why are some small dogs so angry

skylight1987 · 07-08-2011 9:17pm #1

Every time a jack russell or yorkshire terrior see my retriever they go mental, growling and barking ,it doesnt seem to bother him and after trying to play with a few and being growled at he just ignores them . But its got to the stage where i hate seeing these breed of dogs on my walks they are filled with aggression all the time

Chris_Heilong · 07-08-2011 9:32pm

Remember its not the breed but the size that counts;)

RubyGirl · 07-08-2011 9:50pm

Remember it's not the breed that's the problem but the person that own's the dog that did'nt socialise it properly.

strandroad · 07-08-2011 10:51pm

RubyGirl wrote: »

Remember it's not the breed that's the problem but the person that own's the dog that did'nt socialise it properly.

That is true. However, in my experience walking my extremely docile labrador larger dogs almost never bark or try to provoke him, whole smallish dogs almost always do. Which is actually hilarious as some of them are a small fraction of his size. They might be sensing that he's harmless though, he never rises up to it.

DBB · 07-08-2011 11:08pm

There is some cool research being carried out in Hungary at the moment which suggests that little dogs change the tone of their bark to make themselves "sound" bigger when confronted with bigger dogs.
It really is a case of big dog in small dog's body. Or giving the illusion of!:o

Squall19 · 07-08-2011 11:08pm

Some of them even attack:)

I get it all the time when I walk my Siberian husky/Alaskan Mal mix, I find they are fine off the lead.Its when they are on the lead and confident they wont get hurt that they get loud, off the lead they are not so brave.

He loves them anyway, they would really be going for him, giving it everything and he would just be playing:D

He has a little friend a few houses down, Miller a 3kg mini yorkshire terrior that he gets on great with, even though Miller is out weighed by 40kg he never gives up:D

I think they are a class breed.

DBB · 07-08-2011 11:18pm

In defence of small dogs, at least in defence of my small dogs (!), they regularly get accosted by at least as many, if not more, larger dogs out on walks.

carwash_2006 · 07-08-2011 11:22pm

Funny thing is, one of my small dogs practically ignores bigger dogs, unless like DBB's he gets accosted by them. But show him a small dog and he's straining at the lead and desperate to get at them, but then they are usually straining at their leads and often snarling.

paddyandy · 07-08-2011 11:30pm

Dogs are kept inside too much and they go mental.They need other dog company and a nice home means nothing to them.A dog is a social animal and needs other dogs.

Squall19 · 07-08-2011 11:43pm

paddyandy wrote: »

Dogs are kept inside too much and they go mental.They need other dog company and a nice home means nothing to them.A dog is a social animal and needs other dogs.

Exactly Paddy

MajorMax · 07-08-2011 11:46pm

It's not the size of the dog in the fight.
It's the size of the fight in the dog

DBB · 07-08-2011 11:50pm

paddyandy wrote: »

They need other dog company and a nice home means nothing to them.

So what do you suggest? Throw em all out in the garden so they can live in a semi-feral pack?

I know loads of dogs who are perfectly good and friendly with other dogs, but they'd choose to be with their owner hands-down. In fact, most dogs I know would prefer to be with their owner than with another dog. This is illustrated by the many owners who try to "cure" their dog's separation anxiety by getting another dog, and find they've two dogs with separation anxiety. Why? The dogs are not anxious to be with other dogs. They're anxious to be with their owners.
There are lots of breeds of dogs who just aren't into other dogs, not because they haven't been socialised, but because they've been bred for centuries to be solitary workers. They form close bonds with humans though.
I can't imagine how miserable these dogs would be if they were fecked outside to live with other dogs.

carwash_2006 · 08-08-2011 12:12am

Totally agree DBB.

