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Silly/Dumb comments and the people who speak them!?

JuneBugg

Well-Known Member
So.
I just want to know, what are some of the (sometimes stupid) things people ask/say to you guys or do when you're out and about with your Molossers?

With my female, I get "let's put a saddle on that thing!"
"Wow, what a handsome boy. How old?" Or "Is that that Kujo dog!?" Or even "Hey look! Its the sandlot dog!" "You have a beautiful bullmasriff." "Who's walking who?" The last one confounds me when both my dogs are walking evenly beside me and respectively. Haha.
I also do not own bull mastiffs. Haha they're both Neo/English crosses.


With my male; PSA in training, its a bit different. He's black brindle with a black face, and people ask "What is he? Lab and...?" Or "is he friendly?" Obviously he's friendly if he's in training to be a service dog... Then there are the people who ask his name when its right on his best.

I especially get angry about the people who pet him without asking. Especially when his vest says do not distract!!

Just curious on what other's have heard or experienced. Haha
Good or bad!
 

Smokeycat

Well-Known Member
The despised saddle. I get that every time I take Kryten out. I've had people argue with me that Jiggers (Irish Setter x) has to be female because 'she' is so beautiful.
 

Sadies Mom

Well-Known Member
So.
I just want to know, what are some of the (sometimes stupid) things people ask/say to you guys or do when you're out and about with your Molossers?

With my female, I get "let's put a saddle on that thing!"
"Wow, what a handsome boy. How old?" Or "Is that that Kujo dog!?" Or even "Hey look! Its the sandlot dog!" "You have a beautiful bullmasriff." "Who's walking who?" The last one confounds me when both my dogs are walking evenly beside me and respectively. Haha.
I also do not own bull mastiffs. Haha they're both Neo/English crosses.


With my male; PSA in training, its a bit different. He's black brindle with a black face, and people ask "What is he? Lab and...?" Or "is he friendly?" Obviously he's friendly if he's in training to be a service dog... Then there are the people who ask his name when its right on his best.

I especially get angry about the people who pet him without asking. Especially when his vest says do not distract!!

Just curious on what other's have heard or experienced. Haha
Good or bad!

I get all of them. But then there are the ankle biter parents...."Oh, watch out...that dog will eat you..." At first I just smiled and walked away, but now I tell them "Small dogs are no longer on the menu, because it gives her diarrhea"
 

DDSK

Well-Known Member
Does he bite?
She is wearing a hot pink collar and leash.
She has no balls hanging down.
I get tired of it and just tell them yes he is uncontrollable and you should stay back!
 

Catia

Well-Known Member
LOL!!!
I work with the public daily, get used to hearing the same general comments!!!

Since your pooch is in training & going to be a therapy dog, & if you're actually going to take him/her places & have him/her work, these same questions & comments will be 10x what you have now, on a regular basis, every time you take him to work. It's just in people's nature.
They're trying to make a connection, & they can only draw from the information/experiences they've had.
Most people don't know the various breeds & are just connecting to something similar they've seen on TV or in a movie.
You will be forever explaining breed, of both your pooches.

If you're going to be using him with elderly & children, you may often hear the same comments multiple times from the same people, even if they are familiar with your pooch, even if you've explained it to them more than once.
You can either be the educator, or you can smile & nod, but find a way to not let it annoy you, because it's not going to end.

My personal experience with the "let's put a saddle on that thing"--this applies to every dog, of ANY breed that is larger than say a 75lb shepherd!!!!
It just seems to be the thing so many people say, no matter where you are, city, country, park, it's crazy, but this is the "go to" phrase.
This has been said to me so many times in the past, with shepherds, danes, rotties, labs-anything that is even slightly bigger than most family dogs.

Crazy--it has been said to me even about Tessa since she was 11.5 weeks old!!!!
She currently the size of a male golden retriever at 10.5 months, so not a "big dog" by my thoughts, she's regular dog size in my mind--she is the smallest of the pooches I've had, but, well, apparently, I need a saddle.
I have pics of Tessa from 11.5 wks to present at my desk at work. I hear the saddle comment now at least once per week, since she is no longer "new news" with my co-workers. Before that it was daily :)
I've accepted that's their way of breaking the ice.

