Mommy and Daddy

EGAR

It is one of my pet peeves when people call their dogs/animals their baby and themselves Mommy and Daddy of the said dog/animal.

I love my animals dearly and they are part of my family, regardless of being my own "private" animals or my rescues waiting to be rehomed.

And even before I had my son 4 years ago I would have never called my animals my babies.

Anyone?

Lauragoesmad

Doesn't bother me to be honest. Lots of the people I petsit for do it. I hate when people let their dogs lick their tongue. Nasty.

Sigma Force

Always refferred to himself as Daddy with our critters for the past 14 years, just came out and now it's a habit. Don't see what harm it does we certainly know they aren't human and there's a lot worse thing that people do to their pets.
It's a term of endearment where's the harm the animals don't know what it means they just know that daddy means a certain person I sure don't care if anyone thinks it's a bit barmy I rekon at least half the dog/pet owners do it.

This will really annoy you lol aparently with our next dog I'm going to be the granny and yet my two dogs are going to have a new brother

Blueprint

Hah, he's not my baby, more like a mad 3 year old!

It isn't what they call themselves that's the problem though, it's the fact that they treat the dogs like a baby!

junkyard

I always regarded my dog as my baby and always will, sorry OP.:)

EGAR

I am not preaching that you should not do it - I am just saying that I personally find it annoying and sickingly anthropomorphic.

Blueprint

Since I grew up calling my parents by their names, I think it would also feel just plain weird!

Lauragoesmad

EGAR wrote: »

I am just saying that I personally find it annoying and sickingly anthropomorphic.

Yeah, because everyone knows what that word means.:rolleyes:

To be honest, the clients of mine who do call their animals their babies look after them so well and their pets are always very happy so TBH I wouldn't care what they called them. One of my clients calls his dogs his monsters.:D He'l text me to ask "Can you take the monsters on Friday?"

Call me Socket

It's only anthropomorphism in its mildest form so at least it isn't harmful.... it used to annoy me too but not anymore. I'd prefer to see a dog anthropomorphised than ignored.
Men refer to their cars as 'she'. That annoys the crap out of me, though embarrassingly it has slipped out of my own mouth a couple of times!

arybvtcw0eolkf

I often refer to my older lad as "buddy or "sonny", and I ask my puppy Ruby is she "coming to Dad"..

It might sound silly, it might even make at least one person in the world sick or disgusted, but its offence taken and not given.

I've rared them and look after their everyneed 24/7, when their sick or just generally feeling under the weather I fret about them and spend more money on theur health and welfare than I do on my own.

When I seen my older guy entering early middle age, and acting it and view the deceased pets thread here I worry for him and me and our remaining years together.

When I'm complimented on their behaviour or appearance I take great pride, and when I encourter ignorance because of theur breed it hurts me, and I'll give 'em an extra rub.

I smile inside when Ruby sits looking at TV with me, and am greatful when Jericho feels its his duty to protect me, my family and my home.

Yup, I'm talking about my dogs and I could say similiar about the joys my children have brought me over the years.

.

Our man in Havana

I consider all my pets to be my babies & will call me & the other half mummy & daddy etc.

Call me Socket

That's a lovely post, Makikomi

spiderdog

yes i am guilty too......and proud:D

in fact when my mam calls to me, i say to the gang "heres your granny" it makes her laugh and really its the closest shes getting to grandchildren too haha!!

so...while i suppose i humanise my dogs to an extent......i know they`re dogs and so do they;)
..........but they are also our family too:D:D

cloudy day

EGAR wrote: »

I am not preaching that you should not do it - I am just saying that I personally find it annoying and sickingly anthropomorphic.

i get what your saying and yes it annoys me when people go over the top and actually treat them like little humans.

but i have to say i'm guilty of calling all pups baby and will call them it when i pick them up.

and i do tend to do it to the older dogs, i think it's just a general love thing and a term of endearmant.

wouldn't dream of calling OH baby though, urgh, sickly sweet. so i guess i'm weird or what. or just a heartless cow. his job is to pay for the food. for my real babies. ha ha. joking.

seanybiker

Anytime I ring me missus I ask her hows the child and me daughter doing.

sorella

EGAR; speak with some US pet owners. They have this down to an art.

Love the new word "sickingly" ; perfect!

