# Little Dogs Are NOT Fashion Accesories **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 30, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797 "2006-05-30T21:40:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/61 "2006-05-31T16:00:37Z")
> [@Seven](#): > > I’m no Dog Whisperer but that doesn’t songs like “socializing” to me. It sounds like you turned her into another timid accessory dog. A “socialized” dog is comfortable walking around on the floor. Ha ha ha! Did you check out the photos that **Lissa** posted of the grown-up Polaris, and read the description of her as a sort of retriever-sized setter mix? I think it’s safe to say that Polaris has definitely had to get “comfortable walking around on the floor”, because ain’t nobody going to be hauling her around as an “accessory dog” in a tote bag **these** days. And where do you get the idea that small-sized accessory dogs tend to be timid, anyway? IME, they tend to be either ill-trained and aggressively yappy-snappy (because their lazy owners regard them as decorations rather than pets and don’t train and socialize them properly), or adorably friendly, outgoing and well-behaved (because their conscientious owners do treat them as pets and do train and socialize them properly, and they’re constantly interacting with people). And I agree that people shouldn’t be taking their dogs where no dogs are allowed, even in a handbag, and that they definitely shouldn’t be trying to pass them off as service dogs when they’re not. For the rest, though, as long as the dog is well-trained, well-behaved, and well-cared-for, it doesn’t bother me if somebody wants to haul it around in a shoulder bag in places where that’s permitted. Even doggie fashionwear doesn’t bother me much, although it’s not something I’d ever inflict on a dog of my own. Painted toenails? Eh, if it doesn’t hurt the animal and the owner makes it part of an affectionate grooming/caring session that the dog enjoys instead of endures, I don’t care. Pierced ears? Well, then I’d have some issues with the potential cruelty of it, but I guess it’s not any more painful than other widely accepted procedures such as tail-docking or (for cats) declawing, or neutering for that matter. Pink bikini? Sorry, but that’s just wrong. A dog may look cute in a doggy sweater but it does **not** belong in a pink bikini. ---
**Author:** ![jhinman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@jhinman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jhinman)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/62 "2006-05-31T16:01:22Z")
I am in Edmonton Alberta. Back around Christmas I was in the check out line behind your standard big scary I don’t want to meet you in a dark alley dude. Big guy, shaved head, the whole bit and he was wearing a kangroo sweat shirt. In the kangroo pocket was you standard rat size fashion accesory dog. It was the stranges thing I ever seen. I was going to use my cell phone to get a picture but decide he still big scary I don’t want to meet you in a dark alley dude and taking his picture with outt his consent might be hazzard us to me health. ---
**Author:** ![Epimetheus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c4cdca/32.png) [@Epimetheus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Epimetheus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/63 "2006-05-31T16:38:06Z")
I’ts really only out of hand when all the dogs in their fancy little bags have cell phones constantly plastered to their little heads. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/64 "2006-05-31T16:47:28Z")
[QUOTE=Oy!] And while I personally find fru-fru doggy haircuts and/or fancy sweaters or other decorative “clothing” to be rather nauseating, again, unless it’s interfering with his ability to move or function in some way, he really doesn’t give a shit. If dogs were concerned with their dignity, they’d find some way to convert to cathood Dogs don’t give a shit about dignity - they care about fun! [/QUOTE] I used to live with a dog that, whenever my landlady put a sweater on her, would look like she was going into convulsions from her effort to get it off. I’ve felt sorry for dogs in sweaters since. My landlady also put those reindeer antlers on the dog at Christmas once, and there was much running around trying to get away from them. Poor dog. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/65 "2006-05-31T18:11:12Z")
[QUOTE=Anne Neville] I used to live with a dog that, whenever my landlady put a sweater on her, would look like she was going into convulsions from her effort to get it off. I’ve felt sorry for dogs in sweaters since. My landlady also put those reindeer antlers on the dog at Christmas once, and there was much running around trying to get away from them. Poor dog. [/QUOTE] I’m accepting of dog sweaters when they’re actually needed to keep the dog warm, and dog booties when they’re needed to protect the dog’s pads against road salt and such. Other than that, no. ---
**Author:** ![Wnabtokio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Wnabtokio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wnabtokio)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/66 "2006-05-31T21:15:30Z")
[QUOTE=Lissa] When [Polaris](http://www.angelfire.com/ab8/polaris/awwww/index.album?i=0&s=1) was a little three-pound puppy, I took her everywhere with me, and yes, I carried her in a bag. Not because she was a fashion accessory (though she did go well with my suede jacket) but because I wanted her to be socialized. She liked it. When she saw me getting my keys, she would hurl herself into the bag, tail wagging. She got to meet people, smell new smells and hear loud noises, all very important things for a puppy to experience. Sure, some people treat their dogs like fashion accessories. Hell, some people treat their _kids_ that way. However, I think it’s rude to assume that everyone who wants to bring their dog with them is doing so to impress others. Maybe they just like having their dogs with them. They’re not hurting anyone, least of all the dogs. [/QUOTE] As an aside, Polaris must be exceeding the legal limit for cuteness. It’s killing me! ---
