Rude neighbor!

[csm08mms]

This is more of a vent than anything, so thank you in advance if you read this.
My neighbor who lives behind us, who my (live in) boyfriend and I am friendly with (grill-out, have drinks, share yard tools, lol) has really been getting on my nerves lately. Every time he sees me with Callie, calls her "rat dog", never her name. I always say something like "No, she's a Yorkshire Terrier, not a rat" or "Shes a dog, not a rat dog." But he continues to call her "rat dog" every single time he sees her. It is really starting to piss me off. I vent about it to Joey (the boyfriend) hoping he will say something to him, but he hasn't. I don't want to be a b!tch to him, but it might come to it. I'm generally a sweet girl, but I HATE it when people call Callie a rat, or say she looks like a rat. I know she is little, but she is a dog dammit!
Tomorrow my friend and I are having a graduation party at my house, celebrating our nursing school graduation (yay!) and there will definately be opportunity for liquid courage, and this neighbor will be at the party. I want to nix this "rat dog" crap, but just don't know what else to say! I know with alcohol on board I can be quite boisterous and rude (to those who deserve it), I hope he doesn't get the wrath of Megan on him....
Any suggestions, anyone had similar experiences? I'm frustrated!

[silyjillie]

Hey! I know how you feel! One of my family members made comments like that about Meeko. I'm known for being sensitive and saying whats on my mind in my family. So, I let it slide a few times and then just had to tell him. I told him he's a dog and his name is Meeko. If you can't call him that then you don't need to talk about him. Like I said, they know how I am and that was the last I heard of them calling him a rat. Sometimes you just can't be nice. Especially if you've already asked your neighbor nicely before. I say bring on the liquor and let him have it!!! lol If you get too mean, just blame it on the liquor! lol Calli is beautiful! And you're neighbor needs to get with it or hear the wrath of Megan at the party! Congrats by the way!!!

[kanda]

I too get mighty brave with a few sips of my favourite beverage. Nothing wrong with that, as long as you do it before you go past your limit.

Courage of any kind is to be admired, and unfortunately many people equate sweetness with meekness. Dont wait for your boyfriend to step in and do something that should really come from your mouth. This neighbour of yours needs to be made aware of the fact that not only is your dog NOT a rat (), but that it is not socially acceptable to make such stupid "jokes" ( ) about anyones loved ones.

The reality is that there is a certain population out there that just doesnt get the appeal of any small dog. Owning a Yorkie does not make you a Paris wannabe, it doesnt make you frivilous (sp?) pampered princess and it doesnt give anyone the right to talk down to you in such a way, even if you happen to be any of the above.

Please stand up for yourself. Stand up for your dog.

[xiju]

I think your neighbour is continuing with the "rat" comments because it seems to bother you. Instead of making bad friends, could you maybe ask him in a nice way to stop? Something like "I really wish you'd stop with the rat jokes because it hurts my feelings. If we are to remain friends, I'd prefer you just stop!". I'd go that route before starting a war. It might be a lot more pleasant in the end. Best of luck and congratulations on your graduation.

[Tasha07x]

Ohh god i get it ALL the time!! My BF mates ALL call Bailey the little rat and point an laugh at him ... my BF will say he is not a rat, but they just joke about and keep callin him a little rat!! It gets me so upset sometimes and MAD that some people can be so rude and not bothered about the owners feelings. Also people at my BF work call it a rat too makes me so mad, i told carl if they call Bailey a rat any more they are not welcome into my or Baileys home if they are going to insult him! Bailey is my furbaby and i am sure if someone was calling my skin baby names they wud not be welcome in to my home so its the same rule for my furbaby!!! I know just how u feel about it and how mad and upset you get over it, at how some people can be so dam rude!!! I wish i had the strengh to say something bk to them. Good luck let us know if u end up telling this man.

[red98vett]

Just tell your neighbor - "You only WISH you were this cute" ...

I wouldn't start anything if you're all friends - he probably doesn't know it's hurting your feelings and if anything - just tell him just that -

I know what you mean about the 'liquid' courage - try to keep that to a minimum so you dont ruin a good relationship.... most people will respond if you tell them nicely it bothers you even though you know they may be joking

[jfalz73]

I say, tell him without the alcohol on board so there is no mistaking your feelings. Honesty really is the best policy. Just let him know that his jokes on your dogs behalf really bother you and you wish he would stop. good luck!

[Yorkie3]

I would tell him before the alchohol. Just nicely let him know that you love Callie and that for the sake of your friendship, you'd really appreciate it if he would keep his comments about her to himself.

