How do spoil your dog?

[LoveFall]

My little guy sleeps mostly in his very furry cuddler bed beside me but on the floor. He is allowed on the bed if he wants also but that is usually in the morning for a bit after DH gets up.

I am spoiling him completely rotten. Lately it has become colder and I cover him with a little fleece blanket with a dog bone pattern.

I realized it was really bad last night when I woke up to the sound of him drinking from the bowl of water I put beside his bed as he often wants a drink around midnight.

I looked over and the little prince was lying in his bed drinking from his bowl!

Do you spoil your dog this much or am I crazy?

Mine get a weekly bone from the butcher. Homemade frozen yoghurt longs, Sunday dinner, Bovril after a long cold walk, or milky tea with honey to warm them up. They have Le Chameau dog beds with fluffy blankets. They also have a lovely sofa to sleep on in front of the fire. One of them loves the hairdryer after a bath, happy to oblige . I have also warmed their towels to dry them after a wet walk 🙈. The kids often share and tuck them up with their blanket when they cuddle up on the sofa. Endless cuddles….we also include them in days out, take them for walks to lots of different places. DH fitted a new outside light last week as one of them didn’t like going out for a pee in the dark. He has always been a little afraid of the dark to the point he refused point blank to go in Very rural Northumberland a few years ago (tbf it was creepy and a few odd noises) unless I accompanied him with a torch and stood next to him whilst he peed.

@Leeeeeeeeeeeeeee I totally get it! Ours is my second baby 🥰 he sleeps in our bad (on an electric heated mattress, and even though he's a pug, he stretches out and manages to take up the whole double bed (and hog the blanket) leaving me to sleep very uncomfortably on the edge. He also has an advent calendar, and a Halloween costume (my daughter doesn't have either yet ). He has the whole run of the house (snd garden) always and he gets kissed on the snout and cuddled all day long. I call him "My Prince"

bed*

Oh and my daughter makes him gourmet meals mixing his kibble with pieces of chicken, baby food, bone broth and various fruit and veg. He also gets many natural treats like pig/cow ears, chicken feet, sardines and many frozen kongs/enrichment toys (specially made ones for his flatter nose) 🥰

I love all of these. It is so nice to spoil them. They give such unconditional love.

All these responses suggest I need to up my game on food. Any recipes for yummy low fat dog food? Our sweet boy had pancreatitis and needs very low fat food.

I've got a sighthound so she doesn't view access to my bed as being spoilt, more a fundamental right.

Looknmy dog is happy and I'm happy so go piss in someone else's cornflakes

🤣 Well said. It’s makes a change to read about people who adore their dogs. I’m so sick of stupid fucking people rehoming their dog for some bullshit reason cos they can’t be arsed. Or leaving their dogs for 10 hours and then moaning it has behaviour issues.

We have 2 dogs who are absolutely adored by us and the kids. One had a very bad start in life and now has the loveliest life with us. They sleep with us, have at least one of us with them all day, lots of walks and treats and attention. I can’t describe how loved they are. They’re just perfection.

@poodlefan why does it bother you so much?

If people want to buy their dogs advent calendars or drying coats (which is what a dressing gown is), why is it a problem?

BTW I sell natural doggy advent calendars and they're very popular

DDogs used to sleep in our room but stopped this when DD arrived as 1 dog tried to sleep in cot with her 😂

They do however get Birthday and Christmas presents, a doggy cake on their birthdays, and have matching personalised stockings same as the rest of the family 🤣

I sign cards for others from the whole family, dogs included!! They have a massive bed to share that takes up half the kitchen 😂 as I felt mean when we had to move them downstairs to sleep! 🤦‍♀️

@poodlefan I think it depends on the breed of dog tbh. For example our west highland terrier could probably benefit from some kind of work or job etc as she's very intelligent and active, but our Yorkshire terrier definitely prefers the pampered laying in front of the fire life 😂

Mainly it was buying a dog 30 presents for xmas and another 30 at birthday that had me at If i had that much money to waste id give it to a dog shelter directly rather than giving them secondhand toys. The same as buying a child 30 presents for xmas. But at least a child understands what xmas is.

