Apr
2012
5 Ridiculously Silly Things That People Say To Me When I Am Walking the Dogs
I get it.
Me walking Sherman and Leroy is a site to see for most people. They are large and I am small. Together they outweigh me by 180 pounds, give or take a few.
I get it.
But why, oh why do people have to be so corny about it?
I mean, I am a sociable person, especially when it comes to talking about the dogs, but when I am out for a walk with them I am in my “thinking zone” and if you and I are going to stop and chat let’s make it worth both of our time.
Usually a walk doesn’t go by without someone saying something, and I am always cordial. I force out a smile, I give a little giggle, and I make the best attempt possible NOT to role my eyes or respond with what the voices in my head are telling to me to say.
Take these scenarios, for example.
1. Silly Person: Are those bears you are walking there?
Voices in my head-Yeah. I am walking 2 kodiak bears on a leash, in Ohio, down a main street.
2. Silly Person: Who’s walking who? (usually followed by a stupid laugh.)
Voices in my head-I am walking my dogs. Don’t you see that? They are walking right alongside me, they are not pulling me? I have worked very hard on getting them to walk so nicely. They stop when I tell them to stop, they speed when up I tell them too. I am walking my dogs and you have a weird laugh.
3. Silly Person: They should be wearing one of those barrels around their neck.
Voices in my head-This is a Newfoundland, not a St. Bernard, dufus. Have you ever seen an all brown St. Bernard? Oh, and we’re not in the mountains and they are not rescuing people trapped under 50 feet of snow……..and we don’t carry brandy in a barrel anymore we carry the brandy in a thermos in our backpacks.
4. Silly Person: They must eat you out of the house.
Voices in my head-Yes, they ate my whole house and now I live in a cardboard box, until they decide to eat that too.
5. Silly Person: My wife’s sisters husbands uncle once had one of these.
I get this all the time. Everybody’s wife’s sisters husbands uncle has owned a Newf, which is very surprising to me.
Me-Oh, did your wife’s sisters husbands uncle have a brown Newf?
Silly Person: No. It was a light golden color.
Me-So your wife’s sisters husbands uncle had a Golden Retriever?
Silly person: Yeah…..that’s what it was, but it was bigger than yours.
Voices in my head: It’s been nice talking to you sir but you have already wasted 5 minutes of my life that I will never be able to get back. Good day.
Is it just me or do you get crazy questions when you are out walking your dogs too?
Oskar
April 25, 2012 at 6:16 am (420 days ago)Oskar & I don’t get that kind of reaction, but the voices in my head would be saying the same thing if I got the questions you got!
Hugs,
Pam
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:30 pm (420 days ago)LOL! You gotta love the voices in our heads!
MelF
April 25, 2012 at 7:19 am (420 days ago)OMG! The last one was the absolute best! I can so relate to that one.
I think people use these types of comments to be friendly or to start a conversation, but I can see why it would be annoying after a while. I was expecting to see the poop comment in there, but I guess it fell to number 6 eh?
Reading your list of stupid human comments reminded me of a whale cruise I once took in Hawaii. I was thrilled, being a huge Humpback Whale fan (well, that sounds odd doesn’t it?), but less than thrilled by some of the stupid people on the cruise. One guy from NY actually asked the tour guide if whales had two eyes since he had only seen one. OMG! Really?
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:33 pm (420 days ago)You know I am all for talking about the Newfs and talking about them, it’s these crazy questions that I have head a thousands times that get me! I swear last week I got asked one of them!
Surprisingly I have never had anyone ask me about their poop size, I guess I have that to look forward too!
LMAO off about the guy who asked about the whale eyes! I bet you just wanted to bonk him on the head!
Kanweienea Kreations
April 25, 2012 at 7:28 am (420 days ago)Well Cleo and I get a lot of silly comments too. We also get the “Who’s walking who?” (and Cleo is normally very well-behaved for her walk, so it’s like say what?) or “What kinda dog is that? She is huge!!!”.
The one we most often get though (since Cleo is a brown/white landseer I guess), is “Is that a … St Bernhard??” Ugh… well I love St Bernhards and all but Cleo is not one just because she has brown and white colors. She looks nothing like one. So I tell them it’s a newf, newfoundland etc and then after a while they go uh okay.. Usually I have to go into a description of what the newf breed is and what colors they come in etc too.
There was one time though pretty recently, and this at least I thought was quite funny…. A lady stops her car, rolls down the window and asks me “Your dog is gorgeous. What kind of dog is that?” (and I’m thinking OH PLEASE not AGAIN with this comment.. but I didn’t say anything) and I tell her, it’s a Newfoundland dog. Lady says: I TOOOLLLLLDDDDDD him it wasn’t a ST BERNHARD!!!!
lol…
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:36 pm (420 days ago)I am a big fan of the Saints too, but come on really?
Whenever I say it’s a Newfoundland people usually say it’s a what? and then well whatever it is, it is huge!
Don’t you love it when the Newfs are the involved on other peoples disputes! Love it!
Amanda @ Photo 51
April 25, 2012 at 7:44 am (420 days ago)At least you get variety. All I get is the same old crap every time.
“What is she?”
“HE is a Samoyed” (said Sammy-Ed)
“A Sama… what is it?”
