Treating your dogs as family scenario

Many of us have pets that we pay a lot of attention to, more than a family that must divide their time between the pets and children.

Do you have to deal with family or friends that assume you truly believe these are surrogate children, on the same level as a human life? Who possibly make disparaging remarks about it or belittle you for saying things like "My dog is my child"...? I know my dog is not my child but I say that because of the love I have for him and to get across how much I adore him and care for his needs.

Also, does your family treat your dog as a member of your family such as when you are invited to an all day event at their house? Instead of you being required to come late or leave early to go home and care for the dog, do they allow you to bring them with you?

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

I make sure that I do NOT portray my dog as my child, actually because I feel that people just don't understand that ( unless they have a pet they love too ). Even though in private I may ACT/FEEL that way, I keep that hidden.

Actually, DH called me "mommy" in public the other day in reference to our dog and I almost died on the spot. I just don't feel it is something that is truly understood . . .

BUT on the other hand, my family is AWESOME with my dog. He is invited to all family events with me and often treated to a special dinner cooked just for him. My family goes on and on about how great he is, especially with their children AND he gets presents all the time! SO really, I don't have to justify the attention that I give him.

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

My dogs are my kids, the kids I couldn't have, I love them to pieces.

Please bear in mind I have large dogs - one is 105 lbs the other is 80 lbs.

I have some family that invites them over, an aunt and my grandmother.

Other family can't because they have dogs would aren't good with other dogs (my Mom and my MIL).

My Dad lives in an apartment that doesn't allow dogs in the building.

My sister would NEVER entertain the thought of inviting them. She's not a dog fan.

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

Luckily my family is a bunch of dog lovers too...so they know that when we are coming two crazy furballs will accompany us as well. My parents also bring their dog so it's usually 3 dogs...no questions asked...no comments made...now my brother's poor inlaws may think differently when they are there with us...haha...but they have cats.

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

DH and I refer to eachother as Mommy and Daddy at home with the dog - for example i will say "Pum, go get Daddy" and she'll run over to him - its funny b/c she listens and knows that to associate DH with the word "Daddy" and same for me as "Mommy".....we DO NOT use those terms outside of the house

we don't bring her with us to other people's homes, or dress her up, or do anything like that - she's just a dog - but she def makes it feel like we have a "family" and its nice to have her to come home to i always say i love "my family" when the 3 of us are cuddling on the couch hahahaha

ets: if Pum wasn't a psycho then yes we probably would bring her to other people's homes - but she doesn't get alogn with other pets so we keep her home

Message edited 3/25/2009 10:51:10 AM.

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

We don't have a dog- but have a cat who we treat as our child.
We call ourselves Mommy and Daddy and love this thing more than anything.

That is not to say we dress it up, take it for walks in a baby carriage, do photo shoots for the holidays, etc.

Nothing to that extent.

But our families understand our feelings for this animal and respect them...

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

I call my pup my baby, but I don't treat him as a child. He's my dog!

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

DH and I don't call our dogs our children. We love them so much and take good care of them, but I don't think either of us considers it "the same thing" as if they were our children, so we don't refer to them that way.

But we get comments anyway! My mother is the worst offender. She once called me on my cell while we were at the dog park, and told me, "You know, normal people take their CHILDREN to the park." So I'm not normal now, great. She also called me up one morning and said she'd had a nightmare that I was pregnant and didn't want to bother creating a nursery for my baby, because in her dream I told her "He can just sleep on a blanket in the corner like the dogs do." And she didn't call me to say how funny the dream was either; she sounded genuinely worried.

That said, she often buys the dogs toys and mails them to us just because she was thinking of them, she made them a blanket to lay on with their names sewn onto it, and she calls them her "granddogs." Yet *I'm* the one with the problem?

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

I absolutely love my cat -- and always refer to myself as "mommy" to him as well as refer to DH as "daddy" at home.

Until I have kids, he's our "baby". I don't pretend that he's a replacement for a kid or anything like that and most certainly wouldn't think people should treat him that way....but when I'm home he's definitely my bubbba

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

Thanks girls.

My parents spend winters in Florida and by spring, my mother is always looking for a reason to come back early. Whenever my sisters were due to give birth, it was usually spring so that was a great way to get back here. Her daughters needed her.

