I thought this could be a fun and possibly informative thread. What odd things have you heard people say, with great authority, about dogs or dog related issues?

Yesterday at a show somebody I know a little was showing their male puppy for the first time. Unfortunately said pup has no testicles descended. Pup was placed last and judge explained to owner (a novice) that it was a lovely pup but he could not be placed higher without any testicles. Owner came out of the ring only to be told by somebody that she needs to report the judge to the KC, as KC rules says that male dogs do not have to have any testicles before they are 10 months old, and as such her pup should clearly have won the class!

Not quite the same but at my first ever show I got placed last as my dog, according to the judge, was a lovely pup but he could not be placed higher without any testicles. I was so nervous about the whole thing it was only later that I clicked what the judge had said: he was examining a bitch...

Wouldn't be the first!!!!!   he was examining a bitch...

However, isn't it possible to show a neutered male in the UK ring now - not that if he was up against equally good males WITH all the tackle, he'd be put over them.    The Breed Standards have never been changed but much as it won't make any difference with that show result, it might be worth checking with the KC about this.   I know of nothing that suggests a male can't be marked down for having no testicles by 10 months!!

You can show spayed bitches (at the time I wanted to do this, you still had to get KC permission to show) and in many cases, I defy any judge to know whether a bitch had been spayed or not, other than upending her to check!!!   My spayed Champion bitch (spayed after becoming a Champ I hasten to add) continued to take high awards when I showed her a bit more, with permission (!!) after she'd had a litter and been spayed.

I'd be interested to see whether the neutered male situation has been changed.

Not from someone in a position of authority, but was asked what I'd be doing with my oldie once I got my new puppy.........if I'd be having her PTS!

Somebody, and with great authority, recently said that all bitches had a silent season before having there first proper season, so spaying before the first (proper) season is fine as then they have been spayed after their first season, if you follow me.
Actually I have no idea if this is true or not, never heard of it before.

However, isn't it possible to show a neutered male in the UK ring now - not that if he was up against equally good males WITH all the tackle, he'd be put over them.    The Breed Standards have never been changed but much as it won't make any difference with that show result, it might be worth checking with the KC about this.

You can show a neutered dog or spayed bitch yes -if the KC has been informed. In the case of the bitch of course she won't be penalised as she has nothing visibly wrong with her due to having been spayed (unless her coat quality has changed) but a neutered dog would be penalised in the same way as a dog with one or no testicles descended, as yes like you say the breed standards state all male animals are to have two testicles.

It's a shame dogs don't have neuter classes like cats do. It could encourage more people to show.

Not quite the same but at my first ever show I got placed last as my dog, according to the judge, was a lovely pup but he could not be placed higher without any testicles. I was so nervous about the whole thing it was only later that I clicked what the judge had said: he was examining a bitch...

LOL, similar to the time I took 3 Papillon puppies to be vaccinated and the vet informed me that sadly none had any testicles. Well of course they didn't as all were bitches. :)

Somebody, and with great authority, recently said that all bitches had a silent season before having there first proper season, so spaying before the first (proper) season is fine as then they have been spayed after their first season, if you follow me.
Actually I have no idea if this is true or not, never heard of it before.

Definitely not true -would be a nightmare if it was for sure. :) Imagine how many of us would have unplanned for litters from young bitches.

heard at the vets waiting room " did I know that the reason staffs are a bit flat faced  and snort is that they are genetically part pig " yes it was said seriously !

My friend once was walking her lhasa's down the road in full coat. She was stopped by a guy who told her they were lovely shih tzu. She told him thanks but they lhasa apso's. For him to tell her that she was wrong they were defernatly shih tzu he can tell as his mother use to breed them.

Not among knowledgeable dog folk but usually older but general public.

It's the one that if a bitch has a crossbred litter she has been spoilt and will not produce purebred offspring.

How anyone can think this is just mad, it's like saying if you have children and then remarry after divorce any future children will still be your ex husbands (unless of course they are;) ).

I've had a judge tell me that he would have liked to have placed my (liver) bitch higher, but at her age her spots weren't going to turn black ....

And I've also been assured that dalmatians should have curly tails to hook onto the back axle of carriages to keep them in the right place.

LOL a few good laughs here!! :)

"And I've also been assured that dalmatians should have curly tails to hook onto the back axle of carriages to keep them in the right place."

That's a classic.

> the breed standards state all male animals are to have two testicles.
>
>

It states they should have two, not they must have 2!! This means un-entire dogs can be shown. I dont have a problem if they had 2 to start with & they were castrated for medical reasons.

Sorry for going off the orginal topic...

>Not from someone in a position of authority, but was asked what I'd be doing with my oldie once I got my new puppy.........if I'd be having her PTS!

This sort of ignorance, usually from non dog lovers, really gets my back up. 

And I loathe it when local people see me out and about socialising puppies.  I'm sure they do it to make me really angry.   They say "Have you got rid of them all yet?"

