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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.