Little dogs.....

hmm, mine are medium size, but they are both the biggest wusses ever... *shrug*

Sam's a medium-large dog, also a big wuss.

Yet his little brother is a small-medium dog, and thinks he's 200lbs, not 20.

IMO, little dogs realize they're little and try to make up for it. Same as the short kid in school.

But since when little dogs act up, owners think its cute as a puppy, those behaviors are allowed.

If a rottie reacted to a stranger in the kitchen growling, barking and jumping it wouldn't be allowed, probably starting about the age of 3months... or 15lbs, whichever comes first  

My small dog is not allowed to act like that. I expect the same behaviors out of him that I would expect from any other dog. He gets 2-3 barks, and that's enough. He has a 'go lay down' command and a 'hush/enough' command. He is never allowed to charge anyone - I don't mind the warning bark, esp. if I'm home alone, or not home- it's nice to know something is protecting me/my family, but he better not approach anyone, ever.

It really irks me when people think it's 'cute' when something small does it, but if say, a pit bull, were to do the same behaviors - it's dangerous and aggressive. JMO, but it really bothers me....

I understand that. If our Lab did that, well, he probably wouldn't be my dog anymore.

But my Mom and Dad baby him, he's fairly set in his ways. Sam actually likes the structure. He's more willing to change....Lab thing?

I wouldn't say it's the breed - but more of how they are raised/trained. Casey was raised to obey, ask, be polite, etc. He had been badly mistreated before I got him (around 10 months) so we had a lot of work to do. NIFL really helped a TON with his fear issues. Dogs NEED structure, IMO - they adapt much better with some sort of plan/way of doing things.

I can't stand the 'he's little, it's ok' way of thinking - because it's NOT ok. I do not allow any dog in my house to behave in any manner that I do not find exceptable for any size/breed. I'm so very proud of the 'he's so well behaved' comments I get about Casey, we've worked a long way for those.

I feel a dog can be cute and well-behaved at the same time...

I'm done with my rant now =]

jdata

Some of it has to do the breed and the size of bigger dogs make them feel threatened. JRTs here are known to take a chunk out of a Rottie or two from their chest. How would you feel if some bigger person was coming closer to you and not listening or reading your body language? I don't like it when bigger people get my space. I don't like big people or tall people in my car. I am only 5' 7", I feel claustrophobic with bigger people because they can't watch they are doing ... ala clumsy.

Hey! I'm one of those tall people....and not that clumsy! LOL! It's Ok, really really short people freak me out. I'm 6'. But I do understand what you mean. I've met people taller then me that walk up to me like I'm not there. It's rude. So, little dog's do have a right to be ill about not being respected due to size. But I still think it's funny.(the dogs)

Yup, my two ratties think they are rotties!  Honestly, all my rat terrier friends say theirs are exactly the same way.  Rat Terriers just don't see size.  They'll play with any size dog ; they'll stand their ground against any size dog (which has cost many a rattie his life) .     These 12 lb. dogs are blind when it comes to size!  It is often said of the breed that they are BIG dogs trapped in LITTLE dogs bodies.

 My dogs get excited when people come in, and they do have some inappropriate greeting behaviors that thier bad mother has encouraged (both dogs mouth me and put their feet all over me, in greeting, but they do NOT do it to strangers, they're much more polite!), but.... all in all, they're just dogs. They'll play with any size dog, as long as it's polite and gentle enough, and they'll take on any toy. They'll leap over any ex pen, and get out of any crate, LOL!

   Might as well go chronologically with this.  My Yorkie started out in an apartment, we used to feed a small herd of squirrels, as would most of the neighbors.  He got along with them, they though he was a goofy looking squirrel.  He got along well with all other animals, but would shy away from more rowdy dogs.  He'd give a bark or two for intruders who rang the doorbell, not stand his ground a whole lot, but he does have the distinction of having given the mailman's pants leg a good shake.  The mailman surprised him by coming around the corner totally unannounced, thankfully he got a laugh out of a 6 pound dog trying to defend a 200 pound guy.

 My Westie loved all other dogs, squirrels were made to be chased.  He would let the Yorkie give the door a couple of barks, and just watched who was coming.  He would then attempt to lick you to death.

  My Cairn Ozzy was such an "I know better" terrier.  He loved dogs around his size or smaller, his best friend was the neighbor's huge cat that lived for the most part outside.  He didn't like big dogs, they needed to be run off.  My brother stopped by one time with my mom's Pyr, no biggie, Oz stays in the yard for a few minutes.  Great plan, until his girlfriend stops by minutes later, letting Oz in.  That little dog had the Pyr by the neck, kicking the front legs out, moments away from having a 100#+ dog on the ground.  Totally no sense of size.

  He also somehow knew kids didn't belong in the house after school, when my wife & I weren't home.  He would chase them off, never biting or snapping, just chasing them towards the door while he barked.  The same kids could come over when we were home, and he was totally cool, typical terrier playmate.  Doorbell would ring,a couple of barks, it's kids, folks are home, time to play.

  My two Aussies are night & day.  The older one, Kaz, will bark, keep his distance at the door, he knows he's the alarm system, that's it.  Gus will give a soft woof or two, while going to check it out.  Gus is the daredevil, while Kaz is more cautious.  They both get along with all size dogs, I've had a neighborhood dog park a few times in my yard. 
 

Well, my two pound yorkie pup gains at least 45 pounds when he goes outside with the 'big dogs'.  I had always heard that they have no concept of their size and it's so true.  Poor Tater is exhausted when he comes in from playing.  The other dogs will run around the yard, and Tater follows right along barking for them to wait up.

I Have a yorkie terrier and he's not scared of any dog no matter what size!!!!

he's only 10lbs but he thinks he's so tough lol. with people though he's shy.

if you yell or your too loud he gets scared.  

 My nineteen year old Yorkie has lived with ferrets, cats, large dogs, herding dogs, a wacko human and a few nice ones.  She is every inch a DOG, not a wuss, and not Napoleonic.  I think that if little dogs are socialized to many humans, all different size dogs (safe larger ones, of course), and kids of all sizes, they become well adjusted dogs that can walk on the ground and not snap at everything they see.  If they are carried everywhere, dressed up but not walked like dogs outdoors, and generally treated as if they own your lap, your bed, and the crook of your arm, they will become nasty or fearful little PITA that are not a pleasure to live with at all.  Socialization, training, exercise - just like the big dogs...