I do not get rid of puppies.  And will keep a litter rather than sell to morons.

>Not from someone in a position of authority, but was asked what I'd be doing with my oldie once I got my new puppy.........if I'd be having her PTS!

I had similar questions when I was pregnant. Several people asked when I would be getting rid of the dogs. they seemed it was a forgone conclusion that I wouldnt keep them once the baby arrived! Same with the cats. Even one of my health visitors!

Most of the most preposterous things I've been told about dogs have been said by vets. For example:

Unless we spay by 6 months we're storing up a lifetime of ill health followed by an early death, which is "proved by all the science and all the evidence".

A raw diet contains too much protein. "Dog food is actually the natural thing for dogs to eat". (Direct quote).

It's scientifically impossible for that strong combination spot-on treatment to have made your dog ill. They simply wouldn't sell it if it did. (It did).

And so on. Sadly not funny, but most of the stupidest things that people have said to me about dogs have been said by vets. Maybe it sticks in my mind more because it makes me so angry.


I had similar questions when I was pregnant. Several people asked when I would be getting rid of the dogs.

Try your husband having a Stroke and being on life support - at the first meeting with the Registrar at the Hospital, I was told I needed to get rid of my dogs ........................  how I stopped myself hauling off and hitting her I don't know.   I was truly shocked and muttered something about my dogs keeping me 'grounded' through all this - afterwards I thought of LOADS of replies I could/should have given her.

I don't have anything as extreme although I was subjected to a vet telling me I was putting my pups life at risk by not spaying. But last week I met 2 ladies one with an impeccably behaved black lab. She was complimenting her coat and her friend piped up "what make is she" I said a Ford as she Kept stalling on corners.

A raw diet contains too much protein. "Dog food is actually the natural thing for dogs to eat". (Direct quote).

Wow. I wonder where wild dogs go to buy their food?!

Some funny and many not so much.

" I'm having my dog sprayed then apparently she will be a HE".

" All those dogs have exploding brains"
"All got bad hearts"
" you've got a lot of dogs"..... ME....." Well I breed them, where do you think puppies come from?"
" oh I thought you just need 2".

And upon walking my latest puppy....stopped by a smiling stranger ..." Oh you need to clipper their ears straight away to get them used to it"....( show puppy)..." And have a litter before 12 months THEN have her neutered"

Wow. I wonder where wild dogs go to buy their food?!

That's precisely why wild dogs have a low life expectancy: because they can't open the tins.

Some of these have made me giggle, some make my mind boggle at people in general, but I always try to remember a good quote I once saw...

"Think of how stupid the AVERAGE person is, then remember half the population are more stupid than that"...

And as for this one > did I know that the reason staffs are a bit flat faced  and snort is that they are genetically part pig " yes it was said seriously <, well I nearly spat out my tea!! Having said that, I'm fairly sure our new bulldog lad is part pig/hippo/carthorse, with not a whole lot of dog in there at all... :-o

Having said that, I'm fairly sure our new bulldog lad is part pig/hippo/carthorse, with not a whole lot of dog in there at all... :-o

Turns out not to be so daft after all, because our youngest, smallest, greediest little beagle has also definitely got some pig in her.

Some of these are hilarious, some quite frightening!! I remember a fellow showing person said when I retired my first boy from main competition 'oh you'll be able to clip all his coat off now' - erm no, I bought my breed partly because I love the look of the coat and wouldn't EVER clip it off unless for major health reasons. And even a well coated male as mine was doesn't have any major grooming issues, not like some of the mega coated breeds! :-)

LOL, I've often told people that now that we have DNA testing it is conclusively proved that Labs are genetically part pig, part goat and part vacuum cleaner.  I wonder if somebody thought I was serious?  :)

I have been told, by someone who used to breed, that dogs have four stomachs !.

Also had that you can't trust GSD's as they all" turn " when they reach 7, and my favourite one, Staffies skulls split when they are 2, this is how they have such wide heads....who knew ! Lol.

Apparently 'German shepherds are known for being dangerous. Don't feed them raw - they'll get the taste for blood and one day you'll come home to find they've eaten your baby'.

Last week at training...'your black shepherd must have labrador in her pedigree. They don't come in that colour and her body is too soft. I should know, I've been a judge'. When told she has recently whelped and still has some puppy fat, comes from west midlands police lines and has an extended 8 generation pedigree....'oh maybe not then...the police don't make up pedigrees!'

This coming from a woman who can't see that her jrt is part chihuahua!

If you don't neuter your dog he will hump you and try to mate you everytime you get your period!

In my breed a dog has won cc,s after having been neutered, but he had permission to be shown from the KC the reason being he had testicular cancer and they were removed to save his life.

