I *think* I once read a thread like this here, but it's not turning up in the search engine. And I need to vent, so please bear with me. And please post your own small dogs behaving badly stories here. I need the company.

I own a small pet shop, and by a mile the worst (as far as behavior/aggression) dogs I deal with are "toy" breeds and little dogs. When I opened my shop, I kept a big sign out front saying "Dogs are welcome." I keep a filtered bowl of running water for any dog walking into my store, and free treats; what could go wrong? I quickly found it necessary to change the sign's wording to "leashed dogs are welcome." Doesn't matter. Some people with little dogs seem to think it's perfectly okay to let them in unleashed because they are small! In fact, it is cute if they jump on a child or another dog. And then I get level ten correction myself if the behavior (in this case even biting) is considered a problem.

I've been around a lot of little dogs, and have loved (most of) them. But the training and corrections that any sane human being would put into a big dog seems to often be missing in a dog that weighs less than 15 or 20 pounds! I get that it can't knock you off you feet if it slams into you, but isn't it still terrible behavior? There's no doubt in my mind that if I had a Chihuahua puppy, I would raise it more gently than I did my own two. But nipping, jumping, and such are just not allowed! No matter what size your dog is... am I crazy?

Today I had a regular customer in with their rottie. She's sweet as they come, nub wags at any human or dog greeting her. Another lady came in a few minutes later with a (off-leash) tiny JR terrier-looking dog, which proceeded to jump all over their leashed dog, and bite at her ears and muzzle. Guess what? Well, the Rottweiler finally got bugged enough to shake him off and growl. Very long-fused about it, in my mind, but she alphaed the little one biting onto her, and really gently. And hand to bible, the owner of the unleashed misbehaving little mutt said "You shouldn't let dangerous dogs like that in here!"

I'm all but certain there is a thread here about this topic that I wanted to add to.

I guess I could turn it around and mention how many times I see a large dog drag it's owner over to say HI!. Usually by that point I have my dog picked up and a hand ready to deal with their dog if it continues to be out of control. I've just come to the conclusion that no dog should be allowed to be out of control in a public setting and the owners should be told that. The trouble I have most of the time is when trouble finds me.

Such as last night I was gardening and as usual I allow one of my pip squeaks to come with off lead in my yard down to the garden. On my way down to the garden I hear a bit of brush thrashing and see the neighbor down the block's rottie making a beeline for my 5 lb papillon who is giving me the what do I do face. Can you guess how much anxiety this creates for me? Is the dog in prey drive? Is he going to plow into my dog? In this case the evil eye and a angry HEY! was enough to stop the dog long enough to pick up my very surprised papillon and for the neighbor to come fetch his rottie. I get a "sorry bout that. He likes little dogs."

While you may find little dogs annoying because "they get away with so much." I find out of control large dogs annoying because they have a very real possibility in ending my dogs life "by accident or intention." Either way, out of control just shouldn't happen no matter what size the dog is.

Part of the issue is culture. Many people who own dogs just simply don't know how to train them to begin with. Add in portability and ease of half assed control on a small dog and you have a person more willing to take a half wild untrained dog out into public where something twenty pounds heavier would be a bastion of destruction. If the dog simply isn't behaving in your shop, ask them to leave. I'm sure you have that delightful sign about refusing service for any reason at any time.

Good point, Melissa, I would've said "Touche" if I knew how to spell it! This isn't a thread meant to demean little dogs, just the extra "leash" they are often given. My frustrations are 100% owner problems, not size of dog problems.

I know what you mean, though. Twice I have had really nasty small dogs come after us. Its really frustrating because it then becomes your job to protect your own dog and their dog. Both of these dogs were out of control to the point that Animal Control would have probably already taken them away if they were over 50 pounds.

Little dogs with good owners can be great, though. Just last week we met the sweetest little Chiuaua at the park. He and my dog hit it off fabulously! They were so cute together, Tasha laid down as flat as she could get and played really gently with him. It was adorable!

Both dogs were on leash and well behaved, they just happened to decide they liked each other while we were chatting. It was really nice!

Lauren, I *really* don't mean to be small dog prejudiced here. It's an owner problem, just like the rednecks and thugs that get pit bulls. But it's even more universal... they are so small, nothing they could possibly do would warrant a correction. And then they go out into the world.

One of the guys at work has a bull dog, and I confess, it cracks me up watching that sausage go balistic in the truck when he sees my dog. Sorry Chip, I know its bad behavior, but I can't help laughing about it.

 Quote: chip bridges

And then they go out into the world.

On those mega long flexi leashes no less!

I totally understand what you are saying. If I hadn't been well aware that my puppy would soon be 80 pounds, scary to some people, and capable of enormous damage I might have let her get away with a thing or two.

Keeping on top of a young dog is really hard work, adding in that the little ones are so adorable I can see why people sometimes let them do stuff. Some of these people also allow their little dogs to be a complete menace, which is the problem you are talking about.

Its especially annoying if you have a dog that people assume is trouble based only on breed or size, work really hard to make sure the dog is polite and safe, and then have to put up with with some ones "cute" little yorkie or whatever.

I think anyone who posts on this board would agree.

 Quote: Lauren Jeffery

 Quote: Chip Bridges

And then they go out into the world.

I think anyone who posts on this board would agree.

Yup. Absolutely abhorrent. Getting away with murder is illegal!

Oh Ana, I just noticed your Care Bears. Memories of an earlier thread!

And I am making note of all things mentioned here concerning small dogs (and their owners).