Remarks about my large breed dog (rant)

[Tankstar]

Those comments that you made about small dogs irritate ME. I don't know if you were just being sarcastic and trying to make a point (I think you were)... but you are doing the exact same thing that you hate to small dog owners. Making stereotypes and rude remarks. I can't stand when people tell me that they're dog can "eat" mine, or that he's an anklebiter, or whatever. I don't get so many of those comments as my friend does though who has 4lb and 6lb yorkies and the comments about how tiny they are get REALLY old. Really fast... it goes both ways. Super gigantic dogs get loads of comments and super tiny dogs also get them. People can be stupid when it comes to both.

I agree. I was going to say the same thing.

I dont own a small dog currently. Id call the beagle small, but to most people he is medium. I have nothing against any dogs, or any size. a dog is a dog.

But small dogs ARE dogs too. They were (for the most part) bred for a job too, just like a large dog. I doubt the OP's dog would be a good badge dog, digging down in to badger holes and flushing them out, so hence a small dogs job.

On that note.

I have a collie and beagle. I hear commenst all the time.

For Blaze I hear all the regular annoying things.
Is that Lassie? yes its the famouse lassie from the 30's, he is so magical he has lived this long.
Does he save any one? Oh on a daily basis.
and other stupid comments.

with Soloman I hear stupid things like.
Beagles are dumb. I had one that would run away and howl all day long. I always just tell them its a matter of training. Every one knows a stupid beagle it seems

 

[Renee750il]

I judge dogs on an individual basis as to weather or not I like them, and even then I keep my remarks to myself (atleast while around the owner) . But if I see a dog that's "rare" or that I just don't see all the time, I comment on the fact of just that. To me it's normal, and there is nothing rude or insulting about it.

I think most of us here are the same way . . . but some of the owners sure can make it difficult

I thought people could be obnoxious about Kharma . . . and then I got Tallulah and found out just how incredibly hateful and rude people really could be to a dog :madgo:

 

[Laurelin]

I think part of the deal with the paps is people think they're chihuahuas and chis have a bad reputation around here for biting. Probably more than any other breed. The people that do know what they are or find out that they're not chihuahuas will almost always immediately comment on how they 'don't bite like chihuahuas do'.

I really feel bad for the responsible chihuahua owners. They must get hell all the time.

Then there's also the 'yappy ankle biter' stereotype so a lot of people have grown up hearing that toy sized dogs are mean and will bite.

I actually do like people asking if they can pet the dog first though. Good practice no matter the dog's size.

 

[Shakou]

I think most of us here are the same way . . . but some of the owners sure can make it difficult

I thought people could be obnoxious about Kharma . . . and then I got Tallulah and found out just how incredibly hateful and rude people really could be to a dog :madgo:

Being the owner of a dog that's part Pitbull, I get nasty remarks based on her breed on a daily basis from other dog owners. And there's a lot of negative information I could tell people based solely on their dog's breed, but that's not fair to the dog. It's the owner that's being a dumbass (usually).

 

[Renee750il]

It doesn't matter how stupid you know someone is, it still gets under your skin when someone informs you that your dog shouldn't be allowed to live "just because." For one thing, you know there are a lot more of them out there working to try to make sure that your dog DOESN'T get to live.

 

[Greenmagick]

I am a bit confused...several people have said "yeah, but it goes both ways".

I thought that was kind of what everyone else was saying??? Thats what I got anyways

 

[Renee750il]

That's pretty much it Both ends -- and everything in the middle -- has grounds to rant at one time or another. We should be able to come here and rant between friends without being scolded for it.

 

[Laurelin]

That's pretty much it Both ends -- and everything in the middle -- has grounds to rant at one time or another. We should be able to come here and rant between friends without being scolded for it.

Well yes, but really we should still be conscious of what we're saying and not resort to throwing back more stereotypes.

Place a pit bull stereotype in where she's put a small dog one. I think that might've gotten different responses from some members.

Just my opinion. And no, before anyone asks I am not having a fit over it or anything because I know it will be read that way.