Plus, there are lots of dogs that are fine with other dogs in the right circumstances. But, say on a lead is not a great time for them to meet other dogs. But, they may have to be on the lead for particular reasons. I can't leave my dog off the lead where there are other dogs because while he will be fine with a dog that is friendly and polite, if another dog even thinks of starting anything he is all up for it and could do a serious amount of damage himself, even though he is small, or he could get damaged which I'm not going to let happen if I can help it.

john t · 08-08-2011 12:22am

most dogs if well mixed with other dogs is fine, my r/b is 90?% off lead because she was introduced too other dogs and mixed at 6mnths..

carwash_2006 · 08-08-2011 12:43am

john t wrote: »

most dogs if well mixed with other dogs is fine, my r/b is 90?% off lead because she was introduced too other dogs and mixed at 6mnths..

Mine were mixed with other dogs, brought to puppy socialisation classes etc, but still have an attitude when it comes to other dogs, I understand that this is mostly because of the breed though. Although the bitch definitely has problems with some other dogs even though she was socialised very well.

john t · 08-08-2011 1:16am

My Alsation who is now 22mnths, my 2 daughters 2yrs nxt week and 5yrs last april both play wit her and comb her daily, she meets other dogs and owners as a big playful energetic pup/playful dog..I think small dogs want too ger first nip in too protect themselves...

lrushe · 08-08-2011 8:59am

I think alot of people don't see the need to discipline smaller dogs and let them away with alot more than they would with a bigger dog. My Chihuhua was brought up the exact same way as my Rottie, I expect the same behaviour from her as I do from my Rottie. I think this has alot to do with the fact that she is tolerant of almost anything and not at all snappy. She doesn't like strange dogs (she prefers people) but she will avoid them rather than attack them.

08-08-2011 1:08pm

I do feel a bit smug actually when I'm walking my lurcher near someone with a small dog, and the small dog goes nuts but my dog doesn't bat an eyelid

**Vai** · 08-08-2011 2:16pm

Irushe is absolutely right, small dogs dont get as much rules and regulations as big dogs. Im guilty of it myself even though I know its wrong. Nothing to do with the dog or the breed, its just that we see them, heart melts and result is; 'oh go on then get up on the couch'.

Amzie · 08-08-2011 4:55pm

Yeah I experience this all the time when I walk my samoyed, he just wants to play and sniff but small dogs 95% of them will bark, snarl, nip at him and the other 5% are shy and try and get away from him. Totally agree that some owners of small dogs dont discipline them as much as a bigger dog, prob because them being so small cute and then due to never enforcing this the small dog will always be snappy:(

trio · 08-08-2011 6:05pm

I have a small dog and I think it's really quite true that they're often not trained as well as bigger dogs.

We train our dog constantly just because we want a manageable dog, and it's paying off. But I was at the MADRA Expo there a few months ago, and sat beside an owner with an adorable little long-haired Chihuahua, and the little bastard just went for my dog. I was shocked! And instead of correcting him, his owner just cooed at him as if he was a baby!

Our dog is the opposite to what the OP has experienced actually - falls in love with every big dog he meets, the bigger the better. But dogs his own size beware! We're doing a lot of work with him, and he's getting a lot better. No barking and lunging now, just quivering with resentment! Hey, it's an improvement!

boodlesdoodles · 08-08-2011 7:10pm

I have a westie, there's nothing he loves more than being around us. On walks he strolls around with the best attitude when he meets other dogs, he takes absolutely no notice of them unless they happen to be black dogs. He was attacked by a Kerry blue last year completely unprovoked. The KB got off his lead and crossed the road to get to my guy. He was left with puncture wounds on his neck and only for an experienced neighbour unlocking the KB's jaw I don't know what would have happened. We've tried our best to get him to take no notice of black dogs but to no avail. Now we just walk around them so as not to traumatise him.

metaoblivia · 08-08-2011 7:36pm

I have a small dog, and he's still young so still learning. He was a rescue and is a "hybrid" breed (not why we got him; we didn't know what the hell he was and didn't really care; we just liked him). Anyway, he's called a Puggit - a cross between a pug and an Italian greyhound.