[cesar49]

Originally Posted by silyjillie

Hey! I know how you feel! One of my family members made comments like that about Meeko. I'm known for being sensitive and saying whats on my mind in my family. So, I let it slide a few times and then just had to tell him. I told him he's a dog and his name is Meeko. If you can't call him that then you don't need to talk about him. Like I said, they know how I am and that was the last I heard of them calling him a rat. Sometimes you just can't be nice. Especially if you've already asked your neighbor nicely before. I say bring on the liquor and let him have it!!! lol If you get too mean, just blame it on the liquor! lol Calli is beautiful! And you're neighbor needs to get with it or hear the wrath of Megan at the party! Congrats by the way!!!

sounds like your cute little dog threatens his manhood... some men are just insecure and all ego.. ignoring him is the best answer.... just turn away and stop talking to him... that is the best punishment.... he probably wants you to go off... dont give him the pleasure of seeing you upset...

[tjdmom]

I think v's advice is good. Just turn it around on him. I don't think you should get upset, a lot of people don't like small dogs and as far as I'm concerned, that's their loss. But they are entitled to their opinion. Don't let it get to you. When some of the kids on my sons team were razzing him, I told him to tell them that Zoe can run faster, see farther, hear better and smell better than any of them. Just smile at him and say, you're just jealous!

[IluvLucy]

Villette is giving you good advice. If you've been friends with him for a while, you don't really want to jeopardize the relationship. He probably doesn't realize that it seriously bothers you.

[ProfessorPeteZa]

Originally Posted by xiju

I think your neighbour is continuing with the "rat" comments because it seems to bother you. Instead of making bad friends, could you maybe ask him in a nice way to stop? Something like "I really wish you'd stop with the rat jokes because it hurts my feelings. If we are to remain friends, I'd prefer you just stop!". I'd go that route before starting a war. It might be a lot more pleasant in the end. Best of luck and congratulations on your graduation.

I think this might be the mature and proper route so Id recommend this great advice. However personally, I'm a bit oversensitive yet mean so I'd just call her Butt Face until the unwanted behavior stops(just make sure you tie it in when she says rat dog so she knows that why you are referencing her face with that of a body part that excretes feces)
itll go something like this:

You: Oh HEY! how are you?? I was wondering if I could borrow your hoe for the garden.

Her: oh sure no prob! Oh hi rat dog. how r u?

You: shes doing just fine Butt Face. How about we pick up the pace with the hoe.

Her: *hands you hoe*

You: Thanks Butt Face

/problem

shell be like um did i say something to offend you and thats your door ! lol

i still recommend the quoted part though, as my approach is a bit childish to say the least

[hasrv4fun]

I have found that people that like you and like to tease , try to get a rise out of you by doing the very thing that lights your fuse

You have 2 options here - get liguored up , blow up and lose otherwise good neighbor/ friends

or choose to just ignore the comment untill all of a sudden when he sees he can't "get to you" it will stop -- i can't tell you how many times in the 23 years i have raised Yorkies that a "friend" or neighbor had done the same thing and i learned early on that if you don't respond - they quit

I know how hurtfull it can feel - I love my little Dillon and all the others and like all good mamas we get defensive - just a natural reaction but i found that ignoring it keeps lots of friends and neighbors

[C C Kent]

This is the equivalent of a boy dipping the cute girls pigtails in the ink well. He likes you, probably more than you like him and he doesn't have the skills to show this properly. I don't mean "likes you likes you", just in a friendly way. Expecting couth, appropriate behavior from males is not always reasonable. Many of us want to be friends with a lady, just friends, and don't have the skills to pull this off... so we tease. It's the interaction we are after. A little gentle ribbing back in his direction may really help him feel comfortable with you, and give the vibrato a break.

Suggestion:
Him: Hey nice day huh? How's the rat dog?

You, overly sweet and with genuine concern: Rat dog? Awww..... you rode the "short bus" that must have been awful for you.

He's now on defense and it's a little uncomfortable for him, not someplace he likes to be. He may not let it go that easy but short little returns of pity towards him following his insults will have an effect. These comments should be given with the same feigned concern that a loving mother would use, there is no defense for this from the male perspective, it's just time to change the subject. Have a little fun with it, you may wind up with a loyal friend.

[chattiesmom]

The neighbor doesn't sound like someone I would want to continue being on friendly terms with. Sounds like a classic case of JEALOSY to me. If that is the case, as long as this neighbor knows that it bothers you she will continue calling your little one a rat. I would stop the drinks, cookouts, and tool sharing and simply ignore her. Having a realtionship with a less than kind neighbor is worse than not having a relationship with neighbor at all.

I guess it's easy for me to talk, my nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile away - as the crow flies !!!!!