Fur babies!

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

Have lower blood pressure apparently though that one doesn't work for me.
Mentally healthier by far.

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

Mollygo

Colls

Most dog 'owners' have dogs because they are just amazing and unlike humans don't get upset about words used or such irrelevances!

👍

Dare I agree -and disagree with the naysayers?
Their animals mean so much to most people. I have seen “tough” men in tears in the vets waiting room and that doesn’t even come close to how much a dog, cat or budgie means to someone on their own.
If the Rainbow Bridge or thinking of their pooch or moggie as a substitute child brings them joy in life or comfort in death , what business is it of anybody else to “feel queasy” or to “cringe.”.

I agree, Mollygo. And how is 'baby' a demeaning term? I know some people who call their partners baby, or their grown-up children or grandchildren - is that demeaning too?

Nanny27

Mollygo
But if you believe that an animal has dignity (not a sense of dignity) then why not treat it as such. The term baby is somewhat demeaning surely. My opinion only, I understand that others don't think the same.

The dog doesn’t know what dignity is. The dog only cares whether you’re a good to it person.
When I get home, whether I call “Where’s my baby?” or, “Where’s my Susie?” she rushes to me and waits to be stroked.
Does she have dignity?

Sometimes I’ll say, “Where’s my Susie-baby?” and she even rolls on her back so I’ll rub her tummy. Is that a sign of dignity?

But then, when visitors arrive and I say “Sit” and “Stay” and she does just that, with only a twitch of her tail. Is that showing dignity?

IMO if dogs feel they’re loved and well treated, whatever you call them, dogs don’t care about having dignity,
but if people love their dogs and treat them well and want to quantify that as dignity i.e. the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect there’s no harm in that either.

Mollygo
But if you believe that an animal has dignity (not a sense of dignity) then why not treat it as such. The term baby is somewhat demeaning surely. My opinion only, I understand that others don't think the same.

👏👏👏Mollygo so true

Nanny27

There's something about that awful phrase 'fur baby' that i think completely strips an animal of its dignity. My beautiful labradors are fully grown dignified creatures that we treat with love and respect.

But neither your dogs or the fur babies know that you think they have or haven’t been stripped of their dignity. Attributing human characteristics like dignified or baby (fur or not) are types of anthropomorphism. Is one really better than another?
You like one, but not the other.
Dogs only care that they’re well looked after and loved by their owners (though they only know how that feels, not what it means. )

Smileless2012

Each to their own. I don't see why how anyone refers to their pets should be anyone else's concern.

Exactly! And I love my fur babies 😂

In winter my whippet suffers from seasonal alopecia so I call her baldy bum. Albeit not in public...

Call your much loved dog whatever you like BazingaGranny, no one's business but yours.

I regularly tell my spaniel she’s my best girl
The dreadful boisterous lab gets who is my best boy then, is it you

Just wondering from the tone of some people here, if I’m allowed to call our much loved dog, ‘A very lovely boy’. Or is that frowned on as well!

Anyway, I’m not going to get ‘my knickers in a twist’ (!) over the phrases that some other people use!

Gillycats

I wish people would be more concerned about the increasing level of animal cruelty and abuse than getting up tight about how some people address them. Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things?

That’s such an important point. Evidently the rspca reports huge influx in cruelty referrals in the summer? My immediate thought it how much is that linked with the increase in alcohol abuse in the summer

My area has reports of a gsd horribly abused and when dead, dumped in an area popular with dog walker

Hi
My name's Dawn. Was it this site my mum was on, Lois Smalley?

There's something about that awful phrase 'fur baby' that i think completely strips an animal of its dignity. My beautiful labradors are fully grown dignified creatures that we treat with love and respect.

I wish people would be more concerned about the increasing level of animal cruelty and abuse than getting up tight about how some people address them. Does it really matter in the grand scheme of things?

Exactly Mollygo. Some dogs suffer real cruelty and abuse, now that is something to find cringe worthy and complain about.

ViceVersa
I don't understand why it bothers some people so much. It's not a term I would use - but it doesn't bother me in the slightest if someone else does. My dog is as much a part of the family as any other.

This
How often do posters have to cringe? I’ve never actually heard anyone say fur baby but why get so het up about something that isn’t any of your business if it’s not harming the animal?

Greciangirl

I cringe every time I hear someone refer to their pets as their babies.

They are not babies. They are animals.
It really gets on my nerves.

Just writing about this has got my hackles up.

I don't understand why it bothers some people so much. It's not a term I would use - but it doesn't bother me in the slightest if someone else does. My dog is as much a part of the family as any other.

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?

BlueBelle

Where is this rainbow bridge then MickyD have you seen it ?
You ve intrigued me now
I realise I come across annoyed in my texts and maybe I do sound like a animal disliker I can’t say enough I ve had dogs cats rabbits, gerbils, mice, snakes, fish, and hamsters and loved them all but there’s a place for animals and it’s not everywhere
Obviously for people with old ill or infirm dogs buggies are an idea, the same with medical shoes I was taking about the fancy frilly ones you can buy and the fancy dress costumes and crates where people leave there dogs in them for hours I m not taking about decent animal owners
We have big buggies come in the shop and thats not taking them for nice walkies to see the grass and the countryside
Our local pub chain (and no not Whetherspoons) has an advert for Saturday meet up for doggy walks, then obviously they expect them to all sit down for a drink and food The photograph advertising it has a dog sitting on the table that people are then going to eat off

My whole beef is not with good dog owners it’s not with the animals it’s with the whole thing about humanising animals and elevating them to a higher level

That's a great initiative by Wetherspoons; especially with the need to socialise dogs. And the only conversations I tend to have with people these days is with fellow dog walkers.

I cringe every time I hear someone refer to their pets as their babies.

They are not babies. They are animals.
It really gets on my nerves.

Just writing about this has got my hackles up.

Quote BlueBelle Mon 21-Jul-25 16:21:47
Where is this rainbow bridge then MickyD have you seen it ?
You ve intrigued me now

Bluebelle do you ask this of those who believe in an afterlife

Colls

Most dog 'owners' have dogs because they are just amazing and unlike humans don't get upset about words used or such irrelevances!

👍