why do people have to put a label on a dog?

It's not "trendy" to call them mutts anymore.  I get this all the time with Bear.  He is Border Collie, something, and something.  First thing everyone says - "wow, Border Collie".  I say, "he's a mix of something, which I suspect may include some border collie."  They say, "what is he, what is he?".  I say, "my pound puppy." 

I'm with you on in-your-face people.  Leave me alone - he's a dog!  Isn't that enough?

Of course, looking in yesterday's paper, someone is selling "Pugeranians" for $250.  Last week in was "Puginese".  And let's not forget the "Yorkinese".  The labels make them worth hundreds.  Why, oh why did I miss that train?  (smacks self on forehead).

 Cats have it sooooo easy. You never see people trying to guess their breed.

Cheyanne gets called a boy because she "looks" like one. Even people that know she's a girl call her a he. Just because she looks like one according to them. Ahhhhhh.

Dont you know it's not cool to say my dog is a corgi/jack russell MIX? Or you think he is anyways.  Gotta give him one of those designer dog breed names to make people feel better.

 I'm lucky - most of the people I meet still accept the "mix" designation, but that may also be because I do try and label them and thus I sound like I know what I'm talking about vs. leaving guessing room.

Everyone at SAR agrees with me that Z is likely a corgi/JRT/Border Collie mix - she looks just like some of those cojacks but with long legs and a more lithe build lol.

I don't know Erica, I often wonder the same.  It's ironic, people often look at Kenya and assume she is a mix (she is not, not that I care), but then they see Coke and just HAVE to know exactly what he is.  I say "I don't know, he's a mutt!" and then want to chat and speculate about what he could be.  Many people have actually mistaken him for a breed, so I tell them if they like the look, check into the black and tan Hovawart.  Most people immediately comment on his tongue b/c it's solid purple.  I don't know if that means he is part Chow or not, so I just say "maybe....".  Now of course I am biased but I love my Cokie and think he is the most beautiful dog ever.  I said to DH the other night, we will never find a dog that matches Coke's beauty and his heart.  I just really don't care what he is, not enough to spend $75 on a shoddy DNA test! 

Liesje

I just really don't care what he is, not enough to spend $75 on a shoddy DNA test! 

Nope - me either. I didn't get a dog based on his breeds, but based on HIM and how he matched my life, and on our need for eachother. Why do some people have such an issue acccepting that?

kle1986

 Cats have it sooooo easy. You never see people trying to guess their breed.

Cheyanne gets called a boy because she "looks" like one. Even people that know she's a girl call her a he. Just because she looks like one according to them. Ahhhhhh.

Charlie gets the same thing except reversed. Everyone just assumes he is a she because he walks with a pretty gait, crosses his legs when he lies down, and is fluffy. I have even had trainers at my local training club we go to assume he is a female and that I was saying his name as "Chi". Argh! lol

I dont know why some people feel the need to attach mixedbreeds with designer dog labels. Maybe if they see one they like they think they will buy a mix just like him. o.0 Its like high school labels: Preppy, Emo, Jock, Nerd, ect.

Shadow is a mix of husky and lab, or Hub, center of the known universe.

Actually, a significantly large number of people think is a wolf or wolf hybrid.

 I know what you mean! I get alot of people insisting that Teddi is a "white lab" and I always say there's no such thing, and we don't know what he is mixed with. Maggie, well anyone's guess is as good as mine with her. I've heard spaniel, schipperke, border collie, whatever. I really don't care either to try to find that out, I love my dogs.

Cause if they can find more Chi Weenies or Cojacks  maybe we have a Designer Breed....  Yeehaw....  !!?

Comeon you have seen the siily A** names they come up with ... and yes I giggle over some of them.... But I guess when you get the great American Mutt that is not good enough... recently one of our VERY inteliigent members of our breed list suggested we opt out of hounds... AKC wante dus to possibly choose Gun dogs ie Sporting or Working  HAH!! These are Hounds soooooorrreeeeyyy ... then this very . very smart man gave intelligent reasons why our furkids who cost a bundle one way or another  should be CURS.... ahhh NO... I mean come on  They are NOT curs... they started that way and were cultivated into a breed who would take on lions or a 2 year old... This is the most unique HOUND in the world..not simply sight, not exclusively scent these dogs are able to work wit or without direction, stop scenting when they can look and smell when they can not see... we are penalized for this by breeds limited to one or the other... we are the ONLY hound breed that hunts both ways.. on top of it we are one of the few breeds where a dog will take down the game or dies trying and the next day  say Gee nope ,,, I have something else to track.

You can not single our dogs on one thing , one day  one moment...like the Greats Katherine Hepburn,  Gene Kelly   they know their own process and find their own steps...

I have a classic and celebrate that!  In 08 I hav ehelped rescue a Beagle RR X and  CHI RR X   ( don't ask and yes I  KNOW)

Bonita of Bwana

When we adopted Ginger, all of her previous vet records said 'poochi". Ahh..noo.  We just say Poodle/Chihuahua. Or, if we're lazy, "poodle mix".

the rest of the time she's just the elf

One day at the dog park some guy overheard me telling someone that Max was a mutt from the shelter and he absolutely insisted that "he knew, because his girlfriends' brothers fiancee is a breeder - Max is a genuine purebred Southern Blackmouth Cur."  Um. Right.  Don't think so.  Nobody in this part of the country, unless they're on a dog forum, ever even heard of a Southern Blackmouth Cur. He does resemble one, but so do a gazillion other mutts.

Joyce

We stopped being serious about our answers quite a while ago.  People would ask, we'd say he was a mix, then they'd tell US what he was.  So we would change our answer every week or so.  DH actually told people that he was part Giant Jack Russell Terrier.  

 I think the labeling of dogs comes from the basic need of most humans to try and catergorize what they see.  As soon as we start talking, we start asking what everything around us is.  Plus, perhaps the person is just trying to start a conversation.  Most of the conversations I start with random strangers at the dog park, start about one of our dogs.  <___<

 But honestly if it really bothers you next time, with a straight face, tell them that at home you have a Bulldog, Shih Tzu mix.

hahaha.... hmm - I like that,

It's not so much their asking that bothers me - it's the INISTING that my dog is a 'whatever', not  mixed breed mutt. You ask - I'll tell you, but you don't tell me!