Why do some people get so offended that pet owners treat their dogs like their children?

[Anonymous]

I never understood why some people get so butt hurt over this as if it's effecting them. I have a dog, but I don't see her as my child. I see her as the dog I love, respect and spoil. She sleeps in my bed, gets special treats weekly, wears bandanas, goes to daycare, I do special things for her birthday and holidays, etc. People say I'm her mom, but it's just a cuter/lighter way of saying owner and I don't mind being told that. I work at a pet hotel/daycare, and we call dog owners mom/dad. People make this a lot deeper than it is. I can see why some people think of their dogs as their children and obviously they don't mean it in a biological sense. It's because dogs are dependent on you for different things, want love/attention, love outside as much as kids do, etc. Obviously raising a child is completely different than owning a dog. I will never deny that parents face more obstacles and responsibility than a dog owner. However there is a strong bond between a pet owner and a pet which some people fail to understand. It's like people expect dog owners to treat their dog as if it's an accessory or a burden.

[front2back]

I've noticed that the type of people who criticize pet owners for loving their pets too much:
(1.) Tend to think only raising a family is the right way to have a loving relationship and nothing else. For example, I see a lot online saying, "instead of having kids she is treating her dog as a kid instead!", implying if she isn't popping out babies now she never will and if she doesn't raise a family she's not contributing to society.
(2.) Never had a pet or at least a "companion" pet like a dog.
(3.) Don't understand the deep and powerful relationship between humans and dogs that goes back for millennia, and how both are very dependent on each other psychologically.
(4.) Are just crappy people (like my "friend" who said I need to suck it up a few days after I lost my dog because it was "just a dog"). She has many anger issues.

[HungLikeAHorsefly]

Because dogs aren't children. They're dogs. Treating a dog like a child puts expectations on the animal that are unrealistic, which prevents effective training and frequently leads to situations in which the animal behaves in unexpected ways. Depending on the animal, this can range from simply inconvenient to potentially dangerous behavior.

Now, I'm not saying people can't love their pets. I'm also not saying a dog isn't a member of the family. It's just that a dog is a member of the family *who is not human*. Anthropomorphizing a dog leads to bad things for both the dog and the people it's around.

[rabbit91]

If said person CAN'T have children.. med problems

[HungLikeAHorsefly]

@rabbit91 Doesn't matter. Dogs still aren't children. I don't have kids, but I have a dog. He's not my kid. He's my dog.

[BaileyisDarcy]

1. Because people tend to see animals as lesser than us and undeserving of good treatment.
2. Because if you treat your animal with TOO much goodness, you're actually mistreating them. Spoil them and they will act spoiled. And a dog that thinks its the top dog (VERY common with small dogs) is a dangerous dog, because they will begin enforcing what they want in the way dogs do (and we all know what happens to dangerous dogs). Dogs need a firm hand, good, consistent training, and solid boundaries.
Yes, you can give your dog all the luxuries in the world, but NEVER leave them untrained and without boundaries, doing so will only set them up to fail.

[BaileyisDarcy]

I only get "outraged" (read, annoyed) at dog owners when they unwittingly teach their dog bad behaviours, then get upset when their dogs showcase these bad behaviours.

For example, jumping, biting, barking, growling, constantly seeking attention, being territorial, being dog aggressive (what happens when your dog isn't socialised from a young age), completely ignoring you, being difficult to train because you unwittingly taught them to hate it, and being aggressively defensive.

All behaviours caused by spoiling your dog without understanding their actual needs rather than just what you think they want.

[Saccharissa]

In many ways, pets are like children. Or children like pets, however you look at it. I think the stereotype however isn't so much about animals treated like children, but spoiled to the point it rules out any proper raising, which gives bad results in both kids and pets anyway.

[Asker]

I completely agree! I see my dog as my dog, but I do spoil her on a daily basis. I think spoiling is a better way to put it. However I'm not afraid to correct her whenever she misbehaves. I wish more owners would do this because it leads to dog behavior problems.

[Vmm90]

I don't understand either, When i was 19 my dog was put down and people couldn't understand why i was so upset, they were saying things such as "its just a dog". Some people just aren't pet people so they don't understand or don't grow attachments.

