Big dogs vs little dogs

[Marzipane]

Currently looking into adopting a dog, DH thinks a small dog will be much, much easier than a medium or large dog. So...a small staffie or terrier type rather than a lurcher, for example.

However I feel a dog is a dog no matter the size! Are little dogs easier to care for?

His thinking is that a small dog would have a reduced exercise need, can't get onto furniture or reach items to damage, would be easier to travel with/transport, are too small to steal food from kitchen counters.

Is he right or being or naive?

I grew up with and have owned both middling/large and small dogs. Larger dogs take up more space, cost more to feed and vet, require larger beds and car boots and so on. They are also stronger. Small dogs OTOH are trip hazards (once ended up with a DC in A&E), harder to see in the bushes on walks, can escape more easily and tend to bark a lot more (not that I am bitter about the 3 yapping loons across the road).

To be honest you're better off finding a breed that suits you as regards care, temperament and lifespan, and that is healthy, and then thinking about the practicalities. Obviously there are no guarantees with health and temperament and you just have to go with the averages, but there is more than a grain of truth in the stereotypes of barking terriers, manic working-line Cockers, Cavaliers with heart failure and dachshunds with bad backs.

@missbattenburg I couldn’t agree more.
Whatever size of dog you have it’s important to remember that it must be under control in public. Many people are scared of dogs whether they’re big or small. Just look at mine. Terrifying isn’t she!

For me, as long as the dog loves being active (I run and hike regularly), has good recall and is calm in the house, I don't mind what size or shape it comes in

All dogs are different.

Our staffy is very lazy! Always has been, a 30 minutes walk once a day is all he needs (and wants). He sits down when he's had enough!

Our small dog on the other hand would walk for hours.

We had a lab who lived to 15. He was fab, easy going, loved everyone, only slowing down in the last year. My only regret was we didn't teach him when young to use a ramp to get into the car. I couldn't lift him so when it was just me & he could no longer jump into the car he had to travel in the footwell which didnt impress him.

I've been bitten by a dog once. A friend's handbag dog that came up behind me & left puncture marks on my calve. It did the same to another friend months later.

Give me a medium or large dog every time.

I have a medium sized dog and the reason I wanted a small to medium sized dog was because I still remember my mum not being able to get her dog home when it collapsed out walking. Given that I walk in forests miles away from any roads I needed a dog I could pick up and carry if anything happened.

We have a fairly big dog and a medium sized one. I adore them, it's like having 4dc instead of 2! However...
I wish we had two smaller dogs really so they could
A) fit in a normal sized car boot leaving space for a bag!
B) not drag me in two different directions while attempting a walk which requires a lead
C) not leave masses of hair everywhere
D) not knock things over whilst fighting, like chairs and small tables
E) not jump over gates/ fences/ people or knock me over on the beach

However I wouldn't change them for the world they are great companions. I would shrink them a teeny bit tho if I had the option!

I love big dogs but it occurred to me that if I can’t carry them or lift them alone in an emergency, then they are too big for me. But also agree with others that small dogs are cheaper to “run” - food, poop bags, meds, snacks, pet insurance etc.

Recall is down to training.
You can’t run or hike with a pup. They need limited amounts of exercise whilst growing.
You will need to be careful not to over stimulate a dog or it won’t be calm in the house. We taught a “settle” command. Brain games and training help to focus and tire out a dog.
Also worth considering how much grooming you’re prepared to do.
Fancy trying Canicross?

We have a small two bed house and a smallish garden so a small dog for us fits in fine.

As much as I love dogs I just couldn't cope with the mess a large breed would make.

We have a terrier cross, currently only 14 weeks old but so far has been easy to train, is extremely sociable, very portable and not yappy at all.

I have a tiny chihuahua and an American bulldog. So both extremes of the size spectrum. IME small breeds are MUCH less maintenance. They eat less, poo (a lot) less, need less exercise, less shedding (I have to hoover my American bulldogs shedding twice a day). Chihuahua is happy to be sat on your knee, doesn’t want much else.

OTOH chi is very yappy, still poos indoors despite being older and trained the way same as AB. Doesn’t like to do tricks etc.

American bulldog is very loving, loyal, enjoys playing and easy to train in comparison to chihuahua.

Some bigger dogs have restrictions on how much exercise you do with them until they're fully mature which is worth bearing in mind if you're very active . We have a 14mo St. Bernard cross and he doesn't do much more than 10 minutes walking and won't until he's fully grown in order to protect his joints. He's so laid back , lovely with children and great on and off lead.

Meanwhile the jack russell we used to have tried to kill everyone and everything, had limitless energy and was never calm.

Up

Size isn’t anything at all to do with exercise needs...

Small dogs just bounce higher to get on furniture or worktops...