I guess i just don't understand because when i was growing up, dogs were dogs and didn't require costumes, dressing gowns and steak every day.

My dog is currently at the vets having dental surgery and I'm a nervous wreck - he is my everything! this thread has made me smile

My dog sleeps at the end of our bed every night and when it's cold we tuck him in using his handmade blanket that my mum knitted him. He also gets roast chicken shredded on his dinner every day but that's more because he is now fussy and won't touch his dinner without it. He gets steak on his birthdays.

I'm also super patient with him on walks and let him have as long sniffing as he wants. I always imagine it's like a dog version of social media checking all the status (pee) updates, like who is in heat, who has been fed steak, who has been round the block that morning. Occasionally he will sniff a certain spot for ages and I'll think ooo that must have been a bit of juicy gossip for him lol.

My dog is currently at the vets having dental surgery and I'm a nervous wreck - he is my everything!

Aw, he’ll be back with you soon and you can spoil him. Nice soft foods once he feels up to it. It’s awful when they have to have things like that done, hope you’re doing ok too.

@Glitterybug

Mainly it was buying a dog 30 presents for xmas and another 30 at birthday that had me at If i had that much money to waste id give it to a dog shelter directly rather than giving them secondhand toys. The same as buying a child 30 presents for xmas. But at least a child understands what xmas is.

I guess i just don't understand because when i was growing up, dogs were dogs and didn't require costumes, dressing gowns and steak every day.

But if i can afford to do this why does it matter? I should clarify they aren't all toys by the way, but things he needs, & things to help with his training & he doesn't get things at any other time just birthday's & christmas. The toys I give aren't 2nd hand as he hasn't used any we give away, and not that I have to justify my life to anyone else I do give directly to the shelter too. The steak is because he is having issues with fear at other dogs & this is THE treat that he gets only when seeing other dogs or something else he is scared off. I'm not harming anyone by spoiling my dog & I can afford to do so I will continue to do it

@lemons44

My dog is currently at the vets having dental surgery and I'm a nervous wreck - he is my everything! this thread has made me smile

My dog sleeps at the end of our bed every night and when it's cold we tuck him in using his handmade blanket that my mum knitted him. He also gets roast chicken shredded on his dinner every day but that's more because he is now fussy and won't touch his dinner without it. He gets steak on his birthdays.

I'm also super patient with him on walks and let him have as long sniffing as he wants. I always imagine it's like a dog version of social media checking all the status (pee) updates, like who is in heat, who has been fed steak, who has been round the block that morning. Occasionally he will sniff a certain spot for ages and I'll think ooo that must have been a bit of juicy gossip for him lol.

I'm sure he'll be fine it's a worry when they are under & 5 mins feels like 5 hours. Mine is having leg problems at the moment & the vet has said she thinks it's epilepsy (I'm unconvinced, so waiting for her to ring me for an update & I'll be pushing for further tests) Picture of the spoilt doggo doesn't he just look miserable with his pampered life!

[quote icedcoffees]@poodlefan why does it bother you so much?

If people want to buy their dogs advent calendars or drying coats (which is what a dressing gown is), why is it a problem?

BTW I sell natural doggy advent calendars and they're very popular [/quote]
You'll have to PM me a link to where you sell your natural treats, always on the lookout for good natural foods for him

[quote XelaM]@Leeeeeeeeeeeeeee I totally get it! Ours is my second baby 🥰 he sleeps in our bad (on an electric heated mattress, and even though he's a pug, he stretches out and manages to take up the whole double bed (and hog the blanket) leaving me to sleep very uncomfortably on the edge. He also has an advent calendar, and a Halloween costume (my daughter doesn't have either yet ). He has the whole run of the house (snd garden) always and he gets kissed on the snout and cuddled all day long. I call him "My Prince" [/quote]
I had to order from the US the costumes for big dogs here are rubbish!
he looks good in it though

