Small dogs get away more than large dogs.

[MarcoPoloCX]

Would you agree that small dogs get away with bad behaviour more than larger dogs?
They could lunge, bark, charge at other dogs and because they cannot do as big a damage as a larger dog on average, they get away with a lot of bad behaviour.
Either the owners don't see it as a major issue or other dog owners think their own dogs can hold their own so they let it go.
But if a larger dog or certain breeds did the exact same thing, people will be up in arms and are more likely to get reported.

[LochJessMonster]

Agree. Its shit but it happens because as you say, a big dog needs to be better behaved due to the potential damage.

[TwattingDog]

Damn right they do. And I have told owners of small snappy aggressive dogs that if my large breed behaved like that, I'd be accused of having a dog dangerously out of control.

A big dog does not need to be better behaved. Small dogs can still inflict serious injury or kill if they have a mind to.

Owners of small aggressive dogs are just as culpable as anyone else.

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Possibly. But then I would hate to have a large dog run and jump up at me. A smaller dog might be annoying but it would be less intimidating.

I have a mini poodle and we don’t mind him jumping at us at all to greet us because he’s so light and he’s just pleased to see us.

My youngest daughter doesn’t like it because he is much bigger to her. He quickly learnt not to jump at her.

However I have taught him that it’s not something he can do to random people we walk by.

[MarcoPoloCX]

There's a little terrier that walks in the park.
A bit selective about who he likes.
Would go for a sniff and sometimes out of nowhere he'd have a go at the other dog and people generally say it's OK , let's move on after the incident.
If my Staffie did the same thing, hell would break loose even there's just all noise and no damage. Luckily he's a friendly dog.

[Winterdaysarehere]

My husky was jumped by a dachshund down our beach!! She looked stunned tbh!!
She didn't retaliate at all.

[LolaSmiles]

I agree with you. It should be the case that poor behaviour is equally judged, but that's not the case.

On some things I understand it because a slightly excitable smaller dog isnt the same as a larger excitable dog.

But others, such as growling and aggression etc there's no grounds for it. What gets on my nerves are smaller dogs getting away with lots of yapping, pulling, growling, nipping and then if any larger dog barks back to say "keep away" suddenly the big dog is in the wrong and not the yappy confrontational small dog who picks a fight.

Of course, in small aggressive dog world the small dog is always the victim (whether they're a reactive dog or whether they're just badly trained like a couple on my normal walk).

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

As the owner of a small twatty dog, I'll agree too. I've had my dog kick off in public and people start sniggering (they definitely wouldn't if it was a big dog, even though the behaviour is completely unacceptable)

[LittleLongDog]

I agree, and have a small dog.

If he’s in the front garden then he’ll occasionally bark at people walking past our front gate. People stop and coo over him (all while he’s trying his hardest to bark them away) and if he was a big or scary looking dog then no way would people stop and coo!

“It’s a good job you’re cute.” Has been said more than once.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

Yes, they do. But they are less likely to cause major damage because they're small. I'd rather be bitten by a Yorkie than a GSD.

It does annoy me, though, when I see untrained small dogs barking their heads off and never released from the extending lead clutched by the owner. Just train the bloody dog enough that you can give it a run around and recall it again.

[BarbourellaTheCoatzilla]

My dad had a German Shepard years ago, which was excellently controlled. He had taken dog for a walk, dog was not on lead and walked past 2 people standing on the path, sniffed around them but kept walking. Dad got a mouthful off one woman about aggressive out of control dogs like that one need to be on leads. Dad ignored. Later that evening he was walking to bus stop (alone) and a small dog came running out of a garden, bit his leg and ripped his jeans. The only thing he could do was kick it off, dog owner comes running out screaming that her poor baby had been kicked... yup same woman as in the park earlier. My dad was gobsmacked. But gave her a good talking to about hypocraciy and warned her he could report the dog to the police. He had to go get stitches ffs, and this woman just played it off like it wasn't a big deal. The IGNORANCE.

[headinhands]

My friend's small dog bit/grabbed their neighbour's dog by the head and tried to shake it to death. The other dog was a bit bigger. They laugh about it now. I wouldn't wan't that dog in my house.

[Smotheroffive]

I've known small dogs seriously injure people and other dogs.

The emotionally stable dogs often don't retaliate, but I've seen big dogs have a chin ripped off, and pups being terrorised by small dogs, as well as big.

I have also seen big dogs retaliate to a nasty goady small dog, and been accused myself of needing to control my dogs after anothers came at mine aggressively and theut shouted back and chased it off. I called mine back, they came and waited with me, her dog came back at mine, which meant it was running towards me (honestly some dogs are so overprotected they have no idea the risk they are facing running at dogs like this who will protect their owner), I shouted her dog down, she starts screaming at me!!

Her dog shut up and moved away, mine stayed with me.

No fathoming some

[adaline]

Totally agree.

The only dogs that have ever shown any aggression towards me or my medium sized dogs have been little terrier/chihuahua types.

Just because your dog is small doesn't mean you don't need to train it!

