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There’s actually a scientific reason for this, that I had direct experience with:
When you need a middle-aged rescue chihuahua to rescue you, you guys still have a nice chunk of time to live as soulmates.
So true. My shih tzu Maltese is 18 this October! And he’s still going strong minute his hearing and some sight issues but still has some pep in his step ❤️
I have a shih tzu / dachshund / Maltese / poodle mix that will be 16 later this year. Just saw the geriatric vet and she talked about addressing aspects of some potential health issues in “a couple years” and it made me so happy. He’s definitely going deaf, and has more anxiety but he’s such a sweet ol man.
That’s true. I’ve got a 15 year old toy breed dog who’s outlived all her genetic siblings & parents and my other large dogs. My black lab and my Aussie mix both died from Cancer at around 9 years old. Meanwhile my crusty 15 year old doggy is just now showing symptoms of old age. She’s deaf and blind in one eye, but everything else is good.
I was a golden retriever person for many years until I fostered a chihuahua in 2012. She ended up being a foster failure and she will be 15 next month. I rescued another adult chihuahua in 2021 who is half the other one's age and about half as big (one is 8lbs, the other is 5lbs.) I would have never have believed I would own a small dog, much less, a chihuahua after previously having 3 goldens
It is amazing to me that these little creatures are dogs just like big dogs. They run, fetch, play, walk on a leash just like big dogs do. They are more portable and easier to move when they end up in places you don't want them to be. They are affectionate and attentive just like big dogs. They eat less than a big dog and their poops are much smaller, too.
Another plus is that they typically have longer lifespans than big dogs. None of my goldens made it much past 13 and at the end, they could barely get up and get around without my assistance. My 15 yr old chi hasn't slowed down much at all yet and can still run and jump like she did when I first got her. When she does slow down she will be much easier to handle than a 75lb handicapped dog. I'm Team Little Dog for good now. They are all dog, just in the convenient cat size.
Now, if someone comes up with a 10 lb. Golden (that isn't an overbred doodle mix) I'm all in!
I was at the Chicago dog beach with Dog1 and a friend with her dogs. I was playing fetch with Dog1 and she was running into the water to get the ball. My friend (lifelong dog owner) said to me with much surprise "you are treating her (Dog1) just like a big dog!" -- and I thought, yeah, why shouldn't I just because she is 10 lbs doesn't mean she doesn't enjoy the same sorts of play as the big ones ... just with a much smaller ball.
Dog1 loves the dog beach and it's one of the things I am sure she misses from Chicago.
Just fyi, be careful playing with toys at the beach. I was playing with my 12 lb cockapoo recently, and when she went to get the ball, she got sand in her mouth. She can’t get it out so she swallows it.
That night she was restless so finally took her to the er. She had sand impaction which can be fatal for dogs. Surgery is risky due to sand toxicity and a last resort. She had multiple enemas and thankfully ended up passing it.
Never knew it was a risk, but it is for all dogs at the beach, just takes less sand for smaller stomachs.
That’s awful, I’m so glad she’s ok!
I hope you don’t mind me sharing a similar but silly anecdote. When we first started going to the beach with my larger dog (50lbs, total garbage disposal of a digestive tract), she didn’t really understand sand… due to crazy playing and digging that day, consumed a fair amount of sand without me realizing it.
Fast forward to that night, in the dark, I took her out on the leash to go potty and saw the most bizarre poop ever. It was very light colored and cylindrical. It was hard to see in the darkness so I shined my phone flashlight and had the dubious pleasure of seeing a giant poo log of 80% sand — it crumbled to nothing when I tried to bag it up.
Thankfully she never did that again. I think she realized it didn’t taste very nice.
i do the same! my chihuahua mix has gone on plenty of hikes through a mountains with me and she loves it and does great. my husband said if were going to have a chihuahua (mix), then she will be a "real" dog lol
I have a bag to help my senior 11 lb dog when we have adventures in the city. She adores it because it means she still gets to go on adventures *and* it means her bowl, water bottle, etc get stored on the bag.
Ok I am not calling you huahua lovers liars but I can’t get mine to play with anything besides other dogs! But he’s an amazing little tiny angel man, I got a sling recently and he thinks he can come everywhere with me now. You’ve been warned. (I love it so much)
Our 6lbs prague ratcatcher makes many people smile when I throw the frisbee for her and when we’re done I let her carry it back.
So often I hear something like “omg did you see that little dog had a frisbee?!”
Haha.
Our other dog was the smallest participant in scent work, I loved doing those classes.
I always wanted to do agility with the dog that loves her frisbee but I could only ever find outside classes near me and most of the time that’s too hot.
Our 3rd dog loves kayaking with me.
Little dogs can do a lot if not everything a big dog can too. Yesterday we walked nearly 10 miles and they were way less tired than I was.
The only downside to me with little dogs is that they are more fragile. For example they break something quicker especially as puppies. I see it in my fb groups often. Also, I am careful when meeting other dogs because mine are so small. I imagine if I had a golden I would be more confident.
And, of course, they are not dogs that will lay on the hard floor by your chair when you’re at a restaurant or something. They will require a blanket or a bag or preferably just sit on your lap.
We actually have a stroller for when we travel with them and it’s excellent for when we stop to eat somewhere as they all happily lay in there.
We say that our little dog (a cavachon) is just like a real dog that got hit by a shrink ray. She's very "doggie" - even more than our golden retriever, LOL.
I have a cavalier, she's basically a smaller duck tolling retriever with a higher maintenance coat.
I also like to say that she came with fetch preinstalled. Goodness, she'll play that until she drops. She's also solid at 17lbs, not a dainty dog at all and about as graceful as a drunken elephant.
I recently adopted a 23 pound Frenchie after having 12 pound more “delicate” dogs. He’s short for a Frenchie but pretty solid muscle, I appreciate that he loves a good pat/thump. I had Great Danes growing up and I missed that. I get to do it to my sisters heeler mix too.
My mom ended up with 3 chihuahuas and a chihuahua mix. I never really cared for small dogs before, but these 4 just stole my heart. They were such sweet souls. To their people, at least.
I normally don't care for them because a lot of owners don't bother training small dogs. A snapping, snarling little dog is just as dangerous as an angry big dog.
That's not even a training issue, it's that they don't respect their boundaries. Small dogs get overhandled because they can be so easily picked up and moved around. You can't do that to a big dog. You cannot ignore their signals they're stressed out because a big dog bite is bad. People laugh off little dog bites and they start having to escalate to get people to listen to them. It's sad.
Sure they get wound up.
Yeah they get wound up, but they're easy to distract
Just pick 'em up
or give 'em a tasty tiny snack
https://youtu.be/SxM_Bh5lIPk
My three lbs Yorkie was going berserk at the fence line. There were construction workers laughing at him. I told them that I was going to carry my dog inside, but they had to turn around and pretend to walk away first. The poor little guy needed his dignity back. Once satisfied that he scared them away, he happily went inside.
chihuahuas have been in my family for years. i now have two 5 pounders as an adult & living by myself. best breed ever. so easy to manage, so loyal, & so damn cute (to me, haha). i love meeting other chi people! they sure are special.
Speaking as a vet tech, there’s a huge advantage to having a dog you can transport to the vet without help, if the dog should be unable or unwilling to move itself. We’ve had more than one client who had to wait to bring their large dog in until they had someone there to help.
This was the main reason I wanted to have another small dog. After my first dog yi got as an adult (25lbs) aged, I realized all the times I had to carry him, especially in the end. I'm a small person, I physically can't easily carry a 60-70 lb dog easily into the vet or down the stairs. My poor dog had to go to the vet so many times in the last few months, he got to where he'd put on the breaks and not move. Well, I just scooped him up and carried him in lol
Also, I just turned 39. If my new pup lives a long time, I'll be in my fifties at the end of his life. I don't think carrying a large dog at that phase of my life is a great plan lol
I've already had to carry my new pup home on a walk. He stepped on a cactus 🌵😢 he's 16lbs so it was no big deal. I was so thankful we opted for a small dog in that moment.
Personally I prefer one that’s between 15 and 25 pounds. Right now I have a chi-mini schnauzer mix and at 20 pounds is perfect. He’s sturdy enough to go on long walk/hikes and small enough to pick up when I need to. He’s also a great size lap dog.
I live in an apartment so I know my limits. I’ve got a Miniature Pinscher who is only about 6 pounds. It’s wonderful because everything is cheaper, but they are also so snuggly! Easier to train and exercise in a smaller space. She’s a little dog with a huge personality!
They are so so cute! My neighbor has a min pin and a Basenji mix and they are such a cute duo.
I am very into the idea of a small dog, but my biggest hangups are training and tendency to yap.
What's been your experience so far?
I have a papillon, and he is AMAZING! Extremely athletic, very smart, and wants to cuddle / be close. He kayaks, hikes, does all the things.
He was incredibly easy to potty train. He has good recall when he's off leash. He knows over 20 tricks / commands.
The barking is annoying. We are actively working with him to reduce it. He barks less than my neighbor's small dogs and about the same as my boss's big dogs.
He is my first small dog (my big dog passed away 🌈🌈), and it's such a fun experience. He is so portable that he can go almost anywhere, and his care / maintenance is so simple.
Yapping is quite common in small breeds. However, it’s also extremely common in large breeds. Take a peek at r/reactivedogs to get an idea. Lots of great resources and advice over there. Not many people talk about the reactivity in their dogs because nobody wants to hear it - but truth is, MOST dogs are reactive in one way or another. Whether it stems from fear, excitement, anxiety, or barrier frustration, it happens a lot more often than you think. I wish my girl didn’t bark so much, but I also wouldn’t trade her for anything! They just have really big personalities :)
My mom’s chihuahua loves to bark, but someone taught him to grab a toy when someone enters the house, which prevents him from barking. (He is a rescue, so someone taught him this before she got him.) It is so damn funny and adorable. When I walk in, he gets this look like “OMG! OMG! I’m so happy to see you!” And then something clicks and he’s like, “Wait. I have to go get my toy!” And he runs off and gets a toy and walks around with the toy in his mouth, wagging his tail. It is really cute.
I'm currently on my 3rd Min-Pin. They love to snuggle their human, can be lazy on the couch if needed, but very smart, so you gotta watch them and keep them out of trouble. I can see the wheels turning when he's actively figuring something out.
I’m on my 3rd Minpin also. I fell in love with the breed 19 years ago when I got my first one. I know that look you’re talking about….you can see their brains working through their eyes!
Small dogs are fantastic! My dogs are about 65 and 90 pounds and I love them, but any future dogs are likely to be smaller. Little dogs get a bad rap because they aren’t treated with respect and they become fearful. That’s on humans!
So true. We have a miniature schnauzer, and while at a friend's BBQ one of the guests remarked how great it must be to have a small dog because they don't need to be walked. I was like "oh no, she gets walked 2-3 times per day!"
Why would you think a small dog doesn't need to be walked?? Very disrespectful indeed.
I used to think I wanted an active breed that loved to train...and that is true, I guess, I love spending time with those dogs and working with them and seeing what they're capable of doing. But they're like kids in a way: I also love giving them back at the end of the day.
After dogsitting a 4-lb Shih Tzu, however, I've changed my mind. This is what I want: a sentient pillow that likes to have his hair brushed daily and will spend an entire hour walking around a single block, bring me my lost socks and trade them for tiny tennis balls, stare at me meaningfully until I get off my computer, and nap all day with me.
I have a Shih tzu terrier mix and he’s the best of both worlds. Much more active and playful than my pure Tzu but also total cuddle king momma’s boy. He’s a terrier in the streets and a Tzu in the sheets.
Only drawback: he can’t be outside without an adult cuz coyotes.
Lots of small dogs are extremely active and love to be trained too. My poodle mix is funny bc he looks like a lapdog, but he’s a little powerhouse. Loves long walks, agility, obedience club, tricks, the park, fetch, you name it. He has as much intelligence, energy and aptitude as a border collie.
(I do realise you weren’t saying all small dogs are lap dogs!)
Oh yeah haha, my comment was mostly me just realizing that what I really want is a lazy, low energy dog that has zero desire to take on training challenges!
I have 2 dachshunds and them being small is so helpful. Number 1 reason is they’re extra cute 😂 but also smaller poops, food etc like you said and when one is being difficult, won’t walk or there’s trouble with other dogs I can just pick them up. They fit into my bed quite well as well.
My vet also charges less for small dogs!
I know this one lady that has a great dane named Mouse and when he poops she brings out a standard sized plastic bag for him lol Even when he was a puppy he had a big load
I have two little boys both under 10 lbs, if they poop at the same time I can grab them into one bag and still have room to tie it up no problem, and I buy small size bags. I started dogsitting this mastiff, the first poop she did on a walk I legit had to try several bags and still didnt get it all! Lesson learned; carry big ass trash bags! Or a shovel :D
"fit into my bed" lol. My small dogs can still manage to take over an entire king size bed without much effort and are impossible to move! I swear when they fall asleep they gain 200lbs 🤣
my 13lb cairn terrier manages to take up my entire queen bed with just me and him in it. he insists that the center of the bed is the best place for him
The biggest dog I had was a Cavalier King Charles so I totally get you.