“Samoyed”
“Oh, she’s preeeeettty. Does she shed a lot?”
Mendel is not feminine looking at all, if anything he’s probably a bit overdone. And apparently a dog with that much hair doesn’t make shedding kinda obvious.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:38 pm (420 days ago)LOL, I bet you can’t stand it when they pronounce it wrong!
I always get people calling Leroy a girl, which makes me laugh just because it is Leroy. If only people would look under the hood:)
I forgot about the shedding thing too! I get that all the time. -Um…excuse you do you see the hair all over my legs? It’s not mine!
Mango Momma
April 25, 2012 at 8:00 am (420 days ago)Are you kidding? Mango and I get that all the time. The only comment that I like is “Holy S&*t!” Hehehe.
The ones I hate the most are the (usually male) people who feel the need to tell me about their 200 pound GSD or 180 pound lab. I usually counter with “wow, that must be a really fat dog.” They don’t take that well.
Now, people, giant dogs are not a common sight and, yes, they are impressive. A simple “that’s a beautiful dog” or “I have never seen a dog like that” would be more appropriate.
You left out “put a saddle on that thing” ARG!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:46 pm (420 days ago)I bet you get that all the time with Mango!
People always think that Sherman and Leroy weigh over 200 pounds! They are amazed when I tell them that they are way under that!
I’ve had numerous people tell me that they knew someone who had a Newf that 250 pounds, I don’t find that amusing!
LMAO about the saddle! I forgot about that one!
tylersat99
April 25, 2012 at 8:23 am (420 days ago)Pleasingly I get a lot of good comments about their beauty and how sweet and gentle she (they) are after petting. I always get the one about she’s walking a bear, how much food do they eat more toward a tremendous amount and my favorite do they shed. Like the tons of hair she’s carrying around that you just commented was beautiful just somehow disappears in summer and returns in winter, haha. Yes she sheads all this hear you see has to go somewhere and it carpets my familyroom and yes I sweep constantly!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:48 pm (420 days ago)We get a lot of nice comments also, I should of mentioned that! But honestly it seems like we get a lot more crazy ones! I think the color throws everyone off.
Do they shed? yes look at my pants and your hand after petting them
Do the drool? Do you see that puddle under your foot?
Kari
April 25, 2012 at 8:35 am (420 days ago)I wear headphones so no one talks to me
or I pretend im deaf.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:49 pm (420 days ago)Oh! I have to try the headphones!!!Good one!
2 brown dawgs
April 25, 2012 at 8:44 am (420 days ago)LOL I am choking on my coffee. Thanks for the laugh.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:49 pm (420 days ago)Don’t choke! Lol!:)
Sam and Pippen
April 25, 2012 at 8:56 am (420 days ago)This makes us happy to be small, little dawgs… although we get our own special dumb questions too!
Sam and Pippen
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:50 pm (420 days ago)I bet small dogs get their fair share of silly questions:)
Kerry Emanuel
April 25, 2012 at 9:02 am (420 days ago)I get all of those above and also. . .”Your dog could eat my dog for lunch” Sorry, my dog has better taste and wouldn’t want to eat your stupid chihuahua. . .and as we all know it would be the other way around because Newfies have the best personality on earth.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:52 pm (420 days ago)Hi Kerry! I think I have gotten that one too, just as they are putting their little dog right in front of one of the Newfies faces!
“Um yes, if they wanted too, which they don’t, they could swallow your Chihuahua whole!
Pip
April 25, 2012 at 9:10 am (420 days ago)Bawhahahahaa! I saw the title and knew this was going to be a funny post and you did not disappoint! Are those bears, bahwahahahaa!
Your pal, Pip
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:53 pm (420 days ago)LOL! Thank you! They are kodiak bears:)
Alfie |Alfie's Blog
April 25, 2012 at 9:11 am (420 days ago)These sort of questions are funny in the beginning, but quickly get old! We always get stopped because people don’t recognise my breed – they always try and guess what sort of cross breed I am, which is kind of amusing.
I’ve heard everything from Beagle to Rottweiler Cross and people often try and pretend they know my breed when they hear the name ‘yeah my sister’s uncles brother’ had one of those. I don’t think so – there’s only 30 of us in the country…
Luckily the dogs in the park don’t ask me any questions – a dog is a dog as far as they’re concerned *waggy tail*
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:54 pm (420 days ago)I bet you get that all the time and I bet most people think Alfie’s a Berner or a Greater Swiss. Right?
Dr. Liz
April 25, 2012 at 9:11 am (420 days ago)That’s way more interesting than, “Are those poodles?”
“No. They’re goldendoodles; their mother was a standard poodle and their father was a golden retriever”.
“I’ve always wanted a labradoodle.”
Me, thinking, “Great. These aren’t labradoodles.” My response? *sigh* “They’re great dogs. Let’s go, girls!”
In general, I don’t think people actually think about the words that come out of their mouths. (Although if I ever have any opportunity to use the “Yes, they ate me out of my house, and I used to live in a cardboard box before they ate that,” comment, I am SO going to use that. It’s AWESOME!)
