Big Dog vs. Small Dog Animosity? (aDork)

What makes me angry is how when little dogs exhibit bad behavior, it's excused or thought of as funny. But, say i'm on a walk, and my neighbor's min pin (only 5 lbs- and 100% out of control) and it's goin' nutso at kaiser. When kaiser starts getting excited and jumps around or if he gives out a woof, i get a nasty look. My friend that has a teacup yorkie also excuses him when he bites her. ALL THE TIME! Every time she picks him up, he bites her...but she says that he's just playing. wrong. He's also 2 yrs old and poops in the floor. Her excuse there is he's smaller and has to go more frequently. Well, not every 3 hrs! I love little dogs, don't get me wrong, but i feel like larger dogs have to live up to higher standards.

calliecritturs

Well, bless your heart, I hope someone gets you one from FAO Schwartz real soon -- imagine only having an imaginary dog for a companion!! 

Er ... you mean that's NOT what you meant???

Stacer -- please laugh, but you gotta know how silly that sounds!

I've had dogs of every size.  I'm a small dog person at heart -- but don't get your knickers in a knot, it's not for any of the above reasons!!

wow. you completed misinterpreted that. that is clearly not what i meant at all. i put "real dog" in quotes because i know it is sort of a silly term. what i meant by that was just that i like a "dogs dog" - another silly term, i know. i just like a rough and tumble dog, one that i'm not worrying about stepping on, one that i'm not concerned about how short of a life span it has (toy and giant breeds alike), etc. i tried to convey in my earlier post, that my opinions on small dogs, were just that, my opinions. i know there are some great small dogs out there, whose owners take the time to train them and have them not just for fashion accessories - thats why in my generalizations i said some owners.

i'm glad you found that small breeds are best for you, thats awesome. i'm sure your dog(s) are pretty adorable. it's just my personal preference that i am not a huge fan of small breeds. i am happy to love other people's small breeds, some of my friends own them -  i pet them and cuddle them, all cute things. i just do not want to own one for myself.

I don't really feel any animosity against any one size dog.  As others have mentioned, I generally have issues w/their owners, on all sides of the story.  An out of control dog is worrisome, no matter what the size.

The other day at the dog park this woman brought a teeny tiny little guy into the large dog area.  I cringed and even said out loud "oh, my word, I wish they wouldn't.  That thing is going to get stomped or some dog is going to shake him like a stuffy."  But the more I watched him, the more I realized he wasn't a reactive, yippy, I'm-king-of-this-big-dog-castle attitude like I see in a fair amount of small dogs.  He was holding his own and doing just fine playing, sniffing, minding his own business, hanging w/his big dog "siblings".  It went at least 30 mins without incident until a woman with three large dogs, the largest an oversized GSD who is always causing trouble, got a little lax... and self-righteous.  Her GSD (who is at least 20-30% bigger than a GSD should be) started pawing at the little guy.  Then his packmates started in on him, too.  The GSD had a muzzle on and was dragging a long line.  His owner got defensive of her dogs causing trouble and blamed the little dog being in the wrong side of the park.  The little dog's owner had pulled him out of the mess and picked him up, and the GSD jumped on her.  (Did I mention she was pregnant?)  Again, no matter the size, the out of control dog is the problem.

In my imaginary menagerie of dogs, I love my Dobes and would probably add a Ridgie, a Boston, a Bull Terrier, maybe a Boxer, and perhaps a coonhound of one type or another.  Maybe a Frenchie, a Whippet, and possibly a Papillon.  Again, imaginary because I don't think they could all live together, and hounds are just a whole OTHER story.  Most of those are big dogs.  Bostons and Frenchies being my fav smalls dogs. 

.stacer.

wow. you completed misinterpreted that. that is clearly not what i meant at all. i put "real dog" in quotes because i know it is sort of a silly term. what i meant by that was just that i like a "dogs dog" - another silly term, i know. i just like a rough and tumble dog, one that i'm not worrying about stepping on, one that i'm not concerned about how short of a life span it has (toy and giant breeds alike), etc. i tried to convey in my earlier post, that my opinions on small dogs, were just that, my opinions. i know there are some great small dogs out there, whose owners take the time to train them and have them not just for fashion accessories - thats why in my generalizations i said some owners.

I also can't see how smaller dogs are somehow less of a real dog or dogs dog.  There are plenty rough and tumble small breeds and most seem smart enough not to throw themselves under your feet in hopes that you'll squash them.  Its not that a person doesn't have a right to prefer a certain sized dog, but terming one size as being somehow less of a dog just sounds silly.

Toy/smaller breeds have a longer life expectancy? I didn't know that. I thought they had a reatively short life expectancy, which I always did find strange and wondered why, I just never looked it up. What is the life expectancy of the average toy/small breed?

And again, I didn't mean the real dog comment like that specfically. I suppose I'm having trouble explaining it properly - You know those dogs you look at, and just think man....that's a dog's dog - maybe you don't, hahaha, and that's why I am having trouble explaining it properly. Lets just say I am partial to working/hunting breeds - thats probably a better way of putting it. I didn't mean that smaller dogs were less of a dog, in the literal sense. Heck, I have trouble with not stepping on my rottie somedays! He is very much still in that puppy, follow me everywhere stage, and oftens just plops down behind me wherever I go. I just have less of a chance of hurting him if I step on him, or more of a chance of seeing him!

