Big dogs or little dogs, do you prefer one over the other?

[Dekka]

1. Number one reason for sure. I can't stand high pitched barks, makes my brain hurt. My sister has a shitzu/pom, a sweet, lovable, well behaved, "real" dog. She doesn't bark alot, but when she does OMG, it's worse than finger nails on a blackboard.

I know many small dogs who have a deeper bark than med to larger dogs. Tollers for example can have some of the highest octave barks ever. Kaiden's bark is as deep as your typical lab.

2. The bent over at the waist shuffle, to put on lead, wipe feet, get something away from them, etc. I like a dog who's head is within easy reach.

Not really an issue Just teach them to hop up on a chair. And if they are dirty they are MUCH easier to clean and you can pick them up and easily carry them from the door to the tub!

3. Breakability. I'm not a klutz, but I worry about tripping over them, stepping on them, etc. They're not as visible. Also I like to play/wrestle with my dogs. Get down on the floor and rumble. It's just not the same with a dog who's 1/16th your size.

I have to say in all honesty I trip over large dogs more often. Sport is in my way more often than the little JRTs. The JRTs move out of your way, I never worry about stepping on them. Sport takes up 1/2 the kitchen and doesn't tend to move. No its not the same if they are small. But its got its own charm.. They will and can do some really fun wresting moves a larger dog can't do.

4. I like to take long walks/hikes and go snowshoeing with my dogs, most little ones don't have the stamina.

Paps, JRTs, small poodles etc are likely going to keep up just fine if not better than larger dogs. We had a 120 pound 30 inch tall Newf cross. I have to say he wouldn't have been able to keep up to any of my JRTs.. especially in deep snow.

5. Big dogs make better pillows. There's nothing like laying on the couch with your head proped on a big ole warm, curled up dog. They make better foot warmers to.

I agree with the head thing.. Snip makes an ok pillow, but is kinda boney. How ever I LOVE them as foot warmers. Dekka sleeps under the covers up against my feet at night. They throw off sooo much heat but dont' take up 1/2 the bed.

 

[Laurelin]

I agree with the head thing.. Snip makes an ok pillow, but is kinda boney. How ever I LOVE them as foot warmers. Dekka sleeps under the covers up against my feet at night. They throw off sooo much heat but dont' take up 1/2 the bed.

That's one big plus about small dogs I forgot. I had four of them in bed last night and was still comfy with plenty of room. It was nice and toasty. Beau is the best feet warmer ever.

 

[k9krazee]

I've had 5 at once ranging from 10 pounds to 90 pounds, and I love the size variability. It's so much fun to see them all interact.

All sizes have their own pros and cons. I personally prefer in the 30-50 lb range, still can be a lap dog, but can hold his own. I do, however, enjoy the "protection" of a large dog, and the "portablity" of a smaller dog. I just find it a lot harder to train a tiny dog. I do like that if you do have smaller dogs, it's a lot easier to have multiples, and I LOVE having my own mini pack. Right now we have 3 JRTs and Labx, but they're only equivalent to maybe two large breed dogs.

 

[smkie]

HbH you just cracked me up..i adore Hairy Godmother pictures.

 

[setter-chick]

ke a dog who's head is within easy reach.

3. Breakability. I'm not a klutz, but I worry about tripping over them, stepping on them, etc. They're not as visible. Also I like to play/wrestle with my dogs. Get down on the floor and rumble. It's just not the same with a dog who's 1/16th your size.

4. I like to take long walks/hikes and go snowshoeing with my dogs, most little ones don't have the stamina.


http://crazypicz.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/dog-on-toilet.jpg

Terriers are TOUGH.(but terriers are solid, shes 20lbs and probly about 14 inches at the shoulder) Friday can stand up to anything, she plays with crazy inmature vizslas.. shes been body slammed too. She cracked her nail and didnt even limp.

Also Friday has out lasted vizsla play sessions. She could run and play all afternoon.

 

[Sweet72947]

I prefer big dogs. I have a little one here, he's my mom's dog. He's cute, but he's annoying too, with his terrierness. I like to cuddle little dogs in my lap at FOHA, but just prefer to own bigger dogs. In my experience, big dogs are easier to train. Although the best behaved dog in Benji's training class WAS a tiny long-haired dachshund, lol.

I have just always liked the feeling of a big dog draped across my lap. Daisy doesn't cuddle though, so I have to get that from Opie once a week.

 

[Criosphynx]

Small....

Kiwi is 42lbs...and shes really pushing the size limit for me.

My home is small and I wanted multiple dogs...I could never have so many if they were all *normal* size...

 

[sprintime]

I have both but large ones are my first love. Maybe as I get older I'll switch to tiny ones to make it easier on myself.

 

[PretzelDog]

Not really an issue Just teach them to hop up on a chair. And if they are dirty they are MUCH easier to clean and you can pick them up and easily carry them from the door to the tub!

^^My feeble attempt at humour. I had a picture of My Aunt in my head who spent half her life in this position, bent over, shuffling around, saying "here FiFi, here FiFi" over and over again. She never taught them anything

Setter-chick: I know terriers are tough. We had a wire-haired terrier when I was a teenager, plus a standard poodle and my GSD/lab x. She could outrun and out play both of them put together.

Geeez! You people are tough Aren't I allowed to keep any of my misconceptions and biases?

