Small dogs

[RedwingWinter]

I was chatting to another dog owner who I keep meeting on my walks. He has three dogs - two large and one very very tiny miniature poodle. He said it was his first small dog, and that they are a different world. I've only had big dogs, and the small one my friend has just seems like a regular dog to me. The rescue near me does sometimes specify 'small dog experience' for some of its dogs.

I have noticed that some small dog owners pick their dogs up when they see my wolf husky approaching, or try and hide it from him. I assume they think he might eat it (he just walks politely by). Also a lot of small dogs are aggressive to my big dogs and the owners don't seem to mind. But I put that down to the owners, not the dogs.

So, small dog owners, please tell me what is different about having a small dog? Would you agree that it's a different world?

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Little-big-dog-syndrome. My JRT had this.

I don't think they're a different world. It's how they are treat that changes them. My small dogs is fairly normal. DH and dd1's small dog truely believes she is some kind of god to be worshipped and adored and have her every whim fulfiled.

It's easier to 'spoil' small dogs. It's also much easier to cause them issues such as fear-aggression. Picking them up out of the way of all the big nasty dogs being a great example of how to do that.

Training is often not done as rigorously, because they are all tiny and cute

[BoatingLakeDiva]

for me, snmall dogs hold no appeal whatsoever. There are some really gorgeous ones but to me tey're not real dogs.

[Housewifefromheaven]

My pug is all dog, believe me! She does however suffer from small dog syndrome which I in no way encourage:o

[Kladdkaka]

My small dog is very cute (pic on profile) but he's also the most disobedient, little git of dog, I've every had. He's virtually untrainable. He knows all the commands, he just doesn't care. He's not motivated by food like my big dogs were. He's like 'cheesy slice or run riot round the garden? meh!' and then carrys on.

Also, I never knew a big dog to stash biscuits away for later. Every corner of our house, under cushions, buried in plantpots, in your shoes, there are little piles of kibbles everywhere.

[Booboostoo]

Depends on the dog. My JRT thinks he is huge, while my GSD thinks he is tiny!

However I do know what you mean. Small dogs can, on the whole, be yappier which is annoying and they are, sometimes, not very well trained as people will tolerate behaviour from a small dog that then would never accept from a larger dog, e.g. jumping up. Some small dogs are not treated as dogs, e.g. socialised, trained, exercised, etc. and while large dogs would have exactly the same problems under similar circumstances, the owners who are unlikely to put the effort into their dogs are also more likely to buy small dogs because they are cute, cuddly, fashion accessories, etc.

[TeaTeaLotsOfTea]

One of yorkies has small dog syndrome.

He can be nervous of big dogs so gets all gobby at them (tbf we keep meeting unfriendly GSD who have crappy owners).

My older yorkie couldn't care less as long as your dog is willing to play chase he's a proper flirt who just wants to be chased either be it by male or female dogs he isn't fussed.

I'm waiting for my 3rd yorkie and she will be a girl so I'm going to wait to see which way she goes.

[RedwingWinter]

Kladkakka, your dog is very cute!

I met someone the other day who was really keen for her little dog to meet both of mine because she said she was training it to be good with big dogs. I thought that was really good. Both of mine are good with little dogs so when other people hide their dog, there is no reason to.

[BoatingLakeDiva]

Kladdkaka - sod the dog - i need to hire your gardeners

[alienbump]

My tiny (5lb soaking wet) Papillion has no idea that he's small, he's just got a typical spaniel personality. The only difference being that food is of little interest to him, so have never been able to use treats as a training aid. The one thing he's not happy with is being jumped on by other dogs, ( being so tiny it's a case of self preservation), the size of the dog is irrelevant to him,his best friends are a mature Labrador and an Old English, his arch nemesis - a bonkers Lhasa Apso. The best bits about such a tiny dog are being able to rinse him off under the mixer tap after he's rolled in the mud, he's very portable ( his average sized crate is big enough for him to sleep, eat and move around in) and the fact that while by day he might be a typical daft dog who spends hours chasing round the fields with the kids, come evening he morphs into a proper old fashioned lap dog... We fight over who gets to cuddle him on the sofa at night!

[Kladdkaka]

You can't have them. I keep them chained up in the cellar. :o

[BoatingLakeDiva]

Klsfffkaka - do they have brothers

[bochead]

Noone ever got round to telling my Chihuhua he was a kebab in a handbag lol!

Dogs are not babies or dolls so as long as you treat a small dog like a dog it'l behave like none and not a snappy prima donna. I also think people underestimate the excercise needs of some small dog breeds - a JRT will go on for MILES, whereas your average grey hound will be happy with 2x 30 min runs a day. Not enough excrsise or stimulation or socialisation will make any dog a grim behavioral prospect.

Several of the small terrier breeds were originaly bred for rat control so have fearless, fierce temperments as part of their working dog heritage. Others were designed from the start as lapdogs so should be very placid if trained correctly.