RidgebackGermansShep

What makes me angry is how when little dogs exhibit bad behavior, it's excused or thought of as funny. But, say i'm on a walk, and my neighbor's min pin (only 5 lbs- and 100% out of control) and it's goin' nutso at kaiser. When kaiser starts getting excited and jumps around or if he gives out a woof, i get a nasty look. My friend that has a teacup yorkie also excuses him when he bites her. ALL THE TIME! Every time she picks him up, he bites her...but she says that he's just playing. wrong. He's also 2 yrs old and poops in the floor. Her excuse there is he's smaller and has to go more frequently. Well, not every 3 hrs! I love little dogs, don't get me wrong, but i feel like larger dogs have to live up to higher standards.

That is sooo true!  All of the behavior that is considered semi-cute in a toy/small breed (which I find grossly annoying) is outright verboten when done by a large/giant.  I understand that when a small dog nips, the bite impact from a larger breed would be more severe, but come on... small dogs need rules, training and boundaries too just like the big guys.  Sometimes it doesnt seem fair how big dogs are always under a microscope.

I love dogs of all shapes and sizes, and all breeds, mixed or not, but the giant and large breeds take my heart.  Bar none.  I like a dog that I can wrap my arms around, one that will protect me and provide security for me, and I like a dog that will completely devote itself to me.  Giants may not live as long as some of the toys, but given the choice between 6-9 years with a Giant and 15-18 with a toy, I'll gladly take the Giant every time.  The short time that you have with them is so special, I like to look at it as their love is condensed.  They have to put a lifetime of love and devotion into only a few short years. 

There are some nice toy dogs out there, but they just aren't for me; but isn't that why we all love dogs.  With over 400+ dog breeds (that doesn't even begin to cover the mixes and shelter specials), everyone can find a companion that is just right for them.  Whether it's big and slobbery, or small and furry or medium and just right, we get to have a choice.  We become devoted to them, love them and care for them, and dogs in return give us their all.

bannedbreenlover: very well said! me i'm not sure. i am owning the smaller breeds right now, cause the bigger one's arent legal here (and i only recently found out the background for that). but i think if i ever get to own a large breed, i would probably fall for it. they are such teddy bears. lol... although, i gotta say: something to be said about a cockerspaniel: can roughhouse with them all ya want, they aren't frail, but still able to pick up.. oy... i love myself some moca

.stacer.

Toy/smaller breeds have a longer life expectancy? I didn't know that. I thought they had a reatively short life expectancy, which I always did find strange and wondered why, I just never looked it up. What is the life expectancy of the average toy/small breed?

 As for your explanation, I think it was great except for the usage of the "real dog" statement.  Guess what I was trying to say is you didn't need to use that term when the specific details about what you like about working with a large dog said it all without putting down the smaller canines.
 

Krissim Klaw

As for your explanation, I think it was great except for the usage of the "real dog" statement.  Guess what I was trying to say is you didn't need to use that term when the specific details about what you like about working with a large dog said it all without putting down the smaller canines.

Well, as I said, I really wasn't meaning it as a put down towards small dogs at all. I never meant it to come across as if I thought small dogs weren't real dogs. I just meant "real dog" as a working/hound breed, more to do with appearance. He he. I'll stick with working/hound breeds from now on I suppose! I wasn't expecting so much flack from it! But I see now, how it can be taken the wrong way - and it does seem very rude taken that way!

Thats interesting about the life expectancy of toy breeds though, I had someone tell me their life expectancy wasn't much recently, when I had always thought they lived forever.......I thought it was strange, but I never bothered to look it up. See this thread is good, it taught me something about toy breeds!

terriers who are definitely "working dogs". In fact, MOST breeds of dogs were developed to perform some form of work.

My issues aren't with big or small.  My issues are with the owners of any size or breed who just lets the dog do whatever.  And, those that ignored posted signs for leashes, poop pick-up, etc.

This is were my animosity is, not with the dogs.  If I let my dog do some of the stuff these people do. . .can you imagine my chow running up to you with your on leash dog and me yards away yelling, "oh, it's OK, she's fine. . ." 

willowchow

My issues aren't with big or small.  My issues are with the owners of any size or breed who just lets the dog do whatever.  And, those that ignored posted signs for leashes, poop pick-up, etc.

I agree with this Lori. 

I have to say, the generalizations in this are kinda interesting to me.  Imagine a thread where lots of people said "IMO pit's are mean and aggressive......."  Wowza

ottoluv

willowchow

My issues aren't with big or small.  My issues are with the owners of any size or breed who just lets the dog do whatever.  And, those that ignored posted signs for leashes, poop pick-up, etc.

 

I agree with this Lori. 

