Scary stuff walking a small dog

[sarah8484]

Took my Chihuahua for a walk to the park today, i have never been so scared. I picked him up every time we saw a dog or id change direction to avoid them. At one point i was a bit more chilled seeing 2 little shit zsu's with an elderly lady so felt ok but boy was i wrong, as soon as the dogs (both off leads) were a few feet away their teeth came out. My poor little dog just looked like bait to all the other dogs. Any tips or suggestions from people with smaller dogs? Do you avoid parks?

[hiredandsqueak]

When we got Bella who is a tiny Lhasa she was really nervous around other dogs and would growl and bark most probably because she had no experience of being around other dogs despite being nine years old when we got her.
By being calm and patient and slowly and repeatedly exposing her to other dogs and never lifting her off the ground now, some eighteen months later she greets most dogs nicely, she will happily play with a few we meet regularly, she will ignore some and only growls at a couple of JRT's who growl and bark at her first.
She is a much happier dog because she is no longer anxious on our walks and she gets a lot back from her contact with other dogs.

[Kirkman]

I grew up with chihuahuas.

Picking them up everytime is ridiculous. A tiny dig can get hurt in many situations. Just like a medium dog or a large dog can.

One of ours weighed 4lb. Runt of the litter that we fostered and then kept, he was tiny. Far smaller than a small cat. He was more than capable of of socialising with bigger dogs and playing with them as well. We had him 14 years.

Picking then up and getting anxious everytime you see a dog, will end up with an anxious dog.

[dogcrazy]

I’ve had my little dog for 3 years, we go out to popular dog walking places everyday and she’s never been attacked. Learn about dogs body language as that may make you feel more at ease when they approach?

[adaline]

I’ve always let my dog be a dog despite her size and I think she’s a better dog for it. I still worry about her though when a larger dog comes galloping towards her, even though all they want to do is say hello.

I think it's totally normal to worry, but like you say, it's about finding that balance. Mine was really rambunctious as a puppy (just overexcited) and I was always worried about him hurting another dog - he's not even the big!

Now he's older he's settled down and my confidence has obviously grown with my experience too.

[BarkandCheese]

I think a lot of the reason for this is because little dogs are rarely allowed to just be dogs

I agree, and the knowledge that even the worst bite they can give isn’t that bad so people don’t bother controlling them. However it’s a bit like with children, we know there are dangers in the world but if we don’t give them freedom they never learn to negotiate the world. It’s finding the balance. I’ve always let my dog be a dog despite her size and I think she’s a better dog for it. I still worry about her though when a larger dog comes galloping towards her, even though all they want to do is say hello.

[notanothergiftcard]

Chihuahuas are some of the most vicious dogs I've ever come across. I suppose the difference is that if you were attacked by one you'd give it a good kick and that would probably get rid of it. Can't exactly do that with a staffie or whatever.

[adaline]

It’s absolutely true that there are far more out of control small dogs than big ones, but that’s not what the Op is taking about. It’s about the walking your tiny dog in the park with the knowledge that almost every other dog you see has the potential strength to easily kill your dog, and how you learn to tread the fine line between being overprotective and reckless.

I think a lot of the reason for this is because little dogs are rarely allowed to just be dogs.

[SittingInMustard]

It’s about the walking your tiny dog in the park with the knowledge that almost every other dog you see has the potential strength to easily kill your dog, and how you learn to tread the fine line between being overprotective and reckless

Nice summary. I suspect one answer might be to start to leave your dog to interact with the smaller others at first, building up to larger dogs when you feel safe (OP). I see that's what you tried to do with the bichons and were just unlucky that they were grumpy. Try not to let that put you off trying again.

Hope you tried again today and it went a bit better.

[BarkandCheese]

It’s absolutely true that there are far more out of control small dogs than big ones, but that’s not what the Op is taking about. It’s about the walking your tiny dog in the park with the knowledge that almost every other dog you see has the potential strength to easily kill your dog, and how you learn to tread the fine line between being overprotective and reckless.

[AndThenThereWereSeven]

Too often, people don't train their small dogs because the impact if they misbehave isn't the same. I'm a dog walker and my client tomorrow is a 40kg Rottweiler. She's trained to walk nicely on the leash because if she lunged at someone the consequences could be disastrous. However if a tiny dog does the same, it's not really going to harm anyone so owners laugh it off.

So true. This also means if my gentle giant is perceived to be threatening he's at risk of being put down. He was never reactive until a large number of presumably unsocialised tiny dogs leapt out from under benches etc at him.

