# Would you have any reservations eating dog? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 27, 2009, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474 "2009-07-27T19:50:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/21 "2009-07-28T03:23:21Z")
I wouldn’t have a problem with it from any sort of ethical or aesthetic standpoint, but somehow I doubt it would be all that _tasty_. ---
**Author:** ![Jettboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/85e7bf/32.png) [@Jettboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jettboy)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/22 "2009-07-28T04:02:43Z")
I’m pretty sure I _have_ tried dog. I was in a little neighborhood joint in Cuidad Acuña, Mexico. I was three sheets to the wind on cheap tequila and Modelo, and my already poor grasp of Spanish was even worse. I ordered what I thought was a dish with poblanos, onions, potatos and goat. It was chewy, stringy, greasy, and didn’t taste the way good cabrito should taste. My buddy Tommy (who speaks, and reads, flawless Spanish) says, “You know that’s _dog_, right?” I shrugged and kept eating. He may have been playing a game of “…let’s fuck with Jett while he’s drunk”, but I’m pretty sure he was telling the truth. Even when I sobered up it still didn’t faze me, but then I’m no huge lover of dogs, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/23 "2009-07-28T04:14:10Z")
I could easily go for a Standard Poodle or Pitbull taco but there is no way I am going to eat a lab or a German Shepard. They are man’s best friends you know and I don’t eat my best friends as a general rule. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/24 "2009-07-28T04:23:56Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > I would have insulted the population of the entire island if I would have refused. I’d probably refuse for just that reason. How often to I get to insult such a large group of people? As for dog: aside from some cultural qualms, I’m kind of skeeved out about how I’ve heard it’s prepared, at least in some parts of the world. Supposedly, they hang the poor things up on a meathook while they’re still alive, and then take a blowtorch to 'em and basically burn them to death. According to this urban legend, the butchers do this to enhance whatever hormones or whatever going into the meat, for the purpose of making it more of an aphrodisiac or whatever. I’ve been to Canton and seen dog carcasses hanging up on meathooks that looked pretty burned on the outside, though whether burned before or after death I couldn’t say. Also saw cages full of live cats. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/25 "2009-07-28T04:45:15Z")
I would have reservations. First, because I’m a picky eater; I simply don’t like eating meat that’s unusual to me. Second, because they are smarter and more mentally complex than cows & chickens and therefore in my ethical system deserve more consideration ( I’m a little ethically iffy on eating pork too, for the same reason ). Also, dogs have more of a friend & loyal servant relationship to humans than say, a cow does. It kind of feels like backstabbing them. Not a rational objection but it’s there. If it’s me or them, the dog would go but as it is I’d prefer not to eat them. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/26 "2009-07-28T04:48:59Z")
Why not? I have no reservations about eating pussy. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/27 "2009-07-28T05:09:08Z")
This thread comes along a couple times a year. Yeah, I’ve done it, and actually went out of the way to do it in Hanoi. I actually saw trucks with dogs being transported north, and I’ve been told that it is more of a north Vietnam thing. The restaurant was almost entirely men and there was a lot of swilling of rice wine. I suspect that there is some sort of virility associated with the practice. The meal had 3 courses, none of which were particularly identifiable in terms of mammal flesh. It wasn’t very good, but I suspect it had more to do with the preparation than with any particular quality of dog meat. To me, I don’t really regard a dog much different than a pig. I had a friend with a pig, and it was a pretty cool pet, even though it got friggin’ huge. A Korean poster here said that it was common to torture the dog during slaughter for some purported medicinal purposes, and I find that repugnant. On the other hand, I’d probably eat a piece of my neighbor’s stupid fuck yapping dog if it meant executing it. I actually like dogs as pets, I’m just not particularly fond of their owners. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/28 "2009-07-28T05:21:00Z")
It just doesn’t come under the category of food for me. I’d do it if I was starving or something, but otherwise no. Not on moral grounds, just irrational “that’s not food” feelings. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/29 "2009-07-28T10:02:30Z")