Animals are animals; not humans. Not child substitutes. It seems to somehow mininise their nature and identity.

We honour their true natures.

Mrs Fed

I totally agree with you. I find myself staring at these people who treat their animals like they were their babies.
I think it is not completely sane.
An animal, whatever its size and nature must continue living like an animal.


:eek::eek::eek::eek:

getz

is ireland still comming to terms with having dogs as pets ?if you travel around the uk enough you will see many strange doggy things, like dogs sat in the front carrier on disability buggies,dressed up in football shirts, and hats,when i take my dog to the vets ,the nurse will always come out and call his name teddy d....n with my surname,i think over here we all treat our dogs like our babies.

The Sweeper

Yeah drives me nuts too tbh. I have no kids. I'm certainly not the cat's mummy.

(Though given the face one of them is currently giving me for pushing him off the keyboard, he may be about to commit matricide?)

sorella

What can one say? A dog is a dog; with great dignity and dogginess.

They don't need clothes.

We would never belittle any critter like that.

When a pine marten used to come to us for food, people said, oh you will soon have it eating from your hand. As I replied, Why would I want to do that? This is a wild creature with its own dignity. It just needs a little bit of help to feed its young in a bad year. And the empty cottage we moved into was ITS territory. We were the invaders.So food was left at a distance and we made no demands on her.

Small wonder there are so many crazy dogs; it is an identity crisis.

getz wrote: »

is ireland still comming to terms with having dogs as pets ?if you travel around the uk enough you will see many strange doggy things, like dogs sat in the front carrier on disability buggies,dressed up in football shirts, and hats,when i take my dog to the vets ,the nurse will always come out and call his name teddy d....n with my surname,i think over here we all treat our dogs like our babies.

woofie87

I am guilty as well. Both of my 'babies' had a rough start in life and now they have a great life and we love them dearly. I never called myself 'mummy' until we got a second rescue Sasha, who is the most affectionate and friendly dog ever. Woofie is a lad lad and we call him 'buddy''. But it is 'come to mummy/daddy' when we call Sasha and she runs to get hugs and treats! I even heard my OH ( big manly rugby/football lad, who is not in a rush to use affectionate names or words even for me) calling her 'my little princess' :pac:. I completely see the point of people saying it is too much and a bit weird, but guess sometimes we just cant help ourselves!!!

peasant

eejit, sausage, noodle, mouse, oldy and "shut the eff up" ...but never baby

getz

when my sister inlaws pet died he was a yorkie she kept his ashes on the dresser,when she died 2 years ago my brother in law asked the under taker to turn a blind eye,and he had the dogs ashes buried alongside her.i often take my bullie for a walk with me in cleveleys [near blackpool]it is a small tourist town on the coast,it has a very high oap retired population ,and everyone has a dog. most are pedigree animals,the area must be a nightmare for anyone who is frightened of dogs.i think there must be every breed you can think of, that walks down the streets or on the beach on sunday mornings

sorella

peasant wrote: »

eejit, sausage, noodle, mouse, oldy and "shut the eff up" ...but never baby

~Thalia~

I don't see any problem with it. Rather people are overly doting and considering their pets as babies rather than the way many Irish pets are treated.

ISDW

getz wrote: »

when my sister inlaws pet died he was a yorkie she kept his ashes on the dresser,when she died 2 years ago my brother in law asked the under taker to turn a blind eye,and he had the dogs ashes buried alongside her.

Aww, I think thats lovely.


EGAR, I know my dogs are dogs, but I do sometimes call them baby, not cos I think of them of them as human, just sometimes if they're hurt or something, its just a word that comes out of my mouth, "come here Sky baby", just kinda slips out.

My Dad is Granddad to my dogs, but my Mum refuses to be a grandmother to dogs, so she's the woman who lives with Granddad!:D

I do sometimes get confused as to what to call the owners of some of the kennel guests, sometimes I do call them mum and dad, if I'm bringing the dogs out to their owners, after their stay, I might say "wheres your mum" or something similar, the dog doesn't really know what I'm saying, and it sounds more personal than "wheres your owner". I know, I'm weird - but fairly happy.

getz

i am daddy to my bulldog ,my wife is mummy my son is his big brother, and to my friends otter hound i am his uncle bill.

