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The doghouse

I am getting a bit fed up with the "if I had a dog, I'd get a REAL one" comments

55 replies

HopeForTheBest · 15/07/2013 09:12

I know it doesn't matter, I know it's stupid, but I am going to snap at the next person who makes a degoratory comment about the size of my dogs.
We have a 7yo parson russell terrier and a week ago we got a 7month old rescue pup who is a border terrier cross. So yes, they are small dogs.

This weekend just seemed to be really bad for it. We were at a thing on Friday and someone was congratulating us on our new dog, asking what kind it was etc and immediately there comments of "oh if I got a dog I'd get a real one" and "nothing under my knee height counts as a dog" etc etc.

Then yesterday at a bbq my friend was talking about her old dog (passed away years ago) and made the same sort of comments, how if they got another one it'd have to be "proper" dog etc. Both mine were there, and were not being in any way anything unlike dogs, so I really don't understand it.

I get that people like different breeds and looks of dog, and some prefer large dogs, I really do understand that. But it is beginning to piss me off that anything under eg labrador size is not considered a "proper" dog! And even if you think it, WHY would you say it to someone who has TWO SMALL DOGS??

I am tempted to come back with "Oh I'm the same about husbands, I wouldn't want one under 6' 2", he's not really a proper man otherwise, imo" :o :o

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Dumpylump · 15/07/2013 09:17

I had a thread about exactly this a while ago - possibly under my old name - I am the proud owner of a cairn terrier and a chihuahua, so you can imagine the sort of comments I get!
I try and let it wash over me, and tbh, my dogs are so fab that actually, I don't really care what other people think! Grin

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Trills · 15/07/2013 09:22

What do you think this is, a robot dog?

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cherryflip · 15/07/2013 09:26

I am a proud owner of Toy poodle and he rocks . I get fed up with being asked what he is crossed with , oh hes just a poodle not a jackapoo or yorkiepoo or any other poo grrrr.

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GrimmaTheNome · 15/07/2013 09:36

Oddly enough I've never had anyone say that about our dog, who is a standard dachshund. Possibly because they've heard his bark! And while this one is a softy, our last one used to regularly intimidate larger dogs.

We do get a lot of 'you've worn his legs off' or 'was he a Doberman when you started' when people see him at the top of a mountain or suchlike. If I had a pound for ever time I've heard that one...Grin

Of course they are all 'proper dogs'. Its great, a whole dog in a smaller package.

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Leafleaflea · 15/07/2013 09:40

"Yes but these holographic ones are SO low maintenance".

Your line about husbands is BRILLIANT. Use that. Especially if the husband is a shortarse Grin

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ajandjjmum · 15/07/2013 09:41

Love your husband comment OP - that said with a smile your face would soon shut people up!

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BeerTricksPotter · 15/07/2013 09:45

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NandH · 15/07/2013 09:46

I know what you mean! I'm currently looking after my parents papion (think that's how you spell you) it's basically a long haired slighty bigger chuwawa (can't spell sorry haa). Everywhere I've taken the dog I get comments from people saying 'you can't walk cats', 'is that really a dog' ....from complete strangers! Odd, personally I like the dog :)

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flowery · 15/07/2013 09:49

How weird. We have a springer spaniel now but used to have a Cavalier and not once did we get any comments like that.

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LEMisdisappointed · 15/07/2013 09:54

LMAO at those who don't think terriers are real dogs - let him look after your pair for a week and see what they say then!

I have had rotweillers - i guess it doesn't get more "real" than that, and now have two small terriers - believe me they are ALL dog. I have also had a chihuahua and that was a real dog too! vicious little fecker

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colditz · 15/07/2013 09:54

I don't know, it's a lack of imagination on their part, I think.

I have a very tiny jack russell terrier, she is five and she is a fucking dog. She does doggy things in a doggy way. Want a cold nose in your bum crack at five am? She's on it for ya. Sick of having a tidy garden? Well, she's gonna poop and dig all over that for ya, because she loves you. Not enough smelly meat based chewy things down the side of the sofa? That's right on her to do list!

She's a dog, I don't know what to say to people who declare that they'd rather have a "real" one.

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HopeForTheBest · 15/07/2013 10:27

I get preference, I really do. But there seems to be this perception that the smaller dogs aren't "real" or "proper" dog. Sort of like "DogLite".
And LEM yes, they are saying this about terriers!

And while I could possibly sort of understand why you might think that about something poor little thing that's been blowdried and had diamonds plaited into its fur and is being clutched in a gold handbag under Paris Hilton's arm, I still don't see how you could actually say it to someone! And even in my example, I'd be more likely to think something about letting it be a real dog iyswim, because THEY ARE ALL DOGS.

