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The doghouse

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Original poster

Dear Small Dog Owners,

98 replies

MonsteraMama · 13/05/2024 18:13

Dear Small Dog Owners,

I get it, I truly do. Your cavapoo, dachshund, westie, yorkie, frenchie, or whatever variant of weenie little dog you chose is adorable. They really are.

But please for the love of all that is good and holy train them.

Them being small does not make it ok for them to jump up on strangers, paw at them, bark at them, chew their shoes or fingers, cover them in mud and god knows what else. I know they're harmless, I know it's different for me because if my Deerhound jumped up on someone she could be face to face with them and that's far scarier. I know lots of people think it's cute to be leapt all over. I know I'm only in scruffy Primark jeans that probably need a wash anyway.

But it's not ok. It happens nearly every time I walk my dog anywhere. Please teach them at the very least to keep all four paws on the ground when saying hello to strangers.

Sincerely,
Muddy Jeans

(Ps, I'm sure this has been mentioned many times on here, for which I apologise in advance, I'm just cheesed off at having to wash my jeans again 😂 so having moan)

Dear Small Dog Owners,
OP posts:
Floralnomad · 13/05/2024 22:18

I have a medium sized dog , the dogs that have jumped up me are a yorkie , a Doberman , golden retriever and a Weimaraner. So 3:1 are big dogs . All dogs need training big , small and medium . Frankly big dogs jumping up is more of an issue because not only do they have the ability to cause harm they also get their paws on your coat which is harder and more inconvenient to wash than your trousers .

minthybobs · 13/05/2024 22:22

I have a smaller dog. Grew up with big dogs. I don’t agree it’s always smaller dogs jumping up. I’ve been jumped on twice just last week by one huge muddy Labrador and another large hound type cross. I didn’t mind because they were freaking adorable and I wear old clothes when walking my dog in a muddy field. If you wear white jeans to do that you’re kind of asking for it 🤣

m00ngirl · 13/05/2024 22:27

@MonsteraMama Christ you're a barrel of laughs aren't you 😬

CrushingOnRubies · 13/05/2024 22:42

TheRealMaudOHara · 13/05/2024 22:13

9 month old small dog here too. Am desperately trying to train her not to jump. Agree with pp though that strangers are awful for encouraging it. I'll often flat ask them not to encourage her to jump and they reply 'I don't mind!' As I'm frantically trying to drag her out of their arms.

I'm afraid it does really rankle to be told that small dog owners don't train their dogs. We've had two and have worked very hard to teach them manners and make sure they aren't a menace (current puppy is a work in progress). I've also experienced big dogs which have rushed past my small children and knocked them flying and who frequently stick their noses into my treat pouch because it's convenient for them. Or who mob my small puppies and won't back off even when they're on their backs crying or trying to hide behind my legs. All dog owners need to take responsibility

Yes the amount of times they make a fuss and say I don't mind . Well I do mind!

HaystackHair · 13/05/2024 22:45

YABU for not posting a photo of your deer hound.

BugBugTheTornado · 13/05/2024 22:57

Guilty of owning a small dog (a wirehaired mini dachshund), and hands up - he is horrible at recall. I've tried everything, he's six so we've had plenty of time on this... he CAN do it, he just doesn't.

That said, because of his selective recall deafness, he never has off-lead walks unless we go to the secure dog field.

Totally agree that extendable leads are a dangerous pain in the arse. The thought of him being that far away from me with no easy way to get him back is nerve wracking, because of what trouble he might get into AND what trouble might get to him!

So, he's on a proper lead, he doesn't jump up, bark at, attack or walk at 45° (he'd bend in the middle for a start). He just trots along next to me judging everyone he comes across.

I'm also fairly confident he wouldn't risk his post walk snackette by behaving like a knob... 🤔

JustGettingStarted · 14/05/2024 03:23

A woman picked up my chihuahua the other day and he didn't like it one bit.

I don't let mine run up to people and touch them. But if they're leaning down going "awww!" I will let him. He does jump up when he's being petted but he's too small to reach much.

I use a retractable lead, but I keep it short unless we're in an open space where he can't reach anyone. I don't want to trip anyone up.

I have only had him a month so he will need a lot of training before he can walk off lead!

earlyretirement · 14/05/2024 06:00

thistimelastweek · 13/05/2024 21:19

I've had stern words with Daisy and she's going to try harder in future.

Daisy is beautiful! 😍 is she a Norfolk terrier?

Cannotbeasked · 14/05/2024 06:11

ValueAddedTaxonomy · 13/05/2024 21:45

There must be a whole other dimension of the UK that I have no access to. None of this remotely matches my experience. I see good, bad and mediocre owners of large, small and medium dogs alike. Most owners are more or less trying to get it right; most owners more or less fail in a few respects from time to time -- including those of us that take pride in trying to do all the training.

If anything, I'd say largish dogs of the gundog type are the most likely to make a nuisance of themselves - by being too friendly with humans or with smaller dogs that don't appreciate their accidentally intimidating galumphing.

Absolutely this !
I have never noticed small dogs jumping up !
I have found that the main problem is bigger dogs intimidating and bothering my medium terrier.
She is terrified of other dogs now,cannot be left off the lead because she would bolt if she saw another dog.
It's always the bigger off lead dogs that hassle and scare her, now she is on the lead full time.

Perfectlystill · 14/05/2024 06:47

OMG @thistimelastweek a Norfolk! I would love one of those but they are so hard to find. One day I will have one!

I find it's the big dogs who jump up. Also OP those prints are pretty high up your leg - said small dog must have pretty long legs.

