Fur babies!

Jaxjacky

Maybee70 when my parents died, I told people that, my Mum/Dad has died, so I don’t understand the problem?

The difference is that, unless it's the result of a tragic accident as pet owners we usually have to make the decision to have our animals put to sleep. I, for one never seem to have got the call right and years later still tend to castigate myself for letting them down.

1yorkieterrier

Dislike phrases like fur babies. Also pooch. Would not put my dog in silly clothes or carry in any form of transport. So degrading.

I am a cat lover but I do like dogs. Except for my friend’s cockerpoo type thing. It’s a nightmare, never been trained, jumps up on random strangers, attempts to hump anything of the right height, slobbers on you, pulls on its lead and has no recall. Frankly it’s just an embarrassment.
I never refer to my cat as a fur baby but he got called a ‘little s**t’ when he delivered a live mouse to my bedroom last night, dropped it proudly and wandered off. I still haven’t found the mouse. He cares not.
I do think he’s good for my blood pressure though. Nothing nicer than the absolute trust I get from such a small creature and the calming sound of a contented purr. But why did he have come and plonk himself on my newly knitted jumper that I was fully intending to sew up? Now it is covered in gritty bits from the rhubarb patch where he likes to sleep and lots of black fur.

Jaxjacky

Maybee70 when my parents died, I told people that, my Mum/Dad has died, so I don’t understand the problem?

There is no problem. You said they died in a way you were happy with. I’m sure you don’t begrudge others to talk about death in the way that they’re comfortable with.
The only problems arise when people aren’t kind enough to let people mention death the way that makes them feel more comfortable.
And it’s usually the people who prefer to use died or dead that criticise others who use, which is a bit sad.
I can’t remember hearing of someone who prefers passed away, or lost, criticising people who want to say dead.

Maybee70 when my parents died, I told people that, my Mum/Dad has died, so I don’t understand the problem?

I think people use the term rainbow bridge on social media because it's difficult to know what term to use when telling people they have lost their pet. Put to sleep or euthanised seems rather cold and clinical so it's become a term that other people understand instantly. I don't really see people out and about with dressed up dogs other than in my sighthound walking group in which the dogs wear them because they do feel the cold so maybe it is far more prevalent than I'm aware of. I do think dressing up small dogs and carrying them around gives them small dog syndrome which is to be avoided at all costs. I never used to allow my dogs on the sofa until my current one and, even though she now spends most of her life on the sofa when she was a puppy she went through a phase of being snappy when on the sofa, as if it was her space. She did grow out of it but it did worry me for a while; it was only on the sofa when she was at eye level with me so I did think there was something territorial about it.

MayBee70
I know people refer to their pets as fur babies on social media but has anyone actually heard anyone say it in the real world?

Actually MayBee70 I have only heard it mentioned here on GN and because I don’t mind it, I’m still posting, rather than ignoring the thread and avoiding having to make myself cringe by repeating it or cringe every time a poster mentions it.

My question to follow yours.
Does everyone who seems to hear fur babies so often, pull faces or tell the speakers how it makes them feel?

Apologies for the the "humanising". American word.

Just by giving them a name, you are “humanising” them.
Dogs do not call each other names.
They don’t even know that dog is a noun by which humans have classified them, or that in scientific terms they are Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris.
Equally they don’t know or care if they’re a fur baby or not.

I cringe at the expression fur babies.
Many people in my area have variations on Cockerpoos and dress them up in expensive costumes bought from the local grooming parlour .
They haven't a clue about dog training or any basic canine medical issues .
My family used to breed working dogs and I'm used to being hands on .
I don't want people to think of me as some sort of old fashioned Barbara Woodhouse .
I think Janet Street Porter described her as wearing ancient tweed skirts thickly coated with dog hair !
I once asked a lady if her pet was a dog or a bitch and she was appalled that I said bitch .
I notice that she happily uses the F word !

I guess that it's the latest fashion to call them fur babies and to dress them up as Hallowe'en pumpkins or Pirates !

I just don't know why people want to humanise dogs. Most dogs are so much nicer than many humans. They are loving, loyal and ask little of people.

What I don't understand still is why people are hearing the phrase fur baby which annoys them so much because the only time I hear fur baby or rainbow bridge[ the latter far more than the former] mentioned is if I'm on a specific dog or cat facebook page.

Has anyone said that? I don't think they have. However, I see plenty of judging for those of us who have said we wouldn't be without a dog in our lives. This thread has just confirmed why I like dogs far more than people...

I'm with MOnica- and no one is going to make me feel I miss out on anything because I don't have a dog.

I'm sick of being judged as less than a person for not wanting one...

Oreo

ViceVersa

Who has a dog and thinks they would be much happier if they didn't? No-one I know. Every single dog owner I know can't even begin to imagine what their life would be like without a dog. Mine would be utterly meaningless.

Meaningless? Goodness me.
I do know two couple who would rather be dogless, both have DD’s who bought a dog during the pandemic as company, and then two years or so later went back to work so asked their parents to look after it for life!