On the plus side they include some of the healthiest, most long lived breeds compare my Chihuahua's 18 years before he passed away in his sleep to the average lifespan of many of the mastiff breeds. They are in many cases cheaper to insure, feed and keep than some larger breeds. Poop scooping is less onerous too ; ) Some are better suited to small house/flat living for those in cities. Some people find it easier to get rellies etc to mind small dogs while they are on holiday.

I think it all comes down to personal prefernce and lifestyle at the end of the day as to which breed you choose.

[RedwingWinter]

Alienbump, I never thought of being able to wash a dog under the mixer tap. That is definitely an advantage!! Dog2 is always muddy, and I wash him outside with a bucket of water - if I put him in the shower I would have to clean the entire bathroom afterwards.

Bochead, your chihuahua lived 18 years! Thats amazing. I didn't know they lived a long time but I think it also goes to show how well-loved he was.

Okay, maybe Dog3 will be one I can put under the mixer tap...

[CakeMeIAmYours]

My (unscientific) theory is that, because there is the option of picking a small dog up when a larger dog approaches, the small dog never has to 'fight its own battle' so to speak. Most of the time the larger dog is just curious, wants to have a sniff, or to play with the smaller dog. If the owner intervenes in this socialisation process then the smaller dog never learns how to interact.

Larger dogs can't really be picked up when another dog approaches, so the two dogs end up sniffing at each other and 99% of the time running off to have a good play together. Although it can be a bit nail-biting for the owner, its vital for the dog's socialisation.

Admittedly, I live in a 'nice' MC area and all the dogs I have met have been well socialised and trained so we have never run into any problems with aggression. If there are poorly socialised dogs in the area, the small dog owners might have a point re picking their dogs up to keep them safe.

[MothershipG]

I have 2 small dogs and 1 medium/small and I have walked other dogs, some much larger, for example Golden Retrievers, and I would say that the differences are partly due to size and partly temperament.

For example the Goldies were very laid back ran about a bit in a casual kind of way, nothing like the busy running around my dogs do. They'd sort of chase a squirrel for a bit but quickly lose interest, unlike my squirrel obsessed, completely manic Mini Schnauzer.

Neither of my small dogs like to play with other dogs much. I think is because most other puppies are bigger than they are fully grown so they have endured so much rudeness and rough play that they just won't tolerate it now and will tell the offending dog in no uncertain terms. They happily sniff and greet polite dogs but are not interested beyond that.

Unfortunately we know a Husky who was a lovely puppy but totally mishandled by his ejit of an owner (who'd got him from a pet shop and refused to train or control him) and went on to kill an elderly Yorkie so, although I don't pick up my dogs when we are out, I do tend to give Huskies a wide birth unless I know them.

[colditz]

When I stand in front of my jack russell as a large dog approaches, it's not because I think the large dog is going to eat her, it's because I KNOW that she will turn into a snarling RatBeast if she gets sniffed by a bigger dog, and I actually want to spare the bigger dog the shock of my own dog's horrible reactions.

Small dogs can be very dog-aggressive. Terriers especially are frequently bossy, and will persistantly try to establish dominance over other household members.

If they've been mollycoddled by a previous owner, they act like spoilt royalty, because they've not been made to stay on the floor, not jump up, not lick faces etc, because they're 'cute'. And I am a major offender, my JRT is a bratty lapdog because I wuvs her.

[Pagwatch]

I have a big dog and a small dog.
The small dog is a pain in the arse

Hths

[colditz]

saying that, I don't pick her up outside the house because I want her to drop this pretense, with larger dogs, that she could take them down. She couldn't. I often tell her that to her, it will be the end of the world, and to them it will be a snack break (she started on an Alsation) but she doesn't listen, and I had to drag her away snarling like a tasmanian devil.

[lookingforchocolate]

having always had big dogs, last summer i added to my family of teenagers

and laid back labrador with a very sad westie from the local pound.

its been educational, a joy and occasionally 'oh shit' when she squares up to

some very big dogs while on walks but to be fair they were ignoring their

owners and needed to be told off yes she is very much my pfbsd

[MessyTerrier]

We have a Westie and I think that it's really important to keep working on the socialization as Redwing described above. Terriers especially, have a propensity toward "grumpiness" that you have to counteract by constantly working on introducing them to different types of dogs and making it a positive experience for them. I always try to make sure that we approach other dogs in a positive way (upbeat voice, loose lead) and make lots of fuss when she remembers her manners. I'm really proud of her actually, we've worked really hard on overcoming her nervousness around her specific issues: large black dogs and those that look like Huskies. Now she approaches them in a happy, waggy way. She still thinks she's the boss of all dogs, large and small though .

[outmonday]

I don't like yappy snappy little terriers and nor does my dog. I can't understand why JRTs are so popular (and they are STILL having their tails cut off illegally)

[MessyTerrier]

JRTs are very clever, love their families and are great fun! They are a lot of work and you have to stay one step ahead of them at all times; they don't allow you to rest on your laurels. I grew up with one and have great memories of all her antics and our adventures together .