Dog Mom Guilt

Social media has its upsides and downsides but one thing I’ve noticed more and more since I got my dog is how easily the dog mom guilt creeps in. I follow a lot of people in the pet industry and fellow dog moms who post pictures of their fur babies’ birthday parties and write about buying their four-legged kids the best, most expensive dog food on the market.

Then I look at my dog, who’s never had a birthday party and eats kibble from a big bag I buy at PetSmart (grain-free, but still) and I feel like I’m not being a good dog mom. Here are some areas where I fall short when I compare myself to other dog moms:

(Image Source)

I Don’t Throw Him a Birthday or Adoption Day Party

I don’t even know Socks’ birthday. AZ Rescue saved him from death row at the pound, so they had no idea how old he was. I do, however, remember and reminisce when his October 4th adoption day rolls around. But I don’t throw him a party. I don’t make him wear a hat. I don’t buy an expensive cake. I don’t even make him a special treat (mainly because I make him homemade treats every Saturday that last throughout the week).

I Don’t Buy Him Fancy Treats

As I mentioned above, I don’t bother to buy him fancy treats when I make him some every week. I’d rather he not gain a ton of weight, thank you.

I Don’t Buy Him New Toys

I try to be a minimalist in all aspects of my life, so a few months ago, I went through Socks’ big toy box and got rid of all the old, nasty toys plus the toys he never plays with. He now has five and that’s enough for him. In the future I’ll buy him another toy when the ones he has get worn out, but I deliberately steer clear of the toy aisle any time I have to stop in a pet store.

I Don’t Take Him Everywhere With Me

Much as I would love to take Socks everywhere with me, he can’t go in Target and Fry’s and there aren’t many pet-friendly restaurants in Ahwatukee, unfortunately. I also don’t like to take him out when it’s really hot (May-September). That’s just not fair to him.

So there you have it. All the reasons why I sometimes feel like a failure of a dog mom. But then I remind myself Socks is happy and healthy and loved and that’s all that matters in the end.