How did you become a doggies fan?

[Bornadog]

Its interesting to know how people become a fan of the doggies. Is it because the family follows the club? Is it due to being born in the general area, or is it because a friend convinced you when you were a kid. Why do you follow the Dogs?

I was born in Footscray and my father began taking me to games when I was around 4 years old. My Father had migrated to Australia in the early fifties and started following the dogs along with his cousins and mates that had come out with him. I remember going to the Western Oval as a little kid and I suppose I just stuck with the team, even thou some kids at school tried to make me change to another team. My daughter is now a doggies supporter, I wouldn't have it any other way.

These days I live in the East side of town. I was talking to one of my daughters friends father who lives in Balwyn and to my surprise he follows the dogs, so I inmmediately thought he was born into it. When I quized him, he said when he was a kid he liked the colours?

So, how did you become a doggies fan?

[BulldogBelle]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

My dad used to drag me along to the Western Oval as a child - but I loved it and always enjoyed going. We used to live in Spotswood when I was a little girl so the area was definitely Bulldog territory. School friends at the time were never a worry, there was always a mix of Footscray, Essendon and Collingwood fans that would dominate any footy conversation.

Now live in the North-West area and still only a hop, skip and jump away from the Whitten Oval.

[The Coon Dog]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

My parents emmigrated to Australia in 1968 & lived around Williamstown, Altona & Newport. They took to Aussie Rules like a duck to water & began to follow a) the local team & b) the one that wore red, white & blue (they are English).

There was a bit of a hiccough in the mid 1970's which I know very little of. My Mum to this day refuses to discuss it. Something to do with Dick Collinson locking the Social Club. Though she now lives in Queensland she knows what's going on at the Kennel.

We used to catch a bus from Braybrook to the footy & always sat in the front row of the EJ Whitten Stand. It was the most natural thing to do.

[Twodogs]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

I dont remember making an actual decision to be a Footscray supporter-it never occured to me to follow anyone else.


I didnt know there were other teams until I was 7 or 8.

[Max469]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

Grew up in Gippsland. Footscray recruited from there. Natural progression

[Topdog]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

I can't remember exactly but I'm guessing it had something to do with the colours. Broke my Dad's heart though as he is a Collingwood man through and through.

[Bornadog]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

I can't remember exactly but I'm guessing it had something to do with the colours. Broke my Dad's heart though as he is a Collingwood man through and through.

Great Stuff

[Mofra]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

Born in Footscray to a Bulldogs family, and went to teh games all the time as a kid.

If I wanted to follow anyone else, I probably would have spent my childhood sharing the kennel with the dog.

[Topdog]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

Great Stuff

I still can't believe how he let it happen. Went out and bought memberships to the Dogs and took me every other week. Now that he is getting older I bought him a Pies membership last year as he can go to the games without having to worry about taking me.

[The Bulldogs Bite]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

Born and bred.

Dad used to take me down to the Whitten Oval from the time I was about 3 years old. Never really had any dispute, I loved going down and took The Bulldogs as my favourite team from the word go.

Probably helped that my dad was and still is, a very passionate member of the Club.

[Twodogs]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

About 18 months ago my little boy, lets call him Footyhead, said to me "dad, why do we have to barrack for the bulldogs?". I told him it was one of the most exclusive clubs in football and how the honour of being a Bulldog supporter meant much more than winning lots of games. After all anyone could follow the bigger clubs-that was easy.


Suprisingly it worked.

[Bornadog]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

About 18 months ago my little boy, lets call him Footyhead, said to me "dad, why do we have to barrack for the bulldogs?". I told him it was one of the most exclusive clubs in football and how the honour of being a Bulldog supporter meant much more than winning lots of games. After all anyone could follow the bigger clubs-that was easy.


Suprisingly it worked.

Well done, what a great answer. Once in my daughters class ( she goes to an all girls school in the Eastern Burbs) the teacher asked who barrcked for Essendon and half the kids put their hands up, the other half said they were Carlton supporters and my daughter proudly said well I am a Bulldogs supporter and I am not changing.

[Missing Dog]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

I think the majority of people follow the teams that their family supports. I know I had no choice, if I wanted to go to the footy I had to follow the dogs. In saying that, I have not regretted that for one minute (maybe for a split second in 1997).

Where it can get a little cloudy is when you marry in to another family. My wife and her family are passionate Geelong supporters and like me and my family, go to the footy every week.

When our son was born, we (she) decided that we would let him decide who he barracked for. I was reasonable happy to allow this, as I new my family (about 16 of us go to the footy together every week) would over power her family influence (only 4 of them). Anyhow, as a 2 year old he was able to sing both club songs, and if you asked him who he barracked for he would say the cats & dogs. I started taking him to games at Telstra Dome when he was 3. My wife would not take him to games at Skilled Stadium, so gradually he has become a fully fledged bulldog supporter. He is now 5 and if you ask him who he barrackes for he only says one team, the dogs.

My 2 year old daughter has taken a liking for the cats. I haven't pushed hard to get her to barrack for the dogs as I think my wife would divorce me if she ended up in a house of bulldog supporters.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

I was visiting family in Melbourne, my uncle an avid North Melbourne supporter bcos a member of the family used to play for them, his son an avid Essendon supporter, and me, the South Aussie cousin who was 4 and didn't have a local team to support (other than the mighty Redlegs in SANFL!).

So, as I recall, I chose a team off the ladder at random, and as fate would have it, I selected the Dogs. Been supporting them ever since about 1989/90, although really became fanatical from about 1994/5 on wards, once I was that bit older and able to digest games.

These days my uncle in Melbs also has a Dogs membership, and my dad, an avid Crows supporter, is also sporting a Bulldogs scarf. My little kid brother is also a Dogs man.

[Hard Ball Get]

Re: How did you become a doggies fan?

Dad, a keen North Melbourne supporter, was drilling into me that I had to go for the roos however mum being the nuteral voice in the house (she hates the game and doesnt follow a team at all) decided to read out all the teams.

She started reading all the teams and when she said dogs apparently that was it I was convinced. I liked dogs so it made sence that I should follow the dogs. My dad was pretty disappointed and for the next 5 or so years decided that if I wanted to go to the footy I had to go with him and he only wanted to watch North play. It was a desperate attenpt to convert me but it didnt work (although its probably why I like Carey so much.)

Funnily enough my brother likes cats and he now supports the cats. I wonder if he used the same thinking...