Yes, meaningless. Is that so hard to understand? Is there nothing or no-one which would make your life meaningless if it wasn't around any more? I could do without many things - and many people - in my life, but it would be utterly joyless without a dog in it.
We lost our old Lab during lockdown, and the six months between that and getting a new Lab puppy were the longest I have ever been without a dog - and it was awful. Our life felt so empty without a dog in it.

Generally of course, a pet if a well behaved one lowers stress levels and are a comfort.
That’s nothing to do with phrases that do or don’t set our teeth on edge tho.

ViceVersa

Who has a dog and thinks they would be much happier if they didn't? No-one I know. Every single dog owner I know can't even begin to imagine what their life would be like without a dog. Mine would be utterly meaningless.

Meaningless? Goodness me.
I do know two couple who would rather be dogless, both have DD’s who bought a dog during the pandemic as company, and then two years or so later went back to work so asked their parents to look after it for life!

Having had two dogs in the past and we may acquire another when we retire I can honestly say that I’m just as happy and mentally healthy without one.I think if you have them, you just get used to having one around.
I do think it could help people who live alone to have a cat or dog around the house.

ViceVersa

Who has a dog and thinks they would be much happier if they didn't? No-one I know. Every single dog owner I know can't even begin to imagine what their life would be like without a dog. Mine would be utterly meaningless.

Yes indeed
Last year I had to put my lab with my trainer friend for several months after I broke my shoulder, then had abdominal surgery. I was told in no uncertain terms by the medics I could not recover and manage a big strong dog. I was desperately sad but managed my little spaniel. I was recently widowed, so adjusting to living alone in bereavement. My spaniel was a real comfort, and encouraged short walks early in treatment

Oh MOnica, based on this post, you’re clearly not someone who would have her life enhanced by sharing it with one, two or more dogs. I’m the opposite, my life is enhanced by my dogs, has been since my first dog, a bull mastiff when I was aged two.

I currently have a small, sweet, easy spaniel and a huge, happy Labrador. Well he’s happy most of the time but has a dislike of yappy terriers with no manners who run at him barking and shouting. He needs some handling on those occasions, despite gold standard obedience. He loves mud and water and sheds golden Labrador fur everywhere. He’s definitely not for the faint hearted or anyone who isn’t slightly dotty in their obsession with dogs 🐕😁

Who has a dog and thinks they would be much happier if they didn't? No-one I know. Every single dog owner I know can't even begin to imagine what their life would be like without a dog. Mine would be utterly meaningless.

Iam64

There’s ample research that confirms people who share their life with a dog or three, are healthier and less likely to be depressed

The reason people with dogs are generally healthier and less depressed is because the only people owning dogs etc are people who like them and all the problems of living with one

As far as I am concernd (and DH) owning a dog would freak us out and lead to our early demise. We like to be free agents, able to do what we like whenever we like without having our style cramped by children, dogs, cats, hamster, or stick insects.

I am more than happy to admire, pat and be friendly with other people's children, dogs, cats, hamsters and stick insects, but owning one would raise my blood pressure, stress me out and I would be a lot less healthy.

For a survey like this to be reliable it should include ane equal sample of people who have to look after a dog but would be much happier if they didn't.

Discredited by who?

I recall an incident not long ago where a woman was dog walking a number of dogs and one turned round and attacked her and the rest followed suit.

She died.

Of course dogs are obedient and loyal if they are treated in the right way, but clearly these dogs had no loyalty to this woman and do attack their owners.

I realise this is going off topic but rewards and understanding don't always work in all circumstances.

All dogs are well behaved and friendly until they are not- but they are still dogs...

The belief that domestic dogs are pack animals was based on wolves in a zoo and has been long discredited.
Your dog does not aim to take over the family and it doesn’t matter tuppence if he goes through the door first or sleeps on the sofa. Nowadays dogs are trained with rewards and understanding, not punishment and fear.

I am not a lover of the term, "fur baby", but each to their own. I just wouldn't use the term myself. I don't do, "Rainbow Bridge," either but if it gives comfort, so be it. The thing that makes me cringe is when on animal groups, people speak as if they are their dogs using twee language. That drives me mad.
As for animals in a pushchair, I used my walker for my puppy until she could walk safely after vaccinations and unless she was injured, I'd not use it again. However, some breeds, like pugs, French bulldogs, etc have difficulties breathing so might need to travel on wheels after a shorter walk.
My last dog had neural myopathy so had he been less anxious about it, I would have taken him out and about on wheels because it would have been a change of view. Unfortunately he was too anxious about falling so we had to say goodbye. My biggest bugbear is putting animals through loads of surgery or medical intervention with terrible side effects to keep them alive. I think that is more for the well being of the owner rather than the animal. We can't explain to them why we are putting them through hell and give them choice so I would not do it.

Dogs, and all other animals for that matter, possess an inate dignity as living creatures different to us. They have a separate nature which is not human- that's where their dignity lies.
Dogs are above all pack animals, and need to either be a leader or learn to follow their leader.
If you give the dog what it needs, food, protection, shelter etc then of course it will thrive, regardless.