Anyone sick of...

[Newfie in Oz]

Just had to ask, is anyone else sick of the same comments you get day in, day out while walking your dog? Comments like"you could put a saddle on them", "that's not a dog, it's a horse", "I'd hate to see your food bill" or conversly " they must eat you out of house and home"? Or my personal favorite, when two or more people are standing around together, and they're wondering what type of dog it is, there's always one in the crowd who knowingly explains to the rest that, "It's a St Bernard". St Bernard!? When has ANYONE ever seen a pure black St Bernard!? Anyone else get these sorts of things, or am I just frustratingly unlucky?

 

[Jeannie]

You may as well get use to it. In the 8 years I have had newfs I still get the same questions.

One year at our county fair I made a sign so I wouldn't have to answer the same questions over and over a gazillion time. People would ask and I'd point to the sign

Just last night at the car show in town Adam was a "black saint" "chow mix" and a get this an "Airdale"

[ 09-11-2005, 08:39 AM: Message edited by: jggrosch ]

 

[Henrys Mom]

I would much rather people just ask what it is instead of trying to guess...like they actually know dogs! An airdale....hahaha!!

 

[Jenn]

I just started calling htem long haired Chihuahuas. Said it's the mutant long hair gene in them that makes them grow so big. Or out here we have the controversial Yucca Mountain where they want to store nuclear waste so I call it a Yucca Mountian Chihuahua. It really scareds me when some people believe me. And yes the people who wander off and tell their kids "That IS a Saint Bernard" I yell "No, it's not". Or the people who argue that they in fact DO indeed know it IS a Saint (or whatever breed).

With Myla, I get Keeshond mix.

[ 09-11-2005, 09:07 AM: Message edited by: Jenn ]

 

[NinaA]

After about 15+ years of Newfdom, I am happy to hear those remarks, because that mean's these people don't know Newfs. The less popular and familiar a breed is, the better the breed is. When I got my first Labrador in 1975, people would ask me what it was. Now look at the breed. So, I am always happy to explain.

Nina
et al

[ 09-11-2005, 09:06 AM: Message edited by: NinaA ]

 

[bridge2itnf@aol.com]

One time a was walking tuggs at the park and a passerby said "ibet that dog eats a couple a chickens a day " I use to explain to people , but it really gets tiring , so most the time i just smile and keep walking.

 

[Elizabeth]

I use those opportunities to educate

E

 

[ina/puusty]

HB has proved a gentle source of 'informationing' (yeah yeah..no such word..but then..what the heck.. ..over the course of each Summers berry harvest/sales here. I make certain to explain the drapes-dollaps-swooshes..of drool..and their marvelous ability to become airborn-floogers. Oh yeah..we're doing our part. The folks who happen to get a live-demo..are REALLY impressed! ina n HB

 

[blstarke]

Tulsa is called a St. Bernard, chow-rottie mix.
There's a bear.
How much does he eat?
I want him, is he up for adoption?

 

[Blacknewfs]

I'm with Nina on this one....it's a good thing they don't know the breed. Although I'm finding that more and more people are getting it right, or close to right anyway - I'm seeing an unusual number of people saying "Oh, that's one of them Newfoundlander-Labs" , so they are thinking of the right dog, they just don't know what it's called. That's closer than an Airedale anyway.

And nobody believes that Newfs come in black and white....it MUST be a mix.
Having my dogs at my store with me I hear all sorts of strange things, but what worries me most are the comments about how well behaved they are..."I want a dog that will just lay around and behave like yours - I should get a Newf!"....I'm always quick to point out that I've spent hours exercising the monsters to tire them out so they'll behave at work....Like Elizabeth said, it's a chance to educate.

Edited to add - anyone remember the link Lars posted on Newf-L to his web page with the list of all the strange things Newfs have been called? It's hilarious!

[ 09-11-2005, 10:18 AM: Message edited by: Black Newfs ]

 

[EILEEN]

I found a tee shirt that actually spells out all the questions, no he's not a St. Bernard, no he doesn't eat me out of house and home, yes he weighs more than I do, etc., it was a great find!

 

[KS Newf]

I just had someone run by me today while walking Gloria and Elki and say, "Bet he eats you out of house and home." I explained they really didn't eat that much, but this couple running by thought I was making a joke!! There are some absolutely hilarious stories on this question about experiences people have while their Newfies are being "identified!"

The T-shirt is a great idea!!!! BTW my neighbor across the street was having a garage sale, and she told me a little girl saw Gloria in the window (watching carefully

) and she said, "Mommy, look, they have a cow in their house!" So. . experiences yesterday and today!

[ 09-11-2005, 12:25 PM: Message edited by: mml ]

 

[xavier]

After being in downtown Annapolis, MD with our Newfs, we figured out the usual questions pretty fast and thus made up a Newf Answer shirt which is sold at the Colonial Newfoundland Club's Fall Fun Day as a fund raiser.

 

[rita/josie]

I guess I am lucky so far.
I've had any of those comments, YET.
I just hear how big she is, how pretty, and that she looks like a big cuddly bear.

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

Last weekend, we took the girls to a mall that allows dogs. I got a real kick out of people who would bring their tiny babies right up within licking distance of the newfs, before they'd ask "do they like children". Chris said he was tempted to answer, "yes, but they've already eaten today".

Get used to the questions, and to being second-guessed as to what kind of dog you have. It comes with the territory. I find it to be a lot of fun, most of the time, because we get to be ambassadors of a breed that people just don't know much about.

 

[ina/puusty]

"..already eaten today.." Oh yes..love it! ina n HB

 

[newfmalcolmlover]

Yep we get all those questions too. One last year was "Is that a gorilla???" LOL Most people just have to pet Malcolm. Kids included. When we've been camping people want pictures of him too. He really hams it up too. People are supposed to treat him like that and he expects it.

 

[kodydixie]

I have pretty much heard them all, except 2 guys at the local Farmer's market stating that my Kody (Irish Spot) must be a MUTT 'cause there isn't any purebred dog that looks like that, and another asked me if he was a Great WHITE Pyr! I use those instances to educate as well!

 

[newfloverqc]

Originally posted by BoundlessNewfs (N2N):
Chris said he was tempted to answer, "yes, but they've already eaten today".

I say things like that to folks with small dogs....then chuckle as they quickly move away as fast as the little McNuggets legs can go....

Sometimes I'll explain how Ceilidh is a cross between a female long-haired dachshund and a male St. Bernard, and then watch them try to figure out the geometry...

 

[Capri]

I am!!

It's worse now, because we've got the puppy now..

The T-shirt was/is a fantastic idea, i'll have to take the idea from you and make lots of shirts like that to wear!

Usually I just glace very angrily at every one who takes a step towards us, that way they keep thair distance and don't come&ask us stupid questions/say stupid comments.. Works surprisingly well!!