-Dr. Liz
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 1:56 pm (420 days ago)LOL! I bet you get it all the time!There are times when I just leave it alone and nod in agreement, yes, yes it is a bear:)
FiveSibesMom
April 25, 2012 at 9:19 am (420 days ago)Oh, that was great! Loved this post! We mostly get nice comments. Occasionally I do get a people who ask me if my dogs are wolves. Or I get “what kind of dog is that?” Hmmmm. But, most of the time they just want to pet them. I am really fine with that…just as long as they ask first. I do have that BIG Voice in My Head going crazy when people just let their dogs off leash in my neighborhood or come into a vet office or store on a slack leash while mine are leashed, controlled & behaved and they just let theirs run up to mine. I’ve been known to say “not friendly” or “they bite” just to get them to back off. Of course, there’s my guys wagging their floofy tails…I’ll have to come up with a command for “no wag” so we can be more believable! However…a giant pet peeve of mine is when people think it’s OK to have their dog jumping all over mine. How do you know mine isn’t injured? or unfriendly? or sick? Or that yours is sick? I even have had to announce the “he’s an epileptic. Please keep your dog away” when I’m with Gibson because I don’t want some strange dog jumping all over him and stressing him out. I’m not getting laser therapy for him so he can be a springboard for someone else’s dog! I was just in the vet yesterday with Wolf as he managed to Houdini off his surgical bandages. There we were…sitting off to the far side by ourselves. Wolf all well behaved (and he is in pain) and in strolls a well-dressed lass with a long slack leash as her little dog who came bounding in licking & jumping & barking at everyone. Ran between someone’s leg (I thought he was going down)…all oblivious. All the while, the lass thinking it was all cute. Then he headed my way. Uh-uhhhhhh. I body hugged Wolf and glared. Not jumping on my Wolf with his leg just sewed shut. Apparently, it was a good glare, she turned and went to the other side of the waiting area. I mean, seriously??? You KNOW what the voices in my head were saying then!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 2:01 pm (420 days ago)LOL! I think I have used the glare technique a few times too!
I hear you about the vet’s office or even at the park. I will sometimes use “My dogs are intact.” That usually makes them back away with their dog. The fact that they are intact has nothing to do with anything, I just like to use it as an excuse! “Yes they are big and they have balls!”
I can’t believe Wolf got his bandages off! That stinker! I am glad everything went well with his surgery!
Finn
April 25, 2012 at 9:51 am (420 days ago)Oh I get the Who’s-walking-who thing all the time. I like the comment about the bears. Yep, you just decided to take in a couple of bears as pets one day. Just cause. Sheesh!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 2:02 pm (420 days ago)LOL! The first few times I heard the bear comment I laughed. The 100th time I heard I wasn’t as amused:)
Eva or sometimes Priscilla
April 25, 2012 at 10:01 am (420 days ago)Hehe! Yours is more hilarious and I like all those voices in your head!
My cases are much milder compared to yours.
1. Look! that’s a Lassie!
2. Does she belong to foxy/wolfie family?
3. I think he/she is a spitz because they all have a sharp face.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 4:05 pm (419 days ago)LOL! You get good ones too! I love when people try to guess the breed!
Eva a Spitz? OMG!
The Heartbeats
April 25, 2012 at 10:15 am (420 days ago)Yes we get the “Who’s walking who?” Hardy har. When I’m walking the black GSDs I get the “Is that a wolf?” And I like to say yes just to mess with people. Once I was walking through the parking lot of Petsmart with Calhoun and I heard someone yell across the parking lot “You got any puppies of him?” Good Lord- who are you! He’s barely 4 months! He isn’t a man whore and he is getting fixed next week! More than that you shouldn’t be looking for puppies … IN A PARKING LOT!!! Then I was walking Lucy and Calhoun and someone asked if it was father and son. UMMM… no she’s wearing a pink collar and doesn’t have a penis!?!
Oh boy… this could go on forever!
Mamma Heartbeat
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 4:08 pm (419 days ago)LOL! That is hilarious! Something similar like that happened to me once.
I was out walking the dogs and someone pulled off to the side of road, stopped their car, got out and ran after us and asked if had any puppies that we could give away because they always wanted a St.Bernard!
First of all, this person was lucky I didn’t kick him in the balls when he came running up behind me, second…yeah, I have a puppy that I am going to give YOU, you complete stranger! Good times, good times!
rottrover
April 25, 2012 at 10:16 am (420 days ago)or “oh you could get a cart for those dogs and they could pull you up this hill…”
My favorite was when I was walking the two rotties and some police officers drove up next to me and said, “you’re the safest woman in the neighborhood.” That one I liked!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 4:09 pm (419 days ago)Ha-ha! In the winter I had a few people tell me I needed to hook them up to a sled!
I like the policeman’s response!
Candy
April 25, 2012 at 10:17 am (420 days ago)Your two are lovely!
I have a Pembroke Welsh corgi and from time to time I get:
“Gee, that dog stopped growing”, or “That dog looks like his legs were cut off!” Yes, I cut his legs and I’m allowing him to walk on stumps, sheesh, some people!
The kicker was this person saying to her friend within earshot of me, “Those are my favorite breed of dog!”, then she asked me about Gimli’s breed. *facepalm*
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 4:11 pm (419 days ago)Thank for stopping by and for the kind words!
OMG, that is just offensive! I don’t think I would of been able to hold myself back on that one!
