Small dog owners

[Maxy24]

LOL It sounds like Yoshi. If I can't see her or hear her she's doing something.

That's exactly like Tucker too. I'll peer around the room, then spring up and run to the kitchen to see what trouble he's getting himself into. If he is not in the same room as me there is a 99% chance that he's doing something bad.



I will say this. Despite how difficult and not ideal Tucker is given his aggression, barking, and stealing issues, he has still managed to make me go from "I will never own a small dog" to "I would bet money that I will own more small dogs". I can only imagine how in love I'd be with small dogs if Tucker was non-aggressive. They are still fully capable of being active, affectionate, goofy, rough housing, smart, loyal companions. Don't let their size concern you, they're still 100% dog, and just like any dog you have to pick the right individual or breed for you.

 

[Laurelin]

LOL It sounds like Yoshi. If I can't see her or hear her she's doing something.

I was going to ask you about how yours handled the heat. It's not that we're really doing too much during the 100+ days but I do like to go camping so it's not like it would be strenuous activity but they'd definitely be in the heat.

They're fine if we're just hanging out as long as they can get to shade and then have water. They're also ok at night (we were doing agility near 100 degrees at dusk this summer). Walking? They'll go a little bit but anything over 90 and not at dusk, they tire easier. Summer especially drags after an hour and a half or so of 90+.

 

[Brattina88]

I consider my dogs small but seeing everyone else post... maybe they're not lol

 

[Renee750il]

Thanks everyone I'm not quoting everyone but I read everyone's replies. I've been kind of nervous about my next dog being a small dog but Chaz has really helped me come around in that respect.



From what I have read about them I think they would be a breed that would be good for me. But I have a pretty irrational fear of them. There was one that hung out by my church when I was little that was pretty aggressive and attacked me when I went out to my parents car. I'd like to meet a few in a controlled meeting I just don't know anyone with one that I could set that up with.

Dina's are incredibly social. They have the best temperaments and sweetest dispositions I've ever seen in a little dog, bar none. Even her little rescued one, Zak.

Like any other breed, there are always a few people breeding dogs with rotten temperaments, or dogs who have been teased or tormented or otherwise mishandled and/or abused, but overall they're a pretty happy-go-lucky, personable and affectionate breed.

And VERY low maintenance, lol!

One of the things I really love about Terriers is they aren't "small dogs," they're compact dogs -- big dog in a little body!

 

[JacksonsMom]

@JacksonsMom
I really like seeing all the stuff you do with him. You along with some of the other posters in this thread are really the ones that have kind of opened me up to a smaller dog.

As much as I still love big dogs, and want one again someday, I have to admit to myself that I've REALLY become a little dog person. I just love the portability ... everything just tends to be less messy, less money, less food, less poop, LOL... but he can still do everything a big dog can do! Hiking, swimming, camping, running in the snow, walking long distances, running, such and such.

He's obviously a terrier, but I always just raised him like that. I never restricted him from anything... always encouraged exploring. If there's a fallen tree trunk, jump on it! Benches/tables? Climb on it! Go for it, check it out. I always had that kind of attitude and made everything fun. I'm pretty sure would be hating life if he was confined to a house as a 'lap dog'. He would never tolerate it! lol. He's extremely agile. Things he does that I don't even notice anymore, people are always like 'Wow he just jumped on that?!" lol... I'm like, oh yah that's so normal for him.

Most people that meet him that originally didn't really like small dogs are always impressed by him and like 'wow hes the coolest little dog I know!' I think people just forget that they are dogs too and for the most part can just do as much as the big guys! I admit, I personally wouldn't want to go under 10lbs though, just for the sake of our lifestyle. He, at 16lbs, is the PERFECT size to me. So portable, easy to pick up out of trouble, still sturdy enough to be around kids and bigger dogs without extreme worry, etc.

 

[Whitewave]

1. How long can they be active? Because of a knee injury I'm not super fast but I can hike around all day. I don't really know anyone with small dogs so haven't ever spent a ton of time around them and haven't seen many who take their small dog on outings like I do.

Depends on the small dog. Many are can go all day and have more energy than a big dog. I hike on a regular basis with a Rat Terrier, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog and Jack Russell mix. All can go all day long. Also have previous experience with Miniature Pinschers and Dachshunds and both breeds were active and loved being outside and going places.

