1.24.2007

sympathy for mommy's

So, I think having a puppy in a pet store has given me at least a small amount of insight into what it must be like for new moms and those just-trying-to-be-helpful people.
Every time I go into a pet store with Brody, mostly the people who work there, start drilling me with questions about how I am caring for him. Who's his groomer, do you socialize him, are you going to enroll him in classes, why don't you train him to a litter box, do you brush him every day, do you brush his teeth, don't forget you need to get his ears plucked, it's not humane to put him in a crate, etc. Des was told by a dog trainer the other day the medicine we got from the vet we didn't really need and could have gotten something from a drug store that would work just as good. Umm...do you hold a veterinary degree??
Today, at a different pet store, I was told the food I am feeding him is only made up of fillers and doesn't really have that much nutrition for him. Umm...sorry, it's what the breeder was feeding him.
So I wonder, how do mom's of humans deal with this kind of scrutiny? I imagine you would start to question yourself and your actions and wonder whether or not these people are right.

5 Comments:

  • At 25.1.07, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I just look through their foreheads,and evenutally they get the point that I'm zoned out.

    Not that I'm any good at pretending like I'm listening.

    Grace,
    Johnny

     
  • At 25.1.07, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    good grief... people are crazy! Maybe you are giving off a new-pet-owner vibe... kind of like a mother with a newborn. Once a mother has had two or three kids, people tend to stop the advice-giving. Just tell them you have 4 more dogs at home so maybe they would like for you to give them a suggestion or two! :)

     
  • At 25.1.07, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I'm not a Mom - but as a Dad I have dozens of stories. Apparently we're even more inept

     
  • At 26.1.07, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Great advice, Stephanie. I love the "tell people you have four more dogs at home" part. Maybe add "Would you like to dog-sit my four pitbulls?"

    Dave,
    You are so right.

    Johnny

     
  • At 27.1.07, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I think Dad's definitly have it worse than Moms in the human child situations. Jay is always treated like he doesn't know what he's doing with his own son and it ticks me off cause he's a great dad.
    I have been reprimanded by strangers on many occasions for either not having socks on Caden in 90 degree florida weather or not washing off his pacifier everytime it falls on the carpet. One woman asked me if I was nursing and when I said no she said, "Shame on you!"....The nursing question always sparks lots of ignorant responses...
    I've learned to ignore know-it-all stangers and to be very cautious as to what friends I ask advice from. You'll quickly learn who is trying to be helpful, versus who is trying to be anal and intrusive.
    So far my son is happy, healthy, smart and still alive so I give myself an A+.
    From what I know of you, you're smart, maternal, and you care deeply for all living things..so the person who is going to know what's best for Brody, is Brody's mama and papa. Also, as much as he is your baby, he is also an animal, and they are very resiliant (i think I spelled that wrong)...I'm sure he's getting great nutrition and brushing a dogs teeth is much easier said then done. Just enjoy your long awaited bundle of puppy. I think when people refer to him as your dog you should act insulted and say, "This is my Son. He has a disease that makes him hairier than the other kids so back off!"
    Enjoy him. He's adorable.

     

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