If I have one more person tell me ...

1814 Views 23 Replies 17 Participants Last post by BrennasMom, Jul 31, 2008

GSDgirlAL

Discussion Starter · Jul 27, 2008

how small and skinny Ava is - I think I'm going to lose it!!! I have had several people in the last 2 weeks tell me what a "small" shepherd she is. Does anyone else get ticked off when people say this .. I for one just believe that you don't tell someone that b/c that is basically telling me that I'm not taking good care of my "child". I think she looks great ... comments like that just really rub me the wrong way.

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

bdanise1

· #2 · Jul 27, 2008

I think the big problem today is to many over size Shepherds are being focused on cause thats what everyone seems to want.
Seems people forgot what a true German Shepherd Dog size is.

Most of my foster have been a little smaller, everyone says oh they are kinda small.. Why cause they dont weight in at 95 to 115 lbs.
They are 60 -80 lbs.
Yes my two are rather on the large side.

Just ingore them, you know she is being well taken care of and loved.
Those people have no idea or probably a clue what a real GS would even look like.

Brightelf

· #3 · Jul 27, 2008

You might perhaps say: "Actually, Ava is within standard for her breed, many American dogs are bread to be weak and oversized. Ava's athletic, streamlined, compact build is ideal for herding sheep, doing search-and-rescue in dense conditions, etc. But just like the big lummoxes, she can lpunge well on a sofa, too."

Be happy. I have a big lummox-- and folks always misjudge him as being adult. He is 20 months now, into riproaring teenagerhood.. and his behavior is, well, teenagery!

At age 7 months he was also large, and everyone judged him based on what an adult should be doing/not doing.

There can be advantages to a mid-sized or compact model GSD.

Don't worry about their comments. You love your athletic girl and she loves you!

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CertainlySpoiled

· #4 · Jul 27, 2008

Yeah, things like that do get to me too. I have had people tell me how skinny Emma was, and I'm like, "you think? She's a rescue!" Obviously that was said to me when she was smaller, but people automatically would judge me like i was the one starving her...And stii at a year old, I think she's a bit smalll, but her vet say's she is at a good healthy weight and not to worry.

I'm really sorry for people being so rude to you!! Hugs

angelas

· #5 · Jul 27, 2008

I used to chat online with one woman who showed her dogs. Absolutely beautiful dogs in perfect show condition.

She took her Open bitch to a vaccine clinic and had tech get totally indignant with her and rant about how he was calling AC because she was starving her dog. Her dog was so starved you see, that he could see a definite tuck up and the definition of the last rib.

This dog, by the way, was a Saluki.

Point being, people are so used to seeing huge, fat dogs that they assume that is the norm.

IliamnasQuest

· #6 · Jul 27, 2008

It never bothers me when people comment about that with my dogs - I figure it's just a comment, not a judgement on the care of my dogs. If they question it, I'm glad to tell them that shepherds SHOULD have a "waist" and that you SHOULD be able to see a bit of ribs. I try to keep Trick (12 yrs old) a bit thin because she's got some problems with her back legs now, and Tazer (1 yr old) burns off everything she's fed, so she looks thin too. I'm actually jealous of Tazer - I'd love to have her metabolism! *L*

The next time someone says "wow, your dog sure is small and skinny" you could reply (with a sigh in your voice): "yes - isn't she just PERFECT??" *L*

The breeder I got Tazer from requires buyers to send regular photos so that she can make sure they're keeping the pups on the lean side - and if you allow your pup to get fat it cancels out the health guarantee. I didn't pay for Tazer so the health guarantee doesn't apply to me, but it's best for her to be thin anyhow.

My first GSD was one of those big (over 100#) males and I loved him dearly and loved his massiveness. But ever since then I've stuck with the smaller, lighter females. I find them to be more athletic and more sound over the long run, which is typical - smaller dogs tend to live longer than big dogs. I want my dogs with me as long as possible.

Melanie and the gang in Alaska

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Crabtree

· #7 · Jul 27, 2008

I met someone going across on the ferry with a GSD the other day and before I knew it the words,"she's really thin" slipped out. And off I go on a tangent talking about different dog food and what I'm feeding and what was she feeding. I didn't mean it as an insult I was making a mental comparison to my Larka who is also a skinny GSD.
But none the same it was too late, I was TOLD that 'she was to the vet last week and her weight is good and she should have no health problems."
Well, it didn't matter how much back peddleing and appologizing I did it was out there and I still can't believe I said it.

I did the only thing I could think of and that was to make a hasty retreat.
I did try to redeem myself and before we docked I went and gave her the address to the forum and invited her to join. I hope to hear from her yet.

