Why do people say they don't like small dogs?

I'm a Dane person, have always had them and currently have two. However the next dog I get will hopefully be a Bassett, not so much a small dog, but definitely shorter. I also love papillons and wouldn't rule one out.
As you say it's all down to preference, I'm not a lover of TB's but like some Arabs, love the natives but would never buy a WB.

Life would be boring and limited if we all liked the same stuff afterall!
 
stargirl88 said:
Echo what others have said. Plus I feel less bad about standing on my collie-sized dog than when I stand on my small terrier-sized-dog.
Click to expand...

^^^ this
I'm forever tripping over or standing on my 2 big dogs, I'm such a clumsy person. I'd hate to think what damage I'd do to some poor wee doggie!
 
It's harder to fall over a larger dog :D There are some small dogs I like and would consider owning. I even occasionally think life would be easier with a small dog but I can't stand high pitched yapping so I'll stick with my nice collie mix and his hell hound impersonations :)
 
I love my little lap dog :D I’d love a huge dog too but I just don’t have space in the car or the house! My BT suits me just fine and he’s utterly gorgeous. Not at all yappy and thinks he’s a big dog!
 
PlanetHacking said:
What abnormalities have been bred into Flatcoats and Irish Setters? Genuine question.
Click to expand...

Don't know about setters but Flat-coats are very prone to getting cancer- my boy died at only 6 due to spleen cancer and because of that I will never get one again. They are absolutely perfect dogs in every other respect though.

(Sorry if this has been said already, haven't read through the whole thread)


What annoys me about small dogs is that they can get away with literally anything- I know plenty of small dogs (Pug and JRT to name a few) who have growled, made for and bitten people but it has been brushed under the carpet just because of their size. If a bigger dog did that there would be some very dire consequences...
I do however like a nice Chi as I think that they are very smart little dogs both physically and mentally who are overlooked simply because of their size and stereotyping in the media.
 
Last edited:
I don't mind small-ish dogs. I think what puts me off some toy breeds is because there seems to have always been a trend of them being treated like babies and not dogs and hence many are quite nervy and have a tendency to snap and be quite aggressive. what annoys me is this behaviour tends to get laughed off - IF that was a larger dog (ie lab, rottie, larger staffie) then it woukd be seen as dangerous!?! I think more people have probably had bad experiences with vicious little dog that larger ones to be honest.

To me any aggressive dog is dangerous no matter what it's size. I have no issue with well-trained small dogs at all.

i don't like dogs with large slobbery jowls or droopy eyes though either. Each to their own I gues.
 
I tend to prefer the people who own medium to large dogs! They seem to have a better grasp on dog owner responsibilities - to the dog and the rest of the public! Also, my extremely well trained GSD was repeatedly attacked by terriers over the years, until, after many resocialisation trainings with small dogs, she was badly bitten on her eye by one. Kept her on lead in public open spaces after that. Wretched owner said He only does that when he's frightened. If he was that frightened of an old Gsd snuffling along, head down to take in smells, no eye contact at all, ignoring dogs, I'd hate to think what wld happen if it met a really frightening gsd!
 
I don't mind small dogs but I can't say that I gel very well with terriers. They are far too busy for me.

We have whippets and an Italian Greyhound. The Italian is very small and dainty but is as tough as old boots truth be told.
 
I don't like dogs that jump up and nearly push you over and especially ones that welcome you into their house by sniffing your crotch area and won't back off no matter what you do. At least little dogs cant reach high enough to do that, thats got to count in their favour :D
 
I don't dislike small dogs per se - I just dislike dogs that hang off my dogs face or my legs while their owners insist they're just 'being friendly'. As this always seems to be small terriers I tend to avoid them like the plague :)
 
I always considered myself a big dog person and yet somehow i have ended up with 2 chihuahuas, a pug, 2 basenjis and only one big dog - the labrador.

No idea how that happened, but I am certain the little people have NO clue they are tiny and I adore all of their fiesty characters :D
 
I love my greyhounds/whippets and would absolutely love a basenji :) but hounds are just my thing really the only breed of dog I would own other than a hound is a jack Russell as they have the best little man syndrome and I've never met one I don't like!

I like short haired, non slobbery but slightly mad dogs :)
 
I think some small breeds have a reputation of not being trained cos the owners don't think they're proper dogs and don't need training or they're handbag dogs.

I don't like any other dogs than my own, even those of the same breed. I wouldn't want a small dog because I like to play fight with a good sized dog! Most people tend to prefer one breed or one type, nothing wrong with that, just opinions. Be boring if we all had the same thing.
 
We live on a farm, my partner is a farmer by blood although not currently farming. We are surrounded by labs, springers and jacks.

We have a elderly jack - who lords it up and does just as she pleases. Does not wear a collar or lead, never has, does as she's told within reason, never strays and is low maintenance. Her hearing is going but as long as you clap loudly she comes running.

We also have a Chinese crested, lol, who as above, no collar, walks himself round the farm if the sun is shining, winter time he hibernates pretty much. He is a barker, which is somewhat annoying, however truthfully when your in the middle of no where and often home alone i am thankful that he does alert me to any strangers approaching the house.

Both dogs come to work with us and are by our side, or by the aga, all the time.

there's nothing that annoys me more than being shoved, head butted or worse jumped up at by a slobbering large dog. Labradors seem to be one of those breeds that are super working dogs, but I know several pet ones that are just a pain unless you enjoy being mauled by the friendly hairy beasts.

I think all dogs are 'proper' , altough some more than others! however my OH would not describe my crested as a proper dog, but I don't give two hoots what anyone else thinks and he always wins them over anyone with big character!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top