My understanding is that with a permission to show letter you are to judge them as being entire I know when my boy broke some teeth and had them removed on vets advice due to infection, his letter stated that he was to be judged as having a perfect bite as he had broken certain teeth and they were removed on vets advice

My understanding is that with a permission to show letter you are to judge them as being entire I know when my boy broke some teeth and had them removed on vets advice due to infection, his letter stated that he was to be judged as having a perfect bite as he had broken certain teeth and they were removed on vets advice

You don't ask for permission to show a neutered dog, and also do not need to carry the letter with you, unlike with other operations. Neutered dogs are ALWAYS granted permission to show, it's automatic, you just have to fill in the form and tell the KC and wait until you have the letter back from them. Tends to take less than a week. Neutered dogs are never mentioned in the KC Journal eitehr, or the Gazette before that. It's not published anywhere, unlike all other operations. So the judges can't ignore the fact the testicles are missing as they should be there and could have been removed for any reason whatsoever -but I suppose if you DO have a vet's letter stating the testicles were removed due to cancer, there may be some judges that would make allowances. After all, there is a huge difference between a dog being neutered because he had testicular cancer, or because he had one or no descended testicles. One dog was ill, the other was born with a fault.

>I'm fairly sure our new bulldog lad is part pig/hippo/carthorse, with not a whole lot of dog in there at all... :-o

I have a KC registered Bearded Collie.  Her pedigree doesn't even mention that she is part Shetland pony. 

But you only have to look at her.  :-)  :-)

Sitting in the vets with my almost 3 month GSD pup a lady next to me said ' I didn't know that they could breed miniature alsatians, I think they will be very popular'

Oh, Sillysue - that is wonderful!  What on earth did you say?

LOL I wonder what they thought GSD puppies look like?!

I got told that I got sold a pig in a poke with my GSD (KC registered) as they don't come solid black.  Must be a Belgian!lol
Not to feed raw, again as she will eat us all in our beds.
Rotties apparently turn on people that are menstrating?! (best ever!)

Celli, the head splitting is actually a common 'saying' up here.  It doesn't mean literal it just means the head maturing.  I still hear that all the time.  Head splitting is usually when they have no more growing to do so around 2 yrs sound about right.....unless of course, his head did actually split :O LOL!

I Love listening to 'experts'!

I wish I had £1 for every time I've been stopped in the street and told by complete strangers that "my dogs are absolutely beautiful but isn't it such a shame they are so dreadfully hyperactive?"
This is always said whilst my irish setters have been sitting beside me quietly waiting patiently for their walk to continue!

When I've shown my boys if they've been castrated, I always have a letter from my vet stating they were entire before they were castrated and give it to the steward.

sorry I have to stop reading this my sides are splitting rofl!

>I wish I had £1 for every time I've been stopped in the street and told by complete strangers that "my dogs are absolutely beautiful but isn't it such a shame they are so dreadfully hyperactive?"
>This is always said whilst my irish setters have been sitting beside me quietly waiting patiently for their walk to continue!

I walk 3-4 dogs together. Often 3-4 Malinois  with maybe a Boston Terrier or two. I have lost count of the number of times people say to me "you've got your hands full with them havent you"! Almost certainly mine are walking quietly on the other side of the road or sat quietly watching the other dog pass. Other dog is almost certainly screaming at the end of the lead threatening to kill mine whilst being dragged backwards away by the owner!

Is sides splitting like the head splitting thing FF?

stop it tish lol :) if so I think ive had it lol

How about a sad, slightly disturbing one?  My friend was telling me about the Vet's new dog.  "He's lovely, a really good looking English Springer Spaniel, not like YOUR dog."  Turned out he was an English Cocker Spaniel.  I didn't find that out till my next Vet visit of course but her tone of voice, very disparaging about our rescued ESS, was evident without me seeing the other dog.  She's still my friend nearly 30 years later, I put it down to she was having a bad day.  But it still hurts.

how rude friend or not . I am sure your boy is beautiful and he isnt likely to look like a cocker silly lady !

That is very rude indeed. Whatever you may THINK of a dog you never say anything bad to the owner (unless you're a judge and at a show!) -it's similar to not telling people they have an ugly child!

Well I guess I should add I did enjoy a certain amount of glee when I discovered she was comparing different breeds of dogs.  But in order not to be mean as she was I had to keep that part to myself so you all are making me feel better, some 21 years after our dear ESS Whisper went to her well deserved rest.  Bless her little waggly tail soul.  :)

my dear old boy has got DLE which affects his face very badly,he is an absolute sweetheart, loves the world and has the kindest nature ever. I am sick of people saying "Ergh - what's the matter with that dog" as they back away. I now just say "he's got a medical condition, what excuse do you have?" People are just so rude and insensitive and I just don't have room in my life for folk like that

Good for you, but what is DLE?

I worked with a chap who had a large port wine birth mark. I was chatting with him one day and another colleague said " oh your face" as if he wasn't aware of it. Some people open their mouths without engaging their brains. It still makes me cringe - he was such a Gent about it.

DLE is Discoid Lupus.

http://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Health/Lupus.aspx

Poor boy, I hope that is not painful?  I bet at the very least it's bothersome to him