koalathebear Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) I have a question about 'nicknames' for breeds. We have Dobes, Tollers, Goldens, Borders, Cavs, Chis, Labs, Berners, Poms etc. Then we get to 'Staffy', which I've always understood as the common nickname for the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Then I arrived on DOL and kept reading references to 'Stafford' being the "official nickname" for the SBT and "Staffy' denoting the crossbreed variety one finds at the pound. It's repeated so often and so emphatically it makes it look as though there is some formal reasoning behind it. This is made me very curious about what the basis is for the official nickname - is there a breed standard/kennel guideline/breeder code of conduct that mandates that the official nickname must be 'Stafford' and not 'Staffy'? Is it an international naming convention or is it just a DOL convention? While nomenclature is of course very important, I'd always assumed that as far as 'nicknames' and short names were concerned, these were informal appelations that arose from common usage and convenience. 'Staffy' is entirely consistent with other 'nicknames' e.g. Tibby Sheltie Rotty Westie Frenchie Coolie Kelpie Corgi Lappie Aussie Pitty Sammy Iggy Dally I don't think I've ever read a similar statement that any of the above has the somewhat pejorative connotation of being a crossbreed. Edited July 20, 2011 by koalathebear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 No but I don't think any of those other breeds have suffered cross and backyard breeding in recent times to the extend that the SBT has. So maybe breeders and fanciers get a little defensive in wanting to maintain distance from those activities? I know SBT breeders that use the term Staffy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spotted Devil Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 You forgot one on your list.., Norty (Springer) :D Sorry - can't answer your question! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monique.c Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I have been confused about this since I started reading this forum too. It will be interesting to read people's responses... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I believe a number of breeders have elected to use the short form Stafford to distinguish themselves from the BYBers pumping out badly bred, barely resembling, bred for colour dogs who advertise as having 'Staffys for sale'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casima Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I've noticed the Staffy/Stafford thing too. Also seen a similar thing with Husky vs Siberian, again the registered breeders trying to distance themselves from the shonky bred dogs? not sure. My favorite nickname for a breed is the Borzoi shortened to Zoi, beautiful dogs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koalathebear Posted July 20, 2011 Author Share Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) You forgot one on your list..,Norty (Springer) :D Sorry - can't answer your question! Ha! I have to say English Springer Spaniel is such a long name, I have been wondering what they are called for short I met the cutest ESS pup on Sunday - he got along so well with Hoover. I believe a number of breeders have elected to use the short form Stafford to distinguish themselves from the BYBers pumping out badly bred, barely resembling, bred for colour dogs who advertise as having 'Staffys for sale'. So it's just a preferred convention rather than a formal naming standard. Edited July 20, 2011 by koalathebear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esky the husky Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Chiming in the 'husky' debate here Husky can be used as an interchangeable term for sled dogs. At races you'll meet people with purebred siberians as well as alaskan huskies which are a different kettle of fish altogether. So I guess it's easier to say I have a sibe or a siberian. ( But it sounds less cool in my display name :p ) Bad explanation but you get the idea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koalathebear Posted July 20, 2011 Author Share Posted July 20, 2011 Chiming in the 'husky' debate here Husky can be used as an interchangeable term for sled dogs. At races you'll meet people with purebred siberians as well as alaskan huskies which are a different kettle of fish altogether. So I guess it's easier to say I have a sibe or a siberian. ( But it sounds less cool in my display name :p ) Bad explanation but you get the idea Oh that's interesting. I had always assumed it was a country-thing because all my North American friends always referred to their dogs as Sibes whereas over here, people I knew called them huskies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murve Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Papillons are commonly known as "Pappys" Whippets == "Whippys" :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlemum Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 I believe a number of breeders have elected to use the short form Stafford to distinguish themselves from the BYBers pumping out badly bred, barely resembling, bred for colour dogs who advertise as having 'Staffys for sale'. *cough* aren't they usually described as "Staffy's" ? :D The errant apostrophe is the hallmark of the BYB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koalathebear Posted July 20, 2011 Author Share Posted July 20, 2011 Papillons are commonly known as "Pappys" Whippets == "Whippys" :D OK I will believe the first one but is a whippet really called a whippy??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murve Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) Papillons are commonly known as "Pappys" Whippets == "Whippys" :D OK I will believe the first one but is a whippet really called a whippy??? if you go into the All things Whippet thread you will see everybody seems to say Whippy you think that is a bit weird, a friend calls my Whippet "Snake dog" dont ask Edited July 20, 2011 by murve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puglvr Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Nothing gets my back up more than when people refer to Pugs as Puggles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koalathebear Posted July 20, 2011 Author Share Posted July 20, 2011 Nothing gets my back up more than when people refer to Pugs as Puggles. Isn't a puggle a DD variant? Given that pug is such a short name already, you wouldn't think that it needed a nickname!!! I've read that a baby pug is called a puglet though ... ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murve Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Nothing gets my back up more than when people refer to Pugs as Puggles. I dont think I like that either if I had pugs, it just dose not sound right to me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RallyValley Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Nothing gets my back up more than when people refer to Pugs as Puggles. What about calling baby Pugs 'Puglets'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swizzlestick Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Papillons are commonly known as "Pappys" Whippets == "Whippys" :D OK I will believe the first one but is a whippet really called a whippy??? if you go into the All things Whippet thread you will see everybody seems to say Whippy I just refer to my 4 as "The Whips". I have this thing about just adding a y or ie to names, ie Ridgy, Pappy, Goldie, Staffy, Frenchie, Westie. LOL. Does my head in. So it's just "The Whips" at our house. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baileys mum Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 My breed gets the name "Aussie" for short, which just happens to be what Australian Shepherd owners call their breed too...so it can get a little confusing some times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murve Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 It's weird when someone ask you "Is that a Papillion" to me is sounds like they are say "Chamillion" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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