I'm sure most here refers to most Americans--does that sentimentality extend to the rest of the First World?

I don't know. Probably any country where animals are kept inside rather than outside as a matter of course, I should think. Just interacting with the animal more intimately would tend to push the relationship in that direction; household cats were much less pet-like when they mostly spent their time outside (before the invention of cat litter); now that cats can be entirely indoors-only, I know I tend to think of them differently. I saw a cat outside on a cold night and wondered to myself, "How will that cat survive??" --When of course it had fur and cats have been surviving outdoors in the New World for 300+ years.

I cannot say whether, in France, people dress up their doggies in matchy-matchy outfits. I would hope the French would have more taste than that; but who knows.

I would hope the French would have more taste than that; but who knows.

The whole Jerry Lewis thing kinda contradicts that theory, IMO.

Our favorite pub burned down last night. *sigh* Good fish & chips, great burgers, Stella Artois on tap. I'm bereft (in First World terms).

I'm bereft (in First World terms).

I WISH I had a pub and some root!

The French may not dress up their dogs, but they certainly have a lot of them and bring them everywhere, like into restaurants. Every dog we saw in France was clean, well-cared-for and amazingly well-trained.

The designer dog issue is being discussed on Fresh Air.

I'm fascinated by the whole movement to 'create' different types of dogs. Sure, I joke about Bartleby being a 'Baselmatian', but in my day, these dogs being purchased for masses of money while mixes languish in shelters...these dogs used to be called mutts!

eta: Oh lawd. Apparently, the FDA has approved a weightloss drug for dogs. What next? Lipo for Fido?

Bartleby used to be a beachball. That was my fault. He's totally svelte now. How? I stopped overfeeding him. t /mystery and/or expense

these dogs used to be called mutts!

Isn't there a space between purebreeds and a bit-of-everything dog? The dog we bought in Jamaica had no pedigree, but was recognisably a Dobie. Her first litter was Dobermnan/Lab, and that's how we referred to it.

Mutts were the dogs at the end of the street, that surging pack that had so far obeyed the property lines of their owner, but you still winced when you had to walk past the open gate. They were just dog.

My cousin has a dog she adopted that she thinks is a labradoodle. (He's got labbish qualities and a very amusing top knot.) I think he looks like a giant, leggier Border Terrier. If he is a labradoodle: obviously being a "designer" dog didn't save him from being given up.

And I see that the NYT has an article about dog trainers who do house calls.

I wonder if this more caninish NYT is part of the lead up to Westminster?

Surely, the "Heinz 57 Variety" mix of everything dog is an entity in and of itself, but these days, there are lots of mixes where one does know what goes into a specific pooch.

And, it just might be me, but I'm thinking the Basset Hounds really do get around. There are loads of Basse-mixes in this 'hood.

eta: Oh, I heard recently that there is a dna test one can take now that will distinguish the breeds in your pooches heritage. Wonder how much that costs?

I use mutt to refer to any sort of mix, whether it is identifiable or not. It's a nice vague catch-all. I mean, my childhood dog was clearly a golden retriever sawed off above the knees, but ....still a mutt.