How terrible is it to rename your dog? *BT ref*

This thread is totally crazy! A dog cannot be anywhere near as important as a child !!

I would definitely change the dog's name. She's only going to be around for 15 years or so whereas your daughter will be with you your whole life and if you love the name, you'll only regret not naming her that.

plus I know plenty of people who have rehomed dogs after they have a baby, what on earth is wrong with that? Would people rather have them rehome the baby??!!

The point is that dogs are meant to be for life, not just until it becomes inconvenient for you. I know some dogs just don't adjust to having a baby around with all the behavioural training in the world and that's a sad fact of life, but people shouldn't be getting dogs thinking "oh well, if it can't look after it anymore at some point I'll just get it rehomed". A) because there are so many dogs in shelters already, and B) because it's obviously very distressing to the dog.

This has nothing to do with OB btw, I know she loves her dog, I just wanted to make that point.

I don't understand the mentality of people who see animals as interchangeable? They are living creatures with feelings who feel sadness, rejection and a while host of other emotions when their owners get a new toy to play with. Makes me so angry.

Ob- Rosie will adjust to a new name. Harrycat was called 'sabian' when we got him and he adjusted fine. I sometimes call Sabian to see if he listens but he seems to have forgotten that was his name once upon a time. I think rose is a lovely name for a girl (or a dog if a girl doesn't come along and boys do)

As mini said this isnt really to do with OB's thread but this riled me. My cora dog is loved as much as my baby boy, maybe in a different way but I love the bones of her. There's not a chance on this earth I would rehome her. I would adapt and keep her separate if it came to. Luckily she's best buds with Henry, but rehomig her isn't an option. She's a part of the family, this is her home. Why should she be turfed out?

I love Lily more than I knew it was possible for a human to love a dog. If I thought there was a genuine chance of her being upset/unsettled enough to provoke her to attack/try to attack our baby I'd rehome her in an instant. But obviously I plan to do everything possible to prevent that, but there's no doubt in my mind what I would have to do if it went that way.

I wouldn't try to keep her in the house but apart from the baby. She's a people-loving dog who would have barely any quality of life if she couldn't join in with the family and have run of the main rooms. We would have to find her a new home. Funnily enough several people have offered to take her off our hands, ha ha.

I was starting to think I'm just a crazy cat lady Missus S! But like you said about your dog, my cat is part of my family. I don't think "well she's not that important because she's only going to be around for another 10 years", I don't even like to think about when she won't be here anymore. She's a little character with her own funny little personality and she will always be part of the family whether I have kids or not.

I hope you don't actually have pets SP2006.

It's well known I'm a crazy cat lady. My cats are my children- I love them so much, much like I imagine a parent loves a child. I would no sooner give them to someone else to look after than I would give a baby to someone else too look after because something more fun came along. I just don't get it?

Pb- I sometimes ask mrmini if I'm odd because I love the cats so much. He assures me it's not!

I don't know mini, judging by some responses you are totally weird, but then again I'm on that bench with you!

I know a couple of you have said this but I would just like to reiterate that I would NEVER rehome Rosie. I love her and she is part of our family. We were trying for a baby when we got her, and picked her especially because I grew up with the breed and know how loveable they are. That was the whole point, she is a lovely family pet, however big our family ends up. If I have to spend the whole day at work my mum comes to spend a few hours with her so she’s never alone for too long, she is treated like a princess. She has the best quality food I can afford and the nearest shop who sells it is 20 miles from where we live, and I did extensive research on what to feed her that would be best for her. None of this Bakers shite in our house. She is walked every day and spends every evening curled up in our laps. She has a billion toys and interactive feeders to stimulate her when she is on her own for a while. She is a happy puppy and loves her life.

If all of that is cancelled out because I choose to rename her so I can use the baby name I have had in my mind for years, then what can I say. I don’t feel good about it myself, but I do feel it would be best for all of us.

Thanks everyone for replying nicely after my last ramble.

I know you wouldn't ob. You are an excellent dog mummy. Harrycat adapted well to his new name and Rosie will too if that's what you do.

Seriously???

Some genuine questions....

You'd die for one of your cats? You'd beg an armed burglar to take your life instead of one of theirs? You'd struggle to make a Sophie's choice between one of your cats and one of your step-children? You'd starve yourself to see them eat? You'd sell your body to clothe them? You'd move house to ensure they have the best environment?