[Wonderer89]

I’ve never understood this either, how outraged people seem to get over it.
So what? I treat my dog better than you treat your kid 🤷🏻‍♀️ No need to get mad at me about it haha

[Asker]

Amen to that. 😂👏

[TheUglyMonk]

If you want to treat your dog better than your child you shouldn't have children, same goes to if you want to treat one child better than the other, you shouldn't be having children, it effects the child which is your responsibility to take care of and make sure they are raised properly.

[Wonderer89]

@TheUglyMonk I don’t have children and despite $30k on fertility treatment that doesn’t appear to be an option for me, so my dogs are a source of joy in that hardship and I treat them as the blessings they are.
If you could read, it clearly states that I’m not referring to any of MY children and the questions refers to how others judge us for treating our pets. Not that we treat them above any children we may or may not have.
Maybe you should consider people’s circumstance before running your mouth because right now you look like an insensitive douchbag

[TheUglyMonk]

I'm speaking in general, I don't know you so, why would tell you what to do or how to treat your child/dog?

[Wonderer89]

@TheUglyMonk you’re not speaking in general, you’ve gotten on my post and have spoken to me. If yours was a general opinion you can make your own instead of coming onto mine individually. Don’t be so weak and own your opinion. If you think it’s acceptable to say it to me then don’t try and make excuses after you’re proven to be mistaken

And exactly. You don’t know me. So keep your presumption, your judgement and your downvote to yourself

[TheUglyMonk]

@Wonderer89 You take it how you take it, I spoke my mind.

[Wonderer89]

@TheUglyMonk feel free to keep it to yourself 😊 it’s nothing of worth

[Streamhopper]

I'll play Devil's Advocate here - only thing I can think of is that you didn't squeeze that out of your loins; yes, they're dependent on you, and couldn't live without you, but some people get really butt hurt if you didn't go through anything to get there. And they take it out on that. Personally, I love dogs; I'm happy for people who own pets. Just wanted to add in that possible opinion. :P

[AustinTXGuy]

I get annoyed with the zealous dog people because they are vocal and anti-cat. I like animals and don't have time for a dog, but apparently I'm some stereotypical obsessed, inferior cat person. Then they go on and describe to me how they spent $1000 on vet bills to cure their dogs hangnail and took him to doggy counseling sessions for the trauma... are ya done?

[RuthAnn1781]

Because some people think it's dumb to treat an animal really well, "it's just an animal." Some people are kinda shitty, but whatever. I think it's nice to treat your pets well

[Detemer]

Haha... what the hell is their problem?
Ignore them.
And it's not really about just dogs here.
It's about pets... any sort of animal.
U love what U love
Nobody has to hate what others love!

[MidnightCowboy]

They're snowflakes who maybe hate animals

However, I do like cats more than dogs

[Nickoli42]

My ex had two dogs that had to be with her at almost all times. If we went on a trip, they had to come. If we were in bed together, they had to be too. That was annoying.

[rabbit91]

She's my baby y'all can go fuck off

[Asker]

She's beautiful! 😍

[rabbit91]

Thank You <3

[Spifferus]

Because they envy that kind of attention pets have and they don't

[Manuel2]

It is true to say, a good parent treats their pets good.
But if you prefere pets than having a child (wrong)
But I had an ex mad on her stuff toys, that was short lived

[Anonymous]

Ewwww children

My dog is my boyfriend and loved

Why would want a child when you can have a boyfriend

[Opinion Owner]

Lover*

[SheccidJuliet]

Lo siento, yo lo he hecho antes.
Simplemente no estamos acostumbrados a ello, pero cada quiéne s libre d etratar a sus mascotas como desee.

[SheccidJuliet]

I'm sorry, I've done it before.
We are simply not accustomed to it, but each one is free to treat their pets as they wish.

[Mr_Jolly]

Dogs are our children. <3 Fur kids for (their preciously short) life!

[BleepRawrsaurus_Rex]

Because they’re jelly

[Mr-Kabuki]

nobody gets offended they just see it as weird.

[qikasme]

Because the dog family

[Anonymous]

It is inherently immature.