Mary, Roxy and Torrey
April 25, 2012 at 10:47 am (420 days ago)That was awesome, thanks for the chuckle. Maybe you could pretend you are hard of hearing, and they are your “hearing” dogs. Get a card or something that says, “Direct all questions to the dogs”….Hmmm, would that be PC, maybe not.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 4:12 pm (419 days ago)LOL! Now there’s an idea!
I once thought of walking with a billboard on me that reads “These dogs are NEWFOUNDLANDS!”
Blueberry's human
April 25, 2012 at 11:19 am (420 days ago)Gosh – I get a lot of comments when walking my cattle dog mix because she is spotted, but I don’t really mind. People are curious and yes some of their comments or questions show their lack of dog knowledge – but I don’t hold it against them. Hey, when you walk your dog – you will get a reaction. Especially if the dog is not of a color, size, breed most people are used to seeing. When I am not in a social mood – I just take Blueberry someplace I know where there aren’t people. Blueberry tends to brighten everyone’s day because of her calmness and her spots which makes it worth it to put up with a few comments during our walks. And I make sure that I protect her from those people, dogs or children that seem overly exuberant or aren’t aware of how to properly greet a dog.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 4:13 pm (419 days ago)I bet Blueberry makes a lot of people smile:)
jan
April 25, 2012 at 11:20 am (420 days ago)When I walk my four little guys people ask me if i am a professional dog walker. Voice in my head says that there are some things you would only do for love and never money.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 4:17 pm (419 days ago)Walking 4 dogs must be great!
We have a dog kennel down the road where I walk and a lot of times I am walking the dogs after work in my scrubs and I have been asked if I am walking dogs from that kennel. Now that person was observant!
I agree that some things you do simply because you love it!
Karen
April 25, 2012 at 11:27 am (420 days ago)Haha I get the who is walking who comment all the time, even with my (comparatively) tiny girl, but in my case its pretty accurate since anytime we get close to another moving thing she is usually acting like a pulling, lunging, barking crazydog so I feel its a fair question.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 5:34 pm (419 days ago)I hear you! I would totally get it if I was holding on to Sherman and Leroy for dear life!
Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning
April 25, 2012 at 12:11 pm (420 days ago)BOL – we get the same thing, especially #2 – Mom walks two at a time and one of us is always out in front. And that question always comes up. The other biggie is “are those wolves?” Hello, do you really think I would be walking wolves in my neighborhood???
Woos – Phantom, Thunder, Ciara, and Lightning
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 5:35 pm (419 days ago)I can just see you walking the Sibes and people asking if they were wolves!
Marquie
April 25, 2012 at 12:29 pm (420 days ago)Hahaha, the voices in your head are hilarious. ;] I love your blog and am fairly new to it. Your dogs are so handsome.
I get question number 2 sometimes and my dogs are also fairly good walkers.
I also get people calling out “Lassie!” or “Lassie, come home!” and my Collie (who happens to be named Lassie) will look over at them like “Do I know you?” and we all get a good kick out of that.
And I get “Are they Border Collies?” “No, just Collies.” the question itself isn’t so bad, but one guy had the nerve to disagree with me and insist they were Border Collies, like I don’t know what breed of dog I own!
I’ve also been asked if Lassie is the Daddy Doggy, Ella is the Mommy Doggy and Petal is their baby doggy. And no, I wasn’t asked by child, haha. I haven’t gotten that question since Petal grew to be bigger than Ella, though.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 5:39 pm (419 days ago)Thank you for the very kind compliments Marquie!
That is funny about your dog looking at people when they call his name!
I had a collie growing up, his name was Titan, and people always use to call him Lassie!
Don’t you just love it when people try to argue with you about what breed your dog is?!
I hear you about the family questions too, I always get asked if Sherman and Leroy are brother and sister:)! Um…no, they are both boys and are second cousins:)
Kari
April 25, 2012 at 12:31 pm (420 days ago)I always get asked if I am a dog walker and if my pits eat the other dogs… of course they eat the chihuahua they are walking with. THey like to eat them post workout best… idiot
Stop on by for a visit
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com
lauren
April 25, 2012 at 3:45 pm (419 days ago)LOL!!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 5:43 pm (419 days ago)LOL! Love it! I especially like the fact that your pits eat other dogs, so typical of pit bulls! (NOT)!
I don’t know how pit owners deal with some of the comments that you must get from people who still believe that pitties are some kind of vicious monsters! Hats off to you!
Nichole
April 25, 2012 at 12:32 pm (420 days ago)We would say… so nice to see 2 well behaved, socialable dogs!
Lola got bit by a Newfie at the pet supply store on Sunday… one with an owner who I would say “hey A-hole to” if we ever see him again (he proceeded to tell me it was OK that his dog bit mine because his had been attacked by 2 pit bulls a couple weeks earlier… and that I don’t know dogs, this is “just what they do” … yay, um… NOT).
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 5:46 pm (419 days ago)Oh no! I am sorry to hear that Lola got bit and that you had to deal with such an A-hole! Yeah, because your dog got bit that makes it ok for him to bite someone else? NOT! and my next question would be why does this person keep putting his dog in these situations? Obviously there is an issue that needs to be addressed!
Hope Lola is o.k.!
We three doxies
April 25, 2012 at 12:55 pm (420 days ago)Oh yes, I gets these questions all da time when I is walkin’ mum…I mean hers get these questions.