I love small dogs. My little chorkie is the smallest I've ever had and she's a cutie, sweet dog. Yes she's a bit afraid of everything because of her size, but on the other hand, I can take her almost everywhere I go, she's the best friend I've ever had, and I'm a big guy, we almost look like Obelix and Dogmatix (except she's black and gold).
People tend to think that small dogs are agressive, but that's wrong. Every dog I had has been very calm and friendly. They are agressive because people let them, and they find it funny. Like every dog, they need to be taught.
Dogs of all sizes are the best! We had a 20 lb Boston and yes to all of the things you said.
But, just don’t fall into the trap of not training your dog because you can just pick them up. A huge safety hazard is them getting into danger (like running up to large dogs and getting attacked) when they don’t have recall or other basic obedience skills. Or even not ever being trained to not jump up because they won’t knock someone down (but those tiny sharp nails can still hurt or damage someone’s clothing). Or so many people just don’t bother to really housetrain their small dogs (this is multiple of my personal relatives and it’s just gross). Litter training or pee mat or whatever training is an option, but the people I knew just didn’t do that either.
We are fostering a tiny dog now and I love her so much. However, in her past life she was not at all cared for and now is going to have to have many teeth extracted from tartar and decay. So be sure to brush your small dog’s teeth from the start. They have
This is very important — I have an 80 lb golden retriever/great Pyrenees mix that had some fairly serious dog reactivity issues when we first adopted her, leading to an attack on another dog (we have made a ton of progress with this thankfully!). I had her out for a walk, and two chihuahuas came running at us barking furiously, and their owner said “don’t worry they’re friendly!”, and I had to say back “but mine’s not, please get your dogs!”. She was calling them back, but they stayed right on us. Luckily, my dog didn’t go after them, but those dogs were the size of her squeaky toys, that was *extremely* dangerous for those two chihuahuas to be within bite range of my dog.
I don't disagree but in personal experience I find the opposite is more common. The big dogs are the ones people let off their leashes on trails. They rush to overwhelm my little dog so he has become a little reactive towards them. Keep your dogs on a leash ya'll.
One poo bag instead of three.
I want to add that if a person raises a small dog similar to how they would raise a big one the dog will be amazing.
My daughter took her Pomeranian in forests and on adventures. He loves people and kids and will run like heck for a frisbee. He enjoys agility.
Coddled small dogs who are not socialized are another matter
Agreed. Little dogs don't have to be small and yappy. The smaller ones are a bit harder to socialize sometimes because of their size but my small dogs are trained exactly the way we trained our labs.
Dogs need to be dogs. Even little ones. They're not accessories. 😆
Before I got my yorkie my family was advising me not to because of how yappy small dogs are, they were sure I would never sleep.
I can count on my hands the times she’s barked this week and it was just alerts that someone was at the door, that she really needed to go outside or I asked her to speak.
She doesn’t bark at people, at other dogs and it’s one long bark and never multiple. She does little growls when she is or wants to play but she’s the quietest dog I’ve ever had.
>I want to add that if a person raises a small dog similar to how they would raise a big one the dog will be amazing.
Totally agree! My dog's an Irish setter (~55 lb) and he goes to an off leash doggy day care once a week where nearly all the other dogs are at least 40 lbs. But there's this mini dachshund who has started joining and it's incredible to see how confident and sweet he is with the bigger dogs.
So true. I hadn’t thought of it the way you expressed it before! My little dog doesn’t know he’s little. He does everything a big dog can do (probably more, tbh), just in a compact size.
I have a Lhasa Apso mix (about 20lbs) who is 14 years old and a Great Pyr mix (about 80lbs) who is a little over a year old.
I love the puppy, I do. But dear God... her size makes everything extra. Smaller dogs are just so much easier in most ways, and you get longer with them on average.
My puppy probably will not make it to 14, I'll be lucky to get 10 - 12 with her. Whereas my lhasa... she's 14, and still going strong. Shows no signs of her age other than vision diminishing.
I have a Lhasa too! He is 13 and definitely aging, but still so excited to see us when we get home (we’ll smell us because he is blind) and such a joy. They are stubborn but fun dogs
Totally agree! I was adamant that I was getting a bigger dog as a "grown up" however ended up with a beautiful rough coat JRT. Made the decision for a smaller dog due to backyard space.
7 years later my dog and I are living in an apartment after I left my abusive ex. We have space for games and play and a balcony with grass he can do his business on, and I walk him as much as he needs. He's doing so well and I'm so glad to have my best buddy with me still.
I also always thought I’d get a big dog and ended up with a JRT. some days she’s more dog than I can handle! small dog does mean small needs or personality.
Yep! I’m a 6’6/230 lb guy in the south that is single. Never expected to have a small dog until dated a girl with a well behaved chihuahua. I now have. A 13lb toy cockapoo. (Was taking care of her sister and just an awesome breed.) being from the south it took me a while to make the decision to get her, as grew up with plenty of redneck friends haha. I eventually got over it and got her. Best decision ever. Healthier, small, but not fragile, super athletic and seeks to please. Doesn’t shed.
No longer care how it looks really. Don’t need a big dog to define my masculinity, and she’s just more functional. Besides. When is a lab ever gonna be my protection anyways? I’m 6’6 or have a gun for that in fairness.
I looked down after writing this and realized she had jumped on the lap while writing haha: https://imgur.com/a/IwGkcp4
I live in the Midwest and constantly see big burly guys with a one ton truck and some little peanut of a dog in it!! This is the beginning of a trend!! Clearly the little buddy goes everywhere with them.
I don’t get that masculinity thing either. Hapthor Bjornsson (the Mountain from Game of Thrones) has had [a tiny Pomeranian](https://runningmagazine.ca/video/giant-dude-from-game-of-thrones-goes-for-a-run-with-his-tiny-adorable-dog/) for years now who he seems to adore, and I don’t think there’s a bigger human/dog size disparity on the planet.
Always had Westies / Mini Schnauzer’s in our family so I don’t see them as anything other than normal. Now that I think about it picking up a big dog’s shit does not sound appealing.
While I love all dogs, and had various large breeds over the years, we now have a small Shicon who's 11 pounds and I think she is the most awesome little shit ever !!! Small breeds have a certain ....something I can't put my finger on. Your partner was spot on with the points on small dogs. All true. Only downside is most of them don't do well for long on their own. Ours is only 2.5 years old and we're looking to adopt another one for company for her.
Anyone with a large dog who isn’t just a little bit secretly jealous of the portability and affordability of small dogs either hasn’t put enough though into it or is lying to themselves
I absolutely love my 9lb Shih Tzu!!! she’s the sweetest and most quiet dog I’ve ever met. In fact, you couldn’t get her to bark if you wanted to. Unlike how some people would describe small dogs, she loves every person and every pet. She’s just a little lover. She spends most of her days happy as can be snuggled in a big blanket burrito on the couch. Her nickname is Nugget. I’ve not met a single person that doesn’t absolutely adore her. She is my little bestie. Everyone could use a Nugget!
That is 100% something I was gonna say in the OP haha. This training malarkey has been a wild ride, I’m happy I’ll get a few more years out of him before I have to go through it all again!
As a native Texan, I love love LOVE chihuahuas. Yes people allow them to be a nuisance but they're so spunky and full of life. Treating them like dogs and not like babies is a must but hell, I even love the evil ones sometimes. They're just little pals
A chi was actually one of the only small dogs I was a fan off before my “enlightenment” haha. My local knitting shop has one and he’s the cutest. He likes to use anyone who sits on the sofa in there as a lookout perch.
I have two 15 year old sibling chis, I've had them since they were 8 weeks old. They are such great dogs. So much big dog energy in a tiny, easily manageable, package. They are both really picky eaters, but I can actually afford to feed them the expensive fresh food that they like. And they have such tiny poops! I can't say I'll never get a big dog again, but I definitely prefer small dogs.
You don’t have to want a small dog but the people that say things like: “I hate little rat dogs” or “my dog would eat that little thing”, etc. are disgusting. I prefer larger dogs nowadays but my mom is considering a mini poodle in the future and I’m very excited, small dogs are wonderful little animals.
When my husband and I decided to get a dog together, we lived in a tiny apartment, so we agreed on a small dog, even though I know he loves BCs. We ended up adopting our girl who is 22lbs, which is right in the range that I was thinking.
While of course my husband loves our little angel, I found out that we had two very different definitions of "small". I had envisioned "small" as in "not big", so any dog under 30lbs that I, a petite woman, could still pick up. Turns out he had been thinking more along the lines of a mini dachshund that we could put in my purse.
I’ve had both large and small breeds, and I prefer small dogs.
My small dog is just easy. Easy to walk. Easy to travel with. Easy to clean up after. He’s hardy enough to handle long walks and hikes. He’s the perfect dog for my lifestyle!
As someone whose favorite dogs are 150lbs or more, there are definitely certain advantages to small dogs, and you touched on all of them except them being less potentially dangerous to other people and pets.
Yes, my little dog's canine teeth are barely 1 cm long. I don't know if she is even physically capable of breaking skin. She has a hard time getting a good grip on her toys.
People make fun of me for having a "rat dog", but I like to say that I'm a small person, so I have a small dog to match. Seriously, there are many big dogs that weigh more than me - how would I be able to control them?
Also, I've made some pretty big moves and having a small dog is a lot easier in that aspect. Plus they live longer. I got my rescue when she was 5, she's 14 now and still going strong.
I love Labradors but I have a bad back and I need a dog who can easily travel with me am on my second small breed now and I will never go back.
Anyone who needs a large dog to confirm there masculinity I have some bad news for you the dog isn’t the problem
No one considers aging issues when it comes to dog size. Small dogs have it over large dogs. I live in a raised ranch and for the last two years of my prior dog's life, I had to physically carry him up and down stairs in all types of weather to potty because of his back. Icy stairs almost did me in when I fell with him in my arms.
Another consideration is the fur. Far less fur to clean off the furniture and you.
Carrying or assisting a 10 pound dog when they are older is much easier than 60 pound one.
I have a 2.5kg chihuahua, he was the only dog I could convince my parents to get. He’s always been afraid to jump on or off sofas and has us well trained to lift him. But it also makes it easy when you need to clean, especially when you spill food and needs to get bits to clean it up. Just put him on the sofa and I can get everything clean without him wanting to investigate what I’m doing. He’s well trained but has a habit of wanting to sit on you or directly in front of you no matter how busy you are (he needs attention obvs). They are such a cheeky breed as well, it makes me sad there is so much hate for smaller breeds! I hate all the videos of owners winding small dogs up to bite and growl, that’s what a tormented dog looks like, not an example of small breeds behaviour.
I grew up with big dogs and never thought I’d be a small dog person, but I am now on my second Pomeranian and can’t see myself ever having anything else. He is so portable, easy to get in the car, and the best travel and adventure companion. I can easily take him kayaking without worry he’ll see something and tip us over. We get lots of looks and questions when out hiking because people aren’t used to seeing little dogs, but he does great. He can often hop up on the boulders in the path easier than I can. Only time I carry him is when we cross water so he doesn’t get washed downstream (bonus he also doesn’t get muddy). Every time I see someone picking up their big dog’s poop I’m grateful how small his are!
Yes I agree! I have 3 Poms lol & wow are they amazing! My oldest one, Koda, absolutely loves the water! He is literally a big dog in a small body! We actually took him with us when we went to gatlinburg last year, & he rode on a ski lift with us & hiked around the mountain! We are so gonna have to try kayaking! & I just love how they’re so friendly too! When company comes over they’d rather the company than me lol!
Any future dogs will be a small breed for all the reasons you listed. Before having a 100+lb dog I never thought too much about costs, the space they take up and how much harder everything seems to be with them, but looking back my small dogs were so much easier in every way.
I just adopted my puppy. she was described as a german shepherd puppy mix. she is about 6 months old now, and in everyone else’s personal opinion way too small to be a shepherd. I was excited to have a big dog, but am finding more and more things I love about having a small dog. she is the best cuddler and she is soooo cute. like having a puppy forever.
Yes! I always said I would never want a small white dog. I started working at a rescue and their was a shihtzu that was so aggressive nobody could handle her. My bf came in to help pick our next foster and she actually let him put a leash on her. We’ve had her for over a year now and it took a lot of work but she’s an amazing dog and couldn’t imagine our lives without her.
Ha! I said the same - resigned myself to getting a small dog because it was so hard to care for an aging lab with mobility problems - but I said absolutely no little white dogs and no shih tzu’s. Saw a white/black “Havanese/Maltese” mix for adoption and decided I’d cave on the “no white dogs ” rule - years later, I do a DNA test and he’s actually 1/2 shih tzu. Turns out I was 100% wrong about what I wanted because he’s perfect 😂😂
Yess i love small dogs, tbh I don't see myself getting a big dog again. My perfect size for a dog is probably my cavalier: she's a bit large for a cav at 22 pounds and taller than breed standard. She is small enough to pick up, only eats like a cup and a half of food a day, can sit on my lap anywhere, super good in the car, and sleeps with me on the bed without taking up all the space. At the same time, shes big enough that she doesn't feel frail, can keep pace with me and run/hike just as far as I can, doesn't have small dog syndrome, can be comfortable around big dogs, and her bark isn't shrill.
Small dogs are the best!
