June 4, 2019

Big dogs vs small dogs

I love all sizes and shapes of doggo. I admire big guys like Great Danes and would love to have a toy Poodle one day (when I am more aware of where my feet go!). Large breeds of dog have differing needs than smaller breeds of dogs and I think that is important to recognise and respect the needs of both big and small dogs.

There can be a division amongst dog owners, those who prefer big dogs and think that small dogs are evil and those who have small breeds and think that small breeds are evil (only a slight exaggeration).

I wanted to put some ideas out there that will (hopefully) give you another perspective and food for thought. I think that understanding and respect should be at the forefront of our minds when dealing with dogs and their people.

Large breeds: I have a large breed now. Bellatrix the German Shepherd is my first large breed dog and it has really opened my eyes to how large dogs are perceived by the general public. People cross the road when they see us walking towards them, lead their children away quickly and give worried glances in our direction. I completely understand this, Bellatrix looks like a werewolf and is a bit terrifying. Plus, when she is out and about, she looks ready for action (ears up, scanning the environment, noticing everything!). I try not to be offended by this and proactively work towards her being a model citizen so one day she can help with educating the public about breed stereotypes.

Small breeds: Many of you know that I have Beagles and that until last year I had 2 small breed female dogs too (Chanel the Poodle and Minnie the Chihuahua x). On more than one occasion, my small breed dogs have been harassed or frightened by large breed dogs and it would be justified if that pushed me into being fearful of large breed dogs. I remember a particular occasion where Chanel the Poodle was rushed by 3 German Shepherds and she screamed (understandably). The owners of the Shepherds rolled their eyes at me and continued walking. The Shepherds just needed to be better managed in this situation and I have no doubt that they had rehearsed that behaviour before.

So what are the needs of large vs small breeds? I think that they are probably quite similar. Firstly, both large and small breeds need to feel safe. Large breeds get just as scared at incoming dogs as small guys do (Bellatrix gets very worried when approached by another dog while she is on lead). On the same topic, allowing your large breed dog to approach small breed dogs at speed and behave in a manner that may be viewed as intimidating is also something that small dogs would prefer to not happen. I have also seen small dogs approach larger breeds in a very reactive manner, no doubt stemming from fear and being defensive after prior events. In essence, try not to allow your off lead dog to approach a dog who is on lead, regardless of breed or size unless you get the ok from the owner. If you can’t call your dog away from other dogs, they are not ready to be off lead yet, it’s as simple as that. You have more recall training to do.

As an owner of small and large breeds, I am also aware that small breeds often don’t get trained or managed as well as large breeds (generalisation) just because of their size. Small breeds who lunge and bark at other dogs or people while on lead often don’t get the help that they need. Can you imagine the same scenario with a Great Dane? The Dane would be off to training quick smart! I realise that if approached at speed by a German Shepherd it may be more scary than being approached at speed by a Chihuahua. Let’s try to work at bettering our dogs’ behaviour no matter their size and have them be model canine citizens.

Small breeds communicate as much as larger breeds but they are often ignored or have their feelings brushed off as ‘small dog syndrome.’ There are a lot of signals that are given before a dog growls, freezes or snaps and we must be able to read those signals and pay attention to them. I think this is why we often hear about more dog bite incidences by small breeds. This is simply because people often tend to ignore their body language signals. Learning how to read dog body language and being observant of your dog, especially when out in public, is essential for all dog owners.

Large breeds often have to inhibit their feelings as they are punished for communicating feelings of discomfort. Other owners and well-intentioned people will say things like ‘You’ll have to get control of that dog soon or you’ll be in trouble’ if your large breed is barking or showing signs of discomfort. If Bellatrix lunges or barks at another dog, she is communicating her discomfort. It is up to me as her person to move her away or make the other dog move away. Saying ‘No!’ or ‘Ah ah!’ in this scenario will make her inhibit her lunge and bark but it will not change her feelings towards other dogs. I then need to address these feelings about other dogs at a distance where she is comfortable (which is what we are doing).

Can I propose an easy solution to our big vs small dog issues? Let’s all take responsibility for our own dogs and be respectful to others (dogs and human). If your small dog does not like large dogs, don’t exercise them around large breeds. If your large breed doesn’t like small dogs, don’t exercise them near small dogs. There are plenty of quiet places to exercise our dogs in peace, even if it does mean getting up very early to walk the streets in the dark (I rarely see anyone on my morning walks with BT). Manage your dog while you are out and about so that they are not a nuisance to others. Be polite to other owners who are training their dogs and try not to roll your eyes or comment on a dog’s behaviour struggles that you know nothing about. Deal? 🙂

P.S. I did not write this post to have people comment with their stories about how a large or small breed did wrong to them or their dog. Let’s be proactive about managing our own dog’s behaviour and lead by example. No good comes of complaining about large or small breeds.