 

[~Jessie~]

Well yes, but really we should still be conscious of what we're saying and not resort to throwing back more stereotypes.

Place a pit bull stereotype in where she's put a small dog one. I think that might've gotten different responses from some members.

Just my opinion. And no, before anyone asks I am not having a fit over it or anything because I know it will be read that way.

I agree. I was planning on staying away from this thread until I decided I just couldn't.

I know that I get very, very irritated when people tell me my dogs aren't real dogs, they are bug eyed, they're the size of rats, their dog could eat mine for a snack, etc, etc. It gets old really quickly.

Yeah, I understand this is a rant, but I couldn't imagine saying "Yeah, my dog is small, but you have a pit bull which has dangerous lock jaws and eats kids for lunch." It goes both ways. Great, you feel better after ranting, but you just put down every small dog on the forum.

 

[Shakou]

That's pretty much it Both ends -- and everything in the middle -- has grounds to rant at one time or another. We should be able to come here and rant between friends without being scolded for it.

I don't think people have an issue with ranting, I think they have an issue with their dogs being insulted. Weather it was intentional or not, I can see how the small dog owners on this forum were offended. Two wrongs don't make a right.

 

[Jules]

I'm pretty sure calling someone's dog a "bug eyed mop" and "not a real dog" is a bit more of an insult then saying your dog is big as a horse. I don't know what breed of dog you have, but I've made remarks like that towards some of the larger Great Danes and Newfoundlands I've seen, simply out of surprise because it's not a dog you see everyday. You chose the breed, now deal with people's reactions. It kind of comes with the package of owning a large dog.

Not trying to be mean. Just saying.

After thinking about it, I tend to agree with this. Yes, we can all rant and rave here- but still, I think the rule "think before you type" applies here, especially since a lot of emotion can't be portrayed through a computer screen. I can see how, as a small dog owner, I'd be irritated, even if only slightly because I understand it is a rant.

There are always people who will comment on the obvious. Maybe it is to strike up a conversation, maybe it is just because they are oblivious and like hearing themselves talk. It used to be hurtful when people crossed the street when I walked T-Bone, it still irritates me when they ask "does she bite?" instead of "can I pet her?", but it is just one of those things that you need to shrug off. I keep remembering that, when we adopted T-Bone, a question was if we could imagine dealing with all the negative stigma that comes with owning her. I knew there would always be people who would throw stupid comments at her or be prejudiced against her before ever knowing how sweet she is with people.

As long as they are not downright nasty and mean- I would just pick and choose how much I let other people get to me, life is just too short

 

[Linds]

Yeah, I understand this is a rant, but I couldn't imagine saying "Yeah, my dog is small, but you have a pit bull which has dangerous lock jaws and eats kids for lunch." It goes both ways. Great, you feel better after ranting, but you just put down every small dog on the forum.

This, exactly

You know, I actually avoid commenting on people's dogs that are in the large category because it always seems to be taken with an eye roll, scoff or a "yeah, I've heard it all before" even if I'm not talking at all about the dogs size and just being friendly

Luckily, having middle of the road size dogs with Traveler being 38 pounds and Kaylee 80-90s I don't get many size comments other than Traveler being the perfect size. Almost all conversations about either one of them typically go the same way with the same comments. But, people are taking time to try and strike up a conversation with me because my dog peeked their interest and I'm not going to get angry or mock them because I've heard it all before.

Yes, everyone can rant and rave but you are still responsible for what you say and over the Internet words can be quoted and their is no inflection. I can't help but see how people would take what was said as derogatory comments. Whether or not they were meant that way, that's how they sounded to some people.

 

[Renee750il]

Linda wasn't insulting anyone here or there dogs, though. She was ranting -- among friends (or so she thought) -- about all the things that COULD have been said back, that the small dog owners she was getting crap from should be aware of, and would be pissed if she said, but felt like it was fine for them to make the snide remarks about her big dog. It's the hypocrisy of the owners, not the dogs, that was the real point of the rant.

