August: Pet Parent Confessions

  • I don’t call my dog my “pet” anymore. She’s my family, my shadow, and sometimes the only reason I get out of bed. She’s not just living in my home, she’s part of my heartbeat.

    - Anonymous

    Beautifully said ❤️

  • My dog greeted our dinner guests… carrying my underwear in his mouth like a prized possession.

    - Anonymous

    “But mom, it smells like you” 🤣

  • I have never told anyone this but my dog knocked over a full glass of wine and then licked it up before I could get to it. Drunk zoomies are real. She is totally fine now in case anyone was worried

    - Anonymous

    This is exactly what this is for ❤️ Love the honesty

  • I know one day I’ll have to say goodbye.

    - Anonymous

    ❤️

  • We walked past a hottie in my complex, and my dog chose that moment to poop… twice… with full eye contact.

    - Anonymous

    DEAD! 🤣

  • He buried his bone in my laundry basket. Now all my socks smell like beef.

    - Anonymous

    I kinda love this hahahah

  • I tell other dog parents that my dog hates being brushed because I'm often too lazy to brush her... Meanwhile, she's 100% okay with being brushed. And, yes, she's a dog that NEEDS to be brushed to be maintained.

    - Anonymous

    I love this. I can totally relate to this. Moby does not like strange people so I am the one grooming him and that does not happen often. The knots are bad hahaha

  • My dog pooped twice and I only had one bag. One. Bag.

    - Anonymous

    And when you have a million bags they only poop once 🤣

  • I’ve fallen because of a leash tangle... and pretended I tripped on a rock. I went so far as to pretend to look for the thing that made me fall.

    - Anonymous

    The dog parent battle is real

  • My dog barked at a baby in a stroller and I just fake-laughed like it was cute. It was NOT.

    - Anonymous

    😆 We’ve all been there

  • I had a friend come over for lunch. I had to explain.... "No, that’s not trash on the floor. It’s the remains of what used to be a R250 toy I bought this morning."

    - Anonymous

    This is why we only have dog people as friends 😜

  • We booked the Airbnb for the fenced yard. Everything else was optional.

    - Anonymous

    I look for the fenced off area AND that there aren’t any dogs on the property that will “pop in and say hello” hahaha

July: Pet Parent Confessions

  • I once tried to discipline my dog by giving him the silent treatment. He thought it was a game and got the zoomies. Five minutes later I was apologizing, on the floor, mid-fetch, wondering who really runs this house. (It’s not me.)

    - Anonymous

    🤣 DEAD! And totally relatable.

  • I adopted my dog to save him, but honestly… he saved me.

    - Anonymous

    Beautiful ❤️

  • Some days, the only reason I get out of bed is because I know my pet needs me.

    - Anonymous

    I can totally relate to this. Some days it is the reason you get up and other days it’s not, and that’s okay.

  • My dog eats better than I do. I once had toast for dinner so I could afford her fancy food

    - Anonymous

    Isn’t this true for all of us? 🤣

  • My dogs are very particular about the type of treats they'll accept. One day at the park, we walked over to greet one of the regular park visitors, who also happens to have 2 Jack Russells. She was feeding her dogs human biltong (which I typically don't give my dogs) and proceeded to give one of my dog's a piece. He took it, spat it out, and immediately peed on the biltong as a "thanks, but no thanks" gesture. I was incredibly embarrassed, and whenever I see her, she still reminds me of the day my dog rejected her treat.

    - Melissa Abrahams (2jacks_and_a_book)

    Only your babies 🤣

  • I have a camera that I watch the dogs on. Sometimes I say they’re having meltdowns even though they’re fast asleep, just so I can leave wherever I am to go home because I miss them.

    - Anonymous

    Zero judgement here, cause same

  • One afternoon, while relaxing on my bed, I started feeling thirsty. As I rose from the bed, I saw something lying on the floor that resembled a piece of leftover treat. I picked it up, turned it over a few times, sniffed it and continued to walk to the kitchen. Now at the time, my dog wasn't fully house-trained so we had a spot with pee pads. As I continued walking past the pee pads, I saw something identical to the wad of "treat" in my hand... You guessed it... I have since been dubbed the human poop scoop.

    - Melissa Abrahams (2jacks_and_a_book)

    I have no words. None.

  • My dog has an Instagram with 4x more followers than me. And yes, I’m proud.

