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Original poster

Hypothetical question about giraffes

231 replies

Curlygirl06 · 05/04/2025 21:37

Dh and I were having a debate about giraffes (wild evening here!).
If you had a pet giraffe and you took it out for a walk, would you put a collar and lead up the top by its head, or down the bottom of its neck by its body?
One of us thinks it should go up by its head, so that you could gently pull its head down if you were going under a low bridge, for example, or pull it to the side if you were going round a corner so it could see where its going.
One of us thinks it should be by the body as otherwise you'd have a bloody long lead (duh, it's a giraffe so obvs!) and you could guide it just as well from the bottom as up the top.
YANBU of course it should be at the top by the head.
YABU of course it should be at the bottom of its neck near the body.

OP posts:
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gillefc82 · 05/04/2025 22:47

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2025 22:37

I completely disagree, the one on the left looks silly, the one on the right looks snazzy.

What about this question?

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Presumably neither. According to the Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual, a centaur “has the body of a great horse topped by a humanoid torso, head, and arms.” So by that logic neither the neck nor the torso would be stretched/elongated like a giraffes (it would be proportioned like a humans) and there would be no spots/pattern on that area either, only on the body and legs.

ScottBakula · 05/04/2025 22:47

@DonnaSueWeloveyou Not as embarrassed as the Mandrill monkey would be if they hadn't put on all make-up

Pandimoanymum · 05/04/2025 22:45

The left hand one. The one on the right is not a true giraffe body, cos it hasn't got a giraffe neck. Oh but it does look better than the left hand one. Oh, I don't know, I give up!😂

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2025 22:37

Curlygirl06 · 05/04/2025 22:28

Defo the left hand one, the right hand one is just ridiculous.

Edited
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I completely disagree, the one on the left looks silly, the one on the right looks snazzy.

What about this question?

Hypothetical question about giraffes
Original poster
Curlygirl06 · 05/04/2025 22:35

Right, we're going to have to reinforce the parameters. Only option is a collar and lead, no reins or harnesses, bridles or saddles. To be fair we didn't think of reins, bridles or harnesses but they are very good ideas, wish I'd thought of it. Perhaps I can angle those choices into the next interesting debate we might have on a similar vein in the future, but for now........ back to giraffes.

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ScottBakula · 05/04/2025 22:35

Curlygirl06 · 05/04/2025 22:27

If horizontal stripes make them look fat, they'd be more likely to get eaten by a lion surely? After all, if a lion is going to use energy to chase after a zebra, surely you're better off chasing what looks like a fat one? More meat, possibly slower runners- zebras have the stripe issue sorted! Vertical stripes- thin zebras, less appealing to a hungry lion.

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I absolutely love this logic

Thepollonator · 05/04/2025 22:35

Curlygirl06 · 05/04/2025 22:00

But how many giraffes have seen a bridge and would know that you can duck your head, squeeze underneath it and come out the other side?

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Good point! 😅🤣

2025willbemytime · 05/04/2025 22:31

ArabellaScott · 05/04/2025 22:04

I would not credit giraffes with the sense to duck under bridges. You'd have to go round.

How very dare you!

Mansionscoldandgrey · 05/04/2025 22:29

DonnaSueWeloveyou · 05/04/2025 21:52

Just been inspired to Google giraffes & am delighted to discover a group of them is called a tower of giraffes!

Giraffes basically do the splits with their front legs when they have a drink, so I guess they may sort of limbo dance under the low bridges?

I think they can get stuck when they do the splits, so I wouldn't risk it.
My giraffe would be so devoted to me that he would walk to heel nicely and not need a lead🦒 ❤️

Original poster
Curlygirl06 · 05/04/2025 22:28

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2025 22:14

Giraffes are far too noble to submit to any sort of collar or harness.

This is a more pertinent question.

Defo the left hand one, the right hand one is just ridiculous.

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DonnaSueWeloveyou · 05/04/2025 22:28

ScottBakula · 05/04/2025 22:22

And what ever the answer is, does the same go for tigers ?

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Oooh now that’s an interesting question!

If a tiger and a zebra happened to be staying in the same hotel one night and the fire alarm went off, would either or both of them be mortified to be caught out wearing the same pjamas, regardless of whether they were horizontal or vertical stripes?

gillefc82 · 05/04/2025 22:28

DustyLee123 · 05/04/2025 21:39

I’d put a saddle on and ride it.