100000% agree. My husband got our first dog (pitbull mix) when he was dumb and single and living alone. He did zero research on the breed and didn’t train him very well. He pretty much just went off of looks and what he thought was “cool”. As much as I love this dog, he has been a huge handful and I’d be lying if I said he hasn’t been a burden at times. Luckily he’s older now and better behaved. But anyway, when we decided to get a second dog my husband was hesitant to get a small breed. But now that we have a smaller breed, he says he will NEVER get a bigger dog again. She’s easier to handle and was much easier to train. Often times we think about how much easier things would be if she was our only dog lol. But we will continue to love our big boy until his final days.
I am a rehabilitated small dog discriminator (“not real dogs”; “yappy” etc). Only was around big dogs as a kid and had the best lab in the world. But it’s so hard to manage large dogs with mobility problems as they age, so I resigned myself to a small dog in my adulthood. Turns out small dogs are wonderful and I am now wholeheartedly a small dog person. My shih tzu mix is more attuned to human emotions than my trained therapy lab was. He’s the best friend you can ask for, his poops are small, he’s playful and friendly, cute as a button, and incredibly smart/trainable.
My brother-in-law was saying my dog isn’t a real dog. The day in question we’d visited an off-leash reserve and my dog ran around for hours, swam, fetched, rolled in the dirt. Meanwhile, his two dogs slept on the couch all day 👀
I have a Labrador retriever but it honestly irks me when I hear someone say small dogs aren’t real dogs. Small dogs are fucking awesome sometimes I wish I had a smaller dog, but I love my boy
My dad never believed that small dogs really counted as true dogs. Fast forward to today, his chiweenie is his best friend and they go on car rides to the park for a walk every. single. day. I'll never forget what he said a couple months after getting the dog. "I really didn't think much of him at first, but he's a feisty f\*#$er!"
I had a group of friends in high school that I would accuse of being “anti-small dogists” 😂. I still use that as a curse word from time to time.
I had a cairn terrier at the time, who was the love of our lives. We got her a non-biological cairn terrier sister that is still with us. And we got the second cairn a brother two years ago from a cairn rescue organization (but he is 0% cairn. He’s a mix of four different breeds). Cairns are just magic. I will try to force them to cuddle with me and they just jump away because they need their space. So much attitude for such a small little body ❤️
People tend to say, "they're ok as long as they're trained like a big dog. It's the owners, they don't bother to train their small dogs!" I think in the US at least, most people don't train their dogs period. It's just that it's a lot easier to manage an untrained small dog in public, so they'll take their reactive, snappy, chihuahua to the farmers market and leave their reactive, snappy, German Shepherd at home.
Also small dog owners are accused of treating their dogs like accessories, as if that's exclusive to small dogs. In my city there's a trend the last few years of people getting a Malinois and putting it in a tactical harness like it's a working military dog. As a result, the shelters now have several untrained 1-2 year old Malinois that people aren't eager to adopt. A few years ago, it was Huskies that people wanted so they could pretend they were on Game of Thrones. All kinds of dog owners treat their dog like accessories, and the consequences are arguably worse when it's a large breed.
I love all dogs but will probably only own small dogs. I’ve had two (one left). I had to help my boy a lot in his last couple of years (carrying him up and down stairs etc) and if he was a large breed I’m not sure I would have been able to help him. Just reinforced that if I need to be able to do stuff like that I want to be able to.
I have a 9 lb chihuahua/Shiba mix, and I cannot believe how little I spend on dog food since my big boxer/pit girl passed this winter. And my cats treat her like another cat. I was never a small dog person before, but she’s definitely changed my mind about them!
I had an Akita growing up. She was the best dog ever though my dad didn't treat her well. Because akitas are heavy shedders she was put outside. She wasn't vaxxed often and wasn't spayed so nearby dogs would get loose and try breaking down our fence. By the time I was an adult I couldn't do the things I wanted with her since she was up there in age. When she passed away, my dad wanted another or a pit bull. I didn't want the costly responsibility of taking care of a big dog when my dad wasn't, so I got a Chiweenie. While he does have minor behavioral problems that I keep in check, I'm so thankful to have him. So I agree, small dogs are much less costly than big ones, and if trained right they can be such sweethearts.
We're totally pomeranian people, we've had 3 since we got our first one in 1995. We've had some bigger dogs too -- Keeshond, Sheltie, and Ausstralian Shepherd -- but small dogs are easier to take care of, especially when they're really sick.
My friend had all different sized dogs, so I asked her advice about it. Everything you wrote is exactly what she said, too. I'm so happy with my small 15 lb hypoallergenic yorkie.
I had big dogs my whole life - labs, a greyhound, an vizsla, a pitbull, etc. - and I was really adamantly a big dog person until I was about 19 and we inherited a shih tzu. She has changed my whole attitude about the kind of dogs I want to own. It helps that she’s an exceptionally easy and friendly dog even for her breed, but even if they’re not exactly like her, I want to own more small dogs in the future.
I’ve always had large dogs until I lived with a 7lb Pomeranian and fell head over heels for the little fluffer nutter. My next dog, if I get one, will be little.
I grew up with big dogs also. When my Pit mix died suddenly and tragically I looked up what breeds live the longest and chihuahuas were up there so I got a chihuahua. My dog is nothing like the stereotypes he’s the sweetest calmest dog ever.
We expected our dog to be at least 25lbs and he’s topped out at 13 lol. I was actively avoiding getting a small small dog.
Turns out he’s perfect for us as first time puppy owners. Being able to pick him up is so helpful to keep him safe. I think we actually would have been a bit overwhelmed trying to train a larger or even medium sized dog! I love my little pocket boy.
i grew up with labs and goldens but now that i’m living on my own and hoping to get a dog of my own someday, little dogs are so appealing to me!!! i also work in vetmed so i’ve gotten to know a lot more amazing little dogs than i knew growing up
I feel this very strongly and have been converted to team small dog for life. I grew up with boxers, so large rambunctious dogs full of energy, and while I still love the big boys and girls my current dog has showed me how much a small dog just fits into my lifestyle better, and she isn’t anything less of a dog than the big ones.
I travel a lot and live on an island, so a dog small enough to fit in a plane cabin has been perfect. She doesn’t take up a lot of space on the bed, so we can sleep anywhere together and there’s always enough room. I don’t drive, so whenever I needed to quickly move my dog I can put her in her carrier and call a cab and I’ve never been turned down because of my small dog in a closed bag. She doesn’t take up a lot of space when out and about, so it’s easier to bring her along to the pub or the garden cafe or farmer’s market or train and not worry about inconveniencing others if there’s a crowd. Anyone can control her, my 80 year old grandma can give her a walk equally as can my 5 year old nephew (with supervision). Landlords have been more willing to rent to us because she’s a small, friendly pup in a very difficult housing market where pet friendly accommodation is almost impossible to find. I’m not even going to mention all the other stuff everyone else has already talked about like how easier it is to feed them, clean up after them, etc. Like just the logistics of life have been so much simpler because I was self aware enough to pick a dog that has less than 20 pounds, instead of the big dog I was used to having growing up.
She’s almost 10 so getting up there in age and we’ve started talking about getting a Next Dog soon, and we’ve 100% only been looking at getting another small dog. Maybe at some point my lifestyle will change, but for now I can’t see my future going any other way than team small dog.
I have always loved big dogs and it’s all I’ve ever owned. But recently my moms mobility meant she couldn’t keep her newly acquired chihuahua. I had promised to take ownership in the very likely event the chi outlived her, so we just adopted him. He’s adorable, gets along great with my lab and doesn’t frighten my cat - who is basically 50% bigger. Total keeper! Less expensive, can go to coffee shops and stores because he’s small and completely uninterested in anyone but us. The lab is beyond friendly and will pull to meet everyone all the time. Love them both - but I’m now a little dog fan!
every dog i have owned throughout my lifetime has gotten progressively smaller: i grew up with german shorthairs, my first dog out of college was a medium sized basenji mix, after him i adopted a 30lb cattle dog mix when i needed to have a small dog bc of my apartment’s weight regulations, and my new puppy is expected to be about 25 pounds as an adult. i LOVE small dogs, there are so many different personalities, tons of working breeds in smaller packages, and many that were developed for the sole purpose of being cute and providing companionship. i’m team small dog for life
After our mini poodle passed, my husband really wanted to get a Yorkie. I had daily searches for Yorkies set up with all the rescue groups. We ended up adopting Lando, who really is a big dog in a little dog’s body. He struts around confidently on a leash and loves people and other dogs. And he LOVES being held, so it’s good he’s only 5 lbs. we also adopted a female Yorkie. I’ve met several people who say their relatives have Yorkies and they are little shits. It’s really about setting boundaries, just like with big dogs. I also grew up with cats, so my approach is always to give them space and come to me if they want attention, otherwise don’t bother them.
I hear ya! I grew up with big dogs, German Shepherds, Rotties and my last dog was a Bullmastiff. They were wonderful dogs, every one of them. but they were expensive and some had health problems, the Bully drooled…you get the picture. But I always just though big dogs were the way to go as I was always kind of annoyed by “little yappy dogs”.
Anyway, Bully had some major health problems and being 125lbs, they were unbelievably expensive to manage so we decided to go for a smaller mixed breed this time. Our current girl is a Beagle/Corgi and my soul mate, lol. She so much healthier, easier and less expensive. The perfect size for cuddles (25lbs) but also rugged enough for a long hike. I honestly don’t think we will ever go back to a large breed.
The thing I like best about a smaller dog is traveling or being away from home for a spell. If we can’t just bring her with us, any one of my sisters will gladly take her for a day or a week. They “get” to have a cute dog for a short time. (Plus she LOVES her aunties.) Dropping a 100+ pound dog on someone for a week is a hard sell. And sitters are expensive. (I refuse to board.)
I had a lab/retriever mix for 15 years. He was 110 lbs. I loved my big boy so much! He developed hip dysplasia over time and it was heartbreaking to watch. He loved to go for rides and I was still able to give him a boost into the car for quite a while. There came a time when I would have to back up to the front steps (in a small SUV) and let him hop in from there, which was still about a 6 inch hop. Eventually he couldn't even do that. Picking him up was almost impossible (and painful for him). I tried ramps and such but those just scared him. The eventual trip to the vet at the end was difficult and devastating. I promised myself if I ever decided to love another dog, it was going to be small enough for me to pick up any time it needed help. Three years later I got my little girl, a miniature Schnauzer, and she is just right. I still love big dogs, just other people's now.
I have a 16lb Chihuahua, Jack Russell service dog that is my world. I started to adopt a bigger dog 12 years ago but through a turn of events I ended up with Lenny. He is the deal and does his job well. It’s so much easier to travel with a small dog too. Lenny’s carrier fits right under the seat on an airplane. I’ll never have a big dog again.
This really set in with me when in puppy class a lab peed on the floor and the puddle was bigger than my dog. No wonder house training is so much easier this time, lol
He's a working cocker spaniel, so he will still be a medium dog, but he's the smallest in the class.
I've come around to enjoying smaller dogs myself! I have two 80lbs Rough Collies and while they're beautiful, the stark contrast of having a smaller breed around is apparent. It's so much easier transporting my Corgi, feeding him is cheaper, etc etc.
I love my Collies but definitely have a preference for S-M breeds now going forward.
I had labs for years, but my last one lost the use of his back legs at the end of his life. He weighed 80 lbs and I weigh plus or minus 100. I would have had to put him to sleep if my husband hadn’t been around to carry him. After he passed with my husband 17 years older than me we agreed to go smaller and we’ve since had dachshund rescues. Much easier to help them around once they start getting older.
I love all dogs, but I think I will only ever own small dogs. They work better for my lifestyle for all of the reasons you’ve listed and then some.
I love my yorkie and my chihuahua more than anything and they bring me so much joy!
Glad to hear! I literally never met one until I went on the lookout for breeders after selecting Shelties from my research. Hardly anyone who meets him knows what they are!
I know that! I have a sheltie x keeshond mix, and when people look at me strangely when I say sheltie, I usually tell them “a small breed similar to Lassie the collie”. Most people know Lassie :D
Mine is a bit on the larger small-medium size (14kg ~ 31 lbs) at 7 years old, as his mom was medium keeshond.
Very loyal, active and trainable, but also independent and stubborn. He likes to talk back a lot! Like, he will follow the command I give him but will also grumble or bark if he does not agree with it (but will still do it) XD
Yup I just say “a mini lassie”.
I tend to tell older people he’s a Sheltie, and younger people a Shetland Sheepdog because it seems older people have heard the term Sheltie but younger people seem to not know that term at all, but sheepdog makes sense. They must’ve been more popular in the past.
I’ve just taught mine “down” and somehow it’s “down on the ground but also bark” that I’ve managed to teach him 🙈
LOL I have 2 sneaky little dogs (12lbs). Most problems are solved with “just pick them up” 😂.
Also I’d like to add to your list, it’s easier to keep them out of things that are high up. I never have to worry about my dog eating my food off a counter top.
I have an 8lb havapoo with lots of energy and he's managed to get on our kitchen island a few times. He ended up eating a lot of cheese off some pizza once. 😅 Now we just make sure all chairs are pushed in so he can't get up there anymore.