It really pisses me off when I hears #1 Is dat a hot dog and #2 is dat a chiwawa?
Puddles
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 5:47 pm (419 days ago)LMAO that you walk your Mom and that people call you a hot dog and a chihuahua! I know what I am telling your mom to dress you as for Halloween!
Kelli
April 25, 2012 at 1:20 pm (420 days ago)We get a lot of, “Oh, your son should be riding on his back!” uh… no.. that would actually hurt his back..
Oy.
Kelli
April 25, 2012 at 1:22 pm (420 days ago)We get a lot of “hey, your son should be riding him”. Uh.. no that would actually hurt his back..
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 5:48 pm (419 days ago)Oh Kelli! I so hear you on this! Put a saddle on him and ride him like a horse! (bang head on table!)
Misty
April 25, 2012 at 1:23 pm (420 days ago)Thanks for the laugh. I have always admired newfs. I currently have a black lab and am flabbergasted by the magnitudes of people that don’t know shes a lab.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:26 pm (419 days ago)Hi Misty, thank you for stopping by!
Oh my goodness! what do people think she is?
Misty
April 26, 2012 at 1:26 am (419 days ago)I’m not sure. I’m too afraid to ask, but I think some of them must think she’s a cat!
Diana Stoll
April 25, 2012 at 2:10 pm (420 days ago)Glory’s dam was black and her sire was a landseer, so Glory is black with a little white on her chest and feet. People often ask if she’s a Bernese. I’ve had a couple people ask if she’s a Saint Bernard. They always act so surprised when I tell them that she’s a Newfoundland! And I can’t count the times I’ve been asked: how much does she eat, does she shed, how big are her poops, does she really drool? I feel it’s important to answer those questions, because people need to know what they’re getting into with newfs (they’re wonderful, but they’re a lot of work). It drives me crazy to get the comments: is that a bear? do you have a saddle? you must have a big house! On the other hand, it’s always obvious when people really DID either have a newf or know someone who did — because those are the folks who come up, throw their arms around Glory, and say What a beautiful newfie!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:30 pm (419 days ago)I could not agree more! I love to explain about the breed, because let’s face it the Newfie is not for everyone!
It always bring a huge smile to my face when someone drives by and shouts out the window, “What a beautiful Newfoundland!” I’m always like, yes!
I have to tell you this, just tonight I was watching my son’s baseball practice and I had Leroy with me. One of the coaches comes up and asks if Leroy could give him a ride back to his car! Ugggh!
Kristine
April 25, 2012 at 2:12 pm (420 days ago)What is it about walking a dog that invites conversation from strangers? People talk to me all the time when I am out with Shiva and it drives me crazy. Not because I am an antisocial snob – thought I probably am at times – but because my dog is still a little reactive around people she doesn’t know. Old men are always stopping to chat about weather or fishing or drywall and it’s so frustrating because staying in one place is my dog’s worst nightmare. The longer we talk, the more anxious she gets. Sometimes by the time I can finally get away she is practically frothing at the mouth. It baffles me how some people just don’t even notice!
Anyway, hilarious post! You are obviously not alone!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:31 pm (419 days ago)LMAO, because right now all I am picturing is you jogging with Shiva and the creepy guy at the corner waiting for you:)
John Pepper
April 25, 2012 at 2:53 pm (419 days ago)Oh .. darn funny.
I have two greyhounds.. Not as big as your dogs but Ricky is still a big boy at 85lbs. Had a guy ask my the other day if he was a whippet and .. aren’t racing dogs bigger than that? Nope.. a few are bigger.. but that pretty much as big as greyhounds come. 85lb whippet.. bah.. Ah well.. I guess they just don’t know. And the who’s walking who line.. all the time.. from the same person… sigh.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:35 pm (419 days ago)Hi John!
Wow! See now I am the one who feels a bit silly, because I feel like 85 pounds is pretty big for a Greyhound, am I right?
However, I do know that 85 pounds for a Whippet belongs in the Guinness Book of World Records!
Who’s walking who always from the same person? Uggh! So sorry!
We three doxies
April 25, 2012 at 3:18 pm (419 days ago)My mum thanks you very much fur da nice compliment on hers outfit…you likes her hat doncha?
Puddles
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:36 pm (419 days ago)ROTFL! The hat rocked the whole outfit!
Erica
April 25, 2012 at 3:42 pm (419 days ago)This made me laugh! I have a Great Pyrenees and I get everything from “Is that a pony? (Or Polar Bear)” “who’s walking who?” (Mine is also very well leash trained!) “Is that one of those Newfunlins?” (They actually say it like that!) I am very polite but the voices in my head are not so genial! =)
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:38 pm (419 days ago)Hi Erica!
Oh boy! Polar Bear? LOL!
and Newfulins, NewFINlans, NewFOUNDlans…don;t even get me started:) Nope, it’s just a Newf:))))))
lauren
April 25, 2012 at 3:49 pm (419 days ago)this post was fantastic. and the comments from people saying that dummies on the street ask if they are walking WOLVES?! oh my god. i mean, come ON! what is wrong with people? le sigh…
anyway, all we get with Desmond is “What kind of dog is that?” and “What’s wrong with his legs?”, the second one being kind of rude, i think, but i get that people are curious.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:38 pm (419 days ago)Thanks Lauren!