    - Anonymous

    Ummmmm, you are in good company here haha

  • I once took my dog to the vet dressed in actual pyjamas, a messy bun, and one slipper — because she vomited and I panicked. The vet said, “She’s totally fine. Probably just ate something weird.” Meanwhile, I’m the one dry-heaving, holding a half-empty Woolies packet she got sick in. She strutted out like a queen. I looked like her unhinged assistant.

    - Anonymous

    It is safe to say that everyone reading this is going to be able to relate 🤣

  • I said “I love you” and waited for a head tilt before I could leave.

    - Anonymous

    Duh! You need the “love you too”

June: Pet Parent Confessions

  • I cancelled a date because my dog looked too sad. He was fine. I wasn’t.

    - Anonymous

    Same. And zero shame about it .

  • I’ve absolutely kissed my dog on the mouth and then told people I don’t let him on the couch.

    - Anonymous

    I used to do the exact same thing until it was impossible to hide that they were actually the ones allowing me on their couch 🤣

  • My dog’s vet sees me more than my GP. Priorities, neh?

    - Anonymous

    TRUTH!

  • My dog has a rain jacket and booties. I don’t even own an umbrella.

    - Anonymous

    In what world would you get protection from the rain for yourself when you are a dog parent??!?!?!?! Dog comes first every time. DUH!

  • I ran into Woolies in my slippers, hair in some sort of chaotic puff, hoodie covered in fur — you know, peak “just survived the dog park” energy. My dog, on the other hand, was freshly groomed, smelling like coconut and confidence, bandana neatly tied like he was off to a polo match. As we stood in the checkout line, the cashier looked me up and down, then glanced at my dog and said gently, “Shame, are you okay?” No. No, I was not. But my dog? Thriving.

    - Anonymous

    The confession of the week!

May: Pet Parent Confessions

  • I spend more on my dog’s food than on my own groceries. He eats grain-free protein and veg. I eat 2-minute noodles.

    - Anonymous

    RIIGGGGGGHHHHHHHHTTTT? My budget for the dogs is bigger than my own 🤣

  • I once took my dog to a fancy outdoor brunch spot in Cape Town, thinking I was that stylish dog mom. He waited patiently… until my food arrived. The moment I turned to wave at a friend, he leapt onto the table, stole half my avo toast, and proceeded to throw up in front of the entire restaurant. A stranger handed me serviettes while my dog looked proud. I left a big tip… and never went back.

    - Anonymous

    DEAD! 🤣

  • I talk to my dog in a baby voice, but I hate baby talk with actual babies.

    - Anonymous

    To me, the language I use with the dogs is a totally different language I use with babies. The dog version is significantly more obnoxious 🤣

  • I don't really understand why people use grooming services instead of washing their own dogs (unless the dogs need to be shaved, or health concerns prevent the guardian from doing it themselves). To me, it's much less effort and cost to just do it myself. Not too mention it's less stressful for the dogs, because they trust me.

    - Anonymous

    I only groom my Mia every 3 months because her hair grows so quickly! But I don’t get Moby groomed. I cut his hair and I wash him after a super stinky hike or trip but that’s about it. You know your babies better than anyone ♥️

  • I cancel plans just because I miss my dog… and I don’t even feel bad about it.

    - Anonymous

    Same girl

  • There was a time in my life when I felt completely alone. Friends were drifting, family felt far, and I didn’t recognise myself in the mirror. But every single day, my dog would greet me like I was the best part of their world. No judgement, no conditions — just love, tail wags, and quiet company. It’s strange how a creature that can’t speak your language can still understand your silence better than anyone else.

    - Anonymous

    ♥️

  • I started my dog's instagram account a long time ago and I am finding it to have changed way too much since then. I miss the old days where we just wanted to watch one another's dog adventures.

    - Anonymous

    I stepped away from my Instagram account after COVID for a long time and I have also noticed the changes but I really hope this website and my account can bring back elements of the way it was with elements of the new ♥️

  • I am finding it more and more difficult to connect with people at the moment. My dog has become my safest space.

    - Anonymous

    ♥️ I hope this community grows and creates another safe space for you

  • I like natural dog scent (even dirty dogs) more than the smell of dog shampoos and perfumes.

    - Anonymous

    Someone had to say it haha that natural dog smell is my weakness, especially in Winter when Mia is cuddling under the duvet.

  • Sometimes I consider sending my dogs to the SPCA for the day so they can learn humility.

    - Anonymous

    You are not alone! :-)

  • I got a dog to fight the loneliness — now I can't even pee alone.

    - Anonymous

    Whoever submitted this, you are my kind of human 🤣

  • My dog drinks water from my glass. Nobody else is allowed to do that.

    - Suzette

    Rightfully so! Everyone else has germs.

