Sex Change Operation

Dear Dog Lady,

Why am I so adamantly protective of my sweet Simon’s masculinity? Simon is a small dog, a Scottie, and he seems to be in touch with his feminine side. Still, when we go walking and a passerby asks to greet Simon while referring to “him” as “her,” I find myself making an immediate correction. “He’s a he!” I proclaim. Am I ridiculously rigid about these gender matters? After all, Simon is neutered. He’s not even a total he. Why can’t I let it go?

-Moira, Montclair, N.J.

Ah, Moira, he's your little guy. Simon’s identity is part of your identity. Recently, Dog Lady was aghast when beloved brother -- a cat keeper -- referred to my male dog by the blank pronoun “it.” It! Even “her” would have been anthropomorphically preferable.

Try to chide the gender benders with a smile and gentle sense of humor. You must admit that on the smaller, hairy dogs, it can be difficult to discern private parts at first glance -- especially since we can’t sniff out the situation the way those nosy canines can.

Posted by Dog Lady at April 10, 2005 12:00 PM