Poor Desmond! His legs are just perfect!!
SUGAR: goldenwoofs
April 25, 2012 at 3:51 pm (419 days ago)Woof! Woof! Just totally ridiculous and RUDE. Golden Thanks for sharing … I guess having a sense humor helps to just laugh at these silly things. Lots of Golden ALOHA n Woofs,Sugar
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:39 pm (419 days ago)It’s all good in the end, if I can make light of it! That is what keeps me going!
Daisy
April 25, 2012 at 4:20 pm (419 days ago)Excellent photo. Hate to think what happens if f squirrel or cat walks by…but maybe they’re not like us.
We think people just want to say something. We always get the line from the Chum ad “So chumpy you can carve it with a knife” in terrible Scots’ accent.
XXXOOO Daisy, Bella & Roxy
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:42 pm (419 days ago)I think you are right about people just wanting to make conversation, sometimes it just makes me laugh!
I can just picture someone saying that in a really bad Scot’s accent! LOL!
Bailey
April 25, 2012 at 4:43 pm (419 days ago)We get the Lassie thing, too. Also the Miniture Collie, no Sheltie. Right, minature collie. No they aren’t, though they do look like collies. Do they save people out of wells. No thankfully most of our neighborhood is on town water we avoid the well problem.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:44 pm (419 days ago)LMAO! Do people really ask you if the save people out of wells? OMG I don’t think I could keep a straight face! Oh….I love the voices in your head!
Vicki
April 25, 2012 at 4:55 pm (419 days ago)I finally purchased Mark (he’s usually the one walking the pups) a T-Shirt that has the spiel about “No I’m not a St. Bernard”, “Yes, I drool” etc. etc. It finally stopped the stupid questions.
You need one of those Jen lol.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:46 pm (419 days ago)OMG Vicki I totally need that shirt, in BIG BOLD LETTERS! That is awesome!
Fallah
April 25, 2012 at 5:04 pm (419 days ago)“Dog people” are typically more sociable/extroverted. There was a study done…somewhere. And people that like dogs seem to always want to meet dogs on the street. Never had a big problem with that until we brought home Thor, our German Shepherd, who has major leash aggression. Everyone probably thinks I’m an anti-social hermit with a trained attack dog! (I’m working on better leash manners with him).
Prior to him we had a Lab-mix mutt with Cushing’s disease. It gave her this giant pot belly. Everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, asked me if she was pregnant. Why yes, I brought my heavily pregnant senior dog to the dog park!
My best friend’s aunt had a Newfie when we were teenagers (really!) He was a solid black one. I didn’t know they came in brown or black & white until years later. Even dog lovers seem to be miserable at breed ID!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:50 pm (419 days ago)You know I am usually a very sociable person, especially with the dogs, but I recently realized that my husband is way better at dealing with people so now I always make him come on walks with me! We keep each others laughing!
I wonder if sometimes people go home and think about what they asked? Hmmm:)
You are right about dog lovers not knowing everything about all breeds, I have certainly made my mistakes! I always get the Corgi’s confused!
Denise@There's a Newf in My Soup!
April 25, 2012 at 5:31 pm (419 days ago)A fellow Newf-lover shared your blog on Facebook! We take our Newfs to Starbucks every morning (13 year old and 4-month old) and I’ve often considered blogging about what you just did! The “Oh, look at the bears” comment is probably the most frequent and my boyfriend always mumbles under his breath, “Oh, look at the monkey” back at the person who makes the comment
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:54 pm (419 days ago)Hi Denise! Thanks for stopping by, it is always nice to meet a fellow Newfie lover!
That is so cool that you take your Newfs to Starbucks!
I am laughing at what your boyfriend says, because my husband has been known to mutter a few things under his breath too, and so have I! Ahhh! It keeps life interesting, right?
sprinkles
April 25, 2012 at 6:26 pm (419 days ago)It’s definitely not just you getting all the silly questions!
Everyone always thinks Chico is a baby since he’s so little, and then they have to comment on Shiver because a big chi, which only makes Chico look that much smaller.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:55 pm (419 days ago)I am so glad to know it’s not just me!
Poor little Chico! The little baby:)
Dachshund Nola and her Mom
April 25, 2012 at 8:39 pm (419 days ago)I loved this post! I can relate too, I got the bear and who’s walking whom when I had Mastiffs. But I get stopped with Nola on every single walk. We can barely step out of the house without someone saying something silly. My top five most irritating are:
1.”Look, a wiener/hotdog!” Voice in my head: She doesn’t look like a hotdog. She’s slim and sleek and not the least bit greasy. 10 points for originality.
2.”I wanna take her home with me” Voice in my head: Yeah? Good luck. Take her more then 5 feet away and your ears will be blasted off by the Doxie scream.
3.”Oh my mom/sister/husband/daughter/uncle/homeless man down the street had one of these. It fell of a bed and broke it’s back” Voice in my head: ….Um. Wow. Thanks, I just HAD to know this info.
4. “Oh the poor baby! You starve her!” VOice in my head: No I don’t, she’s in top condition. I noticed your dog’s obese, but did I open my mouth and say anything? Nope. Neither should you.