**Author:** ![Tamryne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tamryne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamryne)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/67 "2006-05-31T21:22:14Z")
I think some of those LA tourists transplanted themselves in Houston, because I was at the houston galleria a few days ago and a paris hilton lookalike and her boyfriend were being escorted out because they had a little chihuahua in a bag. Poor Chihuahua, the things don’t even LIKE people, let alone a loud crowded mall on memorial day weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/68 "2006-05-31T21:49:49Z")
[QUOTE=Homebrew] As long as owners are responsible, clean up after their pets and keep them socialized and well-behaved [/QUOTE] But that’s exactly the problem- some of the owners _aren’t_ responsible. Like this one: > [@Aangelica](#): > > Nor do I ever want to see again a lady in a deli take some napkins, reach into her purse, pull out her dog’s pile of shit and then leave the napkin wrapped shit on the counter while she looks for cash to pay for her food. Now, the best thing to do would be to ban this woman for life from that deli, of course, or anywhere else that she does this kind of thing. People who bring a dog that becomes aggressive to staff or other customers should have the same thing happen to them, _no matter how small the dog is_. But businesses would usually rather ban all dogs than ban some people. They have signs that say they have the right to refuse service to anyone, but how often do you actually see that happen? And how often do you see a person turned away from a business for something they’ve done there on a previous visit? So businesses ban dogs- then what happens? The obnoxious “rules don’t apply to me” types still bring their dogs with them, but the people who know how to act civilized (and train their dogs to act civilized) don’t bring theirs, because it is against the rules. Pretty soon, most of the dogs you’re seeing people carry around like that are obnoxious, yapping dogs that pee and poop everywhere. Then, when the people with properly trained dogs want to take them to malls with them, they face people who think that all purse dogs are yappy and badly behaved. It’s a few bad apples ruining things for everybody else. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/69 "2006-05-31T21:52:38Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] Oh, devilishly handsome! Nice-looking dog too. 😉 [/QUOTE] 1-Thank you, very kind. If I’d remebered how to blush this would be a good time. 2-And no, no way in hell I’m going in a doggie basket anywhere. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/70 "2006-05-31T22:27:15Z")
[QUOTE=Homebrew] I don’t understand the hostility. The little dogs aren’t hurting you in any way. It doesn’t inconvenience you at all. They’re not asking you to care for their dog. So what’s the big deal? And as for the macho, asshole posturing about feeding the toy breeds to “real” dogs, why don’t you see what happens when your “real” dog meets a real cat, like say a Siberian tiger. Guess what, macho-man, your big dog doesn’t make your balls grow. [/QUOTE] I don’t own a dog. Haven’t owned a dog in 18 years. When I did own a dog, it was a mid-sized Lab-mutt named Sandy that was a sweet-natured, well-behaved, freindly, _trained_ dog. Rarely barked; never nipped at anyone’s fingers or ankles (except playfully, in the park, when we played tag; she would trip you up in a heartbeat, and then proceed to lick you to death). I didn’t have her because I felt she empowered me, or raised my testosterone level. When I went into the Army at 18, she went with my Mom when she moved to St. Louis (4500 block S. Broadway), where she got into someone’s antifreeze and died. When I got the news in Germany, I broke down and cried. Still doesn’t change the fact that I’d like to take those little, yappy, shaky-trembly, ankle-biting piss-machines and drop-kick them. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/71 "2006-05-31T22:50:23Z")
[QUOTE=Zsofia] You know, the only time I’ve ever seen that in the flesh is in Paris, and those people are just nuts about their damned dogs. I guess people in South Carolina don’t really go for purse dogs. Do they let them out to take a crap? Because if I hauled my dog around in a purse it better be something you can hose down. [/QUOTE] I saw quite a few people walking extremely small dogs in Beijing; I didn’t see anyone carrying a small dog in a dogtote or whatever they might be called. I was told that ownership of a useless, extremely small dog in Beijing is quite the status symbol. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/72 "2006-05-31T23:29:18Z")
[QUOTE=Wnabtokio] As an aside, Polaris must be exceeding the legal limit for cuteness. It’s killing me! [/QUOTE] Then you definitely don’t want to click on [this](http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=38573249/PictureID=1120174537/a=43736900_43736900/t_=43736900) link, which is my favorite puppy pic of her. ---
