are for the people who own the dogs as much as for the dogs themselves. If people who have dogs enjoy giving their dogs nice things, where's the harm?

Sounds epic! Where is that?

I think it was meant to be light hearted - you know a bit of fun.

Come on, there is always going to be a slanging match on these threads.

Birthday present, cake, hat. Ditto Xmas.

As is my response. Sarcasm, irony. Ever heard of it?

Dogs..don’t need to shop at John Lewis 🤣

Children don't need ice cream either. You buy ice cream for someone as a nice treat, and also to cool them down on a hot day. Would you prefer everyone to just have boring lives with only their most essential needs met and no nice things?

My dog gets a dog ice cream once a year because he enjoys a treat just like I do.

Dog prams are very practical for people with older dogs who may not manage to walk the same distance everyday or can't walk very far but enjoy the enrichment of being outside.

Dog beds in cars are a practical safety measure. Mine is clipped into his to keep him safe and also boosts him so that he can see out of the window which makes him less anxious about car travel.

I don't have one but I can see how dog carriers might also be useful.

If OP wanted a light hearted thread maybe she should have stuck to things dogs actually dont need like ice-cream instead of sneering at people who spend money on keeping their dogs happy and safe by using dog beds (always equipped with restraints - which are a legal requirement these days) in cars or buggies which provide essential socialisation and enrichment for elderly dogs or dogs recovering from surgery.

The other things aren't needed, but they do provide dogs with valuable enrichment. It is a myth that all a dog needs is a walk; they also need mental stimulation aka entertainment.

If more people spent time blowing bacon-flavoured bubbles for their dogs or taking them out for ice-cream, we'd have a lot less bored, anxious, and aggressive dogs in the world.

My dog has a dog friend who we met in the park. She is disabled so uses a dog pram which enables her to accompany the other dogs in her household when they go out for a walk.
When she first met my dog (same breed) she asked to get out of the pram to play for a bit. It was very sweet - she had a bandaged paw so couldn’t do a full walk but they had a lovely time playing.

on a separate note - dog ice cream, yes but he loves it!

If you see bandwagon jumping as a good reason, then fair enough.

I just see them as a lazy way to start a thread you know will get replies, because dog threads seem to be the in thing on MN this year.

Previous years have seen repeated 'P&C parking', 'breast v formula feeding' and of course the good old fat bashing threads.

Wondering what 2026 will bring 👀😁

Children don't need ice cream either. You buy ice cream for someone as a nice treat, and also to cool them down on a hot day. Would you prefer everyone to just have boring lives with only their most essential needs met and no nice things?

I told my dog you said she shouldn't be having ice cream and she said

Chat shit get bit

🤣🤣

Humans don't need ice cream either. Why do you buy it?
Flavoured bubbles are fun and are enrichment. Good for dogs.
Beds for the car... well they can't sit upright like people do. Use your brain.
Dog prams are the equivalent of mobility aids for people. Again, use your brain.
Dog carriers. See above.

How is any of the above actually affecting you? Or is this one of the predictable daily dog bashing threads?