Tiny puppy/ dog owners... am i mean?

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SophieLiz

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me and my boyfriend have a 12 week old ciahauhau(sp?) puppy. we love her to bits but i wouldnt say that either of us are really 'little dog people' if that makes sense. we decided on a little dog because our house is only small and it has a tiny garden with a low(ish) wall. To be honest a ciahauhau was probably the last of dogs on our list but we popped over to see a friend that used to breed jack russels to find out that she had stopped and now just had the one littler of ciahauhaus...and you know how it goes.. we fell in love and now she is ours!

when we first got her we decided that she was definatly going to be treated as a dog and not a handbag and therefore we have treated her in exactly the same way we would a bigger dog.

She had her last injection last week so this week has started to be able to go out and about. as we would with any other dog she has been out for short walks a few times a day and has been up to meet the horses, and weve made sure shes met as many other dogs as possible etc.

but we keep getting people telling us we are mean... firstly because she walks places and we dont carry her and secondly because we let her play with big dogs and the other day one growled at her and i left them to sort it out rather than pick her up.

am i supposed to treat her differently to a big dog? am i doing it all wrong?
 
I haven't got a dog myself, but have dog-sat lots of times and have been around them since I was little - I'd say she's a dog, and should be treated like a dog regardless of her size.

A woman who used to livery her horse at the same yard as me was totally precious about her dog, wouldn't let it socialise with the others, brought its own basket up for it, carried it around etc ... of course it eventually got into a fight with another dog, and when one of the girls tried to separate them it turned on her, because it had always been treated like the top dog on the yard.

I think you're doing right (but I may be wrong)
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Nope, not mean - treat her like a dog, not a handbag! You do have to be somewhat more vigilant round big animals (ie huge dogs and horses as they sometimes get stood on...). But trust me, i have always had Miniature Pinschers and they have always been DOGS first.
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I love them to bits, but they're still dogs. Yes, they live indoors and sleep in cosy beds and have on occasion worn a sweater or two (they do feel the cold as they haven't got much hair). And as they aged I've started spoiling them a bit more. But they aren't spoilt dogs if you know what I mean. So by all means, go to obedience, agility, fly ball or whatever takes your fancy, go on walks and meet other dogs and do it all on the end of hte leash rather than tucked under your arm.
 
Unbelievable!!!!! My suggestion to you is to carry on exactly how you are! A dog is a dog.... Wonder if they would be so judgemental if she bit them! As you say she is a pup so keep the walks short and I can honestly say, thank goodness for people like you and I bet she is the happiest pup alive!!!
Well done, and may you have many many happy years with her!!!
 
We have yorkshire terriers and we treat them the same as you, they are dogs and are used to cattle sheep and horses, we socalise them, take them for walks all the usual stuff.

They are very happy and content, one even likes to get the cows in with the farm collie.

Keep doing what your doing and ignore the people who say you should treat it as a surrogate child!!
 
Its not a handbag accessorie!! Its a living breathing animal whos purpose in life is to run around lieka nutter, roll in fox poo, eat, sleep and poo itself!!!
Not be decorated in diammante coats and ear muffs and carried under your arm in a doggy carrier that costs more than a car!!! lol

If she is a dog, treat her like a dog! obv dont let a rottie sit on her and smother her or anything! but she will be tough enough to hold her own and play with the big dogs so to speak!
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I think your being fine! ignore other people! They obv think every chihuahua should be treated like paris hiltons!
 
thats alright then. i had a woman at the yard have a propper go at me the other day because one of the yard dogs (its only a little pug) was being a little aggressive to her and i left them to sort it out. Sparta was on a lead so i was close enough to have intervened had it been needed. she was being ever so good and doing exactly what she should ie. being really submisive to the pug and staying still so it could check her out.

but this woman (who isnt a livery and ive never seen her before) came over picked my puppy up and told me i was mean because she was only tiny and she was scared. it drives me.