  • I don't really do enrichment activities like snuffling, lick mats, shredding, etc. with my dog. I hate the prepping and cleaning that goes along with it. I do understand (and agree with) the behavioral benefits of it, but I just cannot be bothered. I prefer enriching my dogs with actual training sessions or other adventures, and I think they prefer it too!

    - Anonymous

    This is the kind of honesty Pet Parent Confessions is all about. Zero judgement, just truth <3

  • I’ve stepped in poop barefoot because I was too lazy to check the yard. And yes, I cried.

    - Anonymous

  • I am that person who will wind down their window when they see a cute dog walking on the side, shouting: "you've got a cute dog!!"

    - Eulogi Rheeder (@nacho_and_queso_)

    Same same! With every single dog, regardless of the stares from the humans 🤣

  • I talk about my dog in social situations because I don’t know what else to say. He's my social safety net.

    - Anonymous

    I think that is something we all have in common. Our dogs are our safe space.

  • I’ve stayed in a toxic relationship because the dog loved them. I was more afraid of hurting my dog than myself.

    - Anonymous

    This is a very interesting topic we haven’t had many confessions about. I had something similar where I was too scared to be single because my little Mobster had bonded with my ex and reintroducing him to a potentially new boyfriend in the future felt like too much.

  • I’ve full-on argued with my dog in public like we’re a married couple. People stared. He won.

    - Anonymous

  • Sometimes I pretend I’m in a cooking show when I make his dinner.” ‘Tonight, we’re serving artisanal kibble with a drizzle of salmon oil… He watches me like I’m Gordon Ramsay.

    - Anonymous

    You are Gordon Ramsey ;-)

  • No one told me unconditional love would come with this much fur in my mouth.

    - Anonymous

    Mouth, food, smoothies, leftovers, coffee, clothes and and and and…. 🤣

  • I love her to death, but I’m exhausted and my house smells like wet paws.

    - Anonymous

April: Pet Parent Confessions

  • I don't really do enrichment activities like snuffling, lick mats, shredding, etc. with my dog. I hate the prepping and cleaning that goes along with it. I do understand (and agree with) the behavioral benefits of it, but I just cannot be bothered. I prefer enriching my dogs with actual training sessions or other adventures, and I think they prefer it too!

    - Anonymous

    This is the kind of honesty Pet Parent Confessions is all about. Zero judgement, just truth <3

  • “I’ve stepped in poop barefoot because I was too lazy to check the yard.” And yes, I cried.

    - Anonymous

  • “I’ve stayed in a toxic relationship because the dog loved them.” I was more afraid of hurting my dog than myself.

    - Anonymous

    This is a very interesting topic we haven’t had many confessions about. I had something similar where I was too scared to be single because my little Mobster had bonded with my ex and reintroducing him to a potentially new boyfriend in the future felt like too much.

  • I am that person who will wind down their window when they see a cute dog walking on the side, shouting: "you've got a cute dog!!"

    - Eulogi Rheeder (@nacho_and_queso_)

  • Since bringing my dog home, I’ve learned patience in a way no human could have taught me.

    - Anonymous

  • I avoid conversations about what I feed my dog because “kibble shaming” is a real thing. I believe in the benefits of raw food, but also in the science of high-quality dog food. I choose kibble with fresh food add-ons because I see how my dog benefits from this; he is happy AND healthy.

    - Anonymous

    Receiving this confession made me so happy. There is so much shaming around what we feed our dogs and I think there is just no space for that here. We are all doing our best! Keep doing what you’re doing and thank you for your brave confession. <3

  • When I brought my dog home, I thought I had to be the perfect owner, calm, patient, always knowing exactly what to do. Instead, we stumbled through together, messy and learning, forgiving each other’s flaws every single day. Somewhere along the way, he showed me that love doesn’t have to be perfect to be real.

    - Anonymous

  • My dog showed me that every day is a new day and I must take life by the horns

    - Tyler Vogler

    TRUTH!

  • I used to dread taking my dog to the park, knowing the stares and whispers would follow when he barked or didn’t play “the right way.” People saw a difficult dog; I saw a soul doing his best in a world that often felt too loud. Over time, I stopped apologizing for him and started standing a little taller beside him.

    - Anonymous

    The fact that this confession came the same week I shared Moby’s story was so special <3 Thank you, whoever you are.

  • Patience, unconditional love, respect

    - Dawn Carter

    No more needs to be said when it comes to our animals.

  • I’ve considered rehoming my dog when their behavioural issues were just too much to handle, but I’d never admit it out loud.