Size does make a difference to running costs, less food and medication (doses obviously not because they’re coming less likely to need them) for small dogs.

I find small dogs bring in more dirt tbh, they get more on them because they’re closer - but that might have more to do with cost type? My big dogs have all been short coated, so they’re never really muddy or have dirt on them.

The larger a dog the less likely you are to be able to lift them (though, I’m not massively strong and I have lifted 40kg dogs)

But, you have to bend down a lot with a smaller dog, for like everything! I currently have a small collie type staying, his mouth is too far away for treats, lol and I have to bend to stroke him, I’m finding I miss a waist height head tbh.

I think though really unless you’re at the extreme ends of giant and tiny - really what suits you in terms of everything else matters more than size.

I've had big dogs and small dogs. I think practically smaller dogs are much easier: cheap to feed, cheaper routine meds like flea / worming, less poo, easier to clean, less room in the house and more portable.
Generally, I think people are more wary of large breeds and with children and their friends around, it is easier with a smaller breed.

We have a medium sized dog (17kg).

Our house isn't really big enough for a larger breed to move around without knocking things flying and we have quite steep stairs so I didn't want something that would be too harsh on the joints.

A friend of mine has a 50kg Newfoundland/Sheepdog cross and he's incredibly calm and gentle - however I know she's spent hours upon hours training him so he doesn't jump or pull as due to his sheer size he could have someone over in seconds.

I agree with the PP who said little dogs get away with things that larger dogs would never get away with - jumping and pulling being the main ones. Lots of owners don't seem to think it matters when they're little terrier jumps on you because "oh he's only small he won't do any damage" - it's irrelevant - dogs shouldn't jump on people no matter what their size!

We chose our medium sized terrier (Irish so a bit smaller than an Airdale) partly because he needed to fit between the kids in the car when we go camping . Perfect size for us

@Marzipane, if you want a running and hiking companion, you might want to look at the working lines of gundog and herding breeds. There is a vast range of coat type and size, and the dogs themselves tend to be intelligent and easy to train. You'd need to nail recall, which is trickier in a dog with prey drive, but by no means impossible.

They need mental as well as physical exercise, but can be great around the house, esp if adequately exercised and taught 'settle'.

As PP have said, exercise needs do not scale by size. A small working cocker will need more input than a Great Dane.

I always had staffies(love them) . They enjoy a walk but a half hour one always tired them out and would nap after. I now have a spaniel and he can walk and run for an hour or two and still be running around when we get in, he is only young though x

My previous dog was a Jack Russell who was a fine chap and remarkably calm boy for the breed. However, it took some years and a great deal of exercise and training to reach this comparatively zen-like state of existence. As a younger fellow he was kindly but routinely known as 'That Git Of A Dog'.

I now have a lurcher. If looking at 'easier', the lurcher has it hands down. For starters, he doesn't bark! Neither does he need anywhere near the amount of exercise as a terrier. Nor does he escape in quite such creative ways. He's also the hairy, fine-boned sort of Norfolk/Beddy/Whippet sort of lurcher so although he's big he's not very solid. There's something very lovely about just putting your hand down and connecting when you have a big dog by your side.

Obviously, the size of your house may have a bearing on the practicality of having certain breeds. But don't assume smaller = easier. Quite the opposite can be the case.

The replies are so helpful! Thank you.

We definitely don't want a puppy. Age 3 at least, and I appreciate the breed recommendations but as we're looking to rescue a dog I think I can't be too exact/fussy in specific breed!

Definitely leaning towards a staffie or staffie cross if I'm pushed to pick a breed though

We have a 3 bed house with medium-size garden at the moment, but we're looking to move in the next 2 years to somewhere with at least 5 acres so space won't be an issue.

Given that I walk in forests miles away from any roads I needed a dog I could pick up and carry if anything happened.
I thought this and also that I wanted a dog I could pick up for escalators,getting on buses, etc (my previous one having been LARGE). I got a staffie cross (not even a really heavy one, although she has developed more - heavy- muscle since coming to live with me and getting good walks and food - now weighs just over 18 Kg) and I can just about pick her up for escalators but it is a struggle (perhaps I'm just weedy?) and she went lame the other day (she runs about madly and makes sometimes gives a muscle a wrench) and I had to carry her home (about 7 mins' walk) and I had to have 5 rests on the way - it was exhausting. (Had to buy a very expensive dog cart from Amazon for next time she can't walk).

OP: My staffie needs at least 2 and a half hours of walks a day and usually gets 3-4 (or more at weekends). If you don't exercise them that much, they will be rather restless at home and bored. However, they are LOVELY DOGS.

Well there are plenty of staffies in rescues so that's good!

His thinking is that a small dog can't get onto furniture or reach items to damage

Bwaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha you ARE kidding me! 🤣 small dogs much more nimble and damn cute so can get away with more!