[SharkasticBitch]

What picking them up risks, specifically, is...

1. You are afraid and dogs may pick up on that fear and associate it with the presence of other dogs.

1. They will not get a chance to interact with other dogs which may impact their learning of canine behaviiour, though much of this is done in the first few weeks of life.

1. They may not like being picked up, meaning they are experiencing something aversive everytime they see another dog. If they link these two things they may be conditioned that way.

So, in theory, you may be not scared, may give your already well socilaised dog ample other opportunity to mix with dogs in a different environment and it may not mind being picked up. The result is likely no real harm done.

Or, you may be nervous and/or the dog may never get a chance to interact with other dogs and/or may dislike being picked up. The result is likely a dog that will struggle to be confident around other dogs.

As with so many aspects of dog ownership, it requires thought asbout your specific situation and what is genuinly best for you and your specific dog.

[adaline]

And that’s wrong, but not the point of this thread.

I don't know, I think comments like that are pretty relevant to the discussion.

If a dog is conditioned to be frightened of others (by being picked up constantly) it will react by being reactive towards them (biting, snapping, lunging). Dogs should be treated like dogs. Small dogs are just as capable of learning correct behaviour as large ones.

Too often, people don't train their small dogs because the impact if they misbehave isn't the same. I'm a dog walker and my client tomorrow is a 40kg Rottweiler. She's trained to walk nicely on the leash because if she lunged at someone the consequences could be disastrous. However if a tiny dog does the same, it's not really going to harm anyone so owners laugh it off.

I'm prepared to be slammed by the owners of impeccably behaved chihuahuas now (and I know they exist, don't get me wrong) but let's face it - a chihuahua that jumps up or bites won't injure someone in the same way a Great Dane or a Rottie would.

[BarkandCheese]

The only dogs to have a go at my big dog are tiny ones

And that’s wrong, but not the point of this thread.

[AndThenThereWereSeven]

The only dogs to have a go at my big dog are tiny ones.

[Knowivedonewrong]

I grew up with Chihuahuas, my mum's had 4 of them.
They were all feisty, yappy little buggers, who'd happily have taken on any bigger dogs.

However as others have said, don't pick up your dog.
I would just put your dog on a lead when it meets other dogs and stay close so that you are in control.

[RubySunset]

You know how dogs learn most effectively to not be scared of something? A gradual and understanding practise of slowly introducing them as a distance they feel happy with, allowing them to build confidence as they go.

The same with humans. No one is ever going to stop doing what they are doing - especially if they are acting out of fear - because they were told by someone over the internet they will fuck their dogs up more doing it. If you care for the welfare of the dog and think the owner could be doing something better, there are far more effective ways of making suggestions.

You know how you decide if operant or classical training is likely to be most effective for a dog? You ask yourself if their actions are born out of a 'negative' emotion, such as fear? If they are, you will get further by focussing on the emotion than the behaviour.

Same with humans. If someone is picking their dog up because they are scared, then focussing on the fear is a better way to address it. Not just focussing on the behaviour.

Humans and dogs learn the same way and to make dog's lives better (if that truly is the goal) then you have to be understanding and work WITH the humans.

Smaller dogs are more vulnerable than bigger dogs just by the nature of their size. It'll take a lot less force to do significant damage to a chi than a lab. I can easily imagine it might be scary the first few times you see your tiny and well loved dog stand next to something that weighs 10 x it's weight and has teeth at one end. It might be even worse to do so if you've read an online forum describing small dogs in a negative way, because you'll also worry about what the other owner is thinking.

Trainers can help because you have someone alongside you who knows dog language well.

Social dog walks are another - because you can get to know most of the regular dogs and it becomes easier to trust a dog you know.

Obedience classes and sports classes can also be a way to do it.

The end goal being that you no longer feel so anxious when you see another dog out and about - thus making the walk much more pleasant for you and your dog :)

[frostedviolets]

I pick my chihuahua up any time any bigger dog comes towards her. I don't care what other people think, if even a medium sized dog was rough with her, it could kill her. I'd rather be safe than lose my baby. People will say you're being over precious

I couldn't agree more.

People seem to forget that a small dog is easily killed with one good shake and other dogs are fast.
Too fast for you to react really.
It's all very well letting them meet bigger dogs thinking you'll just pull their harness up if necessary.
Until it isn't.