    - Anonymous

    I understand this! Don’t be hard on yourself. When I only had Mia I wouldn’t have understood this but Moby has taught me that it can feel like too much but only because their “behaviours” are seen as an inconvenience for how society has been constructed. They are not broken or less deserving. DM me if you need any help or someone to talk to.

  • I purchase my clothes according to what colour or fabric is going to collect the least amount of dog hair

    - Anonymous

  • I may have planned holidays around where my dog would be most comfortable, and not where I would have the most fun.

    - Anonymous

    I see nothing wrong with this. I plan my holidays purely based on where I can bring my dogs and where they will have the most fun.

  • I’ve spent more money on my dog’s comfort than my own, and honestly, I’m okay with it.

    - Anonymous

    Same.

  • There are moments when I feel guilty for leaving my dog alone, even for just a few minutes, because I know how hard it is for them. The heart-wrenching sound of their crying is a weight I carry, but I remind myself that each day we’re making progress, and every effort is helping them feel more secure and loved. Our bond is stronger than the anxiety they feel.

    - Anonymous

  • Sometimes I have moments when I regret that I rescued a dog with pre-existing traumas that I am trying so hard to undo. The guilt and hard work feels overwhelming. But then I remind myself how far they've come and that it's all part of our beautiful and imperfect journey together. Rehabilitation is hard but the joy outweighs the overwhelm.

    - Anonymous

    I cannot tell this person how much I relate to this with Moby. Thank you for sharing <3

  • My dog chased a child on a bicycle at the park which made the child scream at the top of his lungs which only made my dog chase him harder. I sprinted to get him under control while my brother was in hysterics watching this all go down.

    - Anonymous

  • I told a guy at the dog park I was single dog mom just to avoid saying, “I share custody of my dog with my ex.”

    - Anonymous

  • I took my dog to the Saturday market to feel like a put-together dog mom sipping a freezo and radiating calm energy. Instead, he lunged at a chicken burger stand, dragged me through a pile of artisan bread, and knocked over a chalkboard menu in front of horrified onlookers. I ended up buying 4 burgers out of guilt, dog covered in flour, and haven’t worn that “Good Boy” bandana since

    - Anonymous

  • Upon receiving the keys to our new home the previous time we moved into what was then our new town, everyone was super excited and nervous. One of my silly sausages (we won’t name names), both of whom are very well potty-trained, crouched behind the realtor who was chatting with dog dad and started to poop! I was so shocked that I just reacted and grabbed the poop with my index finger and thumb (yay for a healthy poop) and walked outside without making a sound or alerting anyone! To my further delight, the water was still off, and dog dad had the politest, longest chat with the realtor while I stood there with my fingers in the air, waiting for him to finish and get the water running.

    - Lelanie Venter (@twolonghairshorties)

  • I brought my dog to a pet-friendly café and he pooped on the welcome mat while making direct eye contact with the manager.

    - Anonymous

  • We were having a sweet park date, everything going perfectly—until my dog jumped into his lap mid-conversation and immediately started licking his face like it was a peanut butter jar. He tried to play it cool, but then my dog sneezed directly into his mouth. I offered him a napkin... and never saw him again.

    - Anonymous

March: Pet Parent Confessions

  • I took my dog with me to a very important meeting at a very fancy hotel. Halfway through the meeting she figured it was a good time to express her anal glands, right onto my lap. I pretended I couldn’t smell anything for as long as I could, and eventually blamed the fishy smell on the harbour. We were no where near the harbour.

    - Carolyn Dudgeon (@paws.a.while)

  • I’ve fake-yawned just to see if my dog would yawn back, and when they do, I feel like we’re soulmates.

    - Anonymous

  • One morning I had to pull a length of grass and poop out of Charlie’s bum because it got stuck. We both looked awkwardly at each other and knew that was the moment we both bonded beyond anything 🤣 we’ve been besties ever since!

    - Lauren Aliriza (@beingbasti)

  • I’ve moved my sleeping position to accommodate my dog… while they sprawl out like they pay the bills.

    - Anonymous

  • I used to drop my puppy at doggy day care once a week just to get a break from the chaos that is raising a puppy 🤭 I also used to give her rescue tablets to calm her down because she was so busy. She was exhausting! That same dog will be 9 this year, and I would give ANYTHING to have her be that young and vibrant forever 🥲

    - Anonymous

  • I use my dog as an excuse to go home from a braai when I don't want to be there anymore . Hahahaha

    - Anonymous

  • Sometimes I take my dog in the car with me if I am going to be going into a 'dodgy area', to do quick stock collection for work, this is to give people the perception that I have a trained security dog. Truthfully, he just has a mean bark, can't walk on a leash correctly and is scared of thunder.