Noopti

How does calling an dog "baby" reduce it's identity as an animal would you mind telling me?

If people think someone calling a dog their "baby" is wierd, yet they themselves refer to their dogs with human names then they are nothing but hypocrites. :P

Jip

Who cares ? Jaysus, some people have little to be worryng about. When messin about with our dogs I tell them go any annoy your mammy, here's mammy or my wife would say daddy is bringing you for a walk etc ec. It's all in good fun and affection. It doesn't mean we actually see the dogs as our kids for gods sake or dress them as little babies and walk them to school every day. The two boxers in our family are my buddys, doesn't mean I give them a call every Friday night to go out for a few beers, although that would be kinda cool.

If you have issues with this being anthropomorphic I'm presume you just call your canine/canines dog or bitch if you have any ?

sorella

Actually, yes, most of the time; I call "dog" more than their names.

And have you noticed how few mention names here?


Almost always, "the dog" or "the cat"


"If you have issues with this being anthropomorphic I'm presume you just call your canine/canines dog or bitch if you have any ?[/quote]

Sigma Force

"What can one say? A dog is a dog; with great dignity and dogginess.

They don't need clothes."

Some dogs do, elderly and ill dogs esp. ones with short coats or have had an op need them to keep warm or to cover up a healing wound so they don't go near it.

I don't see the harm in putting a t shirt on a dog for a dog show or whatever as long as the animal isn't stressed and it's for a short time. Don't like anything on their feet though that's unfair on them they can't walk properly.

My collie hasn't got much dignity have you seen what they roll in and eat lol.

The majority of people know their dog is a dog heck I've been called a bitch many a time but people can still see I'm human.

olaola

If the dog is well disciplined and knows its place, you can call it (or yourself) what you want in my book!

We're similar to Jip - I'll often tell the dog to 'ask her Daddy' when it's time for a walk.

Jip

sorella wrote: »

And have you noticed how few mention names here?

That's because people don't epxect you to know who you're talking about if they mention a name. I use 'the dog' around here also instead of his or her name as I don't assume everyone here knows my dogs names.

dollydrops

I don't use the mammy & daddy terms but I do find myself talking to my dog in a voice that I would talk to my 1 year old godson sometimes.

It doesn't bother me when other people do it really. My friend and her partner treat their dog like he is their son but he is a miniature Yorkshire terrier so he is like a baby really.

anniehoo

EGAR wrote: »

I personally find it annoying and sickingly anthropomorphic.

I dont have a problem with it at all. The difference is knowing when you've gone too far i.e. putting clothes on them, putting them before your own children.

Where is the harm in referring to your pet as your "baby", the animal hasnt a clue what you're saying no more than "jack" or "molly" its a tone of voice to them. We also anthropomorphise animals all the time "Dumbo/Free Willy/Lassie anyone?". Its a side of human nature that should be endearing not weird. We're nurturing creatures, so be it a dog or a cat or an actual baby, caring for another living soul is a good thing and if the odd affectionate term pops out then so be it. Too much neglect and abuse happens in our world this should be the least of your niggles Egar.

igglou

Call me Socket wrote: »

Men refer to their cars as 'she'. That annoys the crap out of me, though embarrassingly it has slipped out of my own mouth a couple of times!

Cars, ships, planes, trains etc are often referred to as 'she' and I found out long ago its because like females, they are carriers/vessels of life in that they have people inside them. Just some useless information.

As for my own dogs, I don't call them baby but i do talk to them like they are my best friends. I think out loud and run my thoughts by them and find they are great listeners!

It doesn't bother me what anyone calls their dogs as the dogs don't know, they are just familiar words they respond to. As for dressing them up (not for old age or greyhound coats etc.) thats just so wrong and cruel.

kazza90210

OP you would hate me so, Im my little buddies mommy and the other half is his daddy, and my mum is his granny, more use the granny to annoy my mum then anything else!!!!

Amalgam

One of our cats has 'Uncles and Aunties*' (mostly Aunties), all over Dublin and beyond..



* people that have called to the house and met the orange maggot.

Noopti

EGAR, what names do your animals have?

I hope they aren't human names.

peasant

anniehoo wrote: »

Where is the harm in referring to your pet as your "baby", the animal hasnt a clue what you're saying no more than "jack" or "molly" its a tone of voice to them.

