[ladyj]

Originally Posted by lulababy

I dont like when pebbles gets negative attention because of her size.. and I also don't like when people try to say that when you put clothes on an animal they are being abused in some way.

These are some of the comments I got today in pebbles new training class by some of the other members, and the clothes one was by the trainer:

She looks like a mop

Is that as big as shes going to get?

The chickens are bigger than she is (then went on about how his dog literally eats live chickens)

I think my dog wants to eat it

From the trainer: He doesn't want to eat it

I'm surprised shes doing so well

:: someone comes over and fusses with pebbles (pretty and expensive) dress and then flips it like its trash or something ::

Don't you think your dog gets hot in those clothes? It's hot

Me: Outside its hot, not indoors, no.. theres airconditioning in here (argh! I know she was trying to get me to take her clothes off! Psh, also, it was a SUMMER dress!)

I know it wasnt very bad but everyone stared at her the entire time really and kept making comments, and the big dog owners kept saying their dog wanted to eat my dog because she "looked like a cake" or something.

Is it wrong of me to want to be treated like every other dog owner and not be antigonized for dressing my dog. I also got picked on because her harness is not standard and plain black or red. It's a pretty one from Glamourdog.com and the trainer almost didn't let me use it--but I proved to her that pebbles walks very well in her harnesses and that they actually work thankyouverymuch. I dunno, I'm just upset. I don't like my baby being compared to a chicken, especially when that chicken is literally being eaten

do you get upset by negative comments about your dog or do you just brush it off? I know I shoudn't take it personally, but I do. I'm not going to cancel the class because we did learn stuff and I think the teacher is very good despite her obvious prejudice against dogs wearing clothes

Well, I'd have a little private chat with the trainer and demand some respect, no comments, everyone treated the same, and if I didn't get that, I'd find another class and ask for my money back. What you do with your dog is your business and no one else's. You paid your money and you deserve the same training as everyone else without any comments. It's harassment, plain and simple, and no one has to put up with it. You aren't there for everyone else's benefit and you didn't ask for anyone's opinion. Stand up for your rights! The trainer should be seeing that no one is getting picked on or made uncomfortable.

I signed up for an obedience class one time with my Chihuahua. The class was in October in a big, open building without any heat. It was in the low 40's and very cold in the building. My Chi was a house dog, not used to being outdoors in the cold. He was shivering and consequently didn't want to do the things he was supposed to do. He was very smart and very well trained and could easily do everything, but he was uncomfortable and I knew it. I pulled him out of the class and got my money back. The rest of the dogs were big dogs, shepherds and labs, etc., and the cold didn't bother them. The trainer was very nice about it and said she could tell that my dog was uncomfortable.