We were talking about when they were coming back this year and she said "Not soon enough." I told her that even though I won't be giving birth, that her GrandDog was being neutered tomorrow, so that should count.

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

I refer to my cats "my babies" -- and my mom refers to them as her grandbabies. I texted her a cute cat pic this morning and she showed it to her coworkers and referred to my cat as her grandson

My crazyness runs in the fam ;)

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

I have no issues to people who love their animals. I am an animal lover but I do have issues with people who go overboard. If you say your dog is like your kid that is fine but if you really treat them that way - kinda scare me.

I don't think a dog should be dressed up unless its for a goof or if it is tiny and shivering and needs added warmth. I don't think dogs should be carried all over - sorry a dog doesn't belong in a food store just like i think some kids shouldn't be at a food store. Are you setting a plate on the table out for a dog (my aunt did this) then your nuts other then that your fine and people who think differently are just wacky themselves.

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

Our dogs are lovingly welcomed into anyone on my side's home.
My ILs definitely don't care for them and think I'm crazy with how serious I am about taking care of them.
I do bring them anyway to their houses if a party is in the yard because they sit on our laps the entire time and bother no one that doesn't acknowledge them.
If the party is in the house I drop them at my mom's and she spoils them.

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

well, we have the kittens 6 days now, so i am sure my opinion will change, but at the same time I was raised where pets were animals regardless of how much we loved them

that said, our kittens are that. We don't call ourselfes mum and dad.

We are going to a family event this Saturday, and although I would never ask to bring a kitten there, I am aware that we have 2 responsibilities at home dependant on us.

I will say that since getting them (holy terrors taht they are) I do feel a little more like a complete family

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

My dog is pretty much my world and I don't care what others think really. My love for him could not be any greater whether you want to compare it to the love of a child or not.

I drop him off at my grandmothers house every other day while I am at work so he doesn't have to be alone and her too. She loves him and its great therapy for her since she lost my Papa.

My entire family are HUGE animal lovers to the point where when I DONT bring him with me to a function everyone gets on me for it. We all bring our dogs along to each others houses for big family functions. Its expected. Everyone is different though.

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

Honestly, I don't understand the pets as children thing. They're still animals, not humans. (BTW, I live w/DH's 3 cats). I've just never been an animal person, so I don;t understand that mentality. Even as much as DH loves his kitties, I just don't get it. But I would never say that to anyone's face... well or even behind their back. I might get a little about it but who I am to say your feelings are valid or real?

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

Posted by Nik211

DH and I refer to eachother as Mommy and Daddy at home with the dog - for example i will say "Pum, go get Daddy" and she'll run over to him - its funny b/c she listens and knows that to associate DH with the word "Daddy" and same for me as "Mommy".....we DO NOT use those terms outside of the house

we don't bring her with us to other people's homes, or dress her up, or do anything like that - she's just a dog - but she def makes it feel like we have a "family" and its nice to have her to come home to i always say i love "my family" when the 3 of us are cuddling on the couch hahahaha

ets: if Pum wasn't a psycho then yes we probably would bring her to other people's homes - but she doesn't get alogn with other pets so we keep her home

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

I am very fortunate that both my family and DH's family are HUGE dog/cat lovers
And treat them as their kids.

MIL's "son" passed away in January and the outpouring support she got was amazing, both my mom and dad sent cards, flowers etc.
she got so many cards from so many people in her life as well.

My Dad still gets choked up when he talks about his maltese that passed away a few years ago.

And my mom lol she is obsessed with her yorkie, beyond anyones realm of comprehension

So they totally get Me and DH's obsession with our little boy.

And we have never heard a negative comment at from either of them.

I am still on vacation and its been 14 days since i have seen my little boy and i miss him so much

Message edited 3/26/2009 11:19:56 PM.

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

Posted by bluebelle

Posted by Nifheim

We do get them birthday presents! My babies turn 2 next month, and we plan to get one a new feather wand from petco, and the other some scraps of roast beef. We're also going to sams club and will bring them home some cool cardboard boxes

This part just made me smile! That is SOOO cute. One gets a feather wand the other some scraps of roast beef!
TOO CUTE!

Message edited 3/27/2009 3:03:32 PM.

Re: Treating your dogs as family scenario

Message edited 1/17/2012 10:49:01 AM.