7 Annoying Questions Molosser Owners Get Asked

"Do You Have a Saddle for Him?"

Molossers are big; we get that. But this line is so played out that CafePress sells a sarcastic “Haven’t heard that before” T-shirt, which depicts a splayed-out Mastiff bedecked with a Western saddle, stirrups and all. This persistent association between Mastiffs and ponies also reared its head during Superbowl Sunday a couple of years ago, when Doritos aired a commercial featuring a little kid riding his Mastiff “High-Ho Silver” style. Mastiff lovers complained to the chip maker, and for good reason: No dog, no matter how big, is built to be ridden.

"Is That a Black Lab / Pitbill / Fill-in-the-Unlikely-Breed-of-Your-Choice?"

Just because you know what your dog is doesn’t mean other people – especially those who are less Molosser obsessed – will know what tribe he hails from. Many can’t tell a Dalmatian from a Dogo.

It's an oversized Chihuahua. Honest.

Kris Munday of Camelot Dogue de Bordeaux in Oregon hears one constant refrain when she walks her sour mugs: “That’s the biggest Pit Bull I’ve ever seen!”

“If it’s red, a lot of younger people assume it’s a red-nosed pit,” she explains, adding that the breed’s wrinkles also prompts many of the uninitiated to ask if it’s a Shar-Pei. “I get to the point that I tell people, ‘It’s a Giant South African Chihuahua – look it up!'”

"Is That a Cane Corso?"

We get it: Pronouncing those Italian words can be a little intimidating (so much so that we’ve published guides to speaking Cane Corso, and Neo, too). But it’s not like you’re trying to say giogaia, for Pete’s sake.

“Cane” is a pretty basic word in Italian: It means “dog.” Linguistically, Italians are pretty thrifty: If a word of theirs contains a letter, you pronounce it. So that “e” is not silent. Pronounce it: “ka-nay.” Please.

"Cane Corso": Say every letter.

"Do They Really Drool?"

For those who own tight-lipped breeds, drooling is an object of some fascination. They may see Molosser breeds as having perpetual waterworks, and don’t understand that the drooling is more common after the dog has had a drink, or is anticipating a snack.

"Does He Bite?"

Implicit in those three little words are a whole host of assumptions and cultural stereotypes about big dogs in general, and Molossers in particular.

Resist the temptation to be snarky, and instead use the question as an opportunity to educate: “No, of course not, but even friendly dogs should be approached properly by strangers …”

And if the answer to that question happens to be “Yes,” then you’re not doing anyone — not your dog, not yourself, and not the breed as a whole — any favors by having him out in public. Leave your dog home, where he and everyone else will be a lot better off.

Beware of perpetuating stereotypes.

"How Much Did You Pay for Your Dog?"

Often, this question comes from a place of pure curiosity: Many people don’t want to consider acquiring something they cannot afford, and so feel obligated to get that baseline question out of the way before getting anymore invested in the discussion. In turn, rightly or wrongly, some fanciers and breeders take offense at this question, assuming a person is motivated by price tag only.

Regardless of the questioner’s motives, the best answer is often another question. “Why do you want to know?” will reveal the questioner’s true intentions — and get you off the hook.

"How Much Do You Want for Her?"

If someone is callous enough to offer you cash for your purebred Molosser, then we’re cynical enough to assume a less-than-noble motive. In such cases, a simple “She’s spayed” often stops the conversation in its tracks.

If you don’t want to jump to conclusions, then simply tell the truth: “She isn’t for sale, because she’s priceless.”