 

[Doberluv]

I like both and have had both, even all at the same time, as you can see in my avatar. As far as hiking, I live in a hiking heaven in north Idaho and my little Chihuahuas have always hiked with me when I had my Lab and Doberman. Some of those hikes were all day hikes upwards of 9 or 10 miles through the woods. The Chi's could at times run circles around the bigger dogs and were more adept at circumventing obstacles such as downed trees that had branches all over the place. They're very manuverable and agile and can fit through small places. When they run fast, they're a blur. So stamina in large part is dependent on conditioning.

At my age now, I like dogs I can pick up easily. And like it was said, I don't trip over them because unlike my larger dogs, they take it as a big responsibility for themselves to watch out and they scamper right out of the way in a heart beat whenever I'm moving around. My bigger dogs would just stand there like, "duh..." until I told them, "excuse me."

As far as barking, Chihuahuas are notorious yappers. But that's because a lot of people don't teach their dogs. Mine only bark when someone comes to the door or for some other thing they hear outside which alarms them. And they are rather easily alarmed and have very keen hearing. (great watch dogs) It is rather high pitched but it's not as loud as Toker's. She has a very loud, sharp bark that makes me jump out of my skin. I can get Jose` to bark on cue and they both stop when I tell them, "enough." So, the barking is not much of a problem. Training, IMO, a cued bark and a cued "quiet" or "enough" is essential but that goes for any dog that barks a lot.

Most of the points were already made such as ease with traveling, bathing etc. They're clean, not too hairy (the smooth coated Chi's or other breeds). They're cozy enough to sleep with without hogging the bed. There are all kinds of reasons small dogs appeal to me even though I also like big dogs, but for my life style now-a-days, I will probably stick with small dogs, depending on breed of course. I like Poodles, Chi's and other breeds which are quite dependent, like Giny was saying. That's probably why I loved my Doberman too....exceedingly enthralled with me. LOL.

 

[FoxyWench]

oh heavens yeah, the bed issue, i like the dogs to sleep with me (the bf doesnt) but when i had the boxer or dane (both fosters) there was never enough room for me! with the little guys i can have 2 chis and 2 cresites in a twin bed and still have room lol (nothing tgives off heat like nekkid dogs lol, little jasper is a little furnace)

not to mention when crate training your dogs, those dog crates can be huge, anything over 24" to me is like gah whered my livingroom go.

i will own my big dane one day...but right now im happy with my little monkies...

 

[M&M's Mommy]

I love both. I always had big dogs while growing up, and three small dogs now - due to space restrain when I first got them - otherwise I would have FOUR dogs by now, 3 small ones & 1 big one!!

 

[SmexyPibble]

Big dogs; I've had a few small dogs, but I've always perfered big dogs. I'm always afraid of stepping on a small dog, or something. I really love bigs dogs, compared to smaller dogs.

 

[elegy]

i'm mostly a medium breed person, though there are large breeds i like (greyhounds, dobes) and small breeds i like (mini poodles, cresties). i am uncomfortable with owning a dog larger than i can lift in an emergency, though.

 

[PoodleMommy]

Small Dogs Only.

I want them to be portable and be able to take them with me when need be. That involves them sitting under an airplane seat or going to a hotel easily... many have weight limits.

I dont like slobber.

I dont want to be jumped on and pushed over.

I dont want their paws on my shoulders.

I dont want people to run in the opposite direction thinking the dog will eat them.

I dont like loud barking.

 

[Laurelin]

I dont like loud barking.

I think the worst/loudest barkers I have ever had have been small dogs. Just certain individual dogs have the most god awful barks ever. I just seem to be able to pick dogs with the most annoying sounding barks well. Nikki could shatter glass and Summer could bust your eardrum. Summer's bark is probably the worst dog bark I've ever heard in my life. There have been a couple times she's really close to my ear and barked and I literally couldn't hear at all for a few seconds afterwards. Her bark is painful.

I still love her though. I do hope third time's the charm and my next dog has a bearable bark.

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

I really don't have a preference size wise. I have had a Great Dane in the past who I loved and at the same time the family had a toy Poodle who I loved just as much. As for small breeds not having stamina for hikes. It depends on the breeds. The poodle I grew up with could go and go and go when we would take the horses on trail rides. And my Spaniel (though she is more medium than small) can go and go as well. Where as the Great Dane I grew up with prefered being inside or sun bathing in the yard let alone going for a hike.

I do love my Lab because he is closer to reach for lol. He is very fun to cuddle and nap with because yes he does make a good pillow. And I also love how solid he is.

I think the biggest plus to owning a "smaller" breed is they are easier to travel with. As in they don't take up much space in the car. Which is why Maggie May has been able to travel with me a bit more than Sawyer.

 

[BostonBanker]

I'm a medium dog person. Any dog I own needs to be large enough to not be too breakable for the barn, but small enough to travel easily everywhere and be able to be picked up if needed. Meg fits the bill perfectly at 36 lbs. Really, anything in the 25 - 50 lb range is ideal for me.

 

[bnwalker2]

I love both, but prefer medium-large sized dogs. I want my dogs to be able to be outside a lot, "helping" with barn chores, going on trail rides, etc. I also like the security of a larger dog. I'll probably always have at least one of each though.

 

[Toller_08]

I like a lot of small dogs, but all of the breeds that appeal to me both appearance and temperament wise that I want to own vary from medium to extra large.