Big Dog vs. Small Dog

Lieja

Small dog owner's fault. Unless you want all dogs muzzled at all times, then as much training as you like can't guarantee that a dog won't retaliate against what it thinks is an attack.

Paradigm

Person_one wrote: »

Congratulations! You just joined the irresponsible owners club along with the one you came on here to complain about!

Owners like you are the reason so many owners of smaller dogs are reluctant to let them socialise with bigger dogs, no matter how friendly they are or how sensible the owner.

:eek: WOW!!!!

krlyr

Person_one wrote: »

So you aren't going to take any steps to try and prevent your dog from picking up and potentially injuring another small dog should this happen again?

Congratulations! You just joined the irresponsible owners club along with the one you came on here to complain about!

Owners like you are the reason so many owners of smaller dogs are reluctant to let them socialise with bigger dogs, no matter how friendly they are or how sensible the owner. They are naturally scared that the bigger dog may cause damage due to its size and strength. Its a real shame because then both dogs miss out on valuable socialisation and play.

But the little dog didn't just run over and get bitten. By "having a go" I'm assuming little dog was acting aggressively. Husky reacted, like any other dog, defensively. Difference here is that little dog was Husky mouth sized. However, Husky could have done a lot of damage and didn't, which shows good bite inhibition and a lack of true intention.

If little dog ran over to a Dachshund, 'had a go' and Dachshund nipped as retaliation, is the Dachshund in the wrong?

That's why I was asking the severity of the Husky's reaction - whether it was disproportionate to the little dog's behaviour. I don't think a dog gobbing off at another dog warrants a physical reaction, but if little dog initiated the biting, Husky's response may have been reasonable.



Btw, when I say yap, I say it in the onomatopoeia way. Little dog barks often sound like a yap. So does my Rottie x sometimes, for some reason. So I don't say it as an insult to small dogs (or their owners) but just that a little bark tends to be a yap, IMO.

wannabe_credit_free

The owner of the dog offlead is to blame. Its against most local bylaws to walk your dog on public streets offlead. A dog offlead, is a dog not under control.

I've had both large and small dogs and all were kept onlead in public. I personally don't want my dogs or myself jumped on by someone elses dog that I do not know.

Owners should take responsibility for their dogs. I don't blame the dogs, I blame the irresponsible owners.

PlymouthMaid

I think both dogs were off lead in this tale weren't they and the post did not say anything about them being on the public road at the time.

I didn't mean yappy as an insult to small dogs either btw just as somebody above said, it was what this particular dog was doing.

trollopscarletwoman

PlymouthMaid wrote: »

I think both dogs were off lead in this tale weren't they and the post did not say anything about them being on the public road at the time.

I didn't mean yappy as an insult to small dogs either btw just as somebody above said, it was what this particular dog was doing.

If referring to original post the big dog was on the lead unless I've read it wrong.

PlymouthMaid

Apologies, yes big dog was on lead. In a way, in my mind, that makes it even more important that little dog owner should have called her dog away as most dogs are more defensive when on lead.

missindecisive

I am stunned at this thread. People get so heated about their dogs! I've owned various breeds, including a small toy poodle, who was a lovely sort, very loyal but boy when he decided to bark it was definitely a yap!

Notsosharp

Person_one wrote: »

I don't really see why the size of the dog matters. I'm seriously fed up of people stereotyping small dogs as yappy, snappy and having 'attitude'.

But my dog is small and she is yappy, snappy and has an attitude problem in that she is utterly stubborn.

catkins

I like big and small dogs but often owners of small dogs let them get away with things just because they are small.


I go to my local park almost every day, sometimes more than once in a day and literally every day there will be at least 1 small dog running around out of control, jumping at other dogs, sometimes snapping at other dogs and the owners usually just laugh. Occasionally there will be a larger dog but it is almost always small dogs.


As I said, I can't let my dog offlead at present and, to be honest, even when his recall is good I am not sure I will let him off in the local park as it is relatively small, close to roads and he is a sight hound! I know a couple of other dog owners who, for various reasons, do not/cannot let their dog offlead and they too moan about dogs running up to their dog and hassling them.


I don't mind if a dog (big or small) runs up to mine to sniff and say a doggy hello. It is when they jump around mine, run round him in circles, bark at him (well it sound more like a yap to me but that seems to upset people on here) or even snap at him. The dog owner often will call their dog but the dog ignores it. I usually then try and walk away but more often than not the small dogs follows us still running round my dog.


If the owner bothers to come over and try and get their dog they nearly always laugh and say how cheeky and naughty their dog is as though it is a huge joke. I can guarantee that they would not think it funny if a large dog were doing the same to their onlead dog.


Of course not all small dog owners are like this but I can't understand just why so many are. Why is it supposedly acceptable to have an illbehaved disobedient small dog?