i also keep having people when im out with her tell me 'oh shs too little to be out, pick her up the poor thing'.

is it just me or am i right in thinking that actually toy breeds mature faster than large breeds and that actually once upon a time even a tiny dog was wild and therefore me taking her 10 mins up the road isn't all that bad.

shes the happiest little thin youve ever seen, her tail is going all the time! every time i take her out she trots and bounces a log at the side of me and she loves it.
 
she sounds lovely, and i think you are doing it absolutely right. i have jack russells, one of whom is very small, and i don't treat her like an accessory either! in fact, someone bought me a j.r.t. book and the first thing it says is "your new puppy is a dog, not a toy, not a baby, so do not pick it up, let it run around like a dog".
the number of people who visit who instantly want to pick my dogs up is unbelievable. one of them yelps if picked up by strangers (he's a wimp) and that always shocks them into leaving them all on the floor running around, where they should be!
i think the snappy nasty chihuahuas are just frustrated and frightened because they are always being picked up... must be pretty demoralising!
maybe people think she's too young to be out yet rather than too little? maybe you need to say she's all all her innoculations and is old enough!
 
Woman at the yard, tell her its your dog, and she should not handle it without your permission!! You were supervising the situation, and by interfering she has effected your dogs socialising skills! (make her a feel a little guilty! interfering old bag!) ok if the pug was mauling your puppy and you just watched thats different! but her being submissive is good, and as long as the pug wasn't being aggressive/attacking her, then you are fine!

dogs need exercise, you carrying her up and down the street is not the same as her walking it!!! so when people say "aww shes too small etc" say as kerilli said: "o no shes fine! shes vaccianted and old enough to be out! but thank you for your concern" and walk on!
none of their damn business!! I dont mind people offering advice or suggestions if you ask for it, but people interfering when not required etc I think is a bit out of order, especialyl when its telling someone they are mean for exercising their dog!

power to you! keep doing what your doing!
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What absolute rubbish, as said above tell them to **** off! You are treating her exactly as she should be. People that treat them as strange little accessories and molly coddle them too much are the ones giving the breed a bad name as they become aggressive, anti social and scared of their own shadows. You want a happy and outgoing little dog and you are treating her in the right way to achieve that. Ignore what other people say and have confidence that you will have a very well rounded and happy little dog for years to come and wont be coming on here or asking for advice because shes dog/human aggressive, cant take her out etc etc. Keep it up! and yes we need piccies please!
 
Agree with everyone else, I hate to see little dogs being lugged around (one of the reasons they get little dog syndrome)
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Tell the woman, she needs to get used to walking for when she is running along side u on hacks
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thats is sure to give her a stroke
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, I also would have said, instead of picking mine up, how about u turn your interest to your growling little fecker and spend your time socialising him, so I don't have to pick mine up u snotty cow, and keep ya mits of my dog
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She picked up your dog without permission? I would have been furious!!!

I think you are doing just the right thing and you will have a happy doglet for it
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Well done for treating your chihuahua like a proper dog, although obviously she won't be able to walk as far as Iabig dog she will thouroughly enjoy her walks I am sure, not too far tho as is the case with any puppy. I would just keep an eye on things when she is playing with bigger dogs, we used to have chihuahuas with the GSDs and the chis thought they were the bosses. But sadly one of them tried the same threatening behaviour with a strange dog and was killed, it was only one snap from the other dog but that was enough
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Can we see some pics of your girl please.
 
im glad im not mean thanks guys i was actually beginging to worry.

and glad that everyone else would be cross with the lady for picking her up, the pug wasnt snappy or anything with her she was just a little in her face and and kept giving a low toned grumbly growl but she is one of 2 pugs at the yard they have been kept together forever and dont really meet new dogs and i think she was just making sure Sparta wasnt going to steal her pal.

as for pics, thisis Sparta when we first got her ill put some new ones on 2morrow.shes actully got a bit of yorkie in her a well as cia but i couldnt be bothered to type that lol

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She certainly is very cute
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I think you're doing everything right. I have never mollycoddled my small dog, and she's all the better for it. She rides in a bag on the subway/plane and that's it.

