Big Dogs & Small Dogs

Having two large dogs and one small Pom, I've got to say I still prefer large dogs.  I think it's more what you're used to.  My little Pom is a great dog, fun, smart affectionate, but my mind's eye, and my heart, perceive a dog as big, thus it will always be. 

Is it all about the training?  I think also, the tinier the dog, the more protective an owner may be and not allow the dog to actually be a dog.  Seems like the puppies are not yippers until they get socialized to be fearful, and constantly picked up or yelled at when they bark bark bark...kind of mimicking owners.
 
Are high strung dogs born that way or created by the owner?

I think they're born/bred that way.  I treat my little one no differently than the big ones, but my little Pom is a yapper.  She yaps as a guard dog, but mostly she just yaps when she's happy!  And everything makes her happy! 

I LOVE big dogs! Since my Bronxy is getting on 11 yrs old now we have been concidering orther breeds and have decided to go with a south aferican boerbeol (BIG DOG!!!!) and since my husband and i go hiking and camping and kayaking it is great to have a big dog around they are great company and they tend to keep any orther big preditors away that might not take a small dog serious. But I have a friends and family members that have small dogs and they are the same as the big guys except that you can pic them up with out throwing out your back.

I've owned both small and large dogs. I prefer large dogs though. I like a dog with a lot of endurance, becuase i like to walk and run. I also like a dog that can protect me if needed, and a dog that likes to play rough. I also feel like large dogs are a little more eager to please, since that's what they were mostly bred for. The best things about small dogs though, are that they can curl up on your lap and you can take them anywhere!!

I have always been a big dog person, by "big" dog I mean 60 lbs or so, not Great Dane size. Dasher is my first small dog and I am sold. [] I will say that I don't consider JRT in the same class as "toy" breeds. IMO, JRT are truly a big dog in a small dog body. He is smart as a whip and as an agility dog I couldn't ask for a more biddable dog. He is always ready to work and loves every second of training and playing. As far a stamina goes...geez, this dog is a bottomless pit of stamina. [] Compared to my previous larger dogs the thing I love about Dasher is that he is so portable. I can easily take him anywhere and when we go to dog shows all his gear is easy to transport. With my larger dogs transporting crates and other gear was a pain simply because of size and weight.

I will always have a soft spot for large dogs (we still have Lille, our lab) but thanks to Dasher I am a converted small dog person []

Nikki (a shih tzu) is quite offended that someone would measure her intelligence by the pound!  She is by far one of the more intelligent dogs I've ever trained, worked with, and probably will ever own.  Eeerily intelligent.  She had sit, stay, roll over, played dead, twirl, give paw (and other paw), and come down pat in no time flat .  She was the greatest agility dog (well once she got over her hesitence of the tunnel lol).  Quite a smart bugger, had a stubborn streak a mile wide and occasional talking back (literally, I'd ask her to sit she'd *talk* at me while sitting to let me know that she was doing me a favor heh).  She wasn't really a barker.  Maybe a alarm bark if someone knocked, but all you had to say was hush.  Cat fights sometimes got her going, but again a soft *hush* command and she 9 out of 10 times would listen (depending on how bad the cat fight outside was hehe)

Many owners of small dogs often get lax with training...they figure it's small why bother....or it's just cute...but I definately wouldn't judge a dog's intelligence by either breed or size. 

As for my preference, we are looking to get a med/large sized dog (specifically a flat-coated retriever).  We want a dog to come hiking, camping, swimming, and so on with us that we just desire a bigger dog with more stamina; built for the activities we wish to teach and share in.  However, and *cough cough* my significant other isn't aware but I will own a shih tzu again someday.  They are smart, quirky, stubborn, playful, and some of the best snugglers I've met. 

I was always big on larger dogs also.  When my wife and I were talking about getting a dog, she wanted a small Dachshund were I was thinking more of a Retriever.  Well we compromised and began looking for a Beagle.  We missed out on a Beagle from the local HS, so the next day we went back to see what new dogs they brought out.  The very first dog my wife liked was a German Shepard/Golden Retriever mix.  I was extatic (sp), and I warned her that he is not going to stay that small forever (15 lbs at the time) she knew that and we still got MY dog.  A few months later (and many additional pounds of dog) my wife was in her Dachshund mood again.  I found one so I told her to go ahead.  This dog was tiny!  Sophia could fit all 4 paws in my hand when she was sitting.  So now my wife has her dog also.  Both dogs are great, I plan on always having 1 big dog and one smaller dog.