5. “Ohmygawd HE”S sooo cute!” Voice in my head: Yes, SHE is adorable in her PINK flowered collar and polka dot leash.
Nola’s Mom
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 11:05 pm (419 days ago)Ohhhhhh! Your voices sound just like mine! Love it!
Sleek and not greasy! LMAO!
People make me almost feel guilty when they say that Sherman weighs 200 pounds. I’m like, um no that’s all fur! and when they say Leroy is a girl, um no….he has balls….SEE!
Dachshund Nola and her Mom
April 25, 2012 at 8:42 pm (419 days ago)Oh and 1 more: “How did you make her sit? I thought you couldn’t train them, she MUST be a mixed breed”
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 11:10 pm (419 days ago)What? Now that is just crazy!
snoopy@snoopysdogblog
April 25, 2012 at 8:52 pm (419 days ago)Oh my goodness – that was hilarious!! SO funny!!
The best one we get is – I used to have an Old English Sheepdog too!! Now my humans don’t usually correct them and say that I’m a Beardie – did they not notice their Dog didn’t have a tail?
I know breeds are confusing, but it’s when people say they HAD an OES that it makes my humans laugh after….
Wags to those big bears who are busy walking you everyday and eating your house
Your pal Snoopy
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:57 pm (419 days ago)LOL! It’s funny that some don’t even recognize that it is not the same breed that they once had!
Sherman and Leroy would thank you, but they are too busy eating my 2nd house that is made out of cardboard! LOL!
Jen K
April 25, 2012 at 9:01 pm (419 days ago)STORY OF MY LIFE.
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:57 pm (419 days ago)ROTFL! LOVE IT!
Di M Nader
April 25, 2012 at 9:19 pm (419 days ago)oH my! I confess to being guilty of many of those Stupid Comments… but being sarcastic, I often modify the evil voices in my head to make my point….We have large cats these days and I often get comments -or even knocks at the door!- telling me my Dog Is Loose. Well, its probably Shorty (he was the runt- now he’s not: about 15 inches tall at the shoulders when standing, about 25 solid black pounds and a wicked tail that resembles a shark’s fin when he is happy!)… I have intentionally told folks that he is a Labraline ( Labrador feline, teehee), a next generation bowling ball with legs, a large city rat, mutant squirrel/possum/raccoon…. and in most cases, folks just “awww” and gape. He is a friendly cat and he and his brother, Lenny, lounge around the front or back porch, rarely wandering away. Both are huge, charming, people-friendly, well mannered and yet somewhat shy around strangers. They are usually in the house but, becuz they stay at the front or back door areas, I let them out as long as I am around the house too. If I can ever get them leash trained, I will certainly have more interesting feedback to share!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 11:09 pm (419 days ago)Hi Di! Thanks for stopping by the blog! Love it that people mistake your cats for dogs! Labralines are the new breed!
I don’t at all mind sarcasm, if that is what people were doing, but I swear most of them are serious!
Bassetmomma
April 25, 2012 at 9:28 pm (419 days ago)Thank goodness we can control the voices in our heads! LOL! I love what Kari said, that she pretends she is deaf! LMAO!
Jen
April 25, 2012 at 10:58 pm (419 days ago)I know! I hope that one day the voices don’t slip out!
Two French Bulldogs
April 25, 2012 at 11:15 pm (419 days ago)So true and hysterical…..you should hear what we hear
Benny & Lily
Jen
April 26, 2012 at 1:15 pm (419 days ago)I would love to hear what the voices in your head say:)
Amy / Layla the Malamute
April 26, 2012 at 12:01 am (419 days ago)Wow you get a lot of comments!
I *hate* the “Who’s walking who?” comment. I work very hard to make sure we’re walking together; neither of us are dragging the other. When I stop, she stops. When I slow down, she slows down. And so on.
I also get the, “My super distant relative’s mailman’s cousin used to have one of those…but it had blue eyes.” *sigh* The worst was a few weeks ago when a woman said, “Oh I have one at home! Except it has blue eyes.” You LIVE with a husky and can’t tell the difference??
There’s a brown Newf in my neighborhood, believe it or not (legitimately a brown Newfoundland, not a Chesapeake or something else brown colored with floppy ears). I bet they hear all the idiotic remarks too.
Jen
April 26, 2012 at 1:17 pm (419 days ago)I will be the first to admit that I have confused the Husky and the Malamute too before! But now I think I got it! However if I owned a Husky I am sure I would know the difference!
bichonpawz
April 26, 2012 at 4:11 am (419 days ago)At least yours aren’t called “rabbits”!!! Do you really think someone can actually pronounce Bichon Frise ??? Nope.
The voices in your head are much more polite than the voices in my head Jen!!
Jen
April 26, 2012 at 1:18 pm (419 days ago)LOL, awww, some people call the girls rabbits? That is a little funny:)
My voices are a bit more harsh that what i shared, because this is a PG-13 blog:)))
Roo
April 26, 2012 at 5:38 am (419 days ago)BOL! I luv the voices in your head. How bout lettin em out in public now and then
Could be oh so much fun! Hilarious!
Waggin at ya,
Roo
Jen
April 26, 2012 at 1:19 pm (419 days ago)LOL! Letting them out in public has gotten me in trouble before! O only do that now after a few Bud Lights:)
The Thundering Herd
April 26, 2012 at 7:00 am (419 days ago)Walking six Siberian Huskies invites lots of comments. The most common – Where is your sled? My standard reply is “Missing the snow.”