Tessa is ALWAYS mistaken for a male. ALWAYS. This blows my mind, because she is such a feminine girl--in MY eyes--She's got 'ear frills' & is just pretty-but again, that's in MY eyes.
For the general public, since they see her a "big", they equate this to "male". It was the same with my last pooch who was a rottie/shep/dane mix.

The "who's walking who?"--yes, sometimes this one comment bugs me more than most, because I take it personally to mean they feel I cannot control my pooch.
***This is said to me even when she is being a perfect angel.***
It feels insulting, and directed at me personally, because I am one of those dog owners who takes pride in how well my pooch responds.

In actuality, it's just something people say to break the ice, like all of the other 'stupid comments'.

Most of theses comments are really just people trying to connect, their segue, to get a little closer to your pooch, because for some reason everyone wants to get a little closer to a "big' pooch, they do lure people in--myself included!

A peek inside my tortured mind:

Previously, I've always had extremely obedient, compliant breeds.
That was "my thing"... pooches I took everywhere, that always behaved, because I PUT THE TIME IN.
It was a social thing for me, & I derived a LOT of pleasure & met a lot of nice people through my pooches.
I've actually had hotels invite me back, was on a list-because despite my pooches being "big"--because they were so well behaved.
It was a source of pride for me personally.

So this one comment, "who's walking who?", hits home for me on a deeper level.
I'm working on this one, because Tessa, being TM, is stubborn & independent.
She sometimes pulls & when she doesn't listen, ****I feel embarrassed or humiliated***
So it's my issue entirely--one of the biggest hurdles I've had when it comes to accepting Tessa's TM-ness, is that I cannot ever depend on her to LISTEN, & the deep humility I feel when she does not.
The frustration is maddening some days.
Much like if your child doesn't listen in public, it's a reflection....
Or at least this is how I have always viewed it.
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that no matter how much time I put in, I cannot bank on Tessa responding the way ***I*** want her to. Compliance isn't in her genetics.
Sometimes I feel my efforts are futile, and a degree of apathy sets in, & in those dark hours, I wish I had a TM owner psychiatrist to get me over/through this issue.
 
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fdchampion

Well-Known Member
Mostly just "is that a pit or pit mix?" followed by "Are you sure?" I was at Tractor Supply a few months ago and a lady that works there asked me what kind dog of Titan was and I told her he was a Cane Corso Italian Mastiff, her reply was "he doesn't look like a mastiff, I have a Russian Mastiff and he(her dog) looks nothing like your dog" I just kinda looked at her with that WTF look and walked off. I wanted to say NO Shit lady...He doesn't look like my dog because he isn't a Cane Corso he is a Russian Mastiff!!
 
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Mario

Well-Known Member
I get those comments with Mario and he's not even huge. Plus people sometimes ask about him being a boxer - he's not. He's just still growing and I'm personally happy he's growing slowly (not rapidly getting huge) as I think it will help him in the long run health wise. Just yesterday I had him out for a walk & a guy was driving past pulled over to ask about my boxer - he's still bigger than most boxers I know of & has a gigantic tail. He then told me how he'd just ordered a new brindle boxer puppy. :/ umm... Okaaay? I wanted to ask where from amazon? :p
But mostly I think people around here only know about EM or DDB(as Hooch) so they have no idea what a bullmastiff is. I'm always happy to tell them & rave about the breed & what a fantastic dog he is. :)
I agree it's just conversation starters. Most people aren't dog crazy - they know labs, retrievers, pointers, toy breeds ... Oh and Doodles -?everyone loves a doodle something these days. Nope not us :p
 

cheyanne

Member
I have a mini chiweenie...well she's kinda fat so she not so mini but anywho I have had people come by and just pick her up. Lil Bit hates being picked up by anybody but me. This lady just swooped dog and pick up Lil Bit and has making that awful baby talk at her. Lil Bit was glaring at this lady and rumbling, I tried telling the lady to put my dog down and even tried taking Lil Bit from her but the lady had a death grip on her. Finaly Lil Bit took matters in her own paws and peed all over that lady. I was cracking up, the lady not so much. Oh and I get a lot of hot dog jokes and get along lil doggy jokes.
 

Catia

Well-Known Member
Of course there is the famous--"does your dog bite?" comment that is always asked after the person is already petting my pooch.

Of course I always give the "ALL dogs bite" response. I've had a few adults freeze while considering the facts.