I wouldn’t, except maybe as a last resort. I love dogs (not as food) and have had them as pets for many years. I feel it would be disloyal to all the dogs i’ve cared for, given a home to, and fed to turn around and eat one. If I were in a situation similar to **tv Time’s** , I would risk insulting my hosts to turn down a meal of dog. Like George Carlin pointed out, it’s the eyebrows, man. Dogs have eyebrows, so they have expressions. I couldn’t eat anything with an expressive face. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/30 "2009-07-28T10:14:13Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Dog must be very popular if you need reservations. DAMN YOU & SUCH! I was gonna do that one. \:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/31 "2009-07-28T14:01:06Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > It just doesn’t come under the category of food for me. I’d do it if I was starving or something, but otherwise no. Not on moral grounds, just irrational “that’s not food” feelings. Yeah, this is about how I feel. I understand there are cultures in which it’s common, and I’m not on any global crusade to get them to stop, but to me, personally, it just seems wrong. I had a number of dogs growing up and I loved them. This would be like eating their distant cousins. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/32 "2009-07-28T15:21:14Z")
Aside from the moral objections I would have (which are a bit befuddled, I admit, as I do eat other domesticated animals that are raised for food), then there’s the flavor and texture of such a meat. There’s a reason veal is so tender and tasty, because the animal isn’t allowed to exercise. Tender steaks from Angus cows…they don’t exactly run around all day, so they don’t exercise much either. Deer are an exception but even then, a venison steak (IMO) must be consumed rare, as there’s so little fat on them. Dogs, however, do exercise, a lot. I can only imagine how tough and stringy dogmeat must be. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/33 "2009-07-28T15:44:09Z")
How can you mention dog eating without mentioning [this scene?](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFtw4PYZAeo) ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/34 "2009-07-28T15:47:42Z")
My dog is like my baby. I would feel bad thinking I was eating someone else’s potential baby (however un-wanted it was). Yes, I know people have pigs and cows and goats as their babies. But … well, the brain doesn’t always work in a logical way does it? ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/35 "2009-07-28T15:50:58Z")
I dunno. I’ve been raised here, as an American, and even while I don’t necessarily love dogs, they are still pets in my mind and it would be hard for me to make that mental switch. If I was starving all bets are off but just to sit down and eat it? I’d have to overcome a lot of cultural baggage for a dubious return. Eating dog doesn’t sound like it’s worth it to leap through the hoops. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/36 "2009-07-28T16:30:21Z")
I ate dog in a stew on a ship from Hong Kong to Hainan Island. I had a choice: it was one of many dishes on the menu. I did feel weird doing, for cultural reasons, it but felt I should at least try it. I also a few qualms about the treatment of dogs and cats for food in China, but to avoid hypocrisy, I really should have those qualms about the treatment of _all_ food animals in the whole of Asia - animal welfare is near non-existent and conditions are appalling in most of the continent - but I don’t. However, the actual reason I wouldn’t eat it again is that it tasted disgusting. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/37 "2009-07-28T16:36:21Z")
While I was living in Korea our downstairs neighbor used to have a new batch of puppies each year that would slowly disappear when they got to be a certain size. I always enjoyed playing with them, one day I realized that they were being sold to people to be raised for their meat, it didn’t really bother me. I’ve eaten dog and it was very stringy but the sauce around it was very flavorful all in all I’d eat it again. Since they are being raised for the purposes of being eaten, I was the only one to ever interact with the dogs; I don’t see it as different from any other livestock. ---
**Author:** ![fuzzypickles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9d8465/32.png) [@fuzzypickles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fuzzypickles)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/38 "2009-07-28T17:23:59Z")
I’ve considered requesting dog meat at one of the local Vietnamese restaurants, but they would probably take offense if I did. 😃 Trivia Note: In China, [serving dog was banned during the 2008 Beijing Olympics](http://lovelifelikeyourself.wordpress.com/2008/07/14/dog-meat-off-the-menu-for-olympics/). So much for local flavor! ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/39 "2009-07-28T17:26:06Z")
My dad told me that when he was in Thailand during the Vietnam War, the locals could tell when there’d been incursions by the North Vietnamese by the dog bones they left smouldering in their campfires. ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2009, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474/40 "2009-07-28T17:41:42Z")
Meat is meat. I’d be willing to try almost anything once. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-have-any-reservations-eating-dog/504474.md?page=3)