To think there's not much difference in having a small dog over a big dog?

[ishy90]

Okay i don't mean some giant breed like a Great Dane but is the difference between a breed the size of a Labrador and say a dachshund much different? Is it solely the amount of exercise?

Id rather a medium sized dog but DH is adamant he only wants a dog if it's a small breed? Asked him why and all he can give me is "well it's smaller" well no shit.

Surely there's not THAT much in it?

Less food and smaller poos are the main ones I can think of. Some small dogs eg spaniels still need a lot of exercise and some big ones don’t need as much as others

In my experience from friends' houses, generally smaller dog is smaller smell although obviously breed is a factor too.

So much more convenient for car travel, visiting places - easier to hide under a table etc than a big clumsy lab.

Larger dog doesn't mean smellier or more walking but they do take up more space, shake a lot more mud, cost more in insurance and eat more. But my giant dog is the best and he's worth all that.

But space is a big difference 😂

when little dogs get old and wonky at least you can pick them up

small dog every time for me! Easy in the car, easier for other people to look after for you, easier to tuck under the table at the pub

Our greyhounds don’t seem very big. They are calm and don’t smell. They don’t need much walking. But they do need room in the car and don’t fit on the bed with us.

Small dogs are cheaper to feed, less boisterous in the house, smaller turds and it matters less if they’re bad on the lead!

I guess if there’s any behavioural problems it may seem more frightening in a larger dog.

The differences are more in the breed of dog than the size, personality wise.
I like my lapdogs...

I have a larger breed. She does not like people or other dogs in her space when she is on lead. Her bark can scare people a lot although it is brief and she quickly moves on. My friend has a small dog who is stupidly reactive to everything and spends the day barking her head off at everyone and no one gives it a glance.

I think there’s a massive difference, the amount the need walking, the amount they need to eat, the space they take up in your home, how much easier it is to take a smaller dog to certain places over a larger dog.

Get a dpuppy.. It will start small. Did he state how long he wanted it to be small??

The big one for me is the mess.. oh god the mess! Say goodbye to a clean home and hello to a 30kg beast shaking mud and hair everywhere. Our garden grass is totally destroyed due to the constant big pees! Not saying small dogs aren’t messy, but I can’t imagine it’s to the same extent.

That being said, I love my lab and wouldn’t change her for the world.

Entirely depends on the purpose of the dog.
Lap dogs, trail runners, kids best friend, and guardian dogs all need to be different sizes, so you need to figure out how you both see the dog fitting in your life.
Smaller dogs, on average, live longer meaning a longer commitment.
Bigger dogs mean bigger feed bills, and bigger poops. Also more likely to get cancers, and hip issues.

There are differences, but not really in terms of exercise. Many small breeds need just as much exercise as large ones (if not more in some cases).

Cost is one thing - everything is more expensive the larger the dog is. Food, insurance, surgery, collars, supplements, leads, beds, coats, grooming, flea/worm medication - it all costs more because you need more of it. Even toys and things like kongs, chews and bowls will cost more.

Then there's the space they take up - both in your house and in your car. I know quite a few people who've had to buy new cars because their dog takes up so much space - especially when they go on holidays or days out.

Some holiday accommodation also comes with breed/size limitations - generally not a problem with Labradors but some won't allow giant breeds (or breeds with a bad reputation).

Most people also can't carry a Labrador around if they get injured whether with a small breed, it's generally not a problem. Okay - this isn't hugely likely but it's worth thinking about if you're going to walk long distances alone.

I would go for smaller, mostly because if the dog needs to go to the vet, I can lift them easily and take them vs a larger dog that I may struggle with.

I’ve seen people with large dogs that could barely control them including those being pulled down the street on the lead and it always baffles me why would they get such a large dog if they can’t control it but it’s about as big as them.

I’m surprised that people think small breeds are less smelly - in my experience many smaller breeds are far smellier (shitzus, King Charles spaniels, Maltese terriers, and Westies are all quite smelly in my experience, whereas shorter haired, less lop-eared, non slobbery medium to large dogs smell less)

IME it’s more about the specific breed/breed combo/personality l. Some large dogs are easy, some small dogs aren’t.