This!

Original poster
Curlygirl06 · 05/04/2025 22:27

ScottBakula · 05/04/2025 22:17

But are zebras worried about looking fat ? They stand out like a sore thumb
I mean lions have got that bit sorted , them dudes can hide !

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If horizontal stripes make them look fat, they'd be more likely to get eaten by a lion surely? After all, if a lion is going to use energy to chase after a zebra, surely you're better off chasing what looks like a fat one? More meat, possibly slower runners- zebras have the stripe issue sorted! Vertical stripes- thin zebras, less appealing to a hungry lion.

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thinkingofausername · 05/04/2025 22:23

FvhgvgghhNC · 05/04/2025 21:43

I agree with harness, using dachshund dogs as a thinking point, leads are bad for their long backs, so I think leads would be bad for a giraffes long neck.

Have you not seen giraffes fighting with their necks! I would not worry about damaging their necks.

ScottBakula · 05/04/2025 22:22

Curlygirl06 · 05/04/2025 22:12

You're my kind of person!

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And what ever the answer is, does the same go for tigers ?

Maxorias · 05/04/2025 22:21

Clearly it must be around the head like a horse's bridle. Given a girafe is much stronger than a human, a collar at the base of the neck or a harness around the body will lead to the girafe dragging you rather than the other way around. It won't fall if it's properly fastened around the head.

Pandimoanymum · 05/04/2025 22:21

ScottBakula · 05/04/2025 22:17

But are zebras worried about looking fat ? They stand out like a sore thumb
I mean lions have got that bit sorted , them dudes can hide !

Show quote history

Well, that's the thing, they DON'T stand out like a sore thumb when they're naked in the long grass, cos of their vertical stripes. So horizontal stripes are a double no-no, because they spoil their camouflage as well as making them look fat 🙂

DonnaSueWeloveyou · 05/04/2025 22:20

JellyBabyToManual · 05/04/2025 22:10

Fair enough. I think I’d go for the harness option. Although last night I dropped a giraffe and it doinked its head off the floor, so I probably wouldn’t be allowed to walk one. I may have been dreaming

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I think you’d be ok - giraffe mums drop their newborn babies 6 ft o to the floor as soon as they give birth.

Original poster
Curlygirl06 · 05/04/2025 22:19

Nosleeptheo · 05/04/2025 22:14

So just asked dp short story of it is he said around the nose so he's got good control and I say a harness. Long story involved 100 more questions about can you control it like a good dog and is it allowed of lead in this hypothetical world. We are now on the debate of this if we ever get to a conclusion I will let you know

I'm glad you're joining in, this debate will run and run.

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Original poster
Curlygirl06 · 05/04/2025 22:17

ArabellaScott · 05/04/2025 22:07

Depends on the angle at which you are pulling, torque, friction, and force.

I wouldn't chance it.

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See, now that's a logical answer to why it shouldn't be at the base. You're walking along with your giraffe on its lead (round the bottom of its neck) suddenly it stops for a drink, or to nibble some grass, head down, whoosh! Collar comes flying off over its head, next thing your giraffe is galloping off into the distance. Calamity!

OP posts:
ScottBakula · 05/04/2025 22:17

Pandimoanymum · 05/04/2025 22:06

Vertical stripes. Every zebra knows horizontal stripes make them look fatter.

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But are zebras worried about looking fat ? They stand out like a sore thumb
I mean lions have got that bit sorted , them dudes can hide !

Gundogday · 05/04/2025 22:15

This thread has reminded me of a lovely book I read called ‘West with Giraffes’, about some people transporting giraffes across America, based on a true story.

www.amazon.co.uk/West-Giraffes-Novel-Lynda-Rutledge-ebook/dp/B088FF4S7Q

Notaflippinclue · 05/04/2025 22:14

Harness on body

Nosleeptheo · 05/04/2025 22:14

So just asked dp short story of it is he said around the nose so he's got good control and I say a harness. Long story involved 100 more questions about can you control it like a good dog and is it allowed of lead in this hypothetical world. We are now on the debate of this if we ever get to a conclusion I will let you know

noblegiraffe · 05/04/2025 22:14

Giraffes are far too noble to submit to any sort of collar or harness.

This is a more pertinent question.

Hypothetical question about giraffes
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