As for who is walking who, my standard is “Doesn’t really matter as long as we are all getting our exercise.” (though, if I weren’t in control, I wouldn’t be walking because their natural speed is much faster than me).
Jen
April 26, 2012 at 7:46 pm (418 days ago)I can only imagine the comments you must get walking 6 Sibes! Wow!
I love your standard replies, very smart!
houndstooth
April 26, 2012 at 9:19 am (419 days ago)Bwaaaaaa ha ha ha! I get stupid questions all the time! “Are those Great Danes? Is that a Whippet? Ha ha! I bet I could outrun that dog!” Seriously, the moron rate seems to be on the rise!
Jen
April 26, 2012 at 7:48 pm (418 days ago)LOL! If someone told me they could out run my dog I think I would have to tell them to go ahead and try and then watch what happened when a 150 pound Newf catches then and jumps on their back! Down you go! LOL!
And who in the heck thinks they can out run a Shepard or a Greyhound! Geesh!
Peggy Frezon
April 26, 2012 at 10:23 am (419 days ago)BOL BOL BOL this has to be one of the funniest posts ever! hehe! I don’t get so many dumb comments when walking the dog, but I get sorta the same type of dumb comments when I am out with my kids. They are both redheads, and my husband and I are not. Almost EVERYONE asks “Where’d they get the red hair from?” Uh, do you really want a genetics lesson?!
Jen
April 26, 2012 at 7:49 pm (418 days ago)Thanks Peggy!
I can’t believe people actually ask you that, wait, yes I can! You should totally start talking genetics to them! That would teach them!
Theresa @ Faith and Family Reviews
April 26, 2012 at 10:57 am (419 days ago)Oh my! Thanks for the laugh!
Nancy K. (and HERO)
April 26, 2012 at 12:41 pm (419 days ago)What a blast it has been reading this post and all of the comments! We live WAY out in the country so never encounter other people when out on our walks.
I think this post and comments is the foundation for a great BOOK!
My Mom thinks I am probably a Husky/Rottweiler cross but when people KEEP asking her what breed I am (I was rescued so Mom didn’t have me as a puupy) she just says: “I don’t know ~ he didn’t TELL me”. BOL
Hero’s Mom here ~ another ‘non-canine’ stupid question that I often get (and that makes my blood boil) is: Are they GOATS? (I raise Shetland SHEEP). I am a sheep person, NOT a goat person. Although I love goats and think they are adorable ~ I raise SHEEP. I spin their wool into yarn. I am a shepherd. Besides the are they goats one, the other comment that makes me want to slap people (kidding. sort of) is referring to Rams (male sheep) as ‘Bucks’ (male goats). Even SHEEP PEOPLE sometimes do this! Oh my gosh. I sometimes think that stupid people shouldn’t be allowed to breed…
Jen
April 26, 2012 at 7:51 pm (418 days ago)Living out in the country makes you a lucky lady! Sometimes I long for the isolation of the country!
My sister, who breeds sheep and goats can totally relate to you! She gets these comments all the time!
Julie
April 26, 2012 at 10:45 pm (418 days ago)I don’t get too many comments . . . although people always say “he’s a good looking dog” and I smile and nod. Are you kidding me? How can you NOT tell that she is a beautiful girl? People are crazy!
Jen
April 27, 2012 at 6:16 pm (417 days ago)LOL! Now I have to be the first to admit that I have made this mistake before at work. We had a dog in the other day named Cooper and I called Cooper a boy but he was a girl! I felt horrible and so embarrassed!
Pup Fan
April 27, 2012 at 12:47 pm (418 days ago)LOL. Those are some pretty ridiculous questions!
Jen
April 27, 2012 at 6:16 pm (417 days ago)Come on, I bet you get some silly ones about Bella too!
Charlette
April 27, 2012 at 3:55 pm (417 days ago)Really? These are beautiful dogs you just don’t see everywhere and should be pleased people like to notice them. You are silly for thinking they really think they are bears. Eating out of house and home is an expression. Who’s walking who? Who cares? That is just what they think is a cute comment due to their size, no matter how well trained your dogs are. I love my dogs and enjoy the comments and chatting with other dog people. Maybe you should stay home.
Jen
April 27, 2012 at 6:14 pm (417 days ago)Hi Charlette, thank you for the kind compliment on the Newfs.
Obviously I love my dogs too, hence the reason for a whole blog dedicated to them, as for your other rude comments, I don’t feel the need to address them because I need to go walk my bears who have eaten me out of my house and engage in conversation with complete strangers.
Darlene
April 27, 2012 at 5:01 pm (417 days ago)What we do without the loves of our Newfies? I feel loved, protected plus they make sure I exercise. I may be rolling my eyes with off the wall comments but Bernie & Bella love the attention.
Jen
April 27, 2012 at 6:18 pm (417 days ago)I hear you. Sherman and Leroy love the attention too which is why we go for a walk everyday! You should Leroy’s face when someone rolls down there car window and says hello to him!
Rachel
June 14, 2012 at 1:13 am (370 days ago)We get ..your look looks just like the Caesars food dog..well duh..they are the same breed!