Small dog V big dog rant

[ChairRider4]

Anyone else struggle with it

My boy is 14 month lab and is pretty good .no jumping up etc and recall friendly with other dogs .and I put on lead if other dogs are on or if dog off that I don't know .

But finding that people are allowing their small dogs to run up jump all over him get in his face and growl and snap at him and jump up at me to (I'm in wheelchair so end up muddy .
Owners finds behaviour funny or OK because they only small .Yet if I was to allow my boy to do that they soon complain about him being dangerous and out of control

so why is it socially acceptable it seems to allow little dogs to behave this way

(not saying all ,but lot I meet on walks do behave this way

[Dieu]

OP, are you my mum? She has a Staffy and is always bemoaning the fact that if her dog behaved as many small ones do, there'd be a public outcry. It's a good point.

[georgedawes]

Yes definitely! Small dogs are the ones I deliberately avoid for precisely this reason. It's the fact that some owners think it's funny that gets me, I understand some dogs are reactive, and on lead is fine. But the majority we meet are off lead, barking, running and growling at my dog.

[bakeoffcake]

No that behaviour is not in at all. I have a Jack Russell and I would never let her do this.

Mind you, I'm extra cautious as she's been attacked by a black lab, for no reason what so ever (we were walking along the road and it jumped over their fence and attacked her) so I tend to keep her away from big dogs.

[BombadierFritz]

Is it actually the same people who complain he is dangerous and out of control?

[bakeoffcake]

Sorry should add, she's actually afraid of big dogs now so while I do keep her away form them, if a big dog comes running up to her, she is very very defensive. I do tell the owners that she's nervous and to call their dog back, but some seem to think I'm being silly and their dog is just being friendly. They then get annoyed when my dog starts growling

So I'm afraid there are idiot owners of both big and small dogs.

[CallMeMousie]

Another here in defence of small dogs. Mine is tiny, well behaved and not at all aggressive. The amount of times he's been bowled over or pinned down by big dogs (and especially labs) and the owner has stood by watching and not say a word drives me mad! He's gone from being a sociable little dog to quite nervous when he sees a big dog coming. Why is it socially acceptable to let big dogs beat up smaller ones?

[BombadierFritz]

Small dogs often playfight on their back legs. I'm not really defending the owners but this is perhaps why their dogs are jumping up at the face of your lab.

[georgedawes]

There definitely are idiot owners of all sizes bake, and your dog is well within her rights to tell off a big dog in her face. Nothing wrong with that at all and if it was my dog id apologise to you for her approaching.

But there is definitely a subset of small dog owners who let there dogs get away with behaviour that isn't acceptable because they're small and/or think it's funny. I've never seen a big dog retaliate but it must be a risk.

[Niklepic]

I have a pom and would absolutely not have allowed that behaviour. For a start its completely antisocial and if he pissed off another bigger dog hes likely to be ripped apart. Hes not exactly the right size to defend himself.

[georgedawes]

Tbh I doubt many of these kind of dog owners (big or small!) post on here. They're more likely to be texting on their phones whilst their dogs are causing a mini riot in their nearest park....

[mogloveseggs]

This drives me mad! I have a mastiff cross who dances just out of reach if let off the lead so I don't. He cam also be a bit grumpy if harassed by other dogs which I tell owners. One man the other week refused to put his dogs back on the lead saying if his dog got bit it would be his dog's fault

[Floralnomad]

I own a smallish dog and I must say the only issues we have had have been with bigger dogs and working Cockers ,the small dogs round here are obviously very well behaved . I got jumped on last winter by a Rottweiler X , was covered in mud ,the owner was very apologetic and he was so cute .

[Thattimeofyearagain]

My boy ( lab cross) has friends of all sizes, some to run to play, some play fight
Generally all just playful not naughty. Owners of small dogs who let them go to the end of an extendable lead whilst paying no attention to them at all and tripping people/ snarling up other dogs however..........

[Deadnettle]

I used to have border collies and now I have a 9 month old miniature poodle and I have found that peoples reactions are completely different. People seem to have different expectations of dogs and their behaviour depending on their size and seem suprised when I expect my poodle to behave and act in the same why I expected my collies to behave and act

No one wanted my collies to jump up on them so it was quite easy to teach them not to, but teaching my poodle not to jump up is a battle. People want her to jump up because they don't have to bend down to pet her and then they say that they don't mind when I tell her to get off! I mind very much and tell her again and people act like I'm spoiling their fun

Yy to small dogs playing whilst on their back legs. My poodle does this a lot.

