Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

Has anyone had people mistake their dog's breed for something crazy?

A couple of years ago, I surprised someone coming out of an elevator in my building because I had Brinkley, a purebred English Labrador Retriever, with me. She jumped back and said, "Is that a PIT BULL?!"

I had a chuckle about that one. Yesterday, I was walking the dogs and someone asked me if he was a MASTIFF.

Brinkley:



a Mastiff:




People ask me if Ginger is a Golden Retriever or a mix all the time because of her coloring. Meanwhile she looks like a pure American Labrador. I think people are used to seeing Yellow English Labradors that don't have as much color variation as she does. This one is actually not as far fetched as the things I hear about Brinkley.

Ginger:



Golden Retriever:

Message edited 9/5/2011 9:35:12 AM.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

Too funny... my brother saw your english lab and said, "I see some lab in it...." He laughed when I said people think it is a pit or mastiff. But it seems to me your dog is more muscular? Stocky? I wonder if people make the mistake bc of that. But his face is definitely all lab! Look at the long beautiful face!

Gorgeous dogs!

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

Yup, he's definitely stocky, that's a hallmark of the English Labrador. That's why they call them blockheads, they're specifically bred for that look. I think Ginger's body is what people would consider a Labrador, but that's just because she's an American Lab and they're more common here. But fatter.

I get that too, people telling me that Ginger especially is too thin. I just chalk it up to people being used to seeing overweight Labs.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

People keep asking me if Marty is a Scottie. He is a Miniature Schnauzer.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

As long as it's followed by cute or adorable or sweet or loving.... doesn't bother me what breed they call my boy

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

Everytime! I have a Coton de Tulear and everyone asks if he's a maltese, or havanese, or some bichon mix.....when I tell them...they still usually have no clue what that breed is anyway haha

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

I have a dashund/shih tzu mix and people always says he's a terrier. I tell them what he is and I have actually had people argue with me that I'm wrong! ummm.....it's my dog, I was at the breeders house I saw the parents, I know exactly what he is.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

People always mistake Riker for something else because he's a field spaniel and a lesser known breed. He is often called an Irish Setter which is so crazy to me but it happens a lot. I also get cocker spaniel and springer spaniel a lot which makes more sense. He's been called a chocolate lab a few times too. Right color but that's it!

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

North Shore Animal League adopted Irwin to us as a collie/german shepherd mix. There is no way he is shepherd. He is all collie and golden retriever (the fur, the boxy head, everything!). I'm not surprised though. This is also the place that adopted a German Shepherd/Chow mix to my mom when we were kids as "the perfect family dog". My brother and sister BOTH nearly lost an eye.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

When my Bullmastiff was a puppy, people thought he was a puggle lol. I guess he kind of looked like one back then...but not anymore!

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

My American Bulldog always gets mistaken for a pit bull. They are very different breeds. I'm constantly saying no she's an American Bulldog, not a pit. She needs a bumper sticker or something!

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

My Portuguese Water Dog is often mistaken for a Standard Poodle (I can sort of see this if I happened to choose a very strange cut for my poodle), a Spanish Water Dog, or a Labradoodle (the last two I can definitely see. I am constantly confusing all three of them and can't really see a consistent difference).

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

Sadler..has been called a Lhasa Apso but is a Shih Tzu. I still get offended (not that there is anything wrong with Lhasa's) even if the breeds very much resemble each other.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

Yes, my black and tan cavalier has been mistaken for a long-haired daschund. I think it's because most people don't even realize there is a black and tan cav—everyone knows the blenhiems. He also has an overbite so his muzzle is slightly longer than most cavs, but it's not nearly as long as a daschunds!

Message edited 9/20/2011 11:41:28 AM.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

I've had a few people ask if my Golden Retriever was a Lab. I was like I thought they were both well known enough not to get confused (they don't even look to similar besides coloring).

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

i have a chihuahua and jack russel terrier mix dog. he is all of 13 lbs and people ask me if he is a collie... lol

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

I have a pembroke welsh corgi that is tri colored and I get asked all the time if she is a beagle.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

I get it ALL the time... everyone things Jessie is a Pitt... 90% of the time people cross the street when they see us coming...

she looks similar when her ears are pinned back and shes panting

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

I have a pomeranian and people think it's a collie or a sheltie all the time. He has an unusual coloring and he's a BIG pom. People are used to seeing the tiny rugrats.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

My Brutus is a Boston Terrier but he is pretty long and lean for one instead of short and pudgy -- people think he is a Boxer puppy! (He is 6 years old!) Sometimes we get french bulldog or pug too.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

I have a bull terrier, and people think he is a pit bull. His face looks NOTHING like a pit bull, maybe his body. They are NOT even in the same family. Actually Bull terriers are in the same family as bull dogs.

Re: Mistaken dog breeds - do you get this?

I have an Italian Greyhound and have had people mistake her for a whippet, a big grey puppy, a kangaroo, and a reindeer.