**Author:** ![mojave66](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@mojave66](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mojave66)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2006, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/73 "2006-05-31T23:57:21Z")
Small yappy dogs were never, EVER bred to be fashion accessories, lap dogs or “mommy’s little foo-foo.” Terriers were created to hunt vermin, intentionally bred small so they could head down mole, rat and gopher holes. They were bred with high energy so that they could spend a large chunk of the day doing their job. We are also not doing any of the dogs a favor by putting working retrievers (standard poodles) into miniature packages (the overly-nervous “toy” poodle). There are plenty of dogs bred for nothing more than being a lap dog, such as the mellow non-yappy Bichon Frise or Lhasa Apso, but at heart they are still dogs-- they need discipline and training. Treating _any_ dog, no matter what size, as a pseudo-baby is doing a huge disfavor to the dog, as is training a pit bull to be nothing but a merciless killer. Gah. I’m starting to think licenses for both parents _and_ animal owners anymore… ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/74 "2006-06-01T00:02:06Z")
[QUOTE=Lissa] Then you definitely don’t want to click on [this](http://www1.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=38573249/PictureID=1120174537/a=43736900_43736900/t_=43736900) link, which is my favorite puppy pic of her. [/QUOTE] [shameless hijack] You want cute? I’ll give you [cute!](http://community.webshots.com/photo/549922534/2036547580000735275RDOieE) We now return you to your regularly scheduled dogfest. ---
**Author:** ![Lissa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lissa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissa)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/75 "2006-06-01T03:19:32Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] [shameless hijack] You want cute? I’ll give you [cute!](http://community.webshots.com/photo/549922534/2036547580000735275RDOieE) We now return you to your regularly scheduled dogfest. [/QUOTE] _Bows gracefully in defeat_ I cannot compete with a kitty in a bucket. ---
**Author:** ![BluePitbull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e9bcb4/32.png) [@BluePitbull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BluePitbull)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/76 "2006-06-01T03:28:44Z")
[QUOTE=EddyTeddyFreddy] [shameless hijack] You want cute? I’ll give you [cute!](http://community.webshots.com/photo/549922534/2036547580000735275RDOieE) We now return you to your regularly scheduled dogfest. [/QUOTE] How cute ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/77 "2006-06-01T04:45:37Z")
[QUOTE=Homebrew] I don’t understand the hostility. The little dogs aren’t hurting you in any way. It doesn’t inconvenience you at all. They’re not asking you to care for their dog. So what’s the big deal? [/quote] Until the animal pisses and shits on the floor, or bites someone? But it’s not so much that as I find it cruel to these animals. A lot of people like Paris Hilton only see said dog as an accessory, NOT as a pet. The poor thing is probably nervous, and shouldn’t be toted everywhere like that. Put the dog on a leash and take him to the park. Or, if you must carry her around, like **Lissa** did, don’t do it because it’s cute and trendy. > [@](#): > > And as for the macho, asshole posturing about feeding the toy breeds to “real” dogs, why don’t you see what happens when your “real” dog meets a real cat, like say a Siberian tiger. Guess what, macho-man, your big dog doesn’t make your balls grow. Absolutely agree with you there. Like I said-those dogs are tough little buggers. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/78 "2006-06-01T06:46:14Z")
[QUOTE=Lissa] She spent the first five weeks of her life in a cage, isolated from humans and other dogs. She was terrified of everything. Once I earned her trust, I started introducing her to the world in a way that she felt safe and secure. Once she became more comfortable, I started walking her around with a leash. She’s still very skittish, but she’s much better than I had expected, considering all of the crucial puppy development stages that she missed. I’m not a professional dog trainer by any means, but I did the best I could to make the world a less frightening place for her. She was not a “normal” dog and thus could not be socialized in a normal fashion. I have three dogs, and they’re all “problem dogs”. If I’ve learned anything from the experience, it’s that you adapt to the dog’s needs. Some dogs will be very happy romping around on the floor and exploring the world with confidence. Others will need more gentle introduction. [/QUOTE] I guess I opened my mouth just large enought to put my foot into it Or to be on topic, a small rat dog). I guess it does make sence now that I know the back story. Sounds like you took a perfectly logical route. Good for you. I’ll shut up now. heh heh. **Kimstu** - DOH! Yeah. Now that I see the picture I feel stupid. Cute doggy. What I mean by timid… Most of those little rat dogs I see remind me of Tweak from South Park. Hyperamped wired crackhead dogs that shiver and hide. I rarely see them out of handbags so I don’t know what they’re like on regular times. I’m a “dog” kind of guy. If it’s full grown and under 30 pounds you might as well have a cat. I figure if you’re going to have a dog, you might as well have one that will do something like protect a home or eat children. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/79 "2006-06-01T10:41:19Z")
So, you’re saying some people _want_ to look like Paris Hilton? Really? Wow! ---
**Author:** ![Mellivora\_capensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mellivora\_capensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mellivora_capensis)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2006, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797/80 "2006-06-01T11:28:47Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] “He’s my seeing eye dog.” “You have a seeing eye-Pomeranian?” “THEY GAVE ME A POMERANIAN?!?!” [/QUOTE] Hee hee hee hee… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-dogs-are-not-fashion-accesories/358797.md?page=5)