 

I have to say, the generalizations in this are kinda interesting to me.  Imagine a thread where lots of people said "IMO pit's are mean and aggressive......."  Wowza

Hmm....I didn't see that "lots of people" said that small dogs were mean and aggressive.  Most posters expressed a fondness for small dogs.  Most people who did say anything negative mentioned that they did not like the behavior of their owners.  The most negative comment I personally saw was the "real dog" comment.  I'd rather have my dog referred to as not being a "real dog" than as being "generic," "fat," "out of control," "stupidly happy," and "without personality" (just a few things I've seen posted about labs).

The bottom line IMHO, is that while we may all have breed preferences, what makes or breaks a dog is how the owner has taught it/allows it to behave.  The reason that I personally focused on small dogs in my post was because small vs. large was what the topic was about.  However, I could go on all day about stupid and bad decisions that owners of both "my" breeds have made.  Unfortunately, the behaviors of irresponsible owners of any stripe have given the owners that do try hard a bad name.  Trust me when I tell you that large dog owners feel the effects of irresponsible ownership of their chosen "type" of dogs just as acutely as those with small dogs.  We actually have much more in common than we think.

Just as an aside to the picking up small dogs issue....My feelings are not hurt when a small dog owner picks up their dog--heck there have been situations where I have wished I could pick *my* dogs up.  My concern with owners picking up their small dogs truly does lie with the safety of said small dog.  Jack, who is *not* what I would call a highly prey driven dog, even undergoes a change when he sees a small dog in someone's arms.  When the little one is on the ground he's all "Hey, another dog!  Can i go say hi?!"  However, when the little dog in in someones arms he goes into "HEY--is that a TOY?!  Does it SQUEAK?!  Throw it THROW it!!  I swear I'll bring it back!!"  I know that this is the case with both my dogs so i make sure that when we are around a little dog in this situation we pay extra attention, but not every medium/large dog owner realizes this.  It's just something that small dog owners need to be aware of IMHO.  If my not-very-prey-driven dog can have this shift in attiude, then just about any dog can.....   

sillysally

Just as an aside to the picking up small dogs issue....My feelings are not hurt when a small dog owner picks up their dog--heck there have been situations where I have wished I could pick *my* dogs up.  My concern with owners picking up their small dogs truly does lie with the safety of said small dog.  Jack, who is *not* what I would call a highly prey driven dog, even undergoes a change when he sees a small dog in someone's arms.  When the little one is on the ground he's all "Hey, another dog!  Can i go say hi?!"  However, when the little dog in in someones arms he goes into "HEY--is that a TOY?!  Does it SQUEAK?!  Throw it THROW it!!  I swear I'll bring it back!!"  I know that this is the case with both my dogs so i make sure that when we are around a little dog in this situation we pay extra attention, but not every medium/large dog owner realizes this.  It's just something that small dog owners need to be aware of IMHO.  If my not-very-prey-driven dog can have this shift in attiude, then just about any dog can.....   

Even if a large dog charged I wouldn't be apt to pick him up simply because I wouldn't see it as the best way to protect him.  Standing at 5'5" and weighing 96 pounds, my arms would be like snack level for a large breed dog.  Not only that but I would be encouraging the large dog to jump at me which could easily knock me backwards on my butt and then both Kirby and me in a far worse situation.  Just seems wiser to me to keep my limbs free and body mobile when protecting Kirby from loose dogs.

AuroraLove

A lady walked by with a small snarling little dog and she immediately picked up her dog even though Primo didnt even give her dog a second look.

If her dog was being snarly, my guess is she doubted HER ability to control HER dog, not your ability to control yours!  So why the hurt feelings?  

Edit - she was probably JEALOUS of Primo's nice sit-stay and wished she could achieve the same with her dog as well! 

More thoughts...

When I was looking for my first dog I had two different kinds in mind.

The first thing that leapt to mind was something reasonably big... not massive, but something with substance, something SOLID.  Could "lollop" across the hills with me.  A bit of muscle, an impressive voice, coupled with courage and loyalty you cold break rocks on... something to give potential burglars a reasn to pause, yet a clown that would enjoy wrestling around... a goof with a heart of gold .  A bit of hair, a bit if slobber were part and parcel of what *I* imagined a "dog" to be.  You might say, MY vision of a "REAL dog".

The second kind was small, hairy, full of mischief, often "had to be told twice", plenty of spunk and maybe even some defiance, some "why should I do that?"  A bit of a rebel.  A Hairy McLairy sort of dog!

I ended up with the latter, (though in my heart I've always leaned towards medium to large dogs) and when I took over my brothers newspaper round many of the people had heard of our new puppy... and were shocked to see how small he was!  They'd heard all about all this "training" I was doing with hi, they'd heard that he could do an instant down at a distance and always came when called, walked at heel without a lead and so they ASSUMED he was a big dog.  MANY MANY MANY people think that either a) little dogs don't NEED to be trained because they are too small to do any harm (totally untrue) OR b) they CAN'T be trained, because they are too independent (kind of true if "traditional methods" are used)

I do find that small dogs have less training, or lesser quality training, at least around here.  If the dog pulls, it doesn't matter, he can't pull hard.  If the dog jumps up, it doesn't matter he barely reaches your knees.  If the dog snarls its "oh look he's trying to be a big tough guy ha ha ha!"