So frustrated with people

[LBelle]

Originally Posted by myteddybear

How do you all handle people when you go out with your Yorkies? I used to get it all the time in the states and hoped when we got to the UK it would be different but I almost find it worse. Walking my little girl and of course I am proud of her but everywhere I go I get looks like I am some kind of weirdo and comments I hear from people passing by. You know the ones, "is that a dog or a rat" kinda ones. Now being here I also get remarks and questions about where her tail is because she came from the states and has no tail but here they all have tails. I wish she did have her tail but she doesn't. I have a hard time dealing with people anyway so on days when I manage to get out and about in public and want to socialize Rosie I find it really hard dealing with people. Anyone have words of wisdom? lol

I thought Brits were supposed to be so reticent? Guess times have changed! Hard to believe people can be so rude but I would probably be tempted to reply with something silly......you can't really pay much attention to people. As long as you love your dogs, that is all that matters.

Likely as not, they're jealous!

[myteddybear]

LOL you all are so funny! You made me feel better. I like the USA T shirt idea. Yep, it's usually men with the rat comments, older ladies usually love her and comment how beautiful she is and some rudeness just comes from random people. We had a woman walk by us twice today with a little girl and they didn't speak English and when the little girl wanted to come over to see her the lady gave her an ear full and shot the most disgusting look at Rosie. The second time they went by the little girl didn't even look our way and the lady shot the same nasty look our way. Some people just walk by look and laugh at her. What is that about?

I don't like confrontation and usually just look away or pretend not to hear them and go about my business but it does make me feel uncomfortable. I am out trying to get her used to different people and situations so have been taking her to the high streets to walk where there are lots of people and she is doing so well but I don't want my uncomfortable feelings making her uneasy.

When we were waiting for Rosie to get here I would always notice all the other dogs being walked and noticed that it seems like people from England aren't much into small dogs, at least not as small as Yorkies. You almost never see them. Most everyone is out walking much bigger dogs. They originate from here so it surprised me that it seems rare to see them. I also wonder if in the states they have been bred down in size so much that it just seems out of the ordinary here since the few I have seen have all been what seem quite large to me.

Well whatever it is that causes the reactions, I will press on and whenever I hear rude comments I will think of you guys and just smile.

[myteddybear]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

The one that bugs me the most is when other yorkie owners think they are superior to you bc theirs is "way smaller". I feel sorry for those people. They tell me Uni is BIG for a yorkie! She is 5 lbs. Yes she is tall, but no she is not big.

One time we had a mini meet up at my old shop. There was a girl in there, and commented, "I like the small one". Which one is the small one? They are all the same size! They vary about a pound or two and an inch or two. They are the same size!

Rosie is 5.5 lbs and I can't imagine anyone thinking she is "big" by any stretch of the imagination! Uni and Rosie are well under breed standard and just perfect in size if you ask me!

[capt_noonie]

I'm pretty sure it has to do with the US aesthetic and the yorkies here being bred down in size. Maybe also yorkies used to be lower class people's dogs, ratting dogs, so they aren't into them? IDK. When I talk to people about yorkies, a lot of them don't know they used to be poor peoples dogs used for killing rats. Now they get called rats.

[Teresa Ford]

You could use humor, when someone says where is her tail, could you manage to look shocked and horrified then squeak out, "Oh my gosh ! It's missing, it was there when we left the flat !"
Or "Her tail ? Have you heard 3 blind mice ? (most will nod yes) " Same farmers wife, same butcher knife, (make a cutting motion here and look sort of crazy) Yes she cut hers off !"
OR " I chopped it off, because she kept asking dumb questions."
OR " Oh it is a sad story (at this point look sad and let your lip quiver) and I can't bear to open that door again !"

Replies for looks like a rat. Puff your self up look proud and pretend to misunderstand say, Thank You , yes she is the famous rat catcher you saw on the telly (TV). OR "Thanks she was a gift from Prince Harry, Being British of course, You know.... how he feels about Yorkies. " They will worry about it all day ! LOL

[Princess10]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I'm pretty sure it has to do with the US aesthetic and the yorkies here being bred down in size. Maybe also yorkies used to be lower class people's dogs, ratting dogs, so they aren't into them? IDK. When I talk to people about yorkies, a lot of them don't know they used to be poor peoples dogs used for killing rats. Now they get called rats.

