Big dogs vs. small dogs

I have always loved big dog, I wanted a newfie, st. bernard or greyhound. But then I got Casey. He plays tough, thinks he's a big dog, and has none (well... not many) of those little dog quirks. He barks and growls when the doorbell rings, sounds like I have a giant shepherd in my house... and it's really my 13 lb. corgi mix. I would LOVE to one day get another corgi mix... I have my eye on a very sweet older one at the shelter I work at, but I think Casey would do better with a bigger dog, he loves to play rough and seems to get along better with the big dogs at the park, he doesn't tolerate nipping and yipping... he walks away.
So I think it depends on the dog you get, you have to look around, I would find a little dog that acts like a big dog, only you can pick him up and he wont drag you down the street after the mailman...
Check out the corgis! Or depending on the energy level you are looking for (and for showing) you may want to think about getting a JRT. Mini Schnauzers are cute too, I don't know much about their personalities though.

I have never owned a small breed.  I am a big dog person myself.  What I have noticed about little dogs, they bark alot!!  My aunt has 5 pomeranians and they never stop barking.  I don't know how she deals with that!  There is one good thing about little dogs, they don't eat nearly as much food!  My 3 can kill a 50lb bag of food within a week!

If you have arthritis in your hands, that probably knocks out any long haired breeds, the coat up keep would probably be to hard on you.

I've always had big dogs until the 2 Shih Tzu's I have now. They are both lap dogs and will share my lap, it is hard on me at times because I'm not one to sit for long, if I'm watching tv, I get up every commercial to do something. I always feel bad when they are so comfortable, but when I say I"I gotta get up" they both jump off and sit there and wait for me to come back. Ya think they wouldn't want to be bothered being on my lap, but they do.
Physically they are so much easier, but mine do seem needier in some ways. My big dogs were content to be in the same room as me, these 2 seem to want to be touching me alot.
Because they are small I do tend to bring them on more car rides, they just hop into their seats and are ready to go, they don't take up much room.
I do find people always think they are puppies  they want to pick them up more. Also if they aren't feeling well or off their food or have the runs, I tend to take them to vet quicker, I feel like they are more fragile. The few times I have done that, nothing is wrong and after spending over $100. they always seem better the next day.

It is so cheap to feed mine, about $15. every 6 weeks.

Walking them is easier in a way, more stressful in others. When I had big dogs, if a loose dog was about I wasn't as nervous, but with a little one the danger is much higher of them getting hurt or killed.

After having little dogs, I now prefer them over the big ones, could be just because I really did a lot of research and found the breed for me.
 
edited to add, my dogs hardly ever bark. In my neighborhood the big dogs are barkers, I think because they seem to be left out in their yards more often.

One of the biggest differences is that when you have a small dog you have to be their protector instead of the other way around.

Especially when they're puppies you have to be careful not to step on them. They always seem to be right under you feet and they somehow manage to be all the way across the room one second and RIGHT behind your feet the next. []

I think most little dogs want to spend more time close to you. Like dubilpie mentioned, from what I've seen, big dogs will hang out in the same room, but go lay in a corner or something. Mine ususally want to be closer than that.

I think some little dogs are yappy, but honestly I've met A LOT of medium/large dogs that bark their heads off.

That's another really good point that dupilpie brought up with grooming. Mini Schnauzers need a lot of grooming... ESPECIALLY if you were going to show them. The handstripping alone takes hours.

The arthritis in my hands isn't terrible....it mainly flares up in the mornings in cold weather, or when I have to grip something very tightly for a long time, as I have to do with Ben's leash when there is something especially tempting while we're out on a walk. It's manageable, I am just unsure that I want to cope with having handle that again with another big dog.

The grooming I am actually interested in learning, and there are always groomers for times when I can't do it for some reason. That's not a dealbreaker, for me.

The clinginess as well is something I have no problem with. Sometimes I feel as though Ben is a little more independent than I'd like. He always wants to know where I am, but doesn't have to be with me. He's not the kind of dog who curls up on my feet while I work, unless I happen to be working on the couch.

Ben barks. Schnauzers do not have a particularly "yappy" bark, and barking in this house will be nothing new. Ben has a "quiet" command, which I would teach to any new dog too.

I am slightly worried about such a tiny dog being under my feet, I guess I have to learn to be extra careful!

Thanks for the info, keep it coming please!

I'm a "big dog person" but I have talked a lot with owners of the Coton De Tulear.
[linkhttp://www.dogbreedinfo.com/cotondetulear.htm]http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/cotondetulear.htm[/link]

Their owners say that it's a big dog in a little dog's body. And that appeals to me more than anything. If I ever get the opportunity to get a small dog, this will be the one.

So, small dog people....quirks? Things I should be wary of? What is different when owning a small dog?

 
Maybe I`m not understanding this statement but I think no dog big or little is born with any quirks. In training dogs big or little the human is the cause of any quirks that arise in a the dog.
 