Kids mostly respond "I have a dog & my dog doesn't bite!"--to which I respond "you dog doesn't bite you, but all dogs CAN bite"

I've been pretty suprised by the responses I've gotten from some of the kids, they think about it for a few seconds, then start telling me who their dog HAS bitten LOL
I've gotten more than a couple of "ya he bit my little sister/brother/grandma/mom's boyfriend/neighbors dog..."
 

JuneBugg

Well-Known Member
Since your pooch is in training & going to be a therapy dog, & if you're actually going to take him/her places & have him/her work, these same questions & comments will be 10x what you have now, on a regular basis, every time you take him to work. It's just in people's nature.
They're trying to make a connection, & they can only draw from the information/experiences they've had.
Most people don't know the various breeds & are just connecting to something similar they've seen on TV or in a movie.
You will be forever explaining breed, of both your pooches.

If you're going to be using him with elderly & children, you may often hear the same comments multiple times from the same people, even if they are familiar with your pooch, even if you've explained it to them more than once.
You can either be the educator, or you can smile & nod, but find a way to not let it annoy you, because it's not going to end.

Haha, actually he's working to become a service dog. Psychiatric; mainly, and have some training as a medical alert dog. He's ten months, and black, so I understand where they might get lab, but his head and muzzle... Look nothing like a lab. Haha.
I also am asked a lot if I'm training him for police work/a friend/company or as a seeing eye/hearing dog since I'm so young and my disability isn't physically noticeable. Which I I understand. Haha.
The petting though... That really gets to me!!

I also once; while at Safeway, had a man ask me questions and talk to me about him (Trigger), and at the end of the conversation, he goes on to tell me he has a "Siberian mastiff". I just nodded and said "wow. Bet he's handsome!" And went through the cashier line.
Now. I had never heard of a Siberian mastiff Haha. I wasn't certain. They didn't exist; me being the breed enthusiast I am, so I looked around online and didn't see anything but Tibetan. Haha. Only thing I could really think of was that he has a Siberian husky mastiff cross.





The "who's walking who?"--yes, sometimes this one comment bugs me more than most, because I take it personally to mean they feel I cannot control my pooch.
***This is said to me even when she is being a perfect angel.***
It feels insulting, and directed at me personally, because I am one of those dog owners who takes pride in how well my pooch responds.


That's how it feel! Both my pups walk perfeftly. Even by other dogs lunging at their fences! I often get it from people who have dogs that pull, soooo the comment baffles me!
I think they just think themselves hilarious, considering both my dogs are taller than me on their hind legs. Haha
Trigger was leash trained and following me around by the time he was almost five months, so for me to be asked that when its just him is especially insulting to me. He's so good!



Haha! Mario, the same thing happens to me!
Only people with ask "oh, is that a bullmastiff?" Or "wow! He's so big for a bullmastiff!" "Bullmastiff and what else?" Sometimes, I'll even explain that they're neo/English .. And still, some continue to refer to my dogs as bull mastiff...
I have two boxers at home who are my dads Haha. They look nothing like the bullmastiff next door. Haha



Gia; that comment gets to me in two ways. Haha
First, no, my dog is twice the height as a pitty.
Second, pit bulls aren't mean. Haha.

I had a red/brown and white APBT puppy a few months ago. My mom rescued him from a fighter. He was going to start training the two he had soon, I knew it. So I begged my mom to go get them and I'll find them homes(she lives on Cali). Haha. I named him Milo. He loved grass. I would be walking him, and people would think he was the cutest little thing ever! Then, they would ask what what breed he was, and when i would tell them, they'd be hesitant to keep petting him.
He died of salmonella poisoning, and considering he was mostly likely from super inbred parents, he was born with only one kidney. I loved that puppy....


-cough- didn't mean to go down a sad route! Sorry.


With Madelyne, I can't count how many times people have asked me if I'm going to breed her or "She's beautiful! I have a cane corso/bullmastiff/boxer/etc male I'd like to breed...." So many times! I've even had a shirtless man run up yo me(before trigger was born) and scare me witless! Just to talk about Maddie, and his dog. Having puppies. I even met his dog, and considering how important a breeding would be and was and is to me between her and another, his dog didn't meet the bar. Haha. Big head and paws, handsome too, but too slow, and not the right temperament. Hr was a cane corso. Haha
 

Jeri

Well-Known Member
I get all of the above comments as well. Camo is full Neo, and I still have to explain the the difference between him and Hooch, him and a boxer, him and a Sharpei. "You need a saddle for that big guy!" "Does he drool a lot?" "Must cost a fortune to feed that monster!" The list goes on and on.

