Do people make fun of your dog "obsession"?

[Snark]

Dad tends to roll his eyes when I bring Riley with me when we visit, but then he's the one to start playing with Riley first. He's also the one who says all pets are useless, while petting the cat on his lap. Mom is a total animal lover, she used to get grief from her best friend about timing their shopping excursions so she could get home to the dog - until best friend acquired a 'grand dog' of her own.

My friends are just as obsessed with their animals so we all get along pretty well. Surprisingly, my brother, who likes animals (we've always had dogs and cats when he was growing up) doesn't have any and opposes getting a dog because he doesn't want to be 'tied down' with the responsibility. He does tend to roll his eyes if I talk about my dogs, so last time we visited (without the dog), I wore my 'I love my Dawg, you not so much' t-shirt. He got it.

 

[yoko]

I think most people I work with think it's a little weird. But at work we all have a pretty clear unspoken understanding that if they talk about their kids and I pretend to care and coo over them they do the same for my dog.

With my friends and family they don't get it but they all understand how much I care about Yoshi so it's never brought up or treated any different than my cousins who have kids. I know they don't get why I give up paid cruises and week trips to the lake when I can't find someone to watch Yoshi but I think they are more proud that I'm willing to stand up and take care of something that is my responsibility.

 

[sillysally]

Some of my friends are horse nuts, so they have little room to talk. Another friend runs a rescue and has resident dogs and fosters all the time. The rest of my friends have just accepted the fact that I'm weird. I'm extra weird though because I'm not only very into my dogs but my birds as well.

My family openly thinks I'm crazy though. My parents have gotten better about it (at least to my face) but my mom and I have gotten into several times over the fact that I have so many animals. She doesn't get why anyone would have more than one dog or cat and really doesn't get the bird thing. She thinks I spend too much money on the animals, doesn't think people should take their dogs places in public. BUT, she has gotten much better over the years and adores Sally and tells people how awesome her pit bull mix "granddog" is.

I'm fine with people thinking it isn't normal, because it really isn't-lol. However, I do get bothered when people are condescending about it. My aunt recently asked me about her dane's health issues and I suggested chiropractic care. Her response was "I'm not taking my DOG to a chiropractor Christina. NORMAL people don't do that, just you." Why ask me what I think if you are just going to be rude when I answer you?

 

[yoko]

However, I do get bothered when people are condescending about it. My aunt recently asked me about her dane's health issues and I suggested chiropractic care. Her response was "I'm not taking my DOG to a chiropractor Christina. NORMAL people don't do that, just you." Why ask me what I think if you are just going to be rude when I answer you?

I think when a lot of people do this they just want you to say something like 'vet check up' or recommend some cheap human med for the dog and when one of us says something that may help but isn't the norm for non dog obsessed people or costs anything they are put off by it.

They wanted a cheaper easier solution so they can say 'well my dog friend/family member said this is cool'.

 

[Danefied]

Eh, I don’t think anyone has room to talk. Everyone has some obsession or another.

If anyone wants to make fun of me, I either don’t acknowledge it as being a dig (that’s a fun trick to play on self righteous folks), or I simply point out their pampered chef gourmet truffle slicer or some other thingamabobbie that they paid $47.99 to use once. Same difference

 

[JessLough]

Nope, everybody loves it, cause then they know who to come running to when there's a problem

 

[sillysally]

I think when a lot of people do this they just want you to say something like 'vet check up' or recommend some cheap human med for the dog and when one of us says something that may help but isn't the norm for non dog obsessed people or costs anything they are put off by it.

They wanted a cheaper easier solution so they can say 'well my dog friend/family member said this is cool'.

I know, it just bugs me though-especially because they could afford it and then some. Plus, this aunt has her own hobby she is super obsessed with-scrapbooking. She literally has a good sized room with paper holding racks installed and everything, all devoted to scrapbooking. She is a mom with one kid in college, one kid graduated from college who stays home, had her husband hire a housekeeper and landscaper, and has premade meals delivered, all to give her more time for scrapbooking. She has very little room to talk when it comes to obcessive hobbies, IMHO...

 

[Bailey08]

I think a lot of people don't really understand, especially when it comes to things like managing Bailey's anxiety and health care. Or the fact that I'm neurotic about who watches/walks the dogs.