Not sure I have the balls to actually say the husband comment, but you can be sure I'll be thinking it! :O

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Abra1d · 15/07/2013 10:32

If people think my terrier is not a real dog they can try distracting her away from potential prey. She is also incredibly plucky and will not take any nonsense from any other dog of any other size. She also acts as a great burglar deterrent. With her teethdesigned to crack the spine of a rat or larger animalshe could be dangerous to humans, too, but we have spent a lot of time training her to be sweet and loving with human beings, even those outside her family pack. I hope the owners of 'real' dogs can say the same

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stooshe · 15/07/2013 10:41

Oh, the fetish for ugly, large dogs. I say fetish, because when I was younger, just on my road we had a mixed bag of dogs. Doberman ( regal looking and just as "butch" as an ugly bull terrier dog or whatever those common dogs are called), labrador,mongrels. The dogs were more representative of the owners and what their kids liked, now it's all a bit homogenous with mainly those bull dog looking dogs. Even the guy who used to have one of those back in the day hasn't insisted on getting another one. When that dog left this mortal coil, he got something prettier. I do notice that (especially in London) that a lot of people who previously never came from a dog owning family went out and bought one of those ugly assed "status" dogs as soon as they became very popular in the working class "endz". Nothing wrong with your dog. At least you haven't got two status dogs in a one bedroom flat shitting up the whole balcony ( yes, I had a lovely ex neighbour).

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LEMisdisappointed · 15/07/2013 10:47

See, Stooshe, your attitude is equally as ridiculous

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GrimmaTheNome · 15/07/2013 10:50

I wonder if there's a difference in attitude in urban vs countryside areas?

In the countryside, there's lots of terriers - most farms have them and they are working dogs. The farmer might have a lab or two, especially if they shoot, and of course collies if they have sheep - but they have their tough little ratters too.

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ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 15/07/2013 12:01

Terriers are too real for me. I can't keep up with the buggers Grin

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MmeLindor · 15/07/2013 12:05

We've never had a comment like that, despite having a ridiculously cute little pooch. I wonder if it is more likely when you live in the country?

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Pootles2010 · 15/07/2013 12:08

Oh lord, my toddler is guilty of this! He's only really used to mil's two old english sheepdogs, I tried to tell him that a sausagedog we 'met' in town was a dog, he didn't believe me!

Very embarassing... I love little dogs, they always seem to have such personality about them somehow?!

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ChickensHaveNoEyebrows · 15/07/2013 12:11

I have one spaniel (total nutjob) and one weeny cross breed (cute as and looks a bit like a sheep). The sheepy one gets such comments. It's odd, because both dogs will be tearing through the woods, or running laps around a field at the time. You know, being dogs.

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ButThereAgain · 15/07/2013 12:14

Parson Russell are the realest dogs you can get! Not that small, and with ten times the intelligence, zeal, agility, stamina as most other dogs. And they are physically as balanced, natural, proportioned as their wolfy ancestors. They are even bloody fast runners, having been bred to keep up with a fox hunt.

You won't regret choosing that breed. They are brilliant!

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PetiteRaleuse · 15/07/2013 12:23

We have a goldie and my toddler often shouts 'cat' when she sees very small dogs :o despite us having cats, so she does know the difference. I hope people don't think I have taught her to be rude to small dogs.

OP your comeback re the husbands is excellent. As someone said upthread, said with a smile whoever says it will wither (unless they are a 6'4" bloke or married to one.)

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VivaLeBeaver · 15/07/2013 12:28

There's definitely dog breed snobbery round here, but there wouldn't be against yours. I'm quite rural, so sporting and gun type dogs are the only "acceptable" breed.

It's all springers, terriers, collies, labs. I used to have a greyhound which was acceptable as he was good at catching rabbits. New dog is small but everyone thinks he's a terrier (he isn't).

I think having a poodle or a shi tzu would have you marked as been a townie. Grin

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Pizdets · 15/07/2013 12:57

Oh god, we have a little dog and I've never had comments like the above in London - we mainly get compliments as he's a cutie, but I'm worried about moving him out to the country in a couple of years now! Maybe I could fluff up his tail and pretend he's one of the cats to avoid the wrath of the gundog owners??

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ditavonteesed · 15/07/2013 13:04

you dont get any more real dog than terriers. My terrier is a real dog, dont know what the spaniel is, the terrier thinks he is a disgrace to dog kind.

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