We also anthropomorphise animals all the time "Dumbo/Free Willy/Lassie anyone?". Its a side of human nature that should be endearing not weird.

You're right, what you actually call your dog is of little consequence ...but ...
Dumbo/Free Willy/Lassie is exactly what's wrong with anthropomorphism.

Anthropomorphism means the projection of human characteristics onto non-human creatures, beings, phenomena or forces of nature.

In the case of dogs, antropomorphism is anything but "endearing". It is a very basic and grave misunderstanding of what a dog actually is. By projecting human characteristics onto the dog you are denying it its own individual character.

Dogs don't "tick" like us, they live to a different standard, based on entirely different parameters. Measuring them with our own yardstick is doing them a great disservice.

Simple example: There is no such thing as a "bad" or "evil" dog. The dog may be untrained, poorly socialised, frightened, acting on instinct or whatever, but it never is "bad" or "evil".

In order to understand and live with our dogs we need to know and see them for what they really are and not as little people.

anniehoo

peasant wrote: »

You're right, what you actually call your dog is of little consequence ...but ...
Dumbo/Free Willy/Lassie is exactly what's wrong with anthropomorphism.

Anthropomorphism means the projection of human characteristics onto non-human creatures, beings, phenomena or forces of nature.

In the case of dogs, antropomorphism is anything but "endearing". It is a very basic and grave misunderstanding of what a dog actually is. By projecting human characteristics onto the dog you are denying it its own individual character.

Dogs don't "tick" like us, they live to a different standard, based on entirely different parameters. Measuring them with our own yardstick is doing them a great disservice.

Simple example: There is no such thing as a "bad" or "evil" dog. The dog may be untrained, poorly socialised, frightened, acting on instinct or whatever, but it never is "bad" or "evil".

In order to understand and live with our dogs we need to know and see them for what they really are and not as little people.

Fair enough Peasant...yes i know exactly what you are saying and i do agree that understanding the innate characterisitics that make a dog a dog or cat a cat is paramount for being a responsible pet owner. Of course as you say every species doesnt "tick" like us, but id have no doubt that quite a good few of us on here are guilty of "humanising" our pets to a certain extent-this doesnt make us bad owners. Myself and my dog obviously are different species and i do my best to understand her needs as much as im sure she tries to figure out my behaviour too. Im guilty of thinking she feels "sad" or "annoyed" that ive taken her off the couch" but its hard to "think like a dog" as im not one so the odd slip of the tongue re: calling her baby etc im not going to berate myself for as i do my best like many other pet owners.

cloudy day

peasant wrote: »

Anthropomorphism means the projection of human characteristics onto non-human creatures, beings, phenomena or forces of nature.
quote]

glad i now know what that means.

auntie had a dog that was called boy. i had a girl dog when i was little that i insisted have a certain boys name ( was the name of a dog of a lad i had a crush on) my brothers cursed me for being cruel. we had a dog that was called pup and he was still pup when he years old.

all dogs in our family have names and are treated as individuals, whole family talks about each one by name even OH - now that took some training heh heh.

Noopti

I don't think referring to a dog as "baby" or saying things like "go to Daddy" in anyway means that the person in question expects the animal to behave like a baby and not like a dog.......

sorella

Words matter.

CrowdedHouse

Maybe slightly OT but this is from an email that I received.....hits a lot of spots with us...


TO ALL NON-PET OWNERS WHO VISIT AND LIKE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT OUR PETS:

(1) They live here. You don't. (2) If you don't want their hair
on your clothes, stay off the furniture. That's why they call it
'fur'-niture. (3) I like my pets a lot better than I like most
people. (4) To you, they are animals. To me, they are adopted
sons/daughters who are short, hairy, walk on all fours and don't
speak clearly.