What people really don't get, though, is when I mention that I'm nervous to be around "hardcore" dog people at Grace's field workshop/reunion next week. It's unfathomable to them that people could be more hardcore than I am, and I'm really primarily a pet owner who likes my dogs a bunch and who trains mostly for fun.

 

[Catsi]

I can't say I have had a lot of people go on about how weird it is or anything. My family know I love my dogs and that anything dog is a passion of mine and they are cool. I try not to bore them with every minute detail... that is what my dog obsessed friends are for.

I do notice that I'm the resident dog expert at work and with my family lol. It's funny, because I don't know much but I do aim to give sound advice and refer them to others or other sources of info.

 

[momto8]

I would not say I get made fun of, but I do get alot of comments about how many dogs we have. Most people automatically freak out and say something like OMG 8 dogs. And most think we are nuts for getting our puppy this year, even though we've been waiting over 2 yrs not for him.But they don't understand how awesome my dogs are and how much we love them!

 

[PWCorgi]

I have pretty much surrounded myself with pet people in every portion of my life...so no, they're all as nuts as I am.

I mean really, I went walking with Megan today while she pushed her 55 pound dog in a baby stroller so that he could have mental stimulation and outside time :rofl1:

 

[TahlzK]

What bothers me is when people say 'that's not normal' (regarding to loving dogs so much). It is only not normal for those who aren't interested in dogs but there personal collection/hobby/love for something is 'normal' because they love it. People need to think about what they love doing and understand it's the same love people have for their dogs, it's just a different situation.

I get a lot of crap from my family and I don't even try to talk to my family about my dogs! They don't understand. It pisses me off when my sister pays $50 for a gift for her gf and I may spend more for the vet for my dog and she gives me a hard time. All my family members do this and I'm sick of it.

They criticize how I care for them, handle/keep them contained, how I feed them. They aren't even big dog people and they think they know more then me. I truly dislike them when it comes to dogs.

 

[Barbara!]

Actually, to me, not caring enough about your pet to try to achieve as high a quality of life for them as possible is the weird thing. Why buy a pet or get one if you are just going to give it the minimal basics? Some people do that to their human children though, too. IMO, THAT is the weird thing. I'm totally normal. Lol.

 

[Baxter'smybaby]

I'm selective about who I talk about it with--but really, most people know I am an animal lover and so it's not a big leap to know I am crazy about/with my dogs. I don't really care if they 'get it' or not--lots of people have hobbies--so mine involves animals.
In reality, I think my family is glad it is whittled down to just dogs now--we used to have a house full of guinea pigs, parakeets, rabbits, hamsters, cats and dogs. Two dogs seems tame now.

 

[Red Chrome]

I try not to talk dogs with those friends that aren't interested. My family really isn't interested either...my Grandma who just passed away was the only other dog nut in the family. I miss her.

I am moving and part of the reason is because I love next door to my parents.

 

[RD]

I walk around with a service dog. People think I'm weird anyway, so who cares of I wanna talk about her?

My boyfriend and his family love my dog as much as me/my family, and they're the only people I really hang out with anyway, so no I don't get "ugh you like dogs too much, you're weeeeird" from them.

 

[PWCorgi]

Plus I get very few negative reactions from talking about Frodo, but people can be not so nice if I tell them I have rats!

 

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

I work at a pet food store and I'm going to school to be a veterinary technician - so I'm surrounded by pet people. Most of my friends I've either met through work, school, Chaz, or volunteering with the rescue - again, lots of pet people. I have a few friends from high school that are not pet people, and that's fine - we find other things to do/talk about.

My family (aside from my mom) definitely does not understand my obsession with dogs. They tolerate it (my aunt let us bring Missy to my cousins graduation party because we couldn't leave her at home lol), are nice to the animals when they come over, and are never rude or mean about it, but you can tell they don't quite "get it".

 

[SpringerLover]

I have pretty much surrounded myself with pet people in every portion of my life...so no, they're all as nuts as I am.

I mean really, I went walking with Megan today while she pushed her 55 pound dog in a baby stroller so that he could have mental stimulation and outside time :rofl1:

You mean that's... weird? I don't get it...!



He was so tired, it was awesome...

 

[SpringerLover]

I pretty much have all dog friends, aside from my roommates. And my boyfriend isn't a "dog person" but he's pretty cool anyways.