Another spoilt doggy here. Goes on whatever furniture he wants. Comes in and looks for rubs and will paw you if you stop before he’s had enough 😂 He sleeps downstairs in a little house but he comes up on our bed in the morning for cuddles. Sometimes if we are upstairs before bed he gets very tired poor thing so DH carries him down the stairs to his bed lol. He also has form for just jumping up on our knee and settling there for the evening. He gets good quality treats regularly and his food is made tailored to his weight and tastes and comes in packages with his name on lol. DH doesn’t mind sharing his organic smoked salmon for his lunch with him also. He has multiple collars and bow ties, toys everywhere with a basket of them upstairs and also outside. He goes to doggy daycare twice a week just to have fun playing with the other doggies - we’re both WFH and feel like it’s boring for him during the day. When we go for brunch he gets a 2 sausages just for him while we eat. Of course he also gets two walks a day, one round the village and one hour off less down a country lane where he runs in fields chasing crows. It’s definitely a dogs life!!!

@poodlefan

So if you think working dogs are happier why buy your dogs stocking Xmas jumpers/dressing gown (really?) advent calendars and let them sleep in your bed? Working dogs don't get any of this. Are you not giving your dog things it neither wants or needs? Its not just that working dogs are having their "minds occupied" they are happy sleeping in barns and eating cheap dog food. I doubt any lie awake and night hoping their owners are going to give them an advent calendar at the beginning of December or dress them in a dressing gown if they get wet. When and how did the line between dog and human become so blurred that many stop treating there dogs like dogs (which it appears fro the above comments some acknowledge makes them happier and healthier) and treat them like people in furry suits?

This is an odd comment @poodlefan I wonder how long those dogs live or what health conditions they get down the line? I’ve seen that cheap food 2% chicken other ‘derivatives’. How is it being a better pet owner to feed your dog something that can’t even be described on ingredients

How do you know that those dogs are happy sleeping in a barn? Do you see them on the coldest winter night? Are they sleeping happily spread out or all bunched together for heat indicating they are cold?

You sound like those people who look back on the ‘good old days’ where people made do with meat only on a Sunday, were freezing all the time and lived in poverty but ‘ were happy’ .

exactly @Dochas121 the paddock we use to exercise our boy backs on to farms & all I can hear are their dogs in the barn barking & howling don't sound particularly happy to me whereas my lad is happy as a pig in shit running round, playing with toys & playing scent work games with his humans undivided attention. Pretty sure I know who's happier

I am feeling very mean as our sweet boy has an infection in a rear paw and has to wear a cone if we are not watching him, as he will lick it. Poor boy hates the cone and looks so so stricken when I put in on.

I wish there was another way!

He is also a very sneaky pill avoider. He has to take antibiotics and twice yesterday the first dose ended up on the floor despite my attempt at forcing it down his throat.

Of course I have ordered some dog booties for him hoping that they will stop him licking his foot.

Ddog sleeps on our bed, often my dh can be found spooning him!
He gets regular tummy/ neck tickles throughout the day from us all.
Gets left a kong with yummy food whenever we have to leave him.
He gets more chicken from the roast than we do.
And the best one- bought ddog some lovely oatmeal shampoo and conditioner (due to sensitive skin). Cost me £20 for both and the bottle was a standard size. I would never spent that on my own shampoo! It has been good though tbf

He gets wrapped up in a furry throw when I go to work.Hes v small and loves burrowing into it making a nest.

My dog gets a bone quite often.

I take her to the pub with me.

I'm giving up my bloody gym class to take her to a doggy playdate on Wednesday night.

She does have toys etc but they're mostly donations.

I picked up the water bowl from the floor so my dog could drink from it as he was sitting up on the banquette next to me as we had our Sunday brunch at a fancy restaurant. The waiter rushed over to see if he needed a treat so to be fair not just me doing the spoiling. I love ina very dog friendly place and my dog is often served before me at restaurants….