Is it weird when pet owners refer to themselves as parents?

[phucheneh]

I posted last week about my first dog acquired as an adult. Have had family pets, but this one is mine. MY DOG.

I was showing pictures to some people today (because it was a group of women, and bitches be lovin' this puppy, yo), and they were all like 'aw, look it's the proud dad!' and I realized that I was basically 'that guy' saying HEY LOOK AT MY GODDAMNED KIDS AREN'T THEY FUCKING PRECIOUS?!?!

But yeah, I've in general been getting called 'dad' a lot without any prompting from me. I don't much care for it. Is this normal behavior for adults?

In all seriousness, women love this dog. When I went to the park a few days ago, every woman encountered wanted to come see the dog and ask questions and many did the 'dad' thing. That 100% of women was versus a much more numerous group of men (was playing disc golf and took dog out with me). So ten times as many dudes, but overall still more female attention. There may be something to this whole 'picking up chicks with a puppy' thing, just FYI.

Anyway...I AIN'T YOUR DAD, DOG. But you are cute and I like you and stuff but lets not get all gay and familial about it.

 

[Sluggo]

Like it or not, you ARE the dog's Dad, just go with the flow.

 

[Captante]

Not really weird .... but a little sad.

 

[shortylickens]

Kids eventually grow up and take care of themselves.
Dogs always need supervision, and cats never give a fuck either way.

 

[uclaLabrat]

I posted last week about my first dog acquired as an adult. Have had family pets, but this one is mine. MY DOG.

I was showing pictures to some people today (because it was a group of women, and bitches be lovin' this puppy, yo), and they were all like 'aw, look it's the proud dad!' and I realized that I was basically 'that guy' saying HEY LOOK AT MY GODDAMNED KIDS AREN'T THEY FUCKING PRECIOUS?!?!

But yeah, I've in general been getting called 'dad' a lot without any prompting from me. I don't much care for it. Is this normal behavior for adults?

In all seriousness, women love this dog. When I went to the park a few days ago, every woman encountered wanted to come see the dog and ask questions and many did the 'dad' thing. That 100% of women was versus a much more numerous group of men (was playing disc golf and took dog out with me). So ten times as many dudes, but overall still more female attention. There may be something to this whole 'picking up chicks with a puppy' thing, just FYI.

Anyway...I AIN'T YOUR DAD, DOG. But you are cute and I like you and stuff but lets not get all gay and familial about it.

It's almost like you prefer jacking off to actually enjoying the company of a woman. Women want to see men in the patriarchal role, it gives them comfort...many find it sexy. Are you new?

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Pics of dog?

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's not weird... it's fucking psychotic.

 

[Drako]

To the OP. Think about the type of person that would post shit like this. Then look in the mirror. Then go seek counseling. :|

 

[OCGuy]

Honestly the more psychologically revealing part of this is not someone referring to their pet as a family member. The real interesting part of all this is why it bothers you so much that you had to express it to strangers in a relatively lengthy and passionate fashion.

Physically or emotionally absent parent? Or possibly you are experiencing some buyer's remorse, because you aren't attached enough to the dog yet, and hearing yourself referred to as "dad" makes this new commitment you took on too real?

 

[shortylickens]

Honestly the more psychologically revealing part of this is not someone referring to their pet as a family member. The real interesting part of all this is why it bothers you so much that you had to express it to strangers in a relatively lengthy and passionate fashion.

 

[OCGuy]

^ lol

 

[shortylickens]

Theres more fucked up people than just cat lovers.

 

[Drako]

Theres more fucked up people than just cat lovers.

Cat lovers aren't fucked up!

Are they? :hmm:

:'(

 

[shortylickens]

Compared to b/tards?

No.

 

[ElFenix]

Compared to b/tards?

No.

/b/tards love cats

 

[BoomerD]

You are, more or less, the dog's dad...you SHOULD be the alpha male in the house...and since you've presumably raised the dog from a pup...and are responsible for his housing, care, and feeding, that makes you the dad.

Personally, I don't consider myself to be the "dad" of our dogs...I had NO part in their conception. (no one saw a thing...you can't prove ANYTHING!) BUT, I am still the male parental unit...sort of.

My cat, however, I raised her from a pup. She was about 2 days old when we got her. Her biological mom was a feral cat who was killed by a car. Our daughter brought this little gray mouse-looking creature into the house...where, of course, my wife said, "We are keeping this tiny little thing and will TRY to keep her alive."
I ended up being the only one who actually cared for the kitten...bottle fed her, bathed her, etc...so I am the only "mom" she's ever known...and that's how she acts...like I am her mom. She follows me everywhere...sleeps so that she can either see me, or (preferably) have at least one paw touching me. She turned 17 people years old last Labor Day.

 

[angminas]

Having been on the receiving end, I can assure you that it's massively fucked up to equate an animal with your actual human children. Next step beyond this in upfuckery is when you start having actual conversations with them where another person speaks for the animal.

"If you claw the drapes again I'll skin you!"

"But mommy, it was so fun!"

And on and on. Makes me want to vomit, shape the vomit into a baseball bat, bake it in a kiln, and hit them with it.

Love the red squiggly line under "upfuckery"

 

[fralexandr]

My cat, however, I raised her from a pup.

. .

 

[drebo]

Yes, it is weird.

Pets are not people and should not be treated as people. That means no clothes, no strollers, and no anthropomorphism.

 

[thedarkwolf]

It depends on how serious they are. My parents call my dogs their grand kids but only in a jokey way because they aren't getting any real ones lol. Some people are a bit crazy about it though.

 

[uclaLabrat]

Yes, it is weird.

Pets are not people and should not be treated as people. That means no clothes, no strollers, and no anthropomorphism.

Kinda, pets aren't people but they are family.

 

[BoomerD]

Kinda, pets aren't people but they are family.

Yep...our dogs and cat are our "kids" nowadays. (but we still don't like to be called "mommy and daddy" to the animals. They're our friends...not our offspring.

 

[Sulaco]

Anyway...I AIN'T YOUR DAD, DOG. But you are cute and I like you and stuff but lets not get all gay and familial about it.

You have issues. Seek help.

 

[Mixolydian]

It's kinda weird IMO. I mean, parents create their children. A human doesn't create a dog.

Sometimes jokingly, I'll refer to my cat as my daughter. But usually only when the concept of "pet parents" is being discussed.

 

[theLION]

It's kinda weird IMO. I mean, parents create their children. A human doesn't create a dog.

Sometimes jokingly, I'll refer to my cat as my daughter. But usually only when the concept of "pet parents" is being discussed.

hell yeah it's weird. I refer to my dog as my sidekick.