I think a lot of dogs need better socialisation with dogs of all sizes. The amount of dogs we meet who are not good with big dogs or small dogs is alarming. There was a 6 week period where my puppy was attacked every single week by bigger dogs and it shouldn't have happened at all.

[ChairRider4]

Bombardier

If that was to me no because I work dam hard to make sure his behaviour is good as aware he is a big dog and do leash second see another dog on a lead even though he will ignore when told


If dogs are playing like that and he of lead playing with them then he and I don't mind it .
But it's when he is on his lead and they run up to do it luckily he is a softy and won't even tell them of will just try hide behind me if they keep bothering him same if we walk past snarling dogs on lead he just backs away

[georgedawes]

Well for balance after my earlier postings - went for a walk earlier on a very busy, sunny day. Saw lots of dogs of all sizes, and they were all well behaved. So what do I know!

[BombadierFritz]

Ok, so there are two different types of owners you are having problems with, wad what i meant. The owners of the small dogs that want to jump up, and a separate group of owners who complain when.your dog being 'dangerous and out of control'? Or no group of owners who complain about your dog being dangerous and out of control? Just seemed weird that they would let their dog jump around but complain when your dog did the same

[BombadierFritz]

Sorry maybe i misunderstood. You mean you cant let your dog act that way? You probably could with a dog 3X the size of yours - at least, your dog wouldnt look dangerous and out of control doing it i suppose
The jumping up on people thing - yes - i've noticed a lot of people dont like bending down that far and actively encourage the jumping up. It is annoying

[Greyhorses]

I have had problems with dogs of all sizes, mostly Labradors though!!

I must admit it does annoy me when little dogs get away with barking, snapping and lunging on leads and people just laugh wheras when my shepherds do exactly the same people are horrified. That's the price you pay for having scary looking dogs I suppose!

[ChairRider4]

Bombider

Sorry my fault did not make it clear I meant if I was to allow my boy to do it like their small ones do to him they would complain (I don't allow it and he does not )
What meant is it seems be more accepted if little dogs do

[ChairRider4]

I'm strict as mine is working dog so in shops etc
but even when coat of and not working I don't allow him jump up as 35kg of lab would knock people or dogs flying

[YolandiFuckinVisser]

Yes, I think you're right. My dogs were accosted by a small terrier type recently. I have 2 large-ish mongrels (labrador size). All the dogs were off lead, the terrier's owner was engaged in picking up a poo when her dog spotted my dogs and ran at them, Barking, growling, snarling, showing her teeth. My dogs were cowed into coming to me to walk by my side. The woman thought it was very funny. I bet she wouldn't have laughed if my big dogs had turned on her little dog like that. My old dog wouldn't have been scared & would likely have hurt the small dog. Again, not funny.

[mrslaughan]

I have a giant breed and this happens all the time - it really pisses me off and I have started to say something, I used to not bother but my dog has unreliable recall so is always on lead when this happens, and what happens if little by little he becomes reactive?
It does upset some owners but the final straw for me was being surrounded by a pack of shelties all growly and snarly and lungs ( all of lead) and the owner thinking it was funny - yes he was an old man, and yes he grew up in a different time, but really it is not acceptable........if he has been apologetic and trying to stop them/control them that would be one thing, but to treat my dog and I as sport is quite another.

as far as I can see a lot of owners of small dogs think that because they wouldn't do much damage it doesn't matter

[FarrowandBallAche]

I find the complete opposite happens round here!

Small dog owners pick up their dogs when they see my big dog... even though he's just striding along doing no harm.

I actually told a woman the other week that she was wrong to pick up her dog every tin she sees a bigger one as it just reaffirms that all big dogs are a threat. I wouldn't mind it was quite a big chunky Lhasa Apso too..

[Collaborate]

It's only some small dogs, but yes, the owners seem to think they must have blunt teeth when the run up to my submissive lab all snarling and aggressive.

OP - what you describe sounds like playing, although if you ask the owners to recall their dogs they should do so.

FarrowandBallAche - I know what you mean. Some of the gentlest dogs I know are large dogs. One, a husky, has an unfortunate habit of dropping 2 inches when approaching an unfamiliar dog, and maintaining eye contact, but she's just an absolute softie, and I've seen her stand still looking bemused at small snarly snappy dogs at her ankles. If only they knew she could finish them off without a moments thought? Instead she'll always choose to walk away.