Remember, dogs and cats are better than kids because they (1) eat
less, (2) don't ask for money all the time, (3) are easier to train,
(4) normally come when called, (5) never ask to drive the car, (6)
don't hang out with drug-using people; (7) don't smoke or drink, (8)
don't want to wear your clothes, (9) don't have to buy the latest
fashions, (10) don't need a gazillion dollars for college and (11) if
they get pregnant, you can sell their children ..

spiderdog

:D:D:D

boodlesdoodles

We use mammy and daddy in this house but it doesn't mean we demean our dog's place in the pack. In fact, when I say to him: where's daddy? he looks directly at the OH and vice versa when it's me. I treat my dog with the respect and discipline he deserves but he is a part of our family and there's only me and the OH and this furry monster who makes the day's happier. As long as a dog is treated well and loved (like it deserves) then who cares what the owners call it or each other. Though I will say, I hate ribbons on dogs, if the hair shouldn't be in their eyes cut it don't ribbon it.:P

animalcrazy

Sometimes it annoys me and sometimes it doesn't, it depends how the person uses the word. I call my rabbits my babies, and so does my neighbour who is forty something
But I wouldn't call myself their Mammy or anything. I kind of just say ''aww baby'' or ''are you hungry baby'', what does annoy me though when people say ''aww come up here to Mammy'' etc.

CamillaRhodes

Read this thread with interest, as I sometimes find myself referring to my cats as my babies, or my 'girls', and to myself as their mom (and frankly I find even referring to myself in the third person to be a bit disturbing). But I take this to mean (as they are the first pets I've had as a grown adult) that I am establishing a responsibility dynamic, or a pecking order, with them. I am at the top, they are lower. I think this is treating them in an adequately 'pet-like' fashion. At the same time, I love and adore them greatly, thus I give them doting pet names, calling them baby etc, as we humans tend to do with those we love. So I don't see it necessarily as anthopomorphic, simply an assigning of identity based on role and affection.

To pick up on a couple of things others said...

peasant wrote: »

There is no such thing as a "bad" or "evil" dog. The dog may be untrained, poorly socialised, frightened, acting on instinct or whatever, but it never is "bad" or "evil".

You're right, but do you mean to suggest there is such a thing as a bad or evil human being? Are not all humans born as innocent babies, who somehow grow into "bad" or "evil" adults, as a result of poor education, socialisation, trauma, whatever? I think while you mean to credit animals here, you are in fact doing a great disservice to human beings!

sorella wrote: »

Words matter.

No, semantics matter. The meaning of words matter. Words, when delivered in a language we don't understand, are utterly meaningless. However, if you get the gist of what someone is saying, from their tone of voice / body language etc, that can impact on you. Think about any time you've had a confrontation with, or heard words of love from someone not speaking english. Even though the words they're using to you do not matter, they could be speaking gibberish, when you pick up on the meaning, through tone of voice / body language / whatever, suddenly the conversation has impact on you.

This is how it is with animals. They don't know that "come to Mommy" means anything different than "come to CamillaRhodes". They understand tone of voice, body language, the dynamic which has been established between you on the basis of your training and relationship. The words don't matter a damn. So if I choose to be 'mommy', or if my cats are my 'babies', it doesn't make the slightest difference to them.

Having said all the above, I acknowledge that I am a person who tends to use affectionate terms in conversation with humans in my company, e.g. I'll say "thank you, love" to my assistant in work, will call my friend "sweetie", address my boyfriend as "babe". So, if you're the sort of person who hates all that cutesie sh*t, I imagine you'd be highly irritated by me But please don't take my love for my cats as anthropomorphism or idiocy - I simply extend the same degree of affection to all those for whom I hold affection, regardless of their species

peasant

CamillaRhodes wrote: »

You're right, but do you mean to suggest there is such a thing as a bad or evil human being?

This is going off topic, but let me put it this way ...dogs are incapable of deceit (self or otherwise)

EDIT:
Actually that's not entirely true. I have often watched one of our dogs fake interest in something in order to draw the other ones away from something it wanted ...but ..well ... ah, youknowahaddamean

EGAR

Very interesting to read through this thread (I ignore the insults since I did not insult anyone, c'est la vie).

The emotional avalanche of the mommy and daddy posters is quite amazing and I wonder when all this started. When I was a child no one ever called their animal "Baby" - it is a relatively new trend IMHO and I wonder what set it off.

I don't "hate" anyone who does it - I just find it annoying.

My own dogs do not have human names but alot of the rescues have. I have rehomed well over a thousand dogs and I will never forget when a young couple from Dublin surrendered their dog to me because the girl was pregnant and "couldn't possible" have a dog AND a baby. The dog wore a leather collar with gold embossed letters: No 1 Son. Yeah right...

Lauagoesmad: the internet is a good tool for googling words one doesn't understand.