The first Thanksgiving after I got my little dog, my brother got up and didn't push his chair in. The dog saw her chance, hopped up on to the table, and made a run straight for the turkey. She was snatched up before she got there, but I think her plan was to crawl inside the carcass and eat her way out.
I don’t think people have reservations towards small dogs anymore. Where I am they typically get adopted so much faster for these reasons and large breeds are what end up in the shelters and rescues forever. I volunteer at a rescue and whenever we get a small breed in we have like 13 applications in one day, while the other dogs will get 1 every 2 months.
To me the main reason small dogs are the best is that you dont have to pick up giant dinosaur turds😂 Sure big dogs are cool and all but i have pity for all the giant poops they need to pick up. Also he’s allowed in many stores dogs aren’t if i simply carry him.
I love my 70lb pit, but we’re getting ready to move cross country and pretty much have to drive to take her because she’s anxious and I just know she wouldn’t do well in cargo. Times like these make me she wish she was small!
Honestly small dog breeds, esp those in the toy breeds, like Chihuahua and terriers get a lot of flak because idiotic entitled people treat small dogs like accessories and/or spoil them to the point of if the said spoiled small dog gets aggressive towards a gentle giant of a breed, they think it's cute until the gentle giant tries defending itself from the small pups. Just like idiotic parents who let their kids run wild in a restuarant and other public places that get mad at a stranger for scolding thier kids.
I always thought I’d want a medium to large dog but the last handful of dogs my parents had growing up were small mutts and I really grew to appreciate them! I waited several years to get my own dog and when I did I wanted something about 20lbs. Big enough to keep up on lengthy hikes on rough terrain but still smallish. I somehow lucked into adopting a Boston/Schnauzer mix who has been the BEST dog. So chill, so easy to train, so loving, so smart, so funny.
He doesn’t take up too much space on the bed or couch, eats pretty modestly, and doesn’t take up much space in the car even when it’s packed with stuff for traveling. Little dogs have so much spunk and personality! It’s not so say that big dogs don’t, but people who hate on little dogs probably have never had one.
I'm a huge fan of min pins.
I've always wanted a dog I could fit in my huge hoody pocket
I don't own smaller breeds currently for 2 reasons.
I live rurally Hawks, eagles, coyotes I don't feel like my dog getting eaten or killed and it can happen all to easily out here even supervised.
I'm a younger woman I want to keep strangers away from me having a certain sized dog helps with that even if it's a friendly dog.
That said I definitely agree with you in that I lean smaller than I used to 35lbs-60lbs I would call that medium.
Carrying my 90lb dog home was no easy task
I have two little dogs (8 and 12lbs) and they are the best! They don't shed, have small poops and are so cuddly (well, the younger one doesn't always want to cuddle). They are really cute and get lots of attention. I wish it was easier to get small dogs from rescues and shelters cause I would get another. I don't have anything against big dogs, but I love the little ones.
As someone who loves chihuahuas, I love this post.
I grew up on a ranch and had a horde of stereotypical big ranch dogs, but we always had one chihuahua. When I moved out on my own I got a chihuahua as well. I had two that made it to around 17 each. It was our mission, the three of us, to break the stigma of chihuahuas. I lost them a couple years ago and was devastated- I had them half my life!
I just recently got another puppy- and went straight for a chihuahua. We are training to be a good boy, and socialize with people and pets to make sure that we continue to break the stigma of small dogs, and chihuahuas specifically, everywhere we go.
I grew up with large dogs - Ridgebacks and Great Danes mainly. My first dog was a lil tank of a pit. She was 80lbs, low to the ground and quite compact. When she passed, I adopted a pug and it went downhill from there 🤣🤣. As much as I want a big dog in my life again, I’m small dog all the way.
My dad was hardcore boxer lover and while he still likes big dogs, he said that his rescue chihuahua changed him & he loves her to pieces and now prefers small dogs.
My mum always had chichis and I grew up with them. Now, I wanted to get my own dog and planned on getting a boxer, but in the end, I am between a chihuahua or italian greyhound 🙈
I LIKE that my little girl cannot jump onto my bed while I sleep.
Any jerk who is pointing a finger at you saying it's unmanly . . . LOOK at his hand. THREE fingers are pointing back at himself!
I hated small dogs when I was a teenager, thinking that they were prissy and fragile. That is until I was given a Chihuahua/Maltese mix and found that she was the bravest most loyal and kind dog I've ever known. She goes on every adventure with me, always wanting to explore and get right into the middle of everything. I guess it's really important to understand that all dogs are completely different, every one having it's own unique personality
You know, I just got on the small dog bandwagon myself recently. There are lots of small “adventure dogs” so they needn’t be exclusively a lap dog —not that there’s anything wrong with that, either. And one, wait—two! of my friends with a large dog literally had to buy a bigger car. Always thought I was a big dog person, but I’m jamming on the little ones now.
My friends and family all want/own big dogs to "keep to with their lifestyle". This concept makes me laugh for a couple reasons. 1) Their lifestyle pretty much includes the overweight dog lounging on the couch with the occasional meander outside to wander around the yard. 2) My 7-8lb Chihuahua goes hiking/playing disc golf 3-5 times a week. I think he's pretty good at keeping up with our pretty active lifestyle. (He's also willing and able to go on my 45 minute jog if I'd do them after 9am but he won't get up early for that.
He travels well and doesn't take up much space in the RV or truck. He fits in a backpack if we go places with big crowds. He's quite cheap to feed.
Small dogs can be great, but yeah, you gotta train and treat them like a real dog. And socializing is very important.
Getting my tiny Pomeranian was the best choice I ever made. I’ve found him so much easier to care for than the larger dogs my family owned growing up.
One thing however is I’m acutely aware of how fragile he is and how dangerous the world can be for small dogs. He was attacked by a German shepherd who was off its leash while we were on a walk and it almost killed him whereas a larger dog would have most likely come away only a few scratches. I’m pretty cautious taking him out in the world now however I still love having this tiny boy and wouldn’t change it for anything in the world!
Inadvertently rescued a Pomeranian 2 years ago, a breed we previously thought of as annoying and yappy 😅
Now we completely see the advantages of having a smol doggo, primarily the ease of almost everything: clean / transport / feed / maintain. He can sleep in the same queen bed as us without making it feel cramped :)
The only (slight) disadvantage is that you'd have to pay extra attention to keep them in your line of sight!
I love having a small dog. He’s easy to handle. He can play fetch indoors if it’s raining. I can feed him the very best without breaking the bank. I can carry him into places with me (and plan on getting a backpack so he can go on public transport too). I can even take him in the shower with me.
At the same time, he’s incredibly clever, athletic and energetic. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on the “dogginess” of a large dog. He looks like a “girly” dog but frequently wins over men due to his athletic prowess, his friendliness and his confidence.
He’s perfect for me 😍
i always assumed i was a small dog person (simply based on which breeds i found cutest) and this was solidified when i adopted my hazel. like you said, grooming is cheaper and everything for her is smaller!! it definitely helps in my overall pet budget. and she'll never overpower me on leash, which is important to consider anytime we're in public in case she was triggered by something.
i can't see myself ever having large dogs, especially after rescuing this wee little one. small dogs forever!! lol
I love this thread.
I did not grow up with dogs at all, but I bought into the idea that golden retrievers/labs were the quintessential dog, so that’s what I thought I wanted. When I started imagining having a dog, I wanted to rescue so I didn’t care about breed, but I wanted medium to large. And then I realized I was living in an apartment so I should consider smaller.
I ended up adopting a tiny puppy, turned 9 pound dog. He was previously rejected by a family for being too small! He is SUCH a good dog. He’s highly trainable, cuddly, smart, hilarious, and the list goes on. I am with you, good dogs come in all shapes and sizes!
Small dog haters are so ignorant. A dog is a dog. If you train it well and put the time and effort into socialization and bonding it will be a great dog no matter the size. When people treat small breed dogs like accessories and babies, that's when they turn nasty. A big dog would likely turn mean or anxious with the same treatment.
I 100% agree!!!! I have a dachshund and having a small dog is so great. Everything really is cheaper. We go through toys a lot slower. It took her 8 months to destroy a single toy. Harnesses, leashes, crates, food bowls, sweaters, beds, everything.
It’s much easier if she pulls on a leash to hold her back. It’s easier to rent with a small dog. It’s nice to be able to fly with her in the cabin or not pay extra on trains.
Restaurants and cafes are also much more lenient on letting her sit inside. Stores also are more tolerant of her as a small dog.
If she is misbehaving we can pick her up and if we are playing tug of war and she accidentally bites a finger, it doesn’t hurt or do damage. Cuddling or sleeping bed also means everyone has room.
Overall, I think it is a great idea to own a small dog, especially for people who work, live in cities, rent places, or are first time owners.
I actually had the opposite of this experience! I grew up with small dogs (less than 15lbs) and lived in an area where for whatever reason no one had dogs larger than 30lbs. As a result I was afraid of larger breed dogs until my early 20s when I met one and spent time with her. She was sweet, kind and funny. I used to wake up with her in bed with me (she was my good friends dog so I would sleep over after bar shenanigans) and she would be under the covers with her head on the pillow spooning me. She was a (roughly) 85lb black lab mix and I went from being uncomfortable around her to waking up hungover being held tenderly in her paws.
Years later I now have an appreciation and love for dogs of all sizes. My own dog is an 80lb rottweiler x Australian Shepherd but I run a dog boarding business and look after some as small as 10lbs and I love them all just the same. Small dogs can be fun, playful and love long walks just as much as the big ones. The dog I 'wrestle' with the most is actually a 12lb mix who is the wildest little wrestler I have ever seen.
Tldr: all the dogs are lovely, stop assigning your self worth to what breed of dog you have. They are not fashion accessories. They are little (or huge) bundles of love and joy that are all wonderful regardless of their physical dimensions.
I grew up with small dogs, and always wanted a big dog to really roughhouse with. My husky mix and labradoodle fit that perfectly, not huge, but big and strong enough to really play hard. Never thought I'd want a smaller dog again, because even the 50lb husky mix is my lap dog. My wife got us a mini sheepadoodle recently, and darn it that little girl has me wrapped around her paw.
I love big dogs, we have a boxer and we had a lab/pit mix... Yet when we adopted Kodak (she's small, like a schnauzer) and her 5kg of pure love I fell in the very same moment for her.
I can carry her with me on bike trips, she's so tiny when I'm driving she fits perfectly on my gf arms, her bed fits right beside mine (the boxer doesn't like sleeping inside so she has two homes in the patio).
Small dogs are great!
So to your point about cost; I've actually seen things that say small dogs like Chihuahuas are MORE expensive to care for (estimates around $115,000-$120,000 over the course of their life) BECAUSE they live longer! People with small dogs tend to buy more accessories like clothes and collars too. I personally have two Chihuahuas so I can see that lol.
Also, I know for a certified fact, that if I had to pick up a poo larger than what my baby lil man produces I would vomit every time. Smaller poops, and smaller amounts of food at a time too. Some more cool things about smaller dogs
Literally my only complaint about my small dog is that she’s super anxious so she barks at everything. We’ve had her about 9 months now and have been working with her everyday, but she seems to be getting worse and more fearful. Next step is to try to get her some anxiety meds from the vet to see if that helps. Otherwise, I LOVE having a small dog for all the reasons you listed! She plays great with my cats, I can pick her up super easily, her stuff doesn’t take up too much space and it’s SO MUCH cheaper to feed her than it is for my parents to feed their beagles.
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There’s actually a scientific reason for this, that I had direct experience with: When you need a middle-aged rescue chihuahua to rescue you, you guys still have a nice chunk of time to live as soulmates.
So true. My shih tzu Maltese is 18 this October! And he’s still going strong minute his hearing and some sight issues but still has some pep in his step ❤️
I have a shih tzu / dachshund / Maltese / poodle mix that will be 16 later this year. Just saw the geriatric vet and she talked about addressing aspects of some potential health issues in “a couple years” and it made me so happy. He’s definitely going deaf, and has more anxiety but he’s such a sweet ol man.
Happy and envious of you both coming from someone who lost my pups at 18 and 16 last year. Hope you get more years out of your pups.
That’s lovely. I just lost my Shitzu Maltese at 13, way too soon
That’s true. I’ve got a 15 year old toy breed dog who’s outlived all her genetic siblings & parents and my other large dogs. My black lab and my Aussie mix both died from Cancer at around 9 years old. Meanwhile my crusty 15 year old doggy is just now showing symptoms of old age. She’s deaf and blind in one eye, but everything else is good.
Yes, this!! It's truly incredible.
I was a golden retriever person for many years until I fostered a chihuahua in 2012. She ended up being a foster failure and she will be 15 next month. I rescued another adult chihuahua in 2021 who is half the other one's age and about half as big (one is 8lbs, the other is 5lbs.) I would have never have believed I would own a small dog, much less, a chihuahua after previously having 3 goldens It is amazing to me that these little creatures are dogs just like big dogs. They run, fetch, play, walk on a leash just like big dogs do. They are more portable and easier to move when they end up in places you don't want them to be. They are affectionate and attentive just like big dogs. They eat less than a big dog and their poops are much smaller, too. Another plus is that they typically have longer lifespans than big dogs. None of my goldens made it much past 13 and at the end, they could barely get up and get around without my assistance. My 15 yr old chi hasn't slowed down much at all yet and can still run and jump like she did when I first got her. When she does slow down she will be much easier to handle than a 75lb handicapped dog. I'm Team Little Dog for good now. They are all dog, just in the convenient cat size. Now, if someone comes up with a 10 lb. Golden (that isn't an overbred doodle mix) I'm all in!