2. I know a lot of smaller ones are breed for companionship. But what does that mean? Would they be cool being with me all day. I know lady kind of liked her own space but yoshi loves just being there and with how much time I spend with my dog I would kind of prefer one more like yoshi in that instance.

All of mine are content to be in the room with you all day, but are fine while I'm at work. Some prefer to lay in your lap, some across the room. Really depends on the dog.

3. How do they do alone? I'm with my dog after work and all days on weekends and vacations. But I have to have a job. A lot of the sites I'm reading are saying the companion dogs do best with someone who is home all day to be with them but that's just not something I can do.


Mine are fine while I'm at work, but I have multi-dog home so there are other dogs around. Not sure how the would do just by themselves. Never had just one dog of any size, so can't really answer that.

 

[HayleyMarie]

Also, if you are looking more into a sturdy smaller dog. I would suggest a terrier. They are tough as Balls ha ha. We can kick, throw Teagan around in play and she loves it. She also has that big dog attitude. Terriers can be snarks, but Teagan in not out right snarky, she only snarks when there is a legit reason to snark, plus I love the snark lol

 

[yoko]

Also, if you are looking more into a sturdy smaller dog. I would suggest a terrier. They are tough as Balls ha ha. We can kick, throw Teagan around in play and she loves it. She also has that big dog attitude. Terriers can be snarks, but Teagan in not out right snarky, she only snarks when there is a legit reason to snark, plus I love the snark lol

The funny thing is yorkies and westies are the two I have looked at for a long time. So you and jacksonsmom both responding makes me kind of laugh.

I'm use to people just talking about keeping the small dogs at home and its made me guilty of forgetting they are still dogs some times.

I am aloud to have yoshi with me most if the time because she does help me around other people but she is big so I not bring her a lot out of respect for other people so just the portability alone is super appealing to me.

 

[Billie Sun]

Smaller dogs are great for compainship mainly because they are easy to take around in your daily activities. Smaller dogs can do almost as much as bigger dogs can do. From what I notice owners with smaller dogs must pamper their dogs more. Since they are so small you can pick them up, carry water with them in case they are hydrated so all of a sudden you feel as if you are caring for a baby with fur. Also, it depends on how small and what type of breed you are looking for! If you are getting a small dog that weigh's no less than 20lbs then you do not need to worry as much about pampering your dog. Dogs that are 20lbs or more make for great companions!

 

[Babyblue5290]

I've been looking at smaller breed dogs lately. Not really planning on getting one soon. I'm a one dog person so hope it is pretty far off.

I am really interested in a smaller breed. I don't go on vacations unless my dog goes and yoshi is so big I can't get anyone to ok her going on any because of her size.

But I have a few concerns.

1. How long can they be active? Because of a knee injury I'm not super fast but I can hike around all day. I don't really know anyone with small dogs so haven't ever spent a ton of time around them and haven't seen many who take their small dog on outings like I do.

2. I know a lot of smaller ones are breed for companionship. But what does that mean? Would they be cool being with me all day. I know lady kind of liked her own space but yoshi loves just being there and with how much time I spend with my dog I would kind of prefer one more like yoshi in that instance.

3. How do they do alone? I'm with my dog after work and all days on weekends and vacations. But I have to have a job. A lot of the sites I'm reading are saying the companion dogs do best with someone who is home all day to be with them but that's just not something I can do.

I have more questions but I'm on my phone and can't type any more right now will add them later.

Well, I haven't read the rest of the thread, but for Art:

1. He can be active all day if need be, but he's more than ready to just rest with you as well. We got running all the time and I am tired before he is! lol When we go hiking he is always ready to keep going further and so far hasn't had any issues with up hills or logs or anything. Because of his size when I need to I just grab his handled pack and carry him over a large gap or area he can't cross himself, which isn't a lot of places.

2. He LOVES to snuggle and can be a bit needy about snuggling at times. He very much LOVES his people, and he's a bit soft. One wrong look his way and he looks like you are going to murder him.

3. He does just fine. He sleeps when we are not here and saves his energy for when we get home. He had a tiny bit of anxiety when we left when he was younger, but it never when much past barking/whinging for a little while and then he'd settle in. Now he doesn't even do that.

 

[yoko]

1. He can be active all day if need be, but he's more than ready to just rest with you as well. We got running all the time and I am tired before he is! lol When we go hiking he is always ready to keep going further and so far hasn't had any issues with up hills or logs or anything. Because of his size when I need to I just grab his handled pack and carry him over a large gap or area he can't cross himself, which isn't a lot of places.