This actually made me laugh. It's so ironic, isn't it? And I wonder how many of these judging adults would take on that job at their sizes??

I've never really heard Princess get insulted but would gladly participate in the convo. I'm known to speak my mind & it's even easier when someone's being rude to someone I care about. I've just heard a few say she's pretty big for a yorkie. That was when she was 6.9lbs.-under breed standard! Now she's 8lbs.-ish. Guess I can't use that anymore.

[MI Yorkielover]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

How about, "wow! you must have HUGE rats at your house! "

Myteddybear: how about you walk your girl with a USA t shirt on?

[Jinger]

We hear "Is she a teacup?" practically every time we set foot outside. I usually summarize with, "There's really no such thing, and I wish she was bigger for her health's sake." That typically leaves them with nothing to say.

Other comments: "I HATE it when people put clothes on dogs!", "Is that a cat/rat or a dog?" Etc.

I've started going with something I think I first saw somewhere online. I loudly say, "CAREFUL! She'll take off a leg!!"

[myteddybear]

Originally Posted by LBelle

I thought Brits were supposed to be so reticent? Guess times have changed! Hard to believe people can be so rude but I would probably be tempted to reply with something silly......you can't really pay much attention to people. As long as you love your dogs, that is all that matters.

Likely as not, they're jealous!

I just saw your post, we must have posted at the same time. English people on the whole are very lovely people and honestly I got far more direct comments to my face in the US than I get here. Here the ones that giggle or laugh at her seem to be the younger people (maybe teenage to young 20 somethings) and the rat type comments seem to come from young guys but never to my face more as they are walking by to whomever they are with. The strange encounter today with the woman and child were not sure, maybe french.

In the US I think people are more inclined to just make fun to your face.

You are right, I love her so it really doesn't matter what others think. I just wish I didn't feel on the defensive all the time with her. I just don't understand people's issues with small dogs, after all they are people too! LOL

[kdhawks]

I do get annoyed when I have Levi in public and people are constantly fussing over him. I prefer if people ask before petting him; some do, some don't. Most comments are positive ("oh, he's cute!"), but I can't stand the idiotic comments. "Is he a teacup?" "My Yorkie is smaller." People either think he's tiny or he's huge. And he's only 5.5 pounds. Yeesh.

At outdoor restaurant/coffeshops/etc. I've taken to sitting him on my lap. I used to hook his leash around my foot or chair and let him stand, walk, or lie down, but people aren't as open to reaching out and petting him when he's on my lap.

[gracielove]

People that I meet in public seem to be kinder to Gracie then one of my family members. I don't really care what people say. Gracie sure does not care. They can make comments until they are blue in the face and Gracie is still going to love them to pieces and want to kiss their faces! So why should I care what some hard hearted bore thinks or says about my dog? They should be ashamed to let people know that they are rude, crude, and hateful but since they are not ashamed they are also showing their ignorance. Their loss not mine.

[myteddybear]

Rosie has been so funny. There can be people walking all around her and she doesn't flinch no matter how close they come but let them bend over to touch her and she darts! LOL "I don't mind you walking close to me but don't think you are touchin!"

[myteddybear]

Gracie, I need to learn to take on that attitude! I know Rosie could care less so I shouldn't let it bother me. I am definitely going to work on it, I think I need the socialization more than she does! LOL Back out tomorrow we go!

[roseylovestosho]

I've been told that Teddy isn't a real dog. LOL w/e

[hnybun128]

Originally Posted by myteddybear

Gracie, I need to learn to take on that attitude! I know Rosie could care less so I shouldn't let it bother me. I am definitely going to work on it, I think I need the socialization more than she does! LOL Back out tomorrow we go!

At the end of the day, there are a lot of stupid people in the world. Even as vast as this world is, it's inevitable that you're eventually going to run into an idiot. Though I struggle with it daily (I think I'm overly sensitive,though), I am really working on not letting the stupid people get to me. Best of luck with your walk tomorrow! Your baby is beautiful so screw 'em!