In my past, I got on much better with medium to large dogs than small or toy dogs. When I was very small, I begged my parents to visit our cousins’ only because I wanted to be with their springer spaniel, Damien. One of my playmates became my best friend for a couple of years because of her large Benji look-alike, Dusty. My first dog was a large collie mix named Rusty.
And then my Mom went out and bought a powder-puff Chinese crested, Hugo. Well, it wasn’t entirely my Mom’s fault. My large British mongrel Pony had fallen in love with Hugo. What were we to do? But even after my years with large dogs, I hadn’t quite considered the differences in keeping a small dog as to keeping a larger dog.
Quirks and Housetraining
Hugo resorts to attention-getting tactics that Pony wouldn’t dream of. At first I thought Hugo may be nuts, but research into small dog breeds and talking with small dog owners revealed that I was the one who was nuts. Hugo was normal.
For example, Hugo will sit up like a rabbit and rapidly pump both forelegs to get affection or a special tidbit. Pony may stamp a foreleg to get attention and that’s about it. Hugo will also roll on his back and pump his forelegs. At home, we call it “digging.” Pony just rolls on her back and looks cute.
Housetraining can be more difficult with a small dog than a larger one. Author and dog owner Liz Palika notes in “The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Housetraining Your Dog” (Alpha Books; 2007) this difficulty is not due to small dogs being slower to learn housetraining skills, but that people may have more difficulty in seeing a small dog squat or lift a leg than they would with a larger dog.
Temperaments
Generally, small dogs bark more often than larger dogs, but this depends on the character and background history of the individual dog. Small dogs often make better watchdogs than larger dogs because of this trait. But small dogs will respond to patient and persistent training to get them to stop barking after two or three barks, notes Darlene Arden, author of “Small Dogs, Big Hearts: A Guide to Caring for Your Little Dog” (John Wiley & Sons; 2006.)
Smaller dogs have a reputation for, well, thinking they are a big shot. My vet one day announced that Hugo had a “Napoleonic complex.” They can be bossy. But they do respond to verbal reprimands. There’s no need to hit a small dog, but there’s also no need to let him walk all over you (so to speak.)
Health Problems
Larger dogs are prone to health problems such as bloat, hip dysplasia and, depending on the shape of their faces, drooling. Smaller dogs, especially toy breeds, are prone to premature tooth loss, hypoglycemia and congestive heart failure. It also takes less amounts of toxic substances like chocolate or antifreeze in order to kill them.
On the other hand, small dogs have a longer life span than larger breeds. “Loving Your Senior Dog” (TFH Publications; 2007) notes that the larger the dog, the faster they age and the sooner they are considered a senior dog. Dogs weighing more than 80 pounds are old by the time they are 6 while a dog less than 15 pounds isn’t considered old until he or she reaches 11.
References
“The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Housetraining Your Dog.” Liz Palika. Alpha Books; 2007.
“Loving Your Senior Dog.” Diane Morgan. TFH Publications; 2007.
“Small Dogs, Big Hearts: A Guide to Caring for Your Little Dog.” Darlene Arden. John Wiley & Sons; 2006.
“The Veterinarians’ Guide to Your Dog’s Symptoms.” Michael S. Garvey, DVM, et al. Villard; 1999.
Author’s personal experience.