Granted, I probably know her better than a lot of you, but still . . .

 

[~Jessie~]

I'll make comments about size, but never anything hurtful. I've told people with small dogs "aww, your *insert breed* is so small and adorable!" and I've told people with large dogs "Your dog looks like such a fun, big doggy to cuddle with!" I try to avoid the size comments all together because I'm sure owners with dogs from either extremes (small and large) hear it all the time.

It's irritating when we get the "My dog could eat your comment" which we get quite often. Awesome. My dog weighs 3lbs and your dog weighs 75lbs. If you feel the need to comment on my dog's size, why not have more tact and keep it at "Wow, your dog is so small! I haven't seen a dog that small since *insert name* was a puppy."

 

[darkchild16]

Linda wasn't insulting anyone here or there dogs, though. She was ranting -- among friends (or so she thought) -- about all the things that COULD have been said back, that the small dog owners she was getting crap from should be aware of, and would be pissed if she said, but felt like it was fine for them to make the snide remarks about her big dog. It's the hypocrisy of the owners, not the dogs, that was the real point of the rant.

Granted, I probably know her better than a lot of you, but still . . .

thats how I took it too. Infact I say the same things in my head when someone says something about Oakley.

 

[-bogart-]

Linda wasn't insulting anyone here or there dogs, though. She was ranting -- among friends (or so she thought) -- about all the things that COULD have been said back, that the small dog owners she was getting crap from should be aware of, and would be pissed if she said, but felt like it was fine for them to make the snide remarks about her big dog. It's the hypocrisy of the owners, not the dogs, that was the real point of the rant.

Granted, I probably know her better than a lot of you, but still . . .

This is what I got from her post also. I dont know her well or have a small dog though. Well I do have a small dog , but we dont bring her in public .

 

[lizzybeth727]

I think part of the deal with the paps is people think they're chihuahuas and chis have a bad reputation around here for biting. Probably more than any other breed. The people that do know what they are or find out that they're not chihuahuas will almost always immediately comment on how they 'don't bite like chihuahuas do'.

I really feel bad for the responsible chihuahua owners. They must get hell all the time.

YES. It's really irritating. I've had mothers frantically pull their children away from Luna - who LOVES kids - saying, "DON'T pet THAT one, it'll bite you!"

The rat comments are particularly annoying, because it's usually, "ugly as a rat," or something derogatory like that. It's annoying because I happen to also like rats and think they're adorable. So not only does that comment insult my dog, but also my pet rats.

Yeah, I understand this is a rant, but I couldn't imagine saying "Yeah, my dog is small, but you have a pit bull which has dangerous lock jaws and eats kids for lunch." It goes both ways. Great, you feel better after ranting, but you just put down every small dog on the forum.

Exactly.

 

[-bogart-]

darn it breee you beat me.

 

[Renee750il]

One that really gets to me is when someone is standing there letting their toy breed snap and snarl and bite at one of mine -- who are too polite to snap back (yes, even the APBT although people aren't as apt to let it happen with her and I try even harder to keep them away from her) -- and when mine steps behind me to get away from it they try to make fun of how that big dog is afraid.

Um, no. More like mine has a sense of proportion and fairness, while you and yours are totally oblivious to the fact that I probably should drop kick both of you for being jerkwads. I've been tempted on more than one occasion to reach down and let myself get bitten just so I could turn them in

 

[~Jessie~]

YES. It's really irritating. I've had mothers frantically pull their children away from Luna - who LOVES kids - saying, "DON'T pet THAT one, it'll bite you!"

The rat comments are particularly annoying, because it's usually, "ugly as a rat," or something derogatory like that. It's annoying because I happen to also like rats and think they're adorable. So not only does that comment insult my dog, but also my pet rats.

Exactly.

We were at Petsmart with Tucker and Rory. A little girl wanted to pet Rory, asked Ian if it was okay, and her dad was fine with that. Then she asked her dad if she could pet Tucker and before I could say yes, her dad says "you'd better not pet that one."