I have a two-year-old rescue dog named Toby. He was injured in a car accident, which left him missing some part of his ear. He’s been in our family for quite some time now, and his presence has been a blessing to us in every sense.

But there is something that has been irking me for a while. As I already mentioned, Toby is missing a part of his ear. It definitely stands out in a park full of other dogs. Or, even in a place where there are almost no dogs at all. So, as one can imagine, I have to put up with a lot of unwanted ‘feedback’ from people.

Complete strangers who think it’s perfectly fine to come up and say things like, “Such a nice dog. Too bad it’s missing… so much of that ear.” Or, “Why don’t you take it for some reconstruction surgery?”

The day I clapped back

Usually, I ignore such comments with a smile. But I reached the limits of my patience one day. Toby and I were taking a walk at the local park one day, soaking up the fresh sunlight of the newly settled-in summer.

Out of nowhere comes this guy in a tee and torn jeans and says, “What happened to your dog? He looks horrible.”

I wanted to ignore it as usual, but that day, something changed inside me. I responded, ‘Don’t mind me, but I think you need a better fashion sense. That bright red looks really tacky on you”.

As expected, he looked taken aback. I continued, “Also, I don’t appreciate comments like this on my dog. Thank you.” Then I strode forward, Toby leading the way. I didn’t glance back to gauge his reaction. But he was probably too stunned to say anything.

When to break the silence

When a stranger critiques a dog—whether they’re commenting on a unique breed trait, a rescue’s patchy coat, or just a face that “only a mother could love”—they are commenting based on their own expectations of how a dog should look.

My dog doesn’t know he has a bad ear; he only knows he is happy to be outside with me.

You may think keeping quiet will help you move past all this. But sometimes, it just encourages rude behavior. It’s then that you need to speak up and set boundaries.

Tolerating can only work to a certain degree; beyond that, you will need to step in and be the ‘defender’ for your dog.

What I did that day is something every owner needs to do. Maybe not the exact same reaction, but something similar. One of the most effective ways to handle a rude comment is with a polite but pointed question.

Suppose someone says, “That’s a weird-looking dog,” or “Why does he look like that?” Here, you can simply respond with, “Why do you feel the need to say that to me?”

This shifts the focus back onto the stranger’s behavior. Most people who make these comments do so because they expect you to just take it. But if you call them out, they often stumble.

It often makes them reconsider their comment. And it highlights the absurdity of their comment without you having to raise your voice.

Another approach is the ‘Positive Pivot.’ If someone makes a disparaging remark, you can counter it with a fact about your dog’s character. “He might not meet your beauty standards, but he’s the gentlest soul I’ve ever met,” or “She’s a rescue who has overcome so much, and to me, that makes her the most beautiful dog on this street.”

This shuts down the critique of their looks by reminding the stranger that a dog’s value isn’t found in their coat or their symmetry. No, it’s much, much more.

Conclusion

This idea applies beyond pet ownership to a lot of life aspects. While there are certainly certain situations that deserve silence, it is not a universal option. Nothing has a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, and you should never treat anything that way.

Always remember that your dog is a precious member of the family. It is important to advocate for them when needed. They love, guard, and keep you company at every moment of your life. So, it’s only fair you return the same.