Dogs as a class marker

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Sigh. No.

Horses, breeding and eventing, are the mark of the aristocracy. The Queen's corgis are a little fancy extra because she already has horses.

Dogs are the mark of the middle class. Historically they came into popularity as pets because the wealthy farmers and factory owners wanted success symbols that could fit into their homes, since they could not afford horses and the maintenance that went with them.

There is no upper or lower middle class when you consider that it's all just a grade above the working class and below the aristocracy.

Now if you delve into who owns which dogs, you get the crunchy left-leaning pseudo-educated who swear by shelter mutts and believe breeders are puppy mills, and the saner people who hold a particular breed in their heart. It doesn't matter which breed, because see above.

Like the Queen and her corgis

Most Royals, UC own dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pitbulls are definitely the realm of a few groups. Inner city (guard my drugs), lower rural (fighting), and certain liberal educated people who feel sorry for them and their bad rap.

Pitbulls are ubiquitous in my hipster, artsy neighborhood.

Tell me which neighborhood so I can avoid the next mauling.

[Anonymous]

Everyone had dogs when we lived in our rowhouse in Georgetown. We skewed young for the East Village by about 20+ years (early 30s). Tesidemts were always out with their dogs. Rose/Montrose Parks too

[Anonymous]

We are probably the only household of $1.7-3 million house neighborhood that does not own a dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don't know much about dogs, but a close friend's very class-conscious DH got a purebred Weimaraner shortly before they started dating. She's alluded to this being a status acquisition (I have no idea if Weimaraners are status dogs, I'm just going by things she's said over the years.) At the very least, he selected the dog because he believed that it was. The dog has been a nightmare from Day One and an issue in their marriage.

Also, I think that in DC, large breeds are a status symbol for younger women. I've never seen a younger, well-dressed millennial woman with a little dog.

There was a famous photographer (can't remember the name) that photographed Weimaraners in NY. They aren't status symbol but your friend's DH probably saw the photographs and assumed they were status symbols.

In China those bear sized Tibetan Mastiffs are considered status symbols.

William Wegman!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know much about dogs, but a close friend's very class-conscious DH got a purebred Weimaraner shortly before they started dating. She's alluded to this being a status acquisition (I have no idea if Weimaraners are status dogs, I'm just going by things she's said over the years.) At the very least, he selected the dog because he believed that it was. The dog has been a nightmare from Day One and an issue in their marriage.

Also, I think that in DC, large breeds are a status symbol for younger women. I've never seen a younger, well-dressed millennial woman with a little dog.

Weimeraners are beautiful dogs, but they drool a LOT and they will savage any cat given a chance.

This is just not true. Anecdotally to PP, maybe, but not universal.