Just a few days ago I was walking mine on lead, a GSD was up ahead, I saw it tense slightly when it saw us and immediately turned to go the other way, within a split second of that tensing it was going crazy snarling and lunging at the end of the leash.
They are so so fast.

I wouldn't let a very small dog near a bigger dog either and I also wouldn't care of other people's opinions.

If having my dog has taught me anything, it's that other dogs cannot to be trusted and their owners have zero care and zero control.

[BiteyShark]

I think there is a middle ground here.

Enlist a trainer to walk with you to guide you in reading body language and managing interactions etc.

However, no one here knows if a situation is getting out of hand and your dog is at risk of being attacked so you do need to trust your instinct and protect your dog and if that means picking them up to protect them then so be it. I have had to do that when mine was a small puppy and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I thought the approaching dog was aggressive.

[adaline]

I pick my chihuahua up any time any bigger dog comes towards her.

All you're doing is telling her big dogs are something to be scared of.

[incywincyspiders]

I pick my chihuahua up any time any bigger dog comes towards her. I don't care what other people think, if even a medium sized dog was rough with her, it could kill her. I'd rather be safe than lose my baby. People will say you're being over precious but honestly,.. would you regret it if something happened to him??

Also so predictable as soon as you mention he's a chihuahua that the small dog haters come out 🙄

[Lunafortheloveogod]

Stop picking him up!
My smallest is 3lb’s so even cats look big compared to him. He’s about the size our kitten was at 10/12weeks and 8years old so he’s not stretching soon. Keep him close on the lead, harness never collar and keep headphones out.

We’ve had bother with sight hounds who think he’s a rabbit until they get closer. Most dogs are either fine or at a great enough distance to be able to react and move out the way or if you really have to lift him up. I also used to walk in more woody places with a stick, wouldn’t hit another dog but it gave a barrier incase the lazy fuckwit owner was too far off round a corner to grab their lovely big bouncy thing.

Tiny is also not afraid to give a nip if something’s fucking him off.

[pigsDOfly]

Yes, as pps have said, you absolutely have to stop picking your dog up.

I understand it's difficult when you feel your small dog is at the mercy of other bigger dogs - my dog weighs 6.5kilo fully grown - however, you are going to create problems for your dog if every time you see another dog you pick him up and cuddle him; you run a real risk of making him nervous and yappy.

I've never avoided parks but I did learn to read situations and plan ahead in case of problems.

Agree with pp who said have dog wearing a harness, all small dogs should anyway, but it does allow you to lift a dog up more easily in a hurry.

Chihuahuas are feisty little dogs, don't turn him into a bag of nerves, and yes, he will pick up on your fearfulness.

Make sure he's trained in the same way any bigger dog should be trained, that's vital if he's going to learn not to behave badly around people and other dogs.

Take him to training classes, it's a safe place, hopefully, for you to see him interacting with other dogs and allow him to interact with other dogs.

I've know a number of people with Chihuahuas, all of them have been allowed to run off lead in the park or on the beach and all of them were happy non yappy little dogs.

[RoombaSavedMySanity]

Most 'good' trainers I know will happily take a booking for an hours walk with you and your chi just to talk you through the other dogs you meet, their body language and what to look out for etc.

It might then help you feel better about reading other dogs when you meet them?

[BarkandCheese]

My dog weighs 3kg, not chi but a pom.

Please don’t keep picking your dog up, I only pick mine up when I think there’s a genuine risk to her from other dogs. Most dogs are friendly or disinterested in your dog, picking your dog up is teaching it to fear other dogs.

You need to learn to recognise breeds and dog body language, dogs with high prey drive and sight hounds who might mistake your dog for a rabbit are the ones you need to watch out for. I had an incident with a vizler recently when it mistook my dog for a cat (according to its owner) and went for my dog. Fortunately both dogs were on the lead so I quickly scooped mine up with no harm done.

My dog has almost zero interest in other dogs, but if yours is inclined to want to interact with them you need to do some training appropriate to your dog’s behaviour.

You do have my sympathy’s though. As this thread shows a lot of people want to tell you how small dogs have upset their bigger dogs, and obviously it’s horrible when your dog gets distressed. However a chi or chi sized dog is never good to kill a big dog, but a big dog simply picking up and shaking your dog could kill it.

[MrsMozartMkII]

My two 40kg Rotties are often barked at by small dogs. They've never responded, not even when a small ball of hair with teeth came out of nowhere and bit one of their tails.

I'd suggest that you have some sessions with a trainer. Learn to understand and manage your dog properly. It'll be best for both of you.