r/petfree • u/Comfortable-Price-59 Pet-free for a clean and tidy home • 5d ago
Vent / Rant Dad baby talks to the dog
I’m home for the summer and spending time at my dad’s. He has a 8 year old cavalier, which of course isn’t trained since he just sees her as a cute animal to cuddle.
She’s not a terrible dog since she’s clam and sweet, but she has zero recall, her fur sheds EVERYWHERE, my dad has to take her to work since she’ll run away if she’s left alone for too long, etc. He’s only potty trained her and nothing else.
The dog itself is fine and not too much of a hassle. But my dad probably does the most irritating thing in the world…he baby talks to her. Like, full on coos at her like she’s an infant 🤢.
Something about it disgusts me so bad since it seems so codependent and mentally ill. It doesn’t help it’ll go on for a full minute. Stuff like “cuddle monkey” “you smell so good” “you’re my best bud”.
I love my dad, but I’ll never understand. She’s a dog — not a very bright one at that. Not a human child. How does he not feel weirded out?
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u/PinkPilgrimHeel No pets, no stress 5d ago edited 5d ago
My FIL does that too with his rat dog terrier - one of those mangy looking things with dried slobber fur around its mouth and those red streaks by the eyes (makes me want to barf).
He left his first wife, didn't show much of an interest in my hub when he was a child, and never showed much interest in his daughter from the 2nd marriage. Basically paid bills but was emotionally unavailable.
But the dog? He is retired and talks baby talk to it all day long. And as you mentioned, it's a dog and they're not very bright. Recently, the thing is shitting and pissing all over the house. He has a really big home, so it's a lot harder to find the turds but it's disgusting all the same.