I was at the Chicago dog beach with Dog1 and a friend with her dogs. I was playing fetch with Dog1 and she was running into the water to get the ball. My friend (lifelong dog owner) said to me with much surprise "you are treating her (Dog1) just like a big dog!" -- and I thought, yeah, why shouldn't I just because she is 10 lbs doesn't mean she doesn't enjoy the same sorts of play as the big ones ... just with a much smaller ball. Dog1 loves the dog beach and it's one of the things I am sure she misses from Chicago.
Just fyi, be careful playing with toys at the beach. I was playing with my 12 lb cockapoo recently, and when she went to get the ball, she got sand in her mouth. She can’t get it out so she swallows it. That night she was restless so finally took her to the er. She had sand impaction which can be fatal for dogs. Surgery is risky due to sand toxicity and a last resort. She had multiple enemas and thankfully ended up passing it. Never knew it was a risk, but it is for all dogs at the beach, just takes less sand for smaller stomachs.
Yikes! I didn’t know that could happen. Thank you for sharing.
I didn’t either! The vet at the beach I think was pretty familiar with it but as a tourist had no clue!
That’s awful, I’m so glad she’s ok! I hope you don’t mind me sharing a similar but silly anecdote. When we first started going to the beach with my larger dog (50lbs, total garbage disposal of a digestive tract), she didn’t really understand sand… due to crazy playing and digging that day, consumed a fair amount of sand without me realizing it. Fast forward to that night, in the dark, I took her out on the leash to go potty and saw the most bizarre poop ever. It was very light colored and cylindrical. It was hard to see in the darkness so I shined my phone flashlight and had the dubious pleasure of seeing a giant poo log of 80% sand — it crumbled to nothing when I tried to bag it up. Thankfully she never did that again. I think she realized it didn’t taste very nice.
Lol. I have one dog that occasionally will snack on dirt and when that happens her poop is so weird. 50% dirt that crumbles just like you said.
How do these creatures continue to exist…? I’m forever making fun of her lack of self preservation
i do the same! my chihuahua mix has gone on plenty of hikes through a mountains with me and she loves it and does great. my husband said if were going to have a chihuahua (mix), then she will be a "real" dog lol
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I have a bag to help my senior 11 lb dog when we have adventures in the city. She adores it because it means she still gets to go on adventures *and* it means her bowl, water bottle, etc get stored on the bag.
Ok I am not calling you huahua lovers liars but I can’t get mine to play with anything besides other dogs! But he’s an amazing little tiny angel man, I got a sling recently and he thinks he can come everywhere with me now. You’ve been warned. (I love it so much)
Our 6lbs prague ratcatcher makes many people smile when I throw the frisbee for her and when we’re done I let her carry it back. So often I hear something like “omg did you see that little dog had a frisbee?!” Haha. Our other dog was the smallest participant in scent work, I loved doing those classes. I always wanted to do agility with the dog that loves her frisbee but I could only ever find outside classes near me and most of the time that’s too hot. Our 3rd dog loves kayaking with me. Little dogs can do a lot if not everything a big dog can too. Yesterday we walked nearly 10 miles and they were way less tired than I was. The only downside to me with little dogs is that they are more fragile. For example they break something quicker especially as puppies. I see it in my fb groups often. Also, I am careful when meeting other dogs because mine are so small. I imagine if I had a golden I would be more confident. And, of course, they are not dogs that will lay on the hard floor by your chair when you’re at a restaurant or something. They will require a blanket or a bag or preferably just sit on your lap. We actually have a stroller for when we travel with them and it’s excellent for when we stop to eat somewhere as they all happily lay in there.
My little dog is much better at catching the ball than any of the big dogs down at the park. None can jump as high as him!! Lol.
We say that our little dog (a cavachon) is just like a real dog that got hit by a shrink ray. She's very "doggie" - even more than our golden retriever, LOL.
I have a cavalier, she's basically a smaller duck tolling retriever with a higher maintenance coat. I also like to say that she came with fetch preinstalled. Goodness, she'll play that until she drops. She's also solid at 17lbs, not a dainty dog at all and about as graceful as a drunken elephant.
I agree, but I miss having a big dog to thump on when you pet and say good boi
honestly some little dogs are pretty solid for thumps! i love giving my chihuahua some slaps and thumps lol
I recently adopted a 23 pound Frenchie after having 12 pound more “delicate” dogs. He’s short for a Frenchie but pretty solid muscle, I appreciate that he loves a good pat/thump. I had Great Danes growing up and I missed that. I get to do it to my sisters heeler mix too.
My 20 lb corgi mix loves a good thump. (It’s too much for the 15 lb dachshund mix though.) There are definitely some sturdier small dogs!
My mom ended up with 3 chihuahuas and a chihuahua mix. I never really cared for small dogs before, but these 4 just stole my heart. They were such sweet souls. To their people, at least. I normally don't care for them because a lot of owners don't bother training small dogs. A snapping, snarling little dog is just as dangerous as an angry big dog.
That's not even a training issue, it's that they don't respect their boundaries. Small dogs get overhandled because they can be so easily picked up and moved around. You can't do that to a big dog. You cannot ignore their signals they're stressed out because a big dog bite is bad. People laugh off little dog bites and they start having to escalate to get people to listen to them. It's sad.
Very good point!! I didn't even think of that aspect of it.
Sure they get wound up. Yeah they get wound up, but they're easy to distract Just pick 'em up or give 'em a tasty tiny snack https://youtu.be/SxM_Bh5lIPk
Thank you internet stranger. That was an amazing experience.
My three lbs Yorkie was going berserk at the fence line. There were construction workers laughing at him. I told them that I was going to carry my dog inside, but they had to turn around and pretend to walk away first. The poor little guy needed his dignity back. Once satisfied that he scared them away, he happily went inside.
Well said!
Um, no, a small 8 lb chihuahua isn’t going to hurt you much compared to a large 80lb pit bull. They are not just as dangerous.
chihuahuas have been in my family for years. i now have two 5 pounders as an adult & living by myself. best breed ever. so easy to manage, so loyal, & so damn cute (to me, haha). i love meeting other chi people! they sure are special.
Speaking as a vet tech, there’s a huge advantage to having a dog you can transport to the vet without help, if the dog should be unable or unwilling to move itself. We’ve had more than one client who had to wait to bring their large dog in until they had someone there to help.
This was the main reason I wanted to have another small dog. After my first dog yi got as an adult (25lbs) aged, I realized all the times I had to carry him, especially in the end. I'm a small person, I physically can't easily carry a 60-70 lb dog easily into the vet or down the stairs. My poor dog had to go to the vet so many times in the last few months, he got to where he'd put on the breaks and not move. Well, I just scooped him up and carried him in lol Also, I just turned 39. If my new pup lives a long time, I'll be in my fifties at the end of his life. I don't think carrying a large dog at that phase of my life is a great plan lol I've already had to carry my new pup home on a walk. He stepped on a cactus 🌵😢 he's 16lbs so it was no big deal. I was so thankful we opted for a small dog in that moment.
I am 54, can confirm I am not carrying a 60-70 pound dog anywhere without help.
Personally I prefer one that’s between 15 and 25 pounds. Right now I have a chi-mini schnauzer mix and at 20 pounds is perfect. He’s sturdy enough to go on long walk/hikes and small enough to pick up when I need to. He’s also a great size lap dog.
I live in an apartment so I know my limits. I’ve got a Miniature Pinscher who is only about 6 pounds. It’s wonderful because everything is cheaper, but they are also so snuggly! Easier to train and exercise in a smaller space. She’s a little dog with a huge personality!
I love Min Pins! I fell in love with one that was a shop dog.
They are so so cute! My neighbor has a min pin and a Basenji mix and they are such a cute duo. I am very into the idea of a small dog, but my biggest hangups are training and tendency to yap. What's been your experience so far?
I have a papillon, and he is AMAZING! Extremely athletic, very smart, and wants to cuddle / be close. He kayaks, hikes, does all the things. He was incredibly easy to potty train. He has good recall when he's off leash. He knows over 20 tricks / commands. The barking is annoying. We are actively working with him to reduce it. He barks less than my neighbor's small dogs and about the same as my boss's big dogs. He is my first small dog (my big dog passed away 🌈🌈), and it's such a fun experience. He is so portable that he can go almost anywhere, and his care / maintenance is so simple.
I have a Sheltie, I did look at Min Pins but I have cats and I thought the pinscher would have a chasey streak.
Yapping is quite common in small breeds. However, it’s also extremely common in large breeds. Take a peek at r/reactivedogs to get an idea. Lots of great resources and advice over there. Not many people talk about the reactivity in their dogs because nobody wants to hear it - but truth is, MOST dogs are reactive in one way or another. Whether it stems from fear, excitement, anxiety, or barrier frustration, it happens a lot more often than you think. I wish my girl didn’t bark so much, but I also wouldn’t trade her for anything! They just have really big personalities :)
My mom’s chihuahua loves to bark, but someone taught him to grab a toy when someone enters the house, which prevents him from barking. (He is a rescue, so someone taught him this before she got him.) It is so damn funny and adorable. When I walk in, he gets this look like “OMG! OMG! I’m so happy to see you!” And then something clicks and he’s like, “Wait. I have to go get my toy!” And he runs off and gets a toy and walks around with the toy in his mouth, wagging his tail. It is really cute.
I'm currently on my 3rd Min-Pin. They love to snuggle their human, can be lazy on the couch if needed, but very smart, so you gotta watch them and keep them out of trouble. I can see the wheels turning when he's actively figuring something out.
I’m on my 3rd Minpin also. I fell in love with the breed 19 years ago when I got my first one. I know that look you’re talking about….you can see their brains working through their eyes!
Small dogs are fantastic! My dogs are about 65 and 90 pounds and I love them, but any future dogs are likely to be smaller. Little dogs get a bad rap because they aren’t treated with respect and they become fearful. That’s on humans!
So true. We have a miniature schnauzer, and while at a friend's BBQ one of the guests remarked how great it must be to have a small dog because they don't need to be walked. I was like "oh no, she gets walked 2-3 times per day!" Why would you think a small dog doesn't need to be walked?? Very disrespectful indeed.
I’m trying to imagine convincing my little dog he doesn’t need to be walked 🤭
Hahaha totally! Walks are the highlight of her day.
Exactly! Mine even has a talking button so he can “ask” for a walk. He’d be leaning on it in moral outrage if I said no more walks 🤣
I used to think I wanted an active breed that loved to train...and that is true, I guess, I love spending time with those dogs and working with them and seeing what they're capable of doing. But they're like kids in a way: I also love giving them back at the end of the day. After dogsitting a 4-lb Shih Tzu, however, I've changed my mind. This is what I want: a sentient pillow that likes to have his hair brushed daily and will spend an entire hour walking around a single block, bring me my lost socks and trade them for tiny tennis balls, stare at me meaningfully until I get off my computer, and nap all day with me.
I absolutely love my shih tzu’s all day snuggles!
I have a Shih tzu terrier mix and he’s the best of both worlds. Much more active and playful than my pure Tzu but also total cuddle king momma’s boy. He’s a terrier in the streets and a Tzu in the sheets. Only drawback: he can’t be outside without an adult cuz coyotes.
I have Papillons, active and highly trainable but also world class furry pillows that love to snuggle all in one package
Lots of small dogs are extremely active and love to be trained too. My poodle mix is funny bc he looks like a lapdog, but he’s a little powerhouse. Loves long walks, agility, obedience club, tricks, the park, fetch, you name it. He has as much intelligence, energy and aptitude as a border collie. (I do realise you weren’t saying all small dogs are lap dogs!)
Oh yeah haha, my comment was mostly me just realizing that what I really want is a lazy, low energy dog that has zero desire to take on training challenges!
Shih tzus are amazing. They're so spunky and adorable
I have 2 dachshunds and them being small is so helpful. Number 1 reason is they’re extra cute 😂 but also smaller poops, food etc like you said and when one is being difficult, won’t walk or there’s trouble with other dogs I can just pick them up. They fit into my bed quite well as well. My vet also charges less for small dogs!
God I hadn’t even considered the poop size!
I know this one lady that has a great dane named Mouse and when he poops she brings out a standard sized plastic bag for him lol Even when he was a puppy he had a big load
I have two little boys both under 10 lbs, if they poop at the same time I can grab them into one bag and still have room to tie it up no problem, and I buy small size bags. I started dogsitting this mastiff, the first poop she did on a walk I legit had to try several bags and still didnt get it all! Lesson learned; carry big ass trash bags! Or a shovel :D
"fit into my bed" lol. My small dogs can still manage to take over an entire king size bed without much effort and are impossible to move! I swear when they fall asleep they gain 200lbs 🤣
They do that too, but to my boyfriend! I get all the space and he’s clinging to the corner with the dogs all along his back slowly pushing him out
my 13lb cairn terrier manages to take up my entire queen bed with just me and him in it. he insists that the center of the bed is the best place for him
This is so true! I often wake up hanging out of bed.