I often find owners of small dogs laugh off annoying behaviour because they are “only little” - the earlier comment about it not mattering as much if they are bad on a lead is a prime example.

I've got a Labrador, and my friend has a dachshund. Smaller poo, less exercise. Although the Dachshund age 3 still pees in the house, barks and whines constantly and needs multiple coats, etc, as a big whimp!
Labrador was toilet trained in 3 days, live hit, cold, snow, and rain. Needs loads of exercise, but that's what I wanted too and he's just bloody amazing with our 3 kids, including a severely disabled kid who has wires all over the show!

Cheaper to feed maybe? Although my BIL has to buy a special dog food that is in tiny pieces for his small breed and it’s not cheap lol

surgery was more expensive too as apparently it is more difficult on smaller breeds.

Insurance was more expensive too but not sure why although I do know many small breeds with health issues compared to medium breeds

so I definitely wouldn’t say they are cheaper actually

If you staycation some places will accept 1 ‘small’ dog.

Small poo

Less food

Less excercise requirements

Large dogs have to be well trained so as not to hurt anyone (I mean accidentally by being boisterous, rather than aggressive) whereas small dogs you don’t have to be so stringent as they’re very unlikely to hurt someone accidentally.

can be easier to walk, so small people (children) can walk small dogs.

if they need an operation the anaesthetic goes on weight so is cheaper.

insurance may be cheaper? Not sure on that one, may be breed specific.

easier to wash and dry

easier to transport

less slobber against some larger breeds

less mud being trod in the house when it’s muddy out! Constant issue with breeds with big feet!

the cons to look out for:

some small breeds can be quite aggressive/reactive to other dogs

yappy barking

more at risk from attack/injury from larger dogs.

We’ve got 2 small, 1 medium and until recently 1 large and they are all an absolute joy!

my advice for anyone thinking of getting a dog is to pick a breed that suits your lifestyle rather than by size/looks, or by it’s nature if you’re getting a rescue, define before you go looking as to what you can offer a dog and how it will fit in with your life.

@Newname221 my friends have a shitzu and she's literally odourless. She gets brushed daily so I wonder if that helps?
She's the least bother imaginable all round really.

But I know some big breeds like greyhounds are very non smelly too.

I will add that I would MUCH prefer a smaller dog to clean after the muddy winter walks than the medium breed I currently have 😂 small breeds aren’t for me though

I've become a complete convert to smaller dogs (much of my family having goldies, and that being the dog I always used to think I'd have)

Plusses: consume less food, smaller (therefore cheaper) drug doses and therefore vet club fees, smaller poos, fit on the sofa with you more easily, fit in the car more easily, less mud, less shedding (by which I mean the amount of hair that comes off a small shedding breed is less than that from a large shedding breed), can wash them in the sink, can pick them up, don't seem to destroy toys as quickly, can't reach to get stuff off kitchen counters

I have 2 giant breed dogs and apart from size and a little more cost wise in food, I don't find them any different to the small breeds I've owned.
Not all giant breeds need more exercise than smaller dogs.
Some are very lazy.
A medium breed Weimaraner will walk your legs off, as will a Jack Russell.

big dog owner here( retriever) there are advantages and disadvantages.
Small dogs can escape more easily under low fences etc and everything costs less eg vets charge per kg.
Big dog- may not be able to get over stiles/gates or in / out of car. It takes 3 adults to lift our- usually wet and muddy big dog( 30kg) over stiles/gates when out on a walk. Everything costs more.
More important is getting right dog for you and your family personality wise. Would advise a reputable rescue who will match you and support you.

@Newname221 that’s exactly what I was thinking too. The amount of times my larger dog gets lunged at by a small yappy dog on a lead is ridiculous when he’s just minding his own business on his lead beside me, and the owners usually just laugh it off and think it’s funny. They wouldn’t think it was so funny if he snapped back at them, but because theirs is small and cute it’s fine🙄