January 6, 2011

You’re One of Those…?

People ask some of the strangest questions of me as we’re out walking. This morning, on a wet, rainy walk with Gretchen (our special alone time) a woman stopped us and asked, “You’re one of those…” and then she snapped her fingers.

“A Labradoodle,” Gretchen filled in the blank.

“Yeah, that’s it,” said the woman.

Sometimes people ask if I’m a Wheaten Terrier or just a plain poodle. I know it can be confusing because there are lots and lots of breeds of dogs in the world and Labradoodles in particular come in many different shapes and sizes.

I also know I’m a particularly interesting mix since my Dad was a miniature poodle and my Mom was a first generation Labradoodle (her parents were a Lab and a Poodle, respectively). When Gretchen and Ann adopted me, they really liked my Mom. She was calm, confident, and a perfect size. When they met my Dad they thought he was cute, but were surprised by his energy, his re-activeness, and his level of nervousness. “Oh, that’s the poodle,” they convinced themselves and since they’d already fallen in love me, they adopted me anyway.

Little did they know that while I might look like my mother, I am definitely more like my father in temperament. We’re all working on it, but let’s just say I’m a work in progress. Thank Dog for Chinese herbs!

But I’m not the only one who is questioned about what I am. Rosie, for instance, is constantly asked, “Is that a pit bull?” or “Is that a mastiff?” Both of which are incorrect. Rosie is a boxer through and through — from her flues to her stump of a tail.

A lot of people have no idea what Gemma is. The common suggestion/guess is Airedale, and while she is a terrier, she’s an Irish Terrier. Most of the time, though, people ask, “What kind of dog is that?” and we have to explain.

Saber is also confusing because unlike most Labs he is not black or yellow or chocolate though AKC folks say he technically IS a chocolate Lab with a silver coat. Then again, there’s a whole other group (non-AKC folks) who call him a silver-coated Lab. Still, when we’re on walks people ask, “Is that a Weimaraner and Lab mix?”

Nope…pure lab, through and through.

I guess it just goes to show, you can’t judge a dog by his coat or his size or his coloring/markings or even his temperament.

Until tomorrow,

Rubin

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