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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Do you get annoyed if someone misgenders your dog?!

111 replies

DrMeredithGrey2023 · 17/04/2023 10:25

I was talking to a woman at a village family event the other day, and called her dog 'she'

Her facial expression instantly changed, and she quite curtly said 'um, he' and then the vibe changed.

Can't say it offends me in the slightest if someone calls my dog a girl, to the point that I'm even sure I'd bother to correct them in the situation we were in - chances are I'll never see her again 🤣

Does it bother you?

OP posts:
Lastnamedidntstick · 19/04/2023 12:21

ImAGoodPerson · 19/04/2023 11:50

My small dog is a pug, he does not look dainty/girly in the slightest so no to that.

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So it’s dainty= girly? Butch = boyish?

interesting how we think of genders and assign rules.

ImAGoodPerson · 19/04/2023 12:31

Lastnamedidntstick · 19/04/2023 12:21

So it’s dainty= girly? Butch = boyish?

interesting how we think of genders and assign rules.

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Come on, it's all lighthearted, we are talking about dogs. Don't be silly about it. We are not talking about people. Dogs don't have genders, they are boys or girls (or intersex if that is possible in dogs?).

ImAGoodPerson · 19/04/2023 12:35

Nap1983 · 19/04/2023 09:00

unsure about gender… but my lab 100% identifies as a bin….

I have 2 dogs like that, it has cost us a fair bit in vets fees!

ImAGoodPerson · 19/04/2023 12:38

BreviloquentBastard · 17/04/2023 11:32

LOL what a wet wipe!

No, happens all the time with mine. I've got a very pretty, doe eyed black greyhound who is a male but gets "she" all the time because he's so pretty, and an incredibly scruffy, beardy, burly Scottish Deerhound cross who is a female but gets "he" a lot. Funnily enough it's never bothered them!

Interestingly it never happens with our third dog, she must just look like a girl.

Exactly, it's not offensive at all. To be fair I I saw a beard burly human I would assume its a man. I don't think I am unfair in that really.

MystyLuna · 19/04/2023 12:44

Of course not. Most of the time you can't tell if a dog is a boy or a girl without having a good look underneath. If someone gets offended over something so stupid I wouldn't even bother talking to them again. Quite often people mistake my son for a girl and I don't even get offended by that.

uhtredbebbanburg · 19/04/2023 12:44

Lol no! I have a border terrier and she permanently looks like a grumpy old man. If some one calls her a he I do say she’s a she but not in a shitty way.

labamba007 · 19/04/2023 12:48

Christ. Many people didn't know the difference between sex and gender (or at least didn't have to think about it) until recently. Give op a break.

pigsDOfly · 19/04/2023 14:52

Lastnamedidntstick · 19/04/2023 08:45

I find it quite hard to think of big bulldog type dogs or St Bernards as being girls as they look so boyish

how does a dog look “boyish”? Are you just working on the principle that bigger= male? Do you also think small dogs look “girlish”?

Somehow that doesn't work with my small, very pretty, very fluffy female dog.

More often than not people will say what a gorgeous dog 'he' is.

Maybe it's the fact that her harness is grey and mauve and her lead is blue.

Whatever, it doesn't offend me and it certainly doesn't bother her. She'll still be happy to let them stroke her.

pigsDOfly · 19/04/2023 15:04

labamba007 · 19/04/2023 12:48

Christ. Many people didn't know the difference between sex and gender (or at least didn't have to think about it) until recently. Give op a break.

True.

And given that everyone knows that the OP isn't using gender in the modern meaning, all the posts picking her up on her use of gender are a bit unnecessary.

When I was growing up sex and gender were interchangeable. The idea of gender as it used now is pretty new.

I have a chambers dictionary from several years ago that informs the reader that sex and gender mean the same thing.

RockSocks · 20/04/2023 19:43

Mine is 100% certain she's a cat and spends every waking moment with my tuxido so no, she's more upset they called her a dog 🤣

FabFitFifties · 14/05/2023 09:18

When you are familiar with a breed it's usually quite easy to tell. I had a border collie cross though, who was on the petite side due to his parentage but otherwise looked all collie - he was often called a she. Especially at agility. He was incredibly handsome in my eyes 😍 but people commented on how pretty he was. It irked me a little bit but not enough to let it be known.

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