Are we “pet parents” or “pet guardians”?

[UConnGSD]

Originally Posted by Lilie

I really don't think I'd care much for hubby telling Hondo, "Come on boy, the Bitch is home!"

Although, I think GSDs do give a positive connotation to THAT word!

I refer to myself as Wolfie's mommy but it's an odd relationship considering that Wolfie is a hybrid between child/friend/confidant/dog-in-need-of-perpetual-support. Maybe we need a new term?

[Samba]

All this talk of family to the dogs can get confusing. My brother and his wife did not have children. They had two pugs referred to as 'the girls".

When my boys were young they overheard the sister-in-law speaking to the pugs and telling them they were going to be "aunties". The boys wanted to know when the baby was coming! I had to tell them she was talking about puppies.

[EchoGSD]

I have three children and three dogs. I gave birth to my children, and would die for any one of them. They are gifts from God. I own my dogs. I love them, care for them, play with them, live with them, train them, show them, etc. They are an entirely different type of gift, and I love them all dearly, but they are not my "kids". They are dogs, who live with my human family as dogs. They know they are dogs. We know they are dogs. They walk on leashes, on all four feet, they are not carried in a baby backpack or pushed in a stroller. They wear collars with their identification and license tags on them; they do not own "jewelry". They live and sleep in the fur they were born with, not multiple changes of clothes, coats, sweaters, hats, boots, and jammies. There is no confusion on either side (theirs or ours) where they fall on the pack ladder.

[White German Shepherd]

Parent/Guardian= same thing

[Jelpy]

i prefer to use the term 'Fids' over Furbabies. Furbabies is just too long. "Fids" also allows for expansion to covered the feathered kids as well as the fur kids.

Jelpy

[Lilie]

When I'm talking about the dogs, I always say 'the boys' - even though we have a female doxie in the mix. Don't know why, it just happened that way.

I rarely call Hondo 'the dog'. Like I don't say, "Get that dog off the bed!" I'll say, "Get your boy off the bed!" or "Look what your boy had done!" But when I'm angry at Hondo, like when he is ignoring a recall, I'll call him "Dog" directly. He knows he is in trouble and always comes running back with that look that says, "I didn't hear you, honestly".

[codmaster]

Originally Posted by atravis

..............................
Am I going to do everything in my power as a good owner and someone who truly LOVES their dog to avoid situations where he might be put in danger? OF COURSE I am. Am I going to STOP him from fighting back someone who is attacking me, or prevent him from defending me if the situation calls for it? No. That's what he was bred to do, and what I would argue any correct shepherd SHOULD do.
Dogs who will not or cannot defend their owners are not bad dogs.But they are not what I consider to be true-to-form GSDs.

Well said! I would also protect my dog from situations that would place him at risk BUT I also expect him to protect me in other situations (already has in one case!). Expect no less from a normal GSD>

[selzer]

My parents are nearing their seventies. It is funny how they treat Cujo. He is their boy, and they are Momma and Daddy to him. His toybox is a purple muck bucket and pretty full. Dad threatens to throw them out, but Mom always says he plays with all of them and he does.

Dad has never owned a shepherd before and marvels at his intelligence. Everyone in the family loves the dog.

We have new youngsters, grandchildren that come over now. one is six months, the other two are 3 1/2. There are also my sister in law's grand children of various ages.
If Cujo did hurt one of those babies intentionally, that would be the end. As much Mamma and Papa they do, everyone is clear about the dog being a dog, and the children being sacred. Still, they put up a play yard when the little ones come and put the girls in the play yard, not the dog.

[AbbyK9]

I love my dogs and I love my cats. Hubby and I refer to each other jokingly as "mom" and "dad". But I would never consider myself a "pet parent" or a "pet guardian". I OWN my dogs. I am an owner. Yes, they are loved members of the family, but they are dogs and not people and should be treated accordingly, not anthropomorphized or serving as child substitutes.

[VChurch]

I think of myself as my dogs' "mom"....and usually when I call both dogs I'll say something to the extent of "come on kids". Which I think is fine. I can't speak much for the puppy yet on terms of training, etc. But my adult male is an incredibly well-behaved and well-trained dog and he only gets "spoiled" and loved on so much because he is so well-behaved. I understand he is a dog and not my real child, and he has rules and he understands he's a dog and he knows his place in the household and in the pack; so I don't see a problem with me saying I'm his "mom".