    - Anonymous

  • I judge people based on how my dog reacts to them. And my dog is always right.

    - Anonymous

  • I leave the TV on for my dog when I leave the house so they won’t feel lonely.

    - Anonymous

  • I use my dog as an alarm clock. Not because she actually wakes me up, but because I set her feeding time half an hour earlier than I need to be awake. That way, when she barks like the world is ending, I can get up, feed her, and then sneak back into bed for a guilt-free 30-minute nap. The truth? Sometimes I pretend to still be asleep, just to see how long her patience lasts. Spoiler: Not long.

    - Anonymous

  • I've apologized to my dog for accidentally hurting them more than I've ever apologized to a human.

    - Anonymous

  • My dog once had a tummy bug and the shits... Do you want to know how I found out? I woke up at 4am in the morning with a smell that burnt my nostrils... it stank so badly. I thought my dog had farted while sleeping next to me on my bed. But, no, she had shit all over my bed and I was centimetres away from rolling over into it! So, there I was at 4am having to take off my bedding, scrub my mattress AND bath my dog because she was covered in poo

    - Anonymous

  • When my dog is off lead and ahead of me, and makes a poop, I will pretend that I'm looking away so I don't need to run over to pick it up

    - Anonymous

  • My dog tries to eat people on walks, and I don't want to muzzle him because I enjoy him keeping strangers away from me

    - Anonymous

  • My dog and my boss have the same name. The amount of times I have called my boss by my dog's nickname is not appropriate. 🤣 I should have been fired by now

    - Anonymous

  • When my precious Tinky lost her sight she showed me what real courage and perseverance was

    - Carol Palmer

  • When I first got Nachie, I asked the groomers to shave her because she loves rolling in all kinds of things. But then when she had surgery in 2023 and 2024, she couldn’t be groomed for a number of weeks. I then started noticing these cute curls on her back legs and bum. Now I let her live looking like a menace and hooligan because those curls are too cute to cut.

    - Nacho & Queso (@nacho_and_queso_)

  • I talk to my dog like they're a person and get offended when they ignore me

    - Anonymous

  • I screamed at Metrofibre because my wifi was down and all of their instructions weren’t fixing it. Eventually they came out to my home and I was so rude & such a d*ck 🤣 The dogs were in the bedroom at this time. He asked if I happened to have a puppy....... I said yes. He chuckled and showed me the fibre line that had been chewed through by said puppy. 🤦‍♀️ I now have a fibre line that goes up and across the roof to avoid future chewing 🤣 No solution for my bruised ego

    - Lauren (@dog_lovesa)

  • When my Weimeraner was young, he used to steal washing off the washing line, but it was always a bra! Lost many good supporters that way. He was also 2 when he was doing this, that’s when I found out Weimeraners only calm down at around 5ish.

    - Christi-Mari Petzer

  • Last week my boy walked in front of me and tripped me, because you know..he’s my shadow. To counter falling on him I swung in the opposite direction, falling face first into the wall and slid down in slow motion. 😂 Looked like I had been in a bar fight for a few days but that’s okay, I wouldn’t have him any other way. 🤍

    - Anonymous

  • Sometimes I pretend to pick up my dog's poo in the park so other dog owners don't judge me 🤣

    - Anonymous

  • My dogs keep me motivated to keep training and pushing myself

    - Anonymous

  • My new dog helped me heal in ways I never thought were possible after loosing my 7 year old cocker spaniel to Lymphoma last year. With each wag of his tail and each moment we share, I am reminded that God is good, and sometimes, our hearts just need time and grace to open again.

    - Lia Kriel

  • My dogs show me the meaning of unconditional love. My dog's absolute trust in me makes me more aware of my actions

    - Carol Palmer

  • I have chased my dog around a park to pull a piece of grass from his bum after he pooped.

    - Anonymous

  • My beautiful boy Dexter has been my rock through the most challenging transitions of my life. With every moment, he remained my constant, offering an unwavering love that knew no bounds. He gently reminded me to stay grounded, and no matter where I was emotionally, he loved me with all his heart - unconditionally.

    - Kim Stedler (ecokimmo)

  • I miss my Goldens so much :-( wish I could pit them in a Pudo locker and ship them down to me

    - Lauren Aliriza (@beingbasti)

  • Many years ago, our boxer dog ate one of my g-strings and I had to pull it out of her ass

    - Anonymous