What's a handled pack?

Most of the places I go don't really have too many places I think would be hard for a smaller dog except for the dam where I go fishing but if the dog was small enough I could always carry them down the wall in a backpack.

Thanks again for everyone's answers.

Yoshi's the smallest dog I've had and she comes to a little above my knee and is at about 38-40 lbs and the idea of going to full on 'small dog' makes me kind of nervous. Since the majority of the people I know have farms/ranches or a lot of land most have larger/medium sized dogs. I use to kind of know a few when I was younger but haven't really interacted with any in years.

I'm kind of thinking of finding a breed I like and going to a rescue to see if maybe they have an oversized one that's still small but larger than what I usually see around here *if that makes sense?*

I guess I take back the interacted with a small dog in years statement. One of my friends dog watched for a coworker and it was a chi. It was only... maybe 3 lbs max and that dog terrified me. I know it definitely wasn't breed by any where near a good breeder but I remember it hurt it's self jumping from the bed to the floor. And this bed wasn't high it was literally the mattresses on the floor.

I think my main thing is, is that I'm worried they aren't... I don't know if sturdy is the right word or not. I'm short I understand having issues getting high things but being worried of a foot or less drop kind of freaks me out.

 

[Kyllobernese]

I have always been a big dog person, other than when we raised Scottish Terriers and I don't consider them "small" dogs. When I finally was able to get a dog, the one I chose was Susie who is a Bernese cross, then my sister got a Shih Tzu x Maltese. Was not long before I got one too, and have never looked back. At around ten pounds, they are the ideal size to take anywhere and they are very low shedding. My Van was wall-wall hair with Susie, but I can take my three little dogs and no hair anywhere. I do Agility with them, take them on hikes and they can do anything a big dog can do, plus go places so much easier than a big dog.

 

[JacksonsMom]

The funny thing is yorkies and westies are the two I have looked at for a long time. So you and jacksonsmom both responding makes me kind of laugh.

I'm use to people just talking about keeping the small dogs at home and its made me guilty of forgetting they are still dogs some times.

I am aloud to have yoshi with me most if the time because she does help me around other people but she is big so I not bring her a lot out of respect for other people so just the portability alone is super appealing to me.

LOL, too funny. I'm actually not a huge fan of *most* Yorkies that I've met... Jackson tends to not really fit the mold of a Yorkie. I only know two in real life that are really cool. But again, a lot of that could be that they were coddled and raised different etc.

Have you ever looked into a Silky Terrier? It's often what I think Jackson is, due to looks and personality.

Westies are super super cool, they'r one of the breeds I want someday. My next is most likely going to be a Border Terrier- ever looked into them at all?

 

[JacksonsMom]

I guess I take back the interacted with a small dog in years statement. One of my friends dog watched for a coworker and it was a chi. It was only... maybe 3 lbs max and that dog terrified me. I know it definitely wasn't breed by any where near a good breeder but I remember it hurt it's self jumping from the bed to the floor. And this bed wasn't high it was literally the mattresses on the floor.

I think my main thing is, is that I'm worried they aren't... I don't know if sturdy is the right word or not. I'm short I understand having issues getting high things but being worried of a foot or less drop kind of freaks me out.

OMG, if you saw Jackson... lol.... he leaps from the edges of tall couches, and lays on the tops of them (like a cat), he often doesn't even use the three stairs leading off the deck, just jumps over them onto the grass, lol. He hops in and out of my car easily - even my dads huge truck, he just jumps up onto the seat and it's really high up, lol. There's really been no issues because of his size.

The ONLY thing I worry about is bigger rough dogs. He doesn't tend to like obnoxious type play (doesn't like when bigger dogs ram into him, or paw/bat at him), and the most he does is growl or snark, and that's the only time he can be snarky is if a dog is rude to him. Like, I bring him to the dog park and will often go on the big dog side since I meet up with friends with a bit larger dogs, but if there are too many, he can be uncomfortable and prefers to stay out of the way. I just worry that in the case of any kind of brawl or fight, of course he would lose due to sheer size. There was a time when a neighbors Lab came charging at us aggressively (he was on leash, Lab was not) and it was quite scary, I picked him up in my arms by his harness and thankfully had people with me. Otherwise, that's a battle he would have lost. But he gets along with large dogs that are respectful and know how to be around a little dog.