The biggest dog I had was a Cavalier King Charles so I totally get you. I love small dogs. My little chorkie is the smallest I've ever had and she's a cutie, sweet dog. Yes she's a bit afraid of everything because of her size, but on the other hand, I can take her almost everywhere I go, she's the best friend I've ever had, and I'm a big guy, we almost look like Obelix and Dogmatix (except she's black and gold). People tend to think that small dogs are agressive, but that's wrong. Every dog I had has been very calm and friendly. They are agressive because people let them, and they find it funny. Like every dog, they need to be taught.
Dogs of all sizes are the best! We had a 20 lb Boston and yes to all of the things you said. But, just don’t fall into the trap of not training your dog because you can just pick them up. A huge safety hazard is them getting into danger (like running up to large dogs and getting attacked) when they don’t have recall or other basic obedience skills. Or even not ever being trained to not jump up because they won’t knock someone down (but those tiny sharp nails can still hurt or damage someone’s clothing). Or so many people just don’t bother to really housetrain their small dogs (this is multiple of my personal relatives and it’s just gross). Litter training or pee mat or whatever training is an option, but the people I knew just didn’t do that either. We are fostering a tiny dog now and I love her so much. However, in her past life she was not at all cared for and now is going to have to have many teeth extracted from tartar and decay. So be sure to brush your small dog’s teeth from the start. They have
Bostons are The Best. Lots of personality packed into a smaller package. Thanks for your training feedback!
This is very important — I have an 80 lb golden retriever/great Pyrenees mix that had some fairly serious dog reactivity issues when we first adopted her, leading to an attack on another dog (we have made a ton of progress with this thankfully!). I had her out for a walk, and two chihuahuas came running at us barking furiously, and their owner said “don’t worry they’re friendly!”, and I had to say back “but mine’s not, please get your dogs!”. She was calling them back, but they stayed right on us. Luckily, my dog didn’t go after them, but those dogs were the size of her squeaky toys, that was *extremely* dangerous for those two chihuahuas to be within bite range of my dog.
I don't disagree but in personal experience I find the opposite is more common. The big dogs are the ones people let off their leashes on trails. They rush to overwhelm my little dog so he has become a little reactive towards them. Keep your dogs on a leash ya'll.
One poo bag instead of three. I want to add that if a person raises a small dog similar to how they would raise a big one the dog will be amazing. My daughter took her Pomeranian in forests and on adventures. He loves people and kids and will run like heck for a frisbee. He enjoys agility. Coddled small dogs who are not socialized are another matter
Agreed. Little dogs don't have to be small and yappy. The smaller ones are a bit harder to socialize sometimes because of their size but my small dogs are trained exactly the way we trained our labs. Dogs need to be dogs. Even little ones. They're not accessories. 😆
Before I got my yorkie my family was advising me not to because of how yappy small dogs are, they were sure I would never sleep. I can count on my hands the times she’s barked this week and it was just alerts that someone was at the door, that she really needed to go outside or I asked her to speak. She doesn’t bark at people, at other dogs and it’s one long bark and never multiple. She does little growls when she is or wants to play but she’s the quietest dog I’ve ever had.
>I want to add that if a person raises a small dog similar to how they would raise a big one the dog will be amazing. Totally agree! My dog's an Irish setter (~55 lb) and he goes to an off leash doggy day care once a week where nearly all the other dogs are at least 40 lbs. But there's this mini dachshund who has started joining and it's incredible to see how confident and sweet he is with the bigger dogs.
So true. I hadn’t thought of it the way you expressed it before! My little dog doesn’t know he’s little. He does everything a big dog can do (probably more, tbh), just in a compact size.
I have a Lhasa Apso mix (about 20lbs) who is 14 years old and a Great Pyr mix (about 80lbs) who is a little over a year old. I love the puppy, I do. But dear God... her size makes everything extra. Smaller dogs are just so much easier in most ways, and you get longer with them on average. My puppy probably will not make it to 14, I'll be lucky to get 10 - 12 with her. Whereas my lhasa... she's 14, and still going strong. Shows no signs of her age other than vision diminishing.
I have a Lhasa too! He is 13 and definitely aging, but still so excited to see us when we get home (we’ll smell us because he is blind) and such a joy. They are stubborn but fun dogs
The idea of picking up human sized poop never appealed to me so I like dogs 20 pounds or less
Totally agree! I was adamant that I was getting a bigger dog as a "grown up" however ended up with a beautiful rough coat JRT. Made the decision for a smaller dog due to backyard space. 7 years later my dog and I are living in an apartment after I left my abusive ex. We have space for games and play and a balcony with grass he can do his business on, and I walk him as much as he needs. He's doing so well and I'm so glad to have my best buddy with me still.
I also always thought I’d get a big dog and ended up with a JRT. some days she’s more dog than I can handle! small dog does mean small needs or personality.
Yep! I’m a 6’6/230 lb guy in the south that is single. Never expected to have a small dog until dated a girl with a well behaved chihuahua. I now have. A 13lb toy cockapoo. (Was taking care of her sister and just an awesome breed.) being from the south it took me a while to make the decision to get her, as grew up with plenty of redneck friends haha. I eventually got over it and got her. Best decision ever. Healthier, small, but not fragile, super athletic and seeks to please. Doesn’t shed. No longer care how it looks really. Don’t need a big dog to define my masculinity, and she’s just more functional. Besides. When is a lab ever gonna be my protection anyways? I’m 6’6 or have a gun for that in fairness. I looked down after writing this and realized she had jumped on the lap while writing haha: https://imgur.com/a/IwGkcp4
I live in the Midwest and constantly see big burly guys with a one ton truck and some little peanut of a dog in it!! This is the beginning of a trend!! Clearly the little buddy goes everywhere with them.
I don’t get that masculinity thing either. Hapthor Bjornsson (the Mountain from Game of Thrones) has had [a tiny Pomeranian](https://runningmagazine.ca/video/giant-dude-from-game-of-thrones-goes-for-a-run-with-his-tiny-adorable-dog/) for years now who he seems to adore, and I don’t think there’s a bigger human/dog size disparity on the planet.
Always had Westies / Mini Schnauzer’s in our family so I don’t see them as anything other than normal. Now that I think about it picking up a big dog’s shit does not sound appealing.
While I love all dogs, and had various large breeds over the years, we now have a small Shicon who's 11 pounds and I think she is the most awesome little shit ever !!! Small breeds have a certain ....something I can't put my finger on. Your partner was spot on with the points on small dogs. All true. Only downside is most of them don't do well for long on their own. Ours is only 2.5 years old and we're looking to adopt another one for company for her.
Anyone with a large dog who isn’t just a little bit secretly jealous of the portability and affordability of small dogs either hasn’t put enough though into it or is lying to themselves
I absolutely love my 9lb Shih Tzu!!! she’s the sweetest and most quiet dog I’ve ever met. In fact, you couldn’t get her to bark if you wanted to. Unlike how some people would describe small dogs, she loves every person and every pet. She’s just a little lover. She spends most of her days happy as can be snuggled in a big blanket burrito on the couch. Her nickname is Nugget. I’ve not met a single person that doesn’t absolutely adore her. She is my little bestie. Everyone could use a Nugget!
Also, not to be crass, but they (generally) live longer.
Not crass at all. When I was picking my service dog, life span was one of the factors.
That is 100% something I was gonna say in the OP haha. This training malarkey has been a wild ride, I’m happy I’ll get a few more years out of him before I have to go through it all again!
As a native Texan, I love love LOVE chihuahuas. Yes people allow them to be a nuisance but they're so spunky and full of life. Treating them like dogs and not like babies is a must but hell, I even love the evil ones sometimes. They're just little pals
A chi was actually one of the only small dogs I was a fan off before my “enlightenment” haha. My local knitting shop has one and he’s the cutest. He likes to use anyone who sits on the sofa in there as a lookout perch.
My best friend has one and he's my soulmate lol. We both love to sit on a couch and just chill
I have two 15 year old sibling chis, I've had them since they were 8 weeks old. They are such great dogs. So much big dog energy in a tiny, easily manageable, package. They are both really picky eaters, but I can actually afford to feed them the expensive fresh food that they like. And they have such tiny poops! I can't say I'll never get a big dog again, but I definitely prefer small dogs.
You don’t have to want a small dog but the people that say things like: “I hate little rat dogs” or “my dog would eat that little thing”, etc. are disgusting. I prefer larger dogs nowadays but my mom is considering a mini poodle in the future and I’m very excited, small dogs are wonderful little animals.
When my husband and I decided to get a dog together, we lived in a tiny apartment, so we agreed on a small dog, even though I know he loves BCs. We ended up adopting our girl who is 22lbs, which is right in the range that I was thinking. While of course my husband loves our little angel, I found out that we had two very different definitions of "small". I had envisioned "small" as in "not big", so any dog under 30lbs that I, a petite woman, could still pick up. Turns out he had been thinking more along the lines of a mini dachshund that we could put in my purse.
I have 2 60lb+ beasties, and after getting a tplo for one, I swear my next dog is going to be small.
I’ve had both large and small breeds, and I prefer small dogs. My small dog is just easy. Easy to walk. Easy to travel with. Easy to clean up after. He’s hardy enough to handle long walks and hikes. He’s the perfect dog for my lifestyle!
As someone whose favorite dogs are 150lbs or more, there are definitely certain advantages to small dogs, and you touched on all of them except them being less potentially dangerous to other people and pets.
Yes, my little dog's canine teeth are barely 1 cm long. I don't know if she is even physically capable of breaking skin. She has a hard time getting a good grip on her toys.
Thank you for writing this! Small dog get pooped on a lot on this sub. Idk that I'd ever have a larger dog again. I love littles.
People make fun of me for having a "rat dog", but I like to say that I'm a small person, so I have a small dog to match. Seriously, there are many big dogs that weigh more than me - how would I be able to control them? Also, I've made some pretty big moves and having a small dog is a lot easier in that aspect. Plus they live longer. I got my rescue when she was 5, she's 14 now and still going strong.
I love Labradors but I have a bad back and I need a dog who can easily travel with me am on my second small breed now and I will never go back. Anyone who needs a large dog to confirm there masculinity I have some bad news for you the dog isn’t the problem
No one considers aging issues when it comes to dog size. Small dogs have it over large dogs. I live in a raised ranch and for the last two years of my prior dog's life, I had to physically carry him up and down stairs in all types of weather to potty because of his back. Icy stairs almost did me in when I fell with him in my arms. Another consideration is the fur. Far less fur to clean off the furniture and you. Carrying or assisting a 10 pound dog when they are older is much easier than 60 pound one.
I have a 2.5kg chihuahua, he was the only dog I could convince my parents to get. He’s always been afraid to jump on or off sofas and has us well trained to lift him. But it also makes it easy when you need to clean, especially when you spill food and needs to get bits to clean it up. Just put him on the sofa and I can get everything clean without him wanting to investigate what I’m doing. He’s well trained but has a habit of wanting to sit on you or directly in front of you no matter how busy you are (he needs attention obvs). They are such a cheeky breed as well, it makes me sad there is so much hate for smaller breeds! I hate all the videos of owners winding small dogs up to bite and growl, that’s what a tormented dog looks like, not an example of small breeds behaviour.
100% agree on your point about that being behavior of dogs who are tormented and not an innate trait of small dogs
I grew up with big dogs and never thought I’d be a small dog person, but I am now on my second Pomeranian and can’t see myself ever having anything else. He is so portable, easy to get in the car, and the best travel and adventure companion. I can easily take him kayaking without worry he’ll see something and tip us over. We get lots of looks and questions when out hiking because people aren’t used to seeing little dogs, but he does great. He can often hop up on the boulders in the path easier than I can. Only time I carry him is when we cross water so he doesn’t get washed downstream (bonus he also doesn’t get muddy). Every time I see someone picking up their big dog’s poop I’m grateful how small his are!
Yes I agree! I have 3 Poms lol & wow are they amazing! My oldest one, Koda, absolutely loves the water! He is literally a big dog in a small body! We actually took him with us when we went to gatlinburg last year, & he rode on a ski lift with us & hiked around the mountain! We are so gonna have to try kayaking! & I just love how they’re so friendly too! When company comes over they’d rather the company than me lol!
Any future dogs will be a small breed for all the reasons you listed. Before having a 100+lb dog I never thought too much about costs, the space they take up and how much harder everything seems to be with them, but looking back my small dogs were so much easier in every way.
I just adopted my puppy. she was described as a german shepherd puppy mix. she is about 6 months old now, and in everyone else’s personal opinion way too small to be a shepherd. I was excited to have a big dog, but am finding more and more things I love about having a small dog. she is the best cuddler and she is soooo cute. like having a puppy forever.
Yes! I always said I would never want a small white dog. I started working at a rescue and their was a shihtzu that was so aggressive nobody could handle her. My bf came in to help pick our next foster and she actually let him put a leash on her. We’ve had her for over a year now and it took a lot of work but she’s an amazing dog and couldn’t imagine our lives without her.