Toy breeds are very common in NYC, and I've lost count of the number of times we walk by a pomeranian, say, that goes nuts at Stella, only for the owner to intervene, baby talk, and put the affronted pup back into its carrier
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I say ignore the naysayers and continue to socialise your dog to the extent you're doing, this ensuring they feel comfortable around any size of dog, any number of dogs, and any breed.

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Well I'm calling the RSPCA what were you thinking making your poor dog walk
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I have a mini jack russell and I do carry him occassionally on walks, but that is only because he has a serious heart condition, so if he is having a bad day or we are going out for a very long walk with my other dog. I will pick him up when he is struggling so that it suits both of them. Or when he collapses on walks, but that's it.

But when it comes to big dogs etc he had never been picked up. He's made it to 5 with out being eaten, so we can't be doing too badly
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Just ignore people like that, you know what is best for your dogs so stick to your guns.
 
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Its not a handbag accessorie!! Its a living breathing animal whos purpose in life is to run around lieka nutter, roll in fox poo, eat, sleep and poo itself!!!
Not be decorated in diammante coats and ear muffs and carried under your arm in a doggy carrier that costs more than a car!!! lol

Hey, I quite like diamantes!
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And nothing wrong with a carrier for the proper reasons...I myself have been seen round Edinburgh with my wee MinPin in a bag - but usually when I had to get someplace in a a hurry and my blind old girl just couldn't quite make the fast pace. But seriously, I do think it is very important to have a dog socialised, and used to being on a lead or able to walk by itself. As a dog groomer one thing that drives me absolutely bleeping nuts is when people thrust their toy sized dog in to my arms. Honestly I CAN take it by the lead...but that's a slightly different rant.
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My friend had chihuahuas for many years(bred them on and of for 30 years). Her dogs were always walked for a couple of hours a day . When she had time they were walked for a lot longer , they really are very fiesty dogs . Many , many , many moons ago she was walking them at her parents home and had done a circuit of the village , which took a couple of hours . The last bit was across the top of the playing fields , over the wall at the back of the churchyard and into her parents garden . As she got to the playing fields she let her five chi's and one yorkie off the lead and went round the corner to be confronted by some sort of passing out parade for police dogs and their handlers (she didn't hang around to find out what was going on !!). There were rows of seats with what appeared to be family and friends and also bigwig police and they all watched as chaos ensued . Her dogs were hanging off any german shepherd they could find and as she got close to grab one they ran screaming to another one . Everyone else was laughing so much they were unable to help and the dog handlers had obviously been told not to move under any circumstances they didn't help . It took her about fifteen minutes to grab the little barstewards and she then ran for the hills! If I couldn't have a big dog for any reason I would definately have one .
 
She's cute and adorable and I haven't dared to open this post until today because I feared you would be one of "those" small dog owners saying something like "Am I mean when I don't let her eat liver paste at a plate at our dinner table every day..."


It is a true relief to read that there's sensible owners of small dogs out there. About other dogs growling at puppies, whether small or not, dogs are usually very tolerant towards puppies but there's is limits even puppies must learn and I firmly believe a lot of today's problems that some dogs have with interacting with other dogs, is due to people being overprotective with their puppies.

One of the behaviour I do find sensible for a small dog owner that I know of though, is due to an owner of several Yorkshire Terriers that I used to know (she had a Doberman too and the Yorkies ruled...), she said that both her and the rest of her family more or less only shuffled along with as minimal lift of their feet as possible, to minimize the risk of stepping on any tiny paws.



I don't think there's any wrong in a little carrying, a little laying in a lap and being cuddled, but they're still dogs and should be treated as dogs. An average cat is about a small dogs size, most of them like to lie in a lap and being cuddled but I haven't heard many (or any really) people say that cats should be carried around everywhere.

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