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?

Large dogs do need to be very well trained or they can easily become unmanageable.
I see more smaller dogs trying to cause damage to their necks because they are constantly pulling on the end of their lead.

It’s the ears that smell IME, not their fur. And it does tend to get worse as they get older!

I prefer smaller dogs because they are less likely to have joint problems, plus they don’t take up much space.

With giant breeds you have to be so careful in puppyhood not to over walk them and stress the joints as it creates problems in adult hood.

Food is cheaper because you don’t have to use as much, and the poos are smaller.

Seriously, chihuahua poop is a hell of a lot smaller than a Great Dane poop and their diets are dramatically different too.

It's less about size and more about breed. A small companion breed is going to have an entirely different temperament and different needs to a small terrier. A large greyhound is is going to have an entirely different temperament and different needs to a large malinois.

Of course size is an important factor but there's SO much more to choosing the right dog.

@Newname221 ah okay! The dog in question is an old lady now but admittedly i haven't sniffed her ears 😂
Their house doesn't have that "doggy" smell anyway.

It's not as simple as just size. Apart from things generally being more expensive for bigger dogs most of the other things depend as much on breed as size.

My friend's spaniels bring in far more mud and mess than my lab because of the fluff. The smaller active dogs I know are also much more boisterous in the house, my lab doesn't have room to run about indoors.

We have had large breeds and now have medium (spaniels) and I am much ahppier with this size dog in the house. Just seems more manageable somehow (even though we have 2)

Yeah, the “doggy” smell in the home comes from their fur (our own dog - it’s her feet! They smell like popcorn!) but the actual dog itself tends to be smelliest around the ears, paws or even their saliva.

Im a dog person and I find it gross on other dogs but weirdly, I’m okay with my dogs own popcorn paws.

I won’t get a long eared dog because the ear smell gives me the boak.

I have a lab. He needs 2 hours of walks a day. Eats 4 kg of food a week plus tresses. Weighs 40kg. If a 40kg dog sees a cat and lunges you are lucky if your arm doesn't pop out. When your large dog bounds over to other dogs to play other owners look on in horror. Definitely not the same as a small dog

I think the biggest difference is that you don't have to apologise if your small dog is being an arse to other dogs whilst out and about, whereas owners of medium/large dogs would 🤣🤣

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 agree with this - I have a well socialised, normally behaved dog, who interacts happily with other dogs of all sizes. I've been really surprised by the number of owners of larger breeds who say "my dog doesn't really like little dogs because of the way they jump up at them, but yours is all right"

I have a medium and large breed.

Large breeds need bigger beds. Small dogs need small beds, which means they can usually be hidden somewhere or be a discreet part of the corner. You can get small crates quite cheaply that are designed to look like cabinets so look nicer.

Small dogs have cheaper vet bills and therefore they are cheaper to insure. They eat less and so are cheaper. Dog coats are cheaper for smaller dogs, dog chews are cheaper for smaller dogs. Usually smaller dogs don’t need longer lasting chews.

I think all dogs have the potential to be poorly trained. However, in my experience small dog owners don’t really address the issues in the same way. Our medium dog can get away with more than our large dog, if they jump they don’t knock someone over. Larger dogs have a bigger bark, so if you want a big bark then a Yorkshire terrier’s bark isn’t going to be a deterrent.

The amount of walking a dog needs is down to the breed with some large dogs needs less walking and the individual dog. A lot of larger dogs can be lap dogs, well think they are (ours certainly thinks he is). A lot of smaller dogs can go running. So again it’s looking at the individual breed.

Small dogs you are more likely to trip over when they get under your feet. Big dogs are more likely to take you out at the knees. I don’t really see the argument for smaller poo. Picking up poo is picking up poo, you might as well make it worth a poo bag!

Our big dog (lurcher) is much easier to live with in every way than our small dog (fluffy terrier), apart from being able to reach tables and counter tops, so you can't leave any food anywhere ever! The lurcher is much less smelly, walks better on the lead, isn't reactive to other dogs or visitors, is much less active around the house and is cuddlier.

It’s almost like people actively choose a small dog so that they can just pull it around rather than just training it. Not all small dog owners obviously, but a lot of them. It’s not that hard to train a dog.

We have one of each, the small one is more high-energy than the big one (even though she's twice his age) but she does take up considerably less room and all the stuff that goes with her does too such as beds, blankets etc. She also costs significantly less in food and vet treatment and is easier to carry if she gets injured. Taking her out/away is easier because she's small and she can comfortably sit on my lap/in the footwell on the train or bus. There are some benefits to a small dog!

That said, our big dog is significantly easier temperament-wise and exercise-wise so they balance out!

Ours is a small lapdog, she doesn't like men or people who walk behing us (probably because of the life she had before she came to us) She growls and barks but because of her size people laugh at her, she wouldn't be laughed at if she was bigger. Less food, smaller poos, fits in the car and takes up less space on the sofa are all positives for me.

My DH recently said "next time we get a dog" meaning when our old ladies are no longer with us, let's get a small one. I still have my old ladies and have just rehomed an adult mastiff breed - DH adores him fortunately 😆 he needs a lot of exercise which is what I wanted and is a lap dog at home. There is, however, a BIG difference between having a smaller dog and any medium size upwards - running costs apart from anything..

Less smell, slobber and poo (and hair if it's a shedding breed).

Smaller bed taking up space in the house.

Easier to transport in the car.

Cheaper at groomers and kennels.

Easier to pick up if necessary.

Easier to fit under the table in a pub.

Potentially less destructive. Little teeth if they decide to gnaw on something they shouldn't, probably couldn't dig through a door (as a neighbour's dog did!)

I do know someone who says they'd only ever have a dog small enough to fight off if it became aggressive.

I have a golden retriever.

He thinks he's a toy poodle and is always trying to sit on my lap.

He doesn't fit.

Oh another point, small dogs tend to have a longer lifespan than big dogs.

I think you need to do a lot more research to either find the breed or the rescue mix for you, to suit circumstances and what you want from a dog. Breed is more important than size!

I’d wanted a cocker spaniel since being a child, husband knew this was non-negotiable pretty soon after meeting me. He then tried to convince me to get a bigger “more manly” 🤣 dog but I held firm… we got a cocker last year, around the same time our neighbours got a much bigger dog. We help each other out with dog sitting occasionally and EVERY time the neighbour’s dog goes home DH is like, thank goodness we didn’t get a bigger dog!!!! Too big, takes up too much room, tail swipes everything, nearly knocks the kids over (they’re both over 10 so not really little) he can reach the kitchen counters…poos are MASSIVE!! 🤣 If people are big dog lovers then fine, but there is definitely a difference.

Jack russells are the best of both worlds. They think they're a big dog, will walk for miles and are happy to crash out in front of the fire in the evening. They're loving, fun and mine has been a doll to train because she is easily motivated by food. I prefer a smaller dog as they are a 'convenient' size which is ideal as I travel with her. She's been on trains, boats and in cabs and is the perfect size in a tent when I go camping.

So many reasons

Much less hair

Huge dog poos are disgusting

Smell

Small ones you can sleep with without them annoying you

My small dogs don't fart AT ALL

I had big dogs all my life, now I've had 2 small ones I'd NEVER go back to even a medium dog

They live so much longer, my lab died at 14, my Springer 13.

The small ones remain 'young' for so much longer. My terriers 7, still acts like she's 1 whereas my Springer was getting all rheumy eyes by 7 - he was old such a long time

Fuck I forgot the most important thing!

I can carry them on the escalators in London!

• you have to legally - never going to happen with a big dog !