32 thoughts on “Ultimate New York Subway Lap Dog”

  2. How do larger dogs get to vet, walk 50 blocks. A dog, on a leash, with owner should be allowed!i I saw a girl holding a Dalmatian in her arms, it may have weighed more than her! PETA get going.

  3. I will forever associate Presa Canarios with that lacrosse teacher a pair of them, Hera and Bane, mauled to death when they got out of their apartment.

    1. Karen, I know I will as well, as will anyone old enough to remember that incident. Those dogs were bred and raised to be aggressive, and their owners, for once, got the sentences they deserved.

  4. Aridog – you’re right – there are some bad breeders out there that are ruining several breeds, especially pit bulls. Pitties are often easy for Animal Control to catch because they’re so affectionate. But when you have breeders selecting for traits like dog aggression, and combine that with owners who don’t know the first thing about how to socialize and train dogs with strong instincts, and it’s a disaster.

    Out here in CA, most pit bulls that go to the shelters get put down, because there is such a glut on the market. Dog fighting is apparently popular in some areas of CA, especially the gang infested parts.

    You’re also right that you can’t judge an individual by the breed or its look. One of my favorites is the Akita. A lady brought in an enormous one to my first job at a pet store, when I was a teenager. She requested a muzzle, which I had never fitted. So there I was, on the floor, trying on different muzzles, squashing her face, and generally making a mess of things. At one point, I told the owner I was pretty sure she didn’t NEED a muzzle, considering what she was putting up with. She agreed, but had decided to get one to make her neighbors relax when she walked her dog. Her mere size made people too afraid to be on the street with her, but she was a very placid, intelligent, gentle dog. As long as you didn’t break into her house or try to harm her owner, she was just a gentle giant.

  5. So cute! Dogs are happier walking, getting their exercise, but this is the best of both worlds. He gets to come along with daddy on the subway, and then hop out and walk the rest of the way.

  6. Aridog, Thanks for your expertise. And, I certainly am old enough to remember Our Gang. For the youngsters here, Eddie Murphy did a hilarious take off on the black kid in Our Gang, Buckwheat.

    1. Paul – You and I think alike on the subject of foo foo dogs.
      Nick – I had totally forgot about the Eddie Murphy take of on Buckwheat. Thank you for reminding me. That brings to mind a lot of laughs.

  7. When I lived in Houston I knew a woman who rescued pitties. She knew to keep the “bad” ones apart, but the vast majority of the ones she rescued over the years were overgrown lap dogs. They are sweet dogs. Any of you in my age bracket can remember watching “Our Gang” on black and white TV, and will also remember Buster Brown shoes. Pit Bulls featured in both.

  8. I was in NYC with my half blind guy on a leash with a guide dog sign on the side of my collar and we rode the subway without me being in a bag.
    Each dog is unique. To stereotype Pitt Bulls in one fashion or another is mean. About the only thing which holds true is the fact that web feet dogs can swim better and are inclined to swim.

  9. I should mention that “Zoya” was a rather overly muscled German Shepherd, about 95 lbs (way heavy for a female) who had a 22″ neck ….she could really toss a dog the size of a Jack Russel Terrier about 10 feet or so. She never gave them a death shake, just grabbed them and tossed them. She was a great dog.

  10. Paul…only the ones who act all aggressive as if they’re Mastiffs or something. Sadly, most of the designer tiny dogs think they’re 9 feet tall…especially Chihuahuas. My old dog “Zoya” did not take well to tiny dogs rushing in to bite her legs, usually would grab them by the neck and flip them, literally, over her back on to the grass behind her. Repeat until they gave it up…”Zoya” was well trained and didn’t ever hurt another dog (a couple people, yes, but…they needed hurtin’) but distrusted all foo-foo dogs, period.

  12. I’m one of those who came to like pit bull terriers, with some caveats based upon my locale (Detroit), late in my life. Initially I bore no grudge against the regular Bull Terrier (think Patton’s dog in WWII), one of which was my daughter’s favorite animal when 1 to 3 years of age…literally her “guardian pony,” or normally bred Staffordshire Terriers. My issues were with breeders who took the Staffordshire breeds and selectively bred them to be more aggressive to other dogs than normal, frequently with other breeds like Presa Canario, Cane Corso, Neopolitan, Doggo Argentino, American Bull Dogs (a great breed if bred positively) , etc, creating non-breeds with the worst characteristics emphasized rather than the best. I’m not going to slam any of those dogs individually if well bred (with perhaps an exception for the Neapolitan … a “resurrected” Italian breed … ancient Roman war dogs… from a v-e-r-y small population of questionable heritage) but the emphasis on irrational other dog aggression by disreputable breeders made the “non-breed” an ugly one. A Neo-Red Nose Pit Bull cross nearly killed a close friend, the police had to pull the dog off the owner…someone who I’d begged not to buy that dog.

    Anyway, to avoid another epistle, the dog in the photo looks like a Staffordshire Terrier, which are smart, trainable, and highly social-friendly with people. JT is right, unless well trained, the Staffy might not be nice to a “foo-foo” doggie, but might be fine as well if the foo-foo dog didn’t act aggressive first…something foo-foo dogs do poorly (they’re not very bright). It is part of the sociable standard to which they are bred by reputable breeders. They can be trained to protect, but it is not their normal instinct…something most folks do not know. Like a Husky, they are first human-sociable, then whatever else. You want a guard dog, normally buy a German Shepherd, Rottweiller, Doberman, or Malinois.

    My first positive experience with similar dogs to the one in the photo was when the local Animal Control folks asked me to corral a loose dog that was obviously a combo of Staffordshire and maybe Presa…big, about 85+ lbs., and running loose. I’d called for them to pick up but they asked me to grab the dog and wait until they got free from other runs. Okay, (you got to be kidding me!) and off I went…dog damn near kissed me to death. We sat on some church steps until the Animal Control folks arrived then we located the owner within 2 blocks and all ended well. From then on I realized the bull terriers are not all bad news.

  15. BFM, I used to be a pit bull hater. But, I have educated myself and learned they can be great dogs. It’s akin to guns. It’s not the gun, it’s the owner. Same w/ pit bulls, it’s not the dog, it’s the owner. A surfer dude on my block in San Diego helped educate me. There are a lot of pit bulls in San Diego for some reason, laid back city w/ lots of pit bulls. And, they are good dogs w/ people. They can be a problem w/ other dogs. Hopefully the very knowledgeable Airidog and other dog breeders will step into this conversation. I just learned my derision of pit bulls was ignorant. Breeders know more.

  17. Who said pit bulls have a temperament problem. That one seems very composed and well socialized. It is all in the training.

    1. bfm – some dogs are one owner dogs and some are pack dogs. I am really not sure where pit bulls are. My chow is a one owner dog, but is more of a guard dog and hunter (cats mostly) however she tolerates my wife. 🙂

  18. Okay, is it small small or large small or medium small. Enquiring minds (yes I know its misspelled) want to know. That said, the things you see on the NY subway are a wonder to behold. 🙂

  19. Judging by the head the dog must be pretty close to full grown which would suggest it must weigh – what – 60 pounds or so. I wonder what this guys idea of large would be?

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