Thread: GOOD DOG

Hello, I was wondering how to pronounce dog, or good dog, in russian. Also the spelling. Thank you.

dog = собака (sobaka) -- say it like sa-BA-ka
good = хорошая (khoroshaya) say it like khar-OSH-eye-ya (the o is like in "go")
So:
khar-OSH-eye-ya sa-BA-ka

what about добрая собака is
is that more a good faithful dog, whereas a хорошая собака is more a good quality dog? Or is dobraya not used for dogs?

Or is dobraya not used for dogs?

Добрая is not used for dogs... although, rarely it is, and добрая regarding a dog can be used as an archaic expression and will mean "beautiful, strong, generally high-quality dog", But again, it's very rarely used and mostly by old people (this expression was popular in 1800-1950s especially in the southern regions of Russia.)

In general this expression can be used for any thing that seems to be of good quality to the speaker.
And it's kind of archaic!

Добрый дом (good, well-built house)
Добрый молодец (archaic form of "good young man")
And so on.

nowadays, word "добрый" usually means "kind"

I have heard Russians say хорошая собака, but never "bad dog" as in "You bad dog, you ate my thesis!!! BAD DOG! NAUGHTY DOG!" etc.

Плохая собака sound a little weak in my mind. Is this the normal set expression for discontent with you dog, or is there another phrase?

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

I have heard Russians say хорошая собака, but never "bad dog" as in "You bad dog, you ate my thesis!!! BAD DOG! NAUGHTY DOG!" etc.

Плохая собака sound a little weak in my mind. Is this the normal set expression for discontent with you dog, or is there another phrase?

С*ка.

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

I have heard Russians say хорошая собака, but never "bad dog" as in "You bad dog, you ate my thesis!!! BAD DOG! NAUGHTY DOG!" etc.

Плохая собака sound a little weak in my mind. Is this the normal set expression for discontent with you dog, or is there another phrase?

Wel, I must admit people do say "You bad dog!" to their pets... It always sounds as they say "You naughty dog!", which is very mild in Russian.

Как насчет "добротная собака"?

It feels weird. Добротный is more like a quality adjective and a rare one also. It makes me think that any dog is a thing.

Originally Posted by basurero

Как насчет "добротная собака"?

Ну только если она игрушечная и хорошо сшита
И все равно смешно звучит!

Lol, but what if it's a farm dog or something? Then you need some "high quality dogs"　or the sheep will get away.

Хорошая собака will do. I think there arae more terms...

But it's not NZ to watch for sheep!

Originally Posted by basurero

Lol, but what if it's a farm dog or something? Then you need some "high quality dogs"　or the sheep will get away.

Собака "хороших кровей" или как-то так...
Это надо у собачников спросить.

Originally Posted by Оля

Originally Posted by basurero

Lol, but what if it's a farm dog or something? Then you need some "high quality dogs"　or the sheep will get away.

Собака "хороших кровей" или как-то так...
Это надо у собачников спросить.

If says about "high quality" dog than says "породистая собака".

Originally Posted by Theodor

"породистая собака".

Ааааааа, точно!

When you use добрая for a dog it's mostly used as an opposite to злая.
For example:
-Не надо гладить эту собаку, она злая.
-А эту?
-Эту можно, она добрая.

Originally Posted by basurero

Как насчет "добротная собака"?

Только в контексте:
Я всю душу вложил в нее!!! Обучал ее, кормил и поил отборным кормом, шерсть вычесывал, мыл, блох изводил!! В общем, добротная получилась собака (глаз радуется когда на нее смотрю)!!!

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

I have heard Russians say хорошая собака, but never "bad dog" as in "You bad dog, you ate my thesis!!! BAD DOG! NAUGHTY DOG!" etc.

Плохая собака sound a little weak in my mind. Is this the normal set expression for discontent with you dog, or is there another phrase?

Поганая собака (типа ругательство )