What's that sound?!?

[adora's mom]

On Sunday I took Adora to her puppy training class. At the beginning of the class the instructor lets the dogs play unleashed in an enclosed area. Adora LOVES to play - she's always doing play bows, butt rumbles and stalking her big brother. However, this was the first time she'd played in this big of a group (7 dogs including her) - she was having a great time jumping on the other dogs, wrestling, etc.

When she started making "Frenchie noises" like she always does...snorting, huffing, making weird cat-like yowling sounds, etc. some of the other dog owners looked at me like I had brought in a vicious attack dog! The other dogs seemed fine with it, but the owners were pulling their dogs back and giving me odd looks. The other dogs in the class are 2 Goldens, 2 Maltese, a Puggle, and a GSD - maybe these people have never heard a bulldog play before? I tried to explain that she's not being vicious, she just makes those noises...but when we were leaving, Adora wanted to play with a Golden still and the owner said, "Oh no, it's the class bully" and pulled his dog away from her. I felt horrible for her since she just wanted to play. For the love of God, she doesn't even have any teeth on the top or bottom right now! What's she gonna do? Snort them them to death?!
:mad:
Beckham's best friend, Sherman, is an "English" Bulldog and his owner went through the same thing at the dog park, Sherman was snorting while playing with another dog and someone said, "You'd better get your dog out of here, he's vicious and going for the jugular!". (this is totally ridiculous as Sherman is afraid of the 2 cats he lives with, he's never hurt anyone and is sweet as sugar)

What gives??? Has anyone else had this type of experience??

[franp]

Ah, welcome to the world of idiots and morons..

Carolyn and I can tell you lots of stories.This is one of the reasons that I NEVER take Dari to the small dog park cause people just never understand the "Sherman tank "style of play.By the way, I really like your "snort them to death" phrase.

Get used to it Lesley;people just do not understand our dogs. From the noises they make to how they look. You will get comments on everything from the yodeling to how UGLY (yes ) they are.

I, for one, answer right back; no surprise there..

As for playgroups; here in NYC we have dogparks and most have 2 areas. Big and small. Dari has always been in the big side.The big dog owners felt that if I was ok with her being in there, then they were ok with it.And for the most part , she has been. The little tiny , yappies are what sets her off.Not the big dogs. These are the ones that she loves; the ones that she will to this day, roll over and give belly to.

The bottom line is that you are in a class with people who have NO dog knowlegde.If they did; they would NOT say such stupid stuff. God forbid , they knew you feed raw :rolleyes:

[gilazno]

:lol: i am sorry to laugh but exact Ditto on what Fran said,
welcome to the world of idiots and morons..
too funny! but also too true!
we have had women with babystrollers cross to the opposite side of the street to avoid Biggie. I now can laugh about it but was quite offended at first! It is unfortunate but people mock what they don't understand isnt that how the saying goes? I mean come on! vicious?, I bet it was the one who owns the GSD right?? really :rolleyes:

[aussieowner]

Hi,

My husband and I took Mac to puppy party (that's what they call it here) for puppy socialisation. Mac also did the same sort of thing as everyone is mentionning in these posts, and a few owners were sticking their noses up at Mac.

He would never have hurt any though and was extremely sensitive to the really small puppies in the group. In fact, the organiser of the puppy party never told Mac off or sprayed water at him to deter him away from the other dogs.

Sometimes I think that as soon as you mention the word "bulldog" people assume your dog is vicious. I've had experience with both English and French bulldogs and know that nothing could be further from the truth!

aussieowner

[Carolyn]

:D :D What noises? I cannot tell you how many angry glares I have gotten from strangers when Abby does what Fran calls the "Frenchie devil durge". evilicon Abby belts these out when we go for a walk in a public place and she sees children who don't stop to give her attention. I think people believe she is either being abused or wants to eat their children. Ferris, on the other hand, is quiet as a mouse. I have never heard him yodel.

Now...when Abby and Ferris are in the backyard playing with an object...usually a ball or Abby's squeaky tire...they both run around with hair standing up all the way down their backs and Abby has a different version of the devil durge. It sounds more like a SHRIEK :eek: :eek: ,it is always at high volume and anyone who might be stolling by our house must think we own one of those tasmanian devils. I am surprised we have not been reported to the SPCA.

Yep....we just get used to it and once we get passed the embarrassment...we learn to love their Frenchies noises. :p

Carolyn

[franp]

Dari does what I can "bridge people noise".There is a foot bridge that goes over the dogpark; for whatever reason,Dari thinks that whoever walks on that bridge is EVIL evilicon and needs to be told so..She tells them so in NO uncertain terms.The devil dirge.

Or if there is a dog that she wants to play with and it does not want to play with her; she lets loose. If the doorman buzzes me from downstairs; she gets so excited.Someone is coming to see her; she SINGS (off key).

Once people realize that this is just speaking Frenchie, it is funny. :p . but until then, :p UGGGGH :o

[adora's mom]

I think people believe she is either being abused or wants to eat their children.

OMG - too funny! :lol:

Well, I guess I'll just have to get used to the silly comments. I had gotten used to the comments about Beckham and people gathering up their toy poodles in horror at the dog park as soon as they see him (which is too ridiculous to even fathom. Beckham cries when he can't get out back to visit his kitty cat girlfriend who visits him nightly for kisses). I don't know why I thought they'd have more sense about Adora...

My friend bought me a sticker of a cartoon Frenchie that says "Vicious French Bulldog". I'll have to put it on Adora's bag before her next puppy class just to harass the other owners evilicon check it out - it's super cute! They even make a doll... http://scary-stories.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=SS&Product_Code=VFB


I'll have to go get the FBRN t-shirt about Frenchies too. I'll just be decked out to the 9's! :D

[adora's mom]

... we have had women with babystrollers cross to the opposite side of the street to avoid Biggie. I now can laugh about it but was quite offended at first! It is unfortunate but people mock what they don't understand isnt that how the saying goes? I mean come on! vicious?, I bet it was the one who owns the GSD right?? really :rolleyes:

Somehow I missed your post. I can't believe people cross the street to avoid Biggie! How silly...people are really very strange some times.

I'm glad I'm not alone about the noises & ridiculous people!

BTW - the one who wouldn't let Adora play with their dog has a Golden. The GSD & Puggle seem to be the ones with the owners that are ok with her - I'm sitting next to them this week! Wouldn't want any Goldens or Maltese to be mauled with Adora's gums of death! :D

[Minibull]

Hi all, yes i have experienced the same thing at my dog training class. One guy with a Maremma Sheepdog sits there talking to my Frenchie asking what all that growling is about and other people assume he is sitting there growling at their dogs when he is just snorting in typical French Bulldog fashion.
Unfortunately there is a clear line between dog owners and real dog enthusiasts, who generally have far greater knowledge of dogs in general.

[EmD, MD]

Penny started making her special noises at puppy school, and the teacher stopped and laughed and said, "Are you an alien?" It made me laugh.