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Original poster

What is it with posh people & dogs..? And

118 replies

Zuchon · 15/09/2021 10:46

In our village (2 hours from London) the very posh who work in London during the week have multiple dogs... All similar breeds... Gundogs, Jack Russell's etc who also live in London with the family during the week... All the dogs have similar sounding names... Is it just me whose noticed this? All the upper middle to landed gentry types have at least 2 dogs... Is it similar in your area?

OP posts:
BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 15/09/2021 10:49

Er, well, yes, there's always been a strong association between landed gentry and dogs, because they were working dogs who worked the land. Sheepdogs, gundogs, ratters.

Original poster
Zuchon · 15/09/2021 10:53

I understand that but these family's work in the city (lawyers, bankers etc..) kids in London day schools... Why the need for big energetic dogs in the city... We know a few of the families & the majority have 3 beds or mews house so why the need for working dogs or multiple... I think the dogs are nearly a status symbol...

OP posts:
Original poster
Zuchon · 15/09/2021 10:54

Totally understand the country folk & our local landed gentry as they still have working estates which is different from the families who live in London during the week & come to the country home at the weekends & school hols....

OP posts:

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Dogs
Littleants · 15/09/2021 10:56

But thats okay, poor people have dogs too

Shitzngiggles · 15/09/2021 10:58

I've got 3 dogs but I'm certainly not posh.

LizziesTwin · 15/09/2021 11:00

Maybe they just like their dogs? I have biggish dogs as I like the breed.

trumpisagit · 15/09/2021 11:00

Can we have some example dog names, see if we fit the cliche?

Original poster
Zuchon · 15/09/2021 11:01

We have an amazing little Shih Tzu but I get the impression he's not considered a real dog around these parts🙄

OP posts:
BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 15/09/2021 11:01

@Zuchon

I understand that but these family's work in the city (lawyers, bankers etc..) kids in London day schools... Why the need for big energetic dogs in the city... We know a few of the families & the majority have 3 beds or mews house so why the need for working dogs or multiple... I think the dogs are nearly a status symbol...
The tradition remains, with similar breeds and names. If you grew up with working dogs and loved it, you'll recreate it. And you say they have a country pile for the weekend, so.
Original poster
Zuchon · 15/09/2021 11:03

@trumpisagit

Can we have some example dog names, see if we fit the cliche?
Don't want to out myself but the dogs don't have human names... Think along the lines of Tiny.... Porky... Figo... Snowy... Our boy has a human name😁
OP posts:
JesusInTheCabbageVan · 15/09/2021 11:03

We're middle class and have one dog. Not sure if that adheres to protocol. I'm pretty sure we should have some kind of a doodle though, rather than a lurcher. HOWEVER, she is a rescue so overall I think we have very much conformed to type.

OrlandointheWilderness · 15/09/2021 11:03

Probably an association with working breeds - gun dogs because they may actually be gun dogs and terriers traditionally are used in sport. Sporting breeds are popular with people who have a lot of involvement outdoors because of their energy and trainability.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 15/09/2021 11:05

@Shitzngiggles

I've got 3 dogs but I'm certainly not posh.
Poor people also have lots of dogs, but you have to swear at them and feed them oven chips Grin
OrlandointheWilderness · 15/09/2021 11:05

My dogs don't generally have human names!?! Working dogs will usually have a short name that isn't easily misheard and may have a sporting origin.
What a strange thread 😂

SirSamuelVimes · 15/09/2021 11:06

@Zuchon

We have an amazing little Shih Tzu but I get the impression he's not considered a real dog around these parts🙄
I'm in the 'not a proper dog' camp on that one tbf, OP... Wink
LongDissidence · 15/09/2021 11:08

You're disgruntled because posh people, who presumably have space and land enough, have pet dogs? And they don't give them human names?

Ugh, I hate posh people too, OP. Dicks, the lot of them.

Original poster
Zuchon · 15/09/2021 11:09

It's just an interesting observation... In our village our shih tzu would be one of the only ones... At the school gates there's a few cockapoos, cavachons, bichon friese etc but in the area in general gundogs seem to be owned by the majority including the Londoners... However we often walk our litte boy in a nearby town park (it's a much larger town than ours) & there's loads of small fluffy little dogs who'll stop & say hi to him!

OP posts:
BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 15/09/2021 11:10

So you've arrived at the radical insight that... people have larger dogs on average in the countryside?

Original poster
Zuchon · 15/09/2021 11:11

@LongDissidence

You're disgruntled because posh people, who presumably have space and land enough, have pet dogs? And they don't give them human names?

Ugh, I hate posh people too, OP. Dicks, the lot of them.

Just making an observation! I know the Londoners often complain about how tiny their gardens are in the city.. Then why have multiple gundogs there when you are there Mon to Thurs night🙄
OP posts:
LongDissidence · 15/09/2021 11:11

The posh dogs are too snobby to say hi to your dog?!

Tinkerbellfluffyboots79 · 15/09/2021 11:12

Labs and springers aren’t that big? Nor are jack Russell’s

So what if they have dogs in several houses. I like retrievers and I don’t care what others have, I have no opinion on your dog not being ‘a real dog’ however I do prefer something bigger.

Tenbob · 15/09/2021 11:13

We live in London and have 2 gundogs (one Greek mythological name, one Victorian maid name, so hopefully fit your cliche?)

They are lovely soppy pets for most of the year, gundogs for about 10 days a year and energetic enough to come with us on long muddy weekend walks

And they are an intelligent breed so are trained enough to be well behaved and easy to live with

I’m afraid a little yappy dog that doesn’t come back when called or can’t be walked off the lead would drive me insane. I’d rather have no dog than one of those!

Original poster
Zuchon · 15/09/2021 11:13

@LongDissidence

The posh dogs are too snobby to say hi to your dog?!
It certainly feels that way😁
OP posts:
bobandhisburgers · 15/09/2021 11:15

Maybe they....I don't know..like them!? 🤔

PersonaNonGarter · 15/09/2021 11:15

Poshness and dogs are definitely a thing. Disliking or worse allergies to dogs are a bit of a social marker.