I love all big dogs as long as they don`t live with me. Small dogs don`t need as much room as a big dog. Big dogs can easily reach things on your counter or table where my small dog can`t. Small dogs tails don`t sweep things off of end tables when they wag them. Small dogs are cheaper to feed. If bad weather sets in it is easier to exercise a small dog in the house then a big dog.
 
The only thing I can think of is when it snows a lot in the winter and the snow is deep it is hard for a little dog to get around. Also when walking with a small dog you have to be very alert for loose big dogs that can harm your little dog.
 
Tamara is right about small dogs as puppies are much easier to get stepped on as they are so small and quick movers.
 
Small dogs can be yappy if you let them but so can big ones.

 

That's good that grooming isn't a problem. I absolutely LOVE Mini Schnauzers; I'll be really jealous if you get one!!

I've only had one small dog, so some of what I'm saying might be my particular dog's quirks instead of generalities.

It seems to be much, much easier to frighten smaller dogs than bigger ones. Because of that, it seems like early socialization is super important. Teaching the dog that big doesn't necessarily mean scary is key!

Small dogs are cheap to feed!

You have to be careful to make sure your small dog doesn't jump higher than is healthy for it. My dog will leap on and off things that are quite high, but if he succeeds in doing so (despite my vigilant attempts to keep him out of trouble) he often makes himself sore, and I worry about the effects on his bones. Just because the dog can do something doesn't mean it should!

This is kind of a weird one, but it's difficult to pet my dog in a way that he enjoys. Most people don't seem to realize how gentle they need to be - while you can rub a big dog vigorously, if you do the same to a toy breed you can knock it over without even trying! Schnauzers are big enough that it shouldn't be a problem, though.

It's really easy to take your small dog with you when you go places!

It's hard to get respect for a little dog. No matter how annoying you think people are now with petting without asking, running up at top speed, yelling, getting in your dog's face, etc., it will get a zillion times worse with a smaller dog. Especially since Ben is kind of biggish and black. Kids particularly will want to treat your little dog like a stuffed animal, so you have to be hyper vigilant to spot potential crazy people and take evasive action!

This might be a "lap dog" thing, but Rascal is either "on" or "off." If he's not running around with the zoomies and pouncing on toys he's sound asleep, preferably curled up as close to me as possible. I love that when it's not "play time" he settles down quietly.

You have to be careful about keeping your small dog in shape if you expect a lot of physical activity from him - they can handle quite a bit and have great endurance, but like any dog you have to work them up to it. With little ones it's more important, since for every step you take they're taking several.

I hope my ramblings were helpful []

i grew up with JRTs...they are a whole lot of fun. They are a LOT of personality in that little bitty body. They didn't really have any bad things about them...besides the fact that they barked all the time. I tink that's a breed thing though.

As a kid I grew up with a golden retreiver, now i have a small dog & it's completely different. 
 
My small dog is a very picky eater & food lasts a long time. When choosing treats/bones, I always have to make sure they're bite size.  The same goes for toys, she can't fit a regular tennis ball in her mouth, so I had to find mini balls which she still has a hard time picking up.
 
You do have to be more careful where your walking with smaller dogs, but I find walking a smaller dog is more pleasant since they don't pull & if they do it just feels like a little tug.  Picking up poop is also a breeze compared to my Golden.  And overall small dog items are cheaper, from crates to food & they don't need as much room.  My lil one can get the zoomies in my apartment living room & get tired, whereas a Golden would need more space to get tired out.  Also when a little dog jumps its not as bothersome compared to a bigger dog, even though no dog should jump.
 
If I had a house though, I would go back to owning a larger breed.

ORIGINAL: Benedict
So, small dog people....quirks? Things I should be wary of? What is different when owning a small dog?

 
My residence dogs are Great Danes and I foster large breed dogs.  Occassionally I get a tiny one like the chi mix Amy.  I found I treated her very different from the other dogs.  She was given a lot more allowances, I tended to speak in baby talk, and she got a lot more cuddles.  I felt I had to protect her more and her obedience training was very laxed.  In time by watching her play with the big boys and girls, I became less protective and started treating her like the others...to her benefit. 

I am a large dog person, but I love all dogs and had the pleasure of sharing life with a Mini Schnauzer named Charlie. I was young and in the air force and so missed having a dog around. I decided to get this little guy as he was small and I could afford to carry him around should I move.
 The only fault he had was his yappiness; he had a shrill bark and loved to use it. With training this can be controlled but they will always be more vocal than your average larger breed.
 I enjoyed Charlie's company for 12 years until he passed away. He was the first dog that I competed with in Obedience and Agility. He was very silly. We could run an agility course with perfection time and again, and when we added the crowd Charlie would run through the tunnel, stick his head out the end as if laughing at everyone and bark at the crowd.
 I have a special place in my heart for Mini Schnauzers.
 

ORIGINAL: Luvntzus

That's good that grooming isn't a problem. I absolutely LOVE Mini Schnauzers; I'll be really jealous if you get one!!

I'll be sure to take lots of pictures!

Thanks for the tips, advice and things to watch out for, everyone. I really appreciate it. You guys do a good job of making me think. []