Quote:
Originally Posted by chandracz  That's another thing that upsets me is when they ridicule me for putting clothes on my baby. I feel like saying, it's really none of your business!!!! I can do what I want with my baby! I don't tell you how to raise YOUR children!!! |
You know, that's just it. People will rarely ever tell you how to raise your children, especially when it comes to random strangers. With dogs, however, simple strangers--we're not even touching on the subject of family, friends, and relatives--will not hesitate to put in their dollar and half of unrequested input on how you're raising your healthy, happy dog. Okay, to be fair, not all strangers who have an opinion would voice it to you, they'll just keep it to a snicker as you walk by them.
I've only ever been told how small my girl is (currently 6lbs at a little over a year) when she was anywhere from 4 lbs to 5.5 lbs by those who either already own larger than standard yorkies or those who recognize the breed but do not own one themselves. From these same people, I've also gotten the question of whether or not she's a "teacup" or that "she must be a teacup", and I chuckle and say, "Far from it. What some people refer to as teacups are half her size." I also warn them of who they might choose to use that term with as some people are really sensitive about that.
I personally don't mind either way as they're not trying to sell a dog, they're just using it as a means to describe the pup. Of course, I do tell them, it's not a "type" or "breed" it's simply an unfavourable word used to describe the little guys. From anyone else who complimented her on her cuteness and not so much her size, they let me know they "have one like her, but smaller" at home.
Most that I've run into are either just barely smaller than her or less than half her size.
Back when she was about 4.5 lbs after her puppy class, a family had come into PetSmart to shop. They had with them a tiny version of my girl! Same colours breaking out at the time, almost like an exact scaled down replica. I thought he was the cutest thing while the woman looked like she was afraid I'd either snatch her pup or that my girl pulling on her leash to sniff him was going to eat him right up or maybe kill him with a deadly dog disease
(all I did was say how perfect his features were and he looked like a miniature of my girl--I didn't even try to touch him, as I respect others' personal space, and that includes their children and pets). She didn't even smile. I didn't hold it against her, but I felt a little sorry for my girl. She had shown way less interest in her 3-3.5 lb puppy classmate. A very cute yorkie boy with the most amusing "antics".
Mine has yet to be called a "rat" or other rodent. One little girl referred to her as a "wiener dog" but when she noticed we can HEAR her (crossing the street and she was right behind us), she corrected herself immediately saying to her dad next, "aww, a cute puppy". I didn't mind that either, even if she figured mine was a doxie's first cousin. LOL
Then there's the woman at the bus stop I walked by when I chose to ignore her outstretched arms, and her "aww, what a cutie" she immediately changed her tone and inserted, "Is it a dog or a...cockroach." Her pause made me think she had to quickly wrack her brain for a good insult to sooth her hurt feelings when she didn't get to pet my girl. I mean, taking your furkids to the outside world shouldn't automatically mean they are volunteers at a free mobile petting zoo!