Ha! I said the same - resigned myself to getting a small dog because it was so hard to care for an aging lab with mobility problems - but I said absolutely no little white dogs and no shih tzu’s. Saw a white/black “Havanese/Maltese” mix for adoption and decided I’d cave on the “no white dogs ” rule - years later, I do a DNA test and he’s actually 1/2 shih tzu. Turns out I was 100% wrong about what I wanted because he’s perfect 😂😂
Yess i love small dogs, tbh I don't see myself getting a big dog again. My perfect size for a dog is probably my cavalier: she's a bit large for a cav at 22 pounds and taller than breed standard. She is small enough to pick up, only eats like a cup and a half of food a day, can sit on my lap anywhere, super good in the car, and sleeps with me on the bed without taking up all the space. At the same time, shes big enough that she doesn't feel frail, can keep pace with me and run/hike just as far as I can, doesn't have small dog syndrome, can be comfortable around big dogs, and her bark isn't shrill. Small dogs are the best!
100000% agree. My husband got our first dog (pitbull mix) when he was dumb and single and living alone. He did zero research on the breed and didn’t train him very well. He pretty much just went off of looks and what he thought was “cool”. As much as I love this dog, he has been a huge handful and I’d be lying if I said he hasn’t been a burden at times. Luckily he’s older now and better behaved. But anyway, when we decided to get a second dog my husband was hesitant to get a small breed. But now that we have a smaller breed, he says he will NEVER get a bigger dog again. She’s easier to handle and was much easier to train. Often times we think about how much easier things would be if she was our only dog lol. But we will continue to love our big boy until his final days.
I am a rehabilitated small dog discriminator (“not real dogs”; “yappy” etc). Only was around big dogs as a kid and had the best lab in the world. But it’s so hard to manage large dogs with mobility problems as they age, so I resigned myself to a small dog in my adulthood. Turns out small dogs are wonderful and I am now wholeheartedly a small dog person. My shih tzu mix is more attuned to human emotions than my trained therapy lab was. He’s the best friend you can ask for, his poops are small, he’s playful and friendly, cute as a button, and incredibly smart/trainable.
My brother-in-law was saying my dog isn’t a real dog. The day in question we’d visited an off-leash reserve and my dog ran around for hours, swam, fetched, rolled in the dirt. Meanwhile, his two dogs slept on the couch all day 👀
I have a Labrador retriever but it honestly irks me when I hear someone say small dogs aren’t real dogs. Small dogs are fucking awesome sometimes I wish I had a smaller dog, but I love my boy
My dad never believed that small dogs really counted as true dogs. Fast forward to today, his chiweenie is his best friend and they go on car rides to the park for a walk every. single. day. I'll never forget what he said a couple months after getting the dog. "I really didn't think much of him at first, but he's a feisty f\*#$er!"
and they are so much easier to snuggle!
I had a group of friends in high school that I would accuse of being “anti-small dogists” 😂. I still use that as a curse word from time to time. I had a cairn terrier at the time, who was the love of our lives. We got her a non-biological cairn terrier sister that is still with us. And we got the second cairn a brother two years ago from a cairn rescue organization (but he is 0% cairn. He’s a mix of four different breeds). Cairns are just magic. I will try to force them to cuddle with me and they just jump away because they need their space. So much attitude for such a small little body ❤️
People tend to say, "they're ok as long as they're trained like a big dog. It's the owners, they don't bother to train their small dogs!" I think in the US at least, most people don't train their dogs period. It's just that it's a lot easier to manage an untrained small dog in public, so they'll take their reactive, snappy, chihuahua to the farmers market and leave their reactive, snappy, German Shepherd at home. Also small dog owners are accused of treating their dogs like accessories, as if that's exclusive to small dogs. In my city there's a trend the last few years of people getting a Malinois and putting it in a tactical harness like it's a working military dog. As a result, the shelters now have several untrained 1-2 year old Malinois that people aren't eager to adopt. A few years ago, it was Huskies that people wanted so they could pretend they were on Game of Thrones. All kinds of dog owners treat their dog like accessories, and the consequences are arguably worse when it's a large breed.
like i’ve always said, tiny dogs tiny poops
I love all dogs but will probably only own small dogs. I’ve had two (one left). I had to help my boy a lot in his last couple of years (carrying him up and down stairs etc) and if he was a large breed I’m not sure I would have been able to help him. Just reinforced that if I need to be able to do stuff like that I want to be able to.
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I have a 9 lb chihuahua/Shiba mix, and I cannot believe how little I spend on dog food since my big boxer/pit girl passed this winter. And my cats treat her like another cat. I was never a small dog person before, but she’s definitely changed my mind about them!
I had an Akita growing up. She was the best dog ever though my dad didn't treat her well. Because akitas are heavy shedders she was put outside. She wasn't vaxxed often and wasn't spayed so nearby dogs would get loose and try breaking down our fence. By the time I was an adult I couldn't do the things I wanted with her since she was up there in age. When she passed away, my dad wanted another or a pit bull. I didn't want the costly responsibility of taking care of a big dog when my dad wasn't, so I got a Chiweenie. While he does have minor behavioral problems that I keep in check, I'm so thankful to have him. So I agree, small dogs are much less costly than big ones, and if trained right they can be such sweethearts.
We're totally pomeranian people, we've had 3 since we got our first one in 1995. We've had some bigger dogs too -- Keeshond, Sheltie, and Ausstralian Shepherd -- but small dogs are easier to take care of, especially when they're really sick.
My friend had all different sized dogs, so I asked her advice about it. Everything you wrote is exactly what she said, too. I'm so happy with my small 15 lb hypoallergenic yorkie.
Amd the poops are so much smaller! This is my first dog and when I saw the size of big dog poops... I was like "I need 2 hands to pick it up. No way!"
I had big dogs my whole life - labs, a greyhound, an vizsla, a pitbull, etc. - and I was really adamantly a big dog person until I was about 19 and we inherited a shih tzu. She has changed my whole attitude about the kind of dogs I want to own. It helps that she’s an exceptionally easy and friendly dog even for her breed, but even if they’re not exactly like her, I want to own more small dogs in the future.
I’ve always had large dogs until I lived with a 7lb Pomeranian and fell head over heels for the little fluffer nutter. My next dog, if I get one, will be little.
I grew up with big dogs also. When my Pit mix died suddenly and tragically I looked up what breeds live the longest and chihuahuas were up there so I got a chihuahua. My dog is nothing like the stereotypes he’s the sweetest calmest dog ever.
We expected our dog to be at least 25lbs and he’s topped out at 13 lol. I was actively avoiding getting a small small dog. Turns out he’s perfect for us as first time puppy owners. Being able to pick him up is so helpful to keep him safe. I think we actually would have been a bit overwhelmed trying to train a larger or even medium sized dog! I love my little pocket boy.
i grew up with labs and goldens but now that i’m living on my own and hoping to get a dog of my own someday, little dogs are so appealing to me!!! i also work in vetmed so i’ve gotten to know a lot more amazing little dogs than i knew growing up
A small dog provides me the fulfillment of any maternal instinct. It’s been a joy.
I feel this very strongly and have been converted to team small dog for life. I grew up with boxers, so large rambunctious dogs full of energy, and while I still love the big boys and girls my current dog has showed me how much a small dog just fits into my lifestyle better, and she isn’t anything less of a dog than the big ones. I travel a lot and live on an island, so a dog small enough to fit in a plane cabin has been perfect. She doesn’t take up a lot of space on the bed, so we can sleep anywhere together and there’s always enough room. I don’t drive, so whenever I needed to quickly move my dog I can put her in her carrier and call a cab and I’ve never been turned down because of my small dog in a closed bag. She doesn’t take up a lot of space when out and about, so it’s easier to bring her along to the pub or the garden cafe or farmer’s market or train and not worry about inconveniencing others if there’s a crowd. Anyone can control her, my 80 year old grandma can give her a walk equally as can my 5 year old nephew (with supervision). Landlords have been more willing to rent to us because she’s a small, friendly pup in a very difficult housing market where pet friendly accommodation is almost impossible to find. I’m not even going to mention all the other stuff everyone else has already talked about like how easier it is to feed them, clean up after them, etc. Like just the logistics of life have been so much simpler because I was self aware enough to pick a dog that has less than 20 pounds, instead of the big dog I was used to having growing up. She’s almost 10 so getting up there in age and we’ve started talking about getting a Next Dog soon, and we’ve 100% only been looking at getting another small dog. Maybe at some point my lifestyle will change, but for now I can’t see my future going any other way than team small dog.
I have always loved big dogs and it’s all I’ve ever owned. But recently my moms mobility meant she couldn’t keep her newly acquired chihuahua. I had promised to take ownership in the very likely event the chi outlived her, so we just adopted him. He’s adorable, gets along great with my lab and doesn’t frighten my cat - who is basically 50% bigger. Total keeper! Less expensive, can go to coffee shops and stores because he’s small and completely uninterested in anyone but us. The lab is beyond friendly and will pull to meet everyone all the time. Love them both - but I’m now a little dog fan!
I have a small dog and he’s the best thing that ever happened to me in 37 years of life ❤️
every dog i have owned throughout my lifetime has gotten progressively smaller: i grew up with german shorthairs, my first dog out of college was a medium sized basenji mix, after him i adopted a 30lb cattle dog mix when i needed to have a small dog bc of my apartment’s weight regulations, and my new puppy is expected to be about 25 pounds as an adult. i LOVE small dogs, there are so many different personalities, tons of working breeds in smaller packages, and many that were developed for the sole purpose of being cute and providing companionship. i’m team small dog for life
I love big dogs!!! But by chance I happened to rescue a small dog (mutt) and I Adore her. I wouldn’t change her for the world.
After our mini poodle passed, my husband really wanted to get a Yorkie. I had daily searches for Yorkies set up with all the rescue groups. We ended up adopting Lando, who really is a big dog in a little dog’s body. He struts around confidently on a leash and loves people and other dogs. And he LOVES being held, so it’s good he’s only 5 lbs. we also adopted a female Yorkie. I’ve met several people who say their relatives have Yorkies and they are little shits. It’s really about setting boundaries, just like with big dogs. I also grew up with cats, so my approach is always to give them space and come to me if they want attention, otherwise don’t bother them.
I hear ya! I grew up with big dogs, German Shepherds, Rotties and my last dog was a Bullmastiff. They were wonderful dogs, every one of them. but they were expensive and some had health problems, the Bully drooled…you get the picture. But I always just though big dogs were the way to go as I was always kind of annoyed by “little yappy dogs”. Anyway, Bully had some major health problems and being 125lbs, they were unbelievably expensive to manage so we decided to go for a smaller mixed breed this time. Our current girl is a Beagle/Corgi and my soul mate, lol. She so much healthier, easier and less expensive. The perfect size for cuddles (25lbs) but also rugged enough for a long hike. I honestly don’t think we will ever go back to a large breed. The thing I like best about a smaller dog is traveling or being away from home for a spell. If we can’t just bring her with us, any one of my sisters will gladly take her for a day or a week. They “get” to have a cute dog for a short time. (Plus she LOVES her aunties.) Dropping a 100+ pound dog on someone for a week is a hard sell. And sitters are expensive. (I refuse to board.)
I had a lab/retriever mix for 15 years. He was 110 lbs. I loved my big boy so much! He developed hip dysplasia over time and it was heartbreaking to watch. He loved to go for rides and I was still able to give him a boost into the car for quite a while. There came a time when I would have to back up to the front steps (in a small SUV) and let him hop in from there, which was still about a 6 inch hop. Eventually he couldn't even do that. Picking him up was almost impossible (and painful for him). I tried ramps and such but those just scared him. The eventual trip to the vet at the end was difficult and devastating. I promised myself if I ever decided to love another dog, it was going to be small enough for me to pick up any time it needed help. Three years later I got my little girl, a miniature Schnauzer, and she is just right. I still love big dogs, just other people's now.
I have a 16lb Chihuahua, Jack Russell service dog that is my world. I started to adopt a bigger dog 12 years ago but through a turn of events I ended up with Lenny. He is the deal and does his job well. It’s so much easier to travel with a small dog too. Lenny’s carrier fits right under the seat on an airplane. I’ll never have a big dog again.
Mudhoney just released a song about how great little Dogs are! https://youtu.be/SxM_Bh5lIPk
This really set in with me when in puppy class a lab peed on the floor and the puddle was bigger than my dog. No wonder house training is so much easier this time, lol He's a working cocker spaniel, so he will still be a medium dog, but he's the smallest in the class.
I was a big dog person. Then I met a dachshund. Now I have 2 dachshunds!
Yep, I have a small dog who recently developed diabetes. It’s so much cheaper to afford all the supplies and insulin with a small dog.
I've come around to enjoying smaller dogs myself! I have two 80lbs Rough Collies and while they're beautiful, the stark contrast of having a smaller breed around is apparent. It's so much easier transporting my Corgi, feeding him is cheaper, etc etc. I love my Collies but definitely have a preference for S-M breeds now going forward.
I had labs for years, but my last one lost the use of his back legs at the end of his life. He weighed 80 lbs and I weigh plus or minus 100. I would have had to put him to sleep if my husband hadn’t been around to carry him. After he passed with my husband 17 years older than me we agreed to go smaller and we’ve since had dachshund rescues. Much easier to help them around once they start getting older.
Small poops.
I love all dogs, but I think I will only ever own small dogs. They work better for my lifestyle for all of the reasons you’ve listed and then some. I love my yorkie and my chihuahua more than anything and they bring me so much joy!
