Little Dogs

Another thing to remember is that most people will only have 1 or 2 large dogs in the family. With small dogs (as it is with cats), there are more 3+ in a single home. Controlling one dog is pretty simple business; controlling two takes a bit more effort; when you've got more dogs than you have people, then it becomes very difficult.

I've had (and fostered) little dogs, medium sized dogs and big dogs. I've noticed no correlation between behavior and size. There are well trained and poorly trained dogs of all sizes.

I have noticed that some people have prejudices against certain sized dogs, and that prejudice often leads them to notice things rather selectively. It's really no different than (for example) people who like X brand of vehicles and people who like Y brand. If you like X brand then you tend to notice problems and issues with Y brand while ignoring any issues with your own brand. That's not the greatest analogy, but the best I can do right now.

2oldman wrote:
I've heard that all new Class A's now come standard with a little dog.

Now I understand how we got our small dog.
;)

Dog Folks wrote:
It is a training issue. Small dogs do not require much, if any, training to control them on a leash.

For example, how hard can a Chihuahua pull on a leash? Because of that, a higher majority of owners do not train smaller dogs at all. Thus poor behaviors are tolerated.

Larger dogs are more powerful and need training to control.

There is no excuse for poor or no training, but it certainly exists.

I agree. In addition, with a little dog, people wrongly assume that all they have to do is pick the dog up and all problems will go away. No need to train a dog that can be picked up.

Also, little dogs have become a fashion accessory. Too many people have them with no sense of responsibility or commitment - the dog is not seen as a living creature, but rather a cute doll.

It gives the real dog owners (of all sizes) a bad name. This has happened with big dogs also, but more on a breed by breed basis. When rotties became "in", problems exploded; when shepherds became "in", problems exploded; pitbulls - problems exploded. As long as people see dogs as mere possessions, there will always be problems.

beliveauj wrote:
It's the owners not the dogs!

x2, this is so true. Has nothing at all to do with the size of the dog. Several people like the idea of traveling with a dog but do not put the time and effort into training them. Especially when the dog is young.

I think the reason people believe it is only small dogs is more people travel with small dogs.

I walk by many sites with dogs that bark, but dogs bark. I have never been to a park where the dogs have been unsupervised. Are these dogs unsupervised? I also walk by sites with a gathering of a few people, talking, laughing and enjoying themselves......Many times children are running and playing........its life.... I take no offense, but am grateful for each moment.

It's the owners not the dogs!

It is a training issue. Small dogs do not require much, if any, training to control them on a leash.

For example, how hard can a Chihuahua pull on a leash? Because of that, a higher majority of owners do not train smaller dogs at all. Thus poor behaviors are tolerated.

Larger dogs are more powerful and need training to control.

There is no excuse for poor or no training, but it certainly exists.

It's not just little dogs. I have been verbally attacked by many a larger breed. Seems more like a training issue than anything else. I like cats but the wife has a long haired chihuahua that barks very little.

I've heard that all new Class A's now come standard with a little dog.