[Stellaris22]

Completely agree. There is a dog owner I know with a smaller dog who constantly pulls on the lead, jumps and nips hands when he doesn't get toys like balls straight away. If this was a big dog it would do more damage, but as a smaller dog it seems to just get away with it as 'nuisance' behaviour rather than actually training it.

[Stellaris22]

Parents in law used to have great danes, and they spent a LOT of time training them (rarely let off lead simply due to their size), because as big dogs they had the potential to do a lot of damage.

I really wish all dogs were trained regardless of size.

[QueenOfOversharing]

Omg this is one of my huuuuuuuge resentments. I have 2 medium sized dogs, a staffy & a beagle. Yet 99% of the issues / scraps / aggression we've ever met is from little handbag dogs. My problem with them & their owners is that they don't socialise or train their dogs, just pick them up after they kick off. Then my dog gets accused of being a devil dog if she growls back. I'm really defensive about this as where I live, staffies aren't particularly well liked. My beagle I rescued 2 yrs ago & he ignores most dogs - if they snap or lunge at him, he can bolt. Had it with a fucking dog walker with about 10 dogs, on the phone & a stupid little Boston terrier went for him. He bolted & got lost. Staffy turned on the Boston & scared him off, little shit. Then spent 20 mins trying to call the beagle back. Also (oh God, stop me) most of these dogs are only walked on the weekend, so I avoid my usual places to walk. Just can't stand their shitty behaviour.

Oh, and NOT ALL SMALL DOGS, obvs!

[stucknoue]

So true, snappy, grumpy it's so annoying.

[Smotheroffive]

I blame irresponsible breeders not really alerting prospective puppy buyers to the true natures of some of these dog.

They can be amazing little dogs doing their own thing that they're bred for. Sadly jrt are often homed in families and often turn out to be surprisingly unsuitable, and hate dc or other animals. Huge rehoming issues. They can literally kill a bigger dog and have no qualms whatsoever about doing so.

All the poor dogs living the only way they know how. Chihuahua's put themselves at huge risk in inciting fights with any dog, and then they are promptly scooped up off the ground out of the consequences, which they should face in the cause of becoming better rounded individuals.

[LolaSmiles]

I don't think it's down to irresponsible breeders to be honest (though they exist).

People who have poorly trained dogs and think that because their dog is small it's cute/funny or just being a little annoying are idiots in my opinion who shouldn't have animals. They're almost always the first to complain if anyone says no to their precious.

I agree on the chihuahua front though. Yappy and snappy but then get picked up to "protect" them from all the other dogs who might bark back.

[LaurieFairyCake]

So true.

A guy was holding a young GSD (lovely dog) on a lead and he was lunging and being really puppyish/bouncy

The dog took exception to my dog and barked a lot at her.

My dog (terrier) looks all pretty and like butter wouldn't melt - she has a massive bark for a wee dog and whipped round and barked back.

The bloke with the GSD went completely pale at how my dog was so untimidated - it was good they were both on leads (mines isn't a puller but she was not moving while she was 'arguing' with this dog)

And they were definitely arguing. "Fuck YOU"
"No, Fuck YOU"

[Smotheroffive]

eople who have poorly trained dogs and think that because their dog is small it's cute/funny or just being a little annoying are idiots in my opinion who shouldn't have animals. They're almost always the first to complain if anyone says no to their precious

And thatbis my point exactly. It is down to the breeder to root out the idots and to educate potential new owners, they have the power to prevent them having a dog, and to be absolutely clear its not a toy and must socialise properly.

[LolaSmiles]

Root out the idiots and not sell to them? Yes.
Try to educate idiots who think that a small dog is cute or a dog will fit into their existing lifestyle? No. No breeder has time to educate that level of stupidity. Just don't sell to them.

[Smotheroffive]

Some just genuinely dont realise some fundamentals and do need educating and go on to be great owners. The breeder is normally the expert and can give guidance.

Most do want whats best and love their ddogs dearly, but there's a lot of disreputable breeders out there.

If they don't take things on board, then no, do not sell a puppy to them.

[BetterEatCheese]

Yep! That was the first thing my dog trainer said to me about my big breed - they can't get away with what small dogs do, it's much more visible

[pigsDOfly]

As the owner of a small dog I agree, which is why I have trained my small fluffy dog in exactly the same way as I would have trained her had she been a large breed.

She learned all the usual, sit, down, stay, wait, etc very early on. She doesn't jump up at people, she doesn't bark and snap at people and she most certainly doesn't bark and snap at other dogs. In fact she has impeccable manners both with humans and other dogs, although she's not really interested in other dogs, preferring to play with her ball.

I hate the idea that people would look at her and think that because she's small she would be allowed to behave like a thug.

One of the worst experiences we had with other dogs was when she was a puppy. We walked past a group of about five pugs all together and en mass the all launched themselves towards her barking and snarling. Had they been off lead I imagine she would have been seriously hurt, as it was she was fine; if anything I think she was less shocked than I was.

Whilst I have come across some very annoying big dogs with awful manners. Most of the snarly dogs we've met have tended to be of the small snappy variety.