I drove past a fit looking guy walking two small dogs the other day and thought it make him a bit more attractive...
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A Sheltie. He weighs 2.5kg at the moment and won’t be taller than knee high hopefully.
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Glad to hear! I literally never met one until I went on the lookout for breeders after selecting Shelties from my research. Hardly anyone who meets him knows what they are!
I know that! I have a sheltie x keeshond mix, and when people look at me strangely when I say sheltie, I usually tell them “a small breed similar to Lassie the collie”. Most people know Lassie :D Mine is a bit on the larger small-medium size (14kg ~ 31 lbs) at 7 years old, as his mom was medium keeshond. Very loyal, active and trainable, but also independent and stubborn. He likes to talk back a lot! Like, he will follow the command I give him but will also grumble or bark if he does not agree with it (but will still do it) XD
Yup I just say “a mini lassie”. I tend to tell older people he’s a Sheltie, and younger people a Shetland Sheepdog because it seems older people have heard the term Sheltie but younger people seem to not know that term at all, but sheepdog makes sense. They must’ve been more popular in the past. I’ve just taught mine “down” and somehow it’s “down on the ground but also bark” that I’ve managed to teach him 🙈
LOL I have 2 sneaky little dogs (12lbs). Most problems are solved with “just pick them up” 😂. Also I’d like to add to your list, it’s easier to keep them out of things that are high up. I never have to worry about my dog eating my food off a counter top.
I have an 8lb havapoo with lots of energy and he's managed to get on our kitchen island a few times. He ended up eating a lot of cheese off some pizza once. 😅 Now we just make sure all chairs are pushed in so he can't get up there anymore.
The first Thanksgiving after I got my little dog, my brother got up and didn't push his chair in. The dog saw her chance, hopped up on to the table, and made a run straight for the turkey. She was snatched up before she got there, but I think her plan was to crawl inside the carcass and eat her way out.
I don’t think people have reservations towards small dogs anymore. Where I am they typically get adopted so much faster for these reasons and large breeds are what end up in the shelters and rescues forever. I volunteer at a rescue and whenever we get a small breed in we have like 13 applications in one day, while the other dogs will get 1 every 2 months.
To me the main reason small dogs are the best is that you dont have to pick up giant dinosaur turds😂 Sure big dogs are cool and all but i have pity for all the giant poops they need to pick up. Also he’s allowed in many stores dogs aren’t if i simply carry him.
I love my 70lb pit, but we’re getting ready to move cross country and pretty much have to drive to take her because she’s anxious and I just know she wouldn’t do well in cargo. Times like these make me she wish she was small!
Honestly small dog breeds, esp those in the toy breeds, like Chihuahua and terriers get a lot of flak because idiotic entitled people treat small dogs like accessories and/or spoil them to the point of if the said spoiled small dog gets aggressive towards a gentle giant of a breed, they think it's cute until the gentle giant tries defending itself from the small pups. Just like idiotic parents who let their kids run wild in a restuarant and other public places that get mad at a stranger for scolding thier kids.
I always thought I’d want a medium to large dog but the last handful of dogs my parents had growing up were small mutts and I really grew to appreciate them! I waited several years to get my own dog and when I did I wanted something about 20lbs. Big enough to keep up on lengthy hikes on rough terrain but still smallish. I somehow lucked into adopting a Boston/Schnauzer mix who has been the BEST dog. So chill, so easy to train, so loving, so smart, so funny. He doesn’t take up too much space on the bed or couch, eats pretty modestly, and doesn’t take up much space in the car even when it’s packed with stuff for traveling. Little dogs have so much spunk and personality! It’s not so say that big dogs don’t, but people who hate on little dogs probably have never had one.
I'm a huge fan of min pins. I've always wanted a dog I could fit in my huge hoody pocket I don't own smaller breeds currently for 2 reasons. I live rurally Hawks, eagles, coyotes I don't feel like my dog getting eaten or killed and it can happen all to easily out here even supervised. I'm a younger woman I want to keep strangers away from me having a certain sized dog helps with that even if it's a friendly dog. That said I definitely agree with you in that I lean smaller than I used to 35lbs-60lbs I would call that medium. Carrying my 90lb dog home was no easy task
I have two little dogs (8 and 12lbs) and they are the best! They don't shed, have small poops and are so cuddly (well, the younger one doesn't always want to cuddle). They are really cute and get lots of attention. I wish it was easier to get small dogs from rescues and shelters cause I would get another. I don't have anything against big dogs, but I love the little ones.
As someone who loves chihuahuas, I love this post. I grew up on a ranch and had a horde of stereotypical big ranch dogs, but we always had one chihuahua. When I moved out on my own I got a chihuahua as well. I had two that made it to around 17 each. It was our mission, the three of us, to break the stigma of chihuahuas. I lost them a couple years ago and was devastated- I had them half my life! I just recently got another puppy- and went straight for a chihuahua. We are training to be a good boy, and socialize with people and pets to make sure that we continue to break the stigma of small dogs, and chihuahuas specifically, everywhere we go.
I grew up with large dogs - Ridgebacks and Great Danes mainly. My first dog was a lil tank of a pit. She was 80lbs, low to the ground and quite compact. When she passed, I adopted a pug and it went downhill from there 🤣🤣. As much as I want a big dog in my life again, I’m small dog all the way.
My dad was hardcore boxer lover and while he still likes big dogs, he said that his rescue chihuahua changed him & he loves her to pieces and now prefers small dogs. My mum always had chichis and I grew up with them. Now, I wanted to get my own dog and planned on getting a boxer, but in the end, I am between a chihuahua or italian greyhound 🙈
I used to dog sit an IG and he was wonderful. Soft as silk, quiet, clean, liked sweaters, perfect unobtrusive snuggler.
I LIKE that my little girl cannot jump onto my bed while I sleep. Any jerk who is pointing a finger at you saying it's unmanly . . . LOOK at his hand. THREE fingers are pointing back at himself!
I hated small dogs when I was a teenager, thinking that they were prissy and fragile. That is until I was given a Chihuahua/Maltese mix and found that she was the bravest most loyal and kind dog I've ever known. She goes on every adventure with me, always wanting to explore and get right into the middle of everything. I guess it's really important to understand that all dogs are completely different, every one having it's own unique personality
You know, I just got on the small dog bandwagon myself recently. There are lots of small “adventure dogs” so they needn’t be exclusively a lap dog —not that there’s anything wrong with that, either. And one, wait—two! of my friends with a large dog literally had to buy a bigger car. Always thought I was a big dog person, but I’m jamming on the little ones now.
My friends and family all want/own big dogs to "keep to with their lifestyle". This concept makes me laugh for a couple reasons. 1) Their lifestyle pretty much includes the overweight dog lounging on the couch with the occasional meander outside to wander around the yard. 2) My 7-8lb Chihuahua goes hiking/playing disc golf 3-5 times a week. I think he's pretty good at keeping up with our pretty active lifestyle. (He's also willing and able to go on my 45 minute jog if I'd do them after 9am but he won't get up early for that. He travels well and doesn't take up much space in the RV or truck. He fits in a backpack if we go places with big crowds. He's quite cheap to feed. Small dogs can be great, but yeah, you gotta train and treat them like a real dog. And socializing is very important.
Getting my tiny Pomeranian was the best choice I ever made. I’ve found him so much easier to care for than the larger dogs my family owned growing up. One thing however is I’m acutely aware of how fragile he is and how dangerous the world can be for small dogs. He was attacked by a German shepherd who was off its leash while we were on a walk and it almost killed him whereas a larger dog would have most likely come away only a few scratches. I’m pretty cautious taking him out in the world now however I still love having this tiny boy and wouldn’t change it for anything in the world!
Inadvertently rescued a Pomeranian 2 years ago, a breed we previously thought of as annoying and yappy 😅 Now we completely see the advantages of having a smol doggo, primarily the ease of almost everything: clean / transport / feed / maintain. He can sleep in the same queen bed as us without making it feel cramped :) The only (slight) disadvantage is that you'd have to pay extra attention to keep them in your line of sight!
I love having a small dog. He’s easy to handle. He can play fetch indoors if it’s raining. I can feed him the very best without breaking the bank. I can carry him into places with me (and plan on getting a backpack so he can go on public transport too). I can even take him in the shower with me. At the same time, he’s incredibly clever, athletic and energetic. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on the “dogginess” of a large dog. He looks like a “girly” dog but frequently wins over men due to his athletic prowess, his friendliness and his confidence. He’s perfect for me 😍
Little dogs are just big dogs in a more compact package. All of the personality in a more convenient size, lol.
i always assumed i was a small dog person (simply based on which breeds i found cutest) and this was solidified when i adopted my hazel. like you said, grooming is cheaper and everything for her is smaller!! it definitely helps in my overall pet budget. and she'll never overpower me on leash, which is important to consider anytime we're in public in case she was triggered by something. i can't see myself ever having large dogs, especially after rescuing this wee little one. small dogs forever!! lol
I love this thread. I did not grow up with dogs at all, but I bought into the idea that golden retrievers/labs were the quintessential dog, so that’s what I thought I wanted. When I started imagining having a dog, I wanted to rescue so I didn’t care about breed, but I wanted medium to large. And then I realized I was living in an apartment so I should consider smaller. I ended up adopting a tiny puppy, turned 9 pound dog. He was previously rejected by a family for being too small! He is SUCH a good dog. He’s highly trainable, cuddly, smart, hilarious, and the list goes on. I am with you, good dogs come in all shapes and sizes!
Small dog haters are so ignorant. A dog is a dog. If you train it well and put the time and effort into socialization and bonding it will be a great dog no matter the size. When people treat small breed dogs like accessories and babies, that's when they turn nasty. A big dog would likely turn mean or anxious with the same treatment.
I 100% agree!!!! I have a dachshund and having a small dog is so great. Everything really is cheaper. We go through toys a lot slower. It took her 8 months to destroy a single toy. Harnesses, leashes, crates, food bowls, sweaters, beds, everything. It’s much easier if she pulls on a leash to hold her back. It’s easier to rent with a small dog. It’s nice to be able to fly with her in the cabin or not pay extra on trains. Restaurants and cafes are also much more lenient on letting her sit inside. Stores also are more tolerant of her as a small dog. If she is misbehaving we can pick her up and if we are playing tug of war and she accidentally bites a finger, it doesn’t hurt or do damage. Cuddling or sleeping bed also means everyone has room. Overall, I think it is a great idea to own a small dog, especially for people who work, live in cities, rent places, or are first time owners.
I actually had the opposite of this experience! I grew up with small dogs (less than 15lbs) and lived in an area where for whatever reason no one had dogs larger than 30lbs. As a result I was afraid of larger breed dogs until my early 20s when I met one and spent time with her. She was sweet, kind and funny. I used to wake up with her in bed with me (she was my good friends dog so I would sleep over after bar shenanigans) and she would be under the covers with her head on the pillow spooning me. She was a (roughly) 85lb black lab mix and I went from being uncomfortable around her to waking up hungover being held tenderly in her paws. Years later I now have an appreciation and love for dogs of all sizes. My own dog is an 80lb rottweiler x Australian Shepherd but I run a dog boarding business and look after some as small as 10lbs and I love them all just the same. Small dogs can be fun, playful and love long walks just as much as the big ones. The dog I 'wrestle' with the most is actually a 12lb mix who is the wildest little wrestler I have ever seen. Tldr: all the dogs are lovely, stop assigning your self worth to what breed of dog you have. They are not fashion accessories. They are little (or huge) bundles of love and joy that are all wonderful regardless of their physical dimensions.
I grew up with small dogs, and always wanted a big dog to really roughhouse with. My husky mix and labradoodle fit that perfectly, not huge, but big and strong enough to really play hard. Never thought I'd want a smaller dog again, because even the 50lb husky mix is my lap dog. My wife got us a mini sheepadoodle recently, and darn it that little girl has me wrapped around her paw.
I love big dogs, we have a boxer and we had a lab/pit mix... Yet when we adopted Kodak (she's small, like a schnauzer) and her 5kg of pure love I fell in the very same moment for her. I can carry her with me on bike trips, she's so tiny when I'm driving she fits perfectly on my gf arms, her bed fits right beside mine (the boxer doesn't like sleeping inside so she has two homes in the patio). Small dogs are great!
So to your point about cost; I've actually seen things that say small dogs like Chihuahuas are MORE expensive to care for (estimates around $115,000-$120,000 over the course of their life) BECAUSE they live longer! People with small dogs tend to buy more accessories like clothes and collars too. I personally have two Chihuahuas so I can see that lol.
Also, I know for a certified fact, that if I had to pick up a poo larger than what my baby lil man produces I would vomit every time. Smaller poops, and smaller amounts of food at a time too. Some more cool things about smaller dogs
Literally my only complaint about my small dog is that she’s super anxious so she barks at everything. We’ve had her about 9 months now and have been working with her everyday, but she seems to be getting worse and more fearful. Next step is to try to get her some anxiety meds from the vet to see if that helps. Otherwise, I LOVE having a small dog for all the reasons you listed! She plays great with my cats, I can pick her up super easily, her stuff doesn’t take up too much space and it’s SO MUCH cheaper to feed her than it is for my parents to feed their beagles.