I would reply yes to some of the above. Or at least wrestle with the decisions.

Which ones would you say yes to?

I would go without food if she was starving. I couldn't watch her in any pain if I could do something about it. It would break my heart. Tying in with that iv thought about be burglar scenario before and that's something iv ummed and ahhed at. Although I have little H who needs me now.

OB - just out of interest, the interactive feeders that you mention, are they like the toys you push treats into? One of my cats is housebound at the moment and I really hate that she can't play and climb like she usually would so was considering getting some of the toy/treat things but wasn't sure if they were just a gimmick, or genuinely helped with stimulation.

Please ignore if I've thought its something it's not or it's specifically puppy related and couldn't transfer to a cat!

Also, you sound like an very caring owner owner, Puppy is very lucky ?

I have a ball for the cats that you fill with treats or dry food and they have to whack it to get some out if that's what you mean?

Moved

Yes thats the ticket. Do your cats like them? I thought it might keep Tia occupied whilst she is still stuck inside with a giant cone on her head!

OB - sorry for the thread highjack!

Yeah I have similar things, Kong toys mainly.

I also have a weird green thing that is an interactive feeder so I put her dinner in there and she has to work to get it. Stops her inhaling her food and works her brain at the same time! Win win!

Oooh, harrycat inhales his food and sometimes throws it up where he eats so quickly. Maybe he could do with something like that?

This is what we have...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Company-Animals-Interactive-Feeder-Green/dp/B009CKHXYU

But it’s huge! Definitely worth it for her though as in a normal bowl her dinner lasts about 30 seconds (literally). With this she spends a good 5 mins getting every last morsel. It’s not difficult, she just has to work a bit for it!

I've often wondered if they sell something like this! Bailey is such a fast eater and is makes himself sick every now and then. Can you remember where you got it?

I’ve just linked it above ?

Coras Xmas present sorted! Will it p!ss her off though?

No, she will still be able to get the food, it’s not mega challenging, it just makes them think and work a bit more and slows them down.

Puppy has every meal in it. As soon as she hears her tub pop open she leaps out the back door and sits by the feeder wagging her tail!

Thank you so much OB! It looks great ?

I just looked for a cat version and there is one! I think its a bit smaller too.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Company-of-Animals-101089-Interactive/dp/B00EB4IV2A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1378852258&sr=8-2&keywords=interactive+cat+feeder

It’s the same company as the doggy one.

OB you are a genius! Thanks!

BTW on the food challenge thing we used to his our dogs food in the room he was in durign the day. Put it in bixes that he ahd to work out how to open and egenrally make it as complicated as possible for him to find his food so that it kept his brain active. He was never jsut given his food? A friend once remarked she expected to come round oen day to find he had been given a sudoko puzzle? Also we often froze his food into blocks - especialliy in the summer.

OB - I apologise for implying that you may rehome your dog when children were in the picture. I realise this is now not the case. I still think you are daft giving your dog the only girls name you say you will consider - but I know you know that now ?

Off to the other thread, sorry for reponding to this one once again.

ETA - What food does she get? I'm always interested what other dogs are fed, and you say your nearest stockist is far away, I buy mine online so may know somewhere cheaper you could get it? I also am an expert Kong stuffer!!

Exactly this OB. It is very clear from your later posts how much you love your dog. I am very sorry if we upset you by implying you thought she was disposable. One of the few things which makes me truely angry are people who do not fully consider what it means to have a pet before they get one. However you have made it very clear this is not the case with you.

I agree with ATB that is was al little silly to use your favourite name but I also realise you were perhaps not thinking like that at the time when you got your puppy.

Also on the food front I don't know where you live but we by our dog food from an equine feed supplier (sounds odd I realise) but they make all the feeds and they are designed for working farm dogs so have high protien and are more nutricious than alot of comercial dog foods. They are also pretty cheap as they are sold in sacks, not pretty or anything but Rosco loves it. We feed all our family farm dogs this food and they are in great condition. Oh also to slow Rosco's eating down when we first got him we were advised to mix some of his food with pate or peanut butter (not a lot), stuff the kong with that and then freeze it. He loves them.

I do have pets and I have never personally had to rehome any of them but all I am saying is that some people have to. I think for most people it would be a heartbreaking decision and I would never ever judge someone else for doing so.

Obviously I need to be more judgemental of others and their choices. I will now try my hardest to condemn people making hard choices and try to make them feel even more sh! tty about themselves.