DustyLee123 · 14/05/2024 06:50

I have a small dog, and she would never jump up at anyone as she doesn’t go near strangers. The only dogs that have ever jumped up at me have been medium sized, the Labradors etc. So perhaps you could do a post about those too.

fieldsofbutterflies · 14/05/2024 06:51

IME the worst offenders for jumping up are Labradors and spaniels Grin

I don't think I've been jumped at by a small dog unless I was actively fussing it.

Itsneverme · 14/05/2024 06:54

I won't even stroke my dogs when I walk through the dog unless they sit. One of the first things I work on when I take them in. Works a treat when they are off lead and want a stroke and sit by someone's feet 😂

AGlinnerOfHope · 14/05/2024 07:02

Is the issue the number of dogs? Most dogs and owners are going to reach about 90% reliability behaviour wise. Gods most of the time with the occasional stubborn behaviour that’s been hard to resolve, or the occasional relapse.

When I’m out and about, there are so many dogs, that the 1 in 10 is an issue every time.

I didn’t know my dog had a problem with giants until the second time it happened. From then on I got him on his lead as soon as I saw a giant. But there are two giants out there who he upset before I knew there was a behaviour that needed managing.

CormorantStrikesBack · 14/05/2024 07:02

My small dog is perfectly well trained, walks off lead to heel and has perfect recall when allowed further away. She would never jump up or interact with anyone. But I get how annoying it is, I’ve had small dogs jump up at me and get mud all over me.

Yesterday I had a Doberman snarling and lunging at me while his owner was getting pushed towards me……it obviously wasn’t the first time as the owner had preempted it and was trying to body block the dog. Why have such a large, aggressive dog which you can’t hold back and it wasn’t even muzzled.

Perfectlystill · 14/05/2024 07:03

Agree spaniels are the worst for jumping.

Willmafrockfit · 14/05/2024 07:14

dont make eye contact op @MonsteraMama

Riverlee · 14/05/2024 08:02

HaystackHair · 13/05/2024 22:45

YABU for not posting a photo of your deer hound.

This!

Riverlee · 14/05/2024 08:05

The best advice I got for jumping when out and about is that you have to train the other human as much as your dog. When you are getting your dog to sit nicely, say to the human that you are training him and not to approach him. Only when the dog is calm, you give the human permission to stroke it.

And you brought your dog for your pleasure, not others, so you don’t have to let every Tom, Dick and Harry stroke it. It’s not their dog.

Newpeep · 14/05/2024 08:27

IWishThatYouWouldStay · 13/05/2024 21:47

I have a small border terrier. She never jumps up at me or any of my family as she knows it's not allowed.

She has also worked out that anyone else is fair game as they don't tell her off. Literally anything more than brief eye contact and she's convinced they want to be her best friend. It's just in her. I can't make her stop. I put her on her lead every single time we pass another person. If she'd done that to you on a walk I would be mortified and embarrassed.

I also have a small border and similar issue. Trained her not to jump at us or family or friends very easily. Also trained her to walk on a loose lead fairly easily.

Other people however - she will sniff to investigate, normal dog stuff then they will invariably give her attention so she jumps up and they continue to reinforce it by continuing to give her attention! If no attention given she moves on. She doesn't jump up. My last dog was the same, slightly bigger.

Last week we got assaulted by a Labrador. I was plastered in mud and my dog really frightened. He just wanted to play apparently...

SirChenjins · 14/05/2024 08:34

Riverlee · 13/05/2024 22:06

There’s definitely a small-dog syndrome in the village I live in.

At least once a week I seem to come across a small terrier/-poo mix that will snarl at my dog, and some quite aggressively, which you wouldn’t get away with in a larger dog. Some owners you can see are trying to train their dogs out of it, but others just pull (drag) their dog away or passively say no to it (in the same way that Pandora would say to little Balonz ‘We don’t make nasty noises, do we darling’. )

Rant over.

And exactly what would you like me to do with my nervous dog if he’s gone beyond his triggers where none of the interventions will work in that moment - stand there and let him bark and snarl? Of course I’m going to pull him away, both for his sake and the other person’s sake.

To the OP, I don’t know where you live but I’ve not seen little dogs doing this any more than larger sized dogs - both are very annoying, although one is capable of doing more damage obviously.

fieldsofbutterflies · 14/05/2024 08:43

Exactly @SirChenjins.

My dog is fear reactive and while I will obviously try and train and intervene where possible, if the other dog s too close or gas suddenly appeared head on around a corner, it's often impossible.

So like you, I do pull him away or have him by the collar as I don't want him getting any nearer the other dog or person than is absolutely necessary.

Sometimes I will say "oh, be quiet" or "what's that dog ever done to you?!" - often because it's embarrassing and upsetting to know that everyone is judging you and, for me, it's the easiest way of easing the tension a little bit. I do apologise as well but honestly most people don't seem to acknowledge that and just carry on judging.

GuppytheCat · 14/05/2024 08:44

Itsneverme · 14/05/2024 06:54

I won't even stroke my dogs when I walk through the dog unless they sit. One of the first things I work on when I take them in. Works a treat when they are off lead and want a stroke and sit by someone's feet 😂

Or on someone's feet, if they're a golden retriever?

Why do goldens so love to flumph their behinds on your foot and/or lean several stone of dog sideways against your leg?

ChillysWaterBottle · 14/05/2024 08:45

As a small (and beautiful) dog owner I agree!

Riverlee · 14/05/2024 08:46

You sound like the responsible owners who take responsibility for their dogs. There are dogs I can think who will growl and snarl, even though they’re on the opposite side of the road. The owner haven't anticipated that there are dogs around and put interventions in, like standing between them and other dogs, having treats ready to distract dog etc. You sound like you go anticipate problems and try to prevent them or resolve them.