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Crabtree

· #8 · Jul 27, 2008

BTW I get the same thing about the size of my girls, Lacy and Palla are regular size, in height, but small to some peoples idea and Larka is tall and thin. In fact, I get the odd person wanting to know if Larka is a 'King Shepherd' which I say "No, she's a German Shepherd!"
I then tell them that the two are of the regulation size of the breed and Larka is just a bit tall. I never take it as an insult, I take it as a compliment that they took the time to ask about the breed. It usually progresses to "can I pet your dogs?" and them asking more questions.
By the time they're ready to leave they have a better understanding of what we already know, and that's what great dogs we have.

It's nice to know that I changed one persons mind about the breed and helped to dispell the myth of the 'big mean Shepherd'.

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bosco146

· #9 · Jul 27, 2008

Just tell them you would rather have a small dog that could pound em into nothing, than a fat dog that sits there and watches.

BlackGSD

· #10 · Jul 27, 2008

Originally Posted By: angela scriverI used to chat online with one woman who showed her dogs. Absolutely beautiful dogs in perfect show condition.

She took her Open bitch to a vaccine clinic and had tech get totally indignant with her and rant about how he was calling AC because she was starving her dog. Her dog was so starved you see, that he could see a definite tuck up and the definition of the last rib.

This dog, by the way, was a Saluki.

Now THAT was funny.

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middleofnowhere

· #11 · Jul 27, 2008

How funny we all are! I certainly find myself in this camp. The only thing to say to someone you don't know about their dog is what a great dog it is... Don't comment on the weight of dogs or people!

G

· #12 · Jul 27, 2008

I get it from both sides. Frigga is "too small and skinny" although she is within perfect standards for a female GSD. Odin is "too big" and yes, he is by breeding standards but then I'm not breeding him either. He is NOT fat but in excellent shape and has a waist and slight visibility of his back ribs. He's just huge. I'd really like to see someone come up to Shaquille O’Neal and tell him he's "too big".

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Halen

· #13 · Jul 27, 2008

Oh, I hate that too! I get it a lot. People tell me Apollo is too skinny, they've never seen a shepherd that skinny. I just want to say, well, "you're fat, how do you like that?". But my mama raised me better than that! I always tell them he's only a year old and has a lot of filling out to do. Now bite me. (can I say that?!)

GSDgirlAL

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 27, 2008

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that has gotten these comments! And, the thing is Ava weighs 81 pounds and she's 27 inches tall .... that is no "small & starved" shepherd in my eyes!

While we were at dinner last night with some friends ..he made a comment to me about her and how she needs to gain some weight. I just smiled and said, she is perfect as she is right now. Well, then he goes on to talk about his yorkie and how he feeds her the best food that is why she is always so hyper ... I said what are you feeding her, he said Kibbles N Bits Indoor formula. I said Paul the reason why she is so hyper is b/c that food contains nothing but sugar. He didn't like that too much but I thought it was appropriate since he just sat there and told me that about Ava.

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BrennasMom

· #15 · Jul 27, 2008

I get that too...Brenna is 50-55 lbs but in good shape. Sometimes when she is being a brat about her food she will get a little ribby but not much, as long as I make it to her liking she stays in good shape.

roxy84

· #16 · Jul 27, 2008

kimba is at 58 lbs at 14 months. i suspect she may end up at 60-65 lbs. i get comments that she is either small for a gsd or too skinny. she is lean but muscular and her ribs never show. what drives me bonkers is the comments usually come at the vets office (customers, not the vet) or pet store from people lugging around their clearly overweight/tired looking dogs. id like to invite them to bring their dogs for a day of vigorous swimming and hill-aceous hiking w/ kimba and see how "in shape" their dog is. my vet, on the other hand, gets it and is very pleased with the shape/size of her.

Myamom

· #17 · Jul 27, 2008

Someone said to me......."Wow...I can tell she's a rescue dog...poor thing"..

I adopted Ava about 2 years ago....lololol

BrennasMom

· #18 · Jul 28, 2008

Originally Posted By: myamomSomeone said to me......."Wow...I can tell she's a rescue dog...poor thing"..

I adopted Ava about 2 years ago....lololol

Funny story...I'm a dog groomer so I was bored one day and gave my beagle a mohawk. A few days later I was doing some training/exercising with them in the tennis court nearby and these two women stopped to comment. She asked if I had rescued Mollie from an abusive situation. "no..?" "Well, what's wrong with her then?" Sheesh hasn't anyone seen a beagle with a mohawk before?

roxy84

· #19 · Jul 28, 2008

Originally Posted By: BrennasMom

"Well, what's wrong with her then?" Sheesh hasn't anyone seen a beagle with a mohawk before?

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Brightelf

· #20 · Jul 28, 2008

BrennasMom, someone has gotta ask this-- LOL!-- how does a shortcoated breed like a Beagle sustain a stiff, brushlike hairdo such as a mohawk?

Must have looked cool, though!!

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