The one guy that really ruffled my feathers, though, thought it was ok to just start roughhousing with Camo. NO ONE roughhouses with Camo! I don't allow that. If you ask me first, I'll let you pet him, he'll roll right over for you to scratch his tummy, but that's about it.
 

ruthcatrin

Well-Known Member
Oddly enough I don't get the saddle comments as much any more, but then a large percentage of people just stop and stare now when they see Apollo.

The ones that really get me are the ones who ask if he's friendly as they're already offering their hand to him, and the parents who don't so much as blink when their kid barrals up out of nowhere to wrap their arms around his neck.....

And oh god, training.....we convinced Apollo that dragging me across the street was a bad idea, but he still doesn't have a steller heel (but then I don't care if he has a steller heel, so some of that falls on me). But the shear number of people who insist that I just don't know how to train him right.....their training methods vary from finding the right treats (yah, he's not food driven, AT ALL), to jerking him around with a prong (I know how to use a prong TYVM, and thats not it). Its worse at dog shows actually. I've lost count of the number of handlers who've insisted that I've just not found the right kind of bait (treats for you non-show folks) to get him to perform for me. That's usually accompanied by an offer to try a piece of their bait. I've watched him refuse sausage, bits of high end steak, liver, custom home baked stuff.....all to the bafflement of the handler in question!

And speaking of breed mis-identifications...."oh, what a handsome Leonberger!....I thought they always had black masks?" *headdesk* Yes, Leonbergers always have black masks, that should have been your first clue that he's not a Leonberger, here, I'll stand him up next to this Leonberger right here and you can see how TOTALLY DIFFERENT they look......If you don't know what he is just ask. I don't mind the "non-dog" people who ask if he's a St Bernard cross. But the "dog people" who instantly assume he's a Leo, and then can't figure out why he doesn't have a black mask piss me off.....
 

angelbears

Well-Known Member
Does he bite? Funny thing is I only get that question once he is put up. No one can get close enough to ask when I have him out. I have a new neighbor that is mesmerized by Cane and still can't comprehend that he will never be able to pet him. He keeps asking me, "do you think he would let me touch him yet?"
 

NYDDB

Well-Known Member
I am nodding to all of the above, including clueless and inappropriate touching/smooching/"playing" with my dog...from a complete stranger.

The one comment i have learned to roll my eyes at is the oh-so-innocent gasp of, "WOW- he's a BIG dog!!!," they then look up at me as if I am supposed to respond to this. I usually just shrug and keep walking... I mean do they expect me to look down and be shocked that I walked out the door with a Chi and somewhere along the way he transformed into a mastiff...?
 

CeeCee

Well-Known Member
I've only gotten the saddle remark a handful of times, but I do get the "who's walking who" question regularly. I know they're just trying to be funny, but there is a part of me that's offended, because I have worked hard to teach them to walk properly on leash, but I'm getting better at smiling and walking on.

Lila is a 110 lbs Harlequin Dane/Pointer mix and people often assume she's a Dalmatian. Hmmm...

By far my favorite comment is "nice ponies." That one makes me smile. :)
 

fila4me

Well-Known Member
a woman told me that the Fila Brasileiro was named after the shoe brand Fila.....

I love the "that dog is going to attack and kill your children", regardless if it is a Fila, Dogo or APBT. one of my favs!

people constantly tell me they have a dog at home just like Maddie, hmmm really!!??? one lady told me that her dog and Maddie had to be sisters, she is a plott hound?!
 

Kujo

Well-Known Member
I mostly get comments on Kujo's big head...

"Holy cow his head is huge...it's like a block!

"His head is bigger than my dog!"

"His head is bigger than MY head!"

I just smile and say "Yes, and he's still growing."
 

NYDDB

Well-Known Member
I mostly get comments on Kujo's big head...

"Holy cow his head is huge...it's like a block!

"His head is bigger than my dog!"

"His head is bigger than MY head!"

I just smile and say "Yes, and he's still growing."

Ha- my usual response to people commenting on how huge Mateo's head is to laugh and say: "Yes, such a big skull...with such a tiny little brain rolling around inside..." :D