But he does have guard dog tendencies - when someone new comes to the house, he'll bark. He settles down when we tell him, but he's territorial. On walks, if he meets a very big dog, he just gets scared and runs behind me. If he feels threatened he might snap, but usually he just sits very still and lets the dog sniff him. Now, if the dog's on the other side of the street, he'll be very interested and will give some soft barks. He used to get a lot more excited, but we don't like for him to do that, so we make him sit still until he settles down and bring treats to distract him.

tatabubbly · 08-08-2011 7:37pm

Sorry mods but i am sick to death of these threads bashing small dogs/large dogs... blah.

dogs aren't angry, they are just badly trained, apart from old grumpy dogs who like to get their on way

It's not about size, big or small, just about training.

It really angers me when i read, are small dogs angry/barky etc... Mine aren't.

Cherry Blossom · 08-08-2011 7:49pm

tatabubbly wrote: »

Sorry mods but i am sick to death of these threads bashing small dogs/large dogs... blah.

dogs aren't angry, they are just badly trained, apart from old grumpy dogs who like to get their on way

It's not about size, big or small, just about training.

It really angers me when i read, are small dogs angry/barky etc... Mine aren't.

No need to be sorry! As the owner of the friendliest Westie in the world, I completely agree

sambuka41 · 08-08-2011 7:59pm

DBB wrote: »

I know loads of dogs who are perfectly good and friendly with other dogs, but they'd choose to be with their owner hands-down.

There are lots of breeds of dogs who just aren't into other dogs, not because they haven't been socialised, but because they've been bred for centuries to be solitary workers. They form close bonds with humans though.

I agree 100% with this. I have tried for 18 months to get my little one to be more comfortable with other dogs,to no avail. She is good for the most part but gets very scared if a big black dog runs at her!!

(and it is black dogs in particular,no idea why though,cause she plays with the black german sheppard next door sometimes

) When she is scared she barks,it not anger, or not being socialised, she gets a fright.

Mine is half Sheltie,half Pomeranian. Every other Sheltie owner I have met has said the same, they are much happier with their owners than other dogs. She will tolerate the company of another dog for about 20 mins then she is done, she wants the dog to go away!!!

theghost · 08-08-2011 11:48pm

I have 2 JRT crosses who go mental when they see other dogs if they (my two) are on leads but are perfectly quiet and pleased to meet other dogs when not on the lead. No amount of disciplining seems to have any effect.

paddyandy · 08-08-2011 11:50pm

DBB wrote: »

So what do you suggest? Throw em all out in the garden so they can live in a semi-feral pack?
I know loads of dogs who are perfectly good and friendly with other dogs, but they'd choose to be with their owner hands-down. In fact, most dogs I know would prefer to be with their owner than with another dog. This is illustrated by the many owners who try to "cure" their dog's separation anxiety by getting another dog, and find they've two dogs with separation anxiety. Why? The dogs are not anxious to be with other dogs. They're anxious to be with their owners.
There are lots of breeds of dogs who just aren't into other dogs, not because they haven't been socialised, but because they've been bred for centuries to be solitary workers. They form close bonds with humans though.
I can't imagine how miserable these dogs would be if they were fecked outside to live with other dogs.

i MAY BE WRONG then i was quoting Cathal Shannon talking with Gay Byrne some years ago who seemed to explain why some dogs are so highly strung.

DBB · 08-08-2011 11:55pm

paddyandy wrote: »

i MAY BE WRONG then i was quoting Cathal Shannon talking with Gay Byrne some years ago who seemed to explain why some dogs are so highly strung.

The broadcaster?
Is he an authority on dog behaviour?

paddyandy · 09-08-2011 12:07am

DBB wrote: »

The broadcaster?
Is he an authority on dog behaviour?

Yes: broadcaster authority :sounded so. A long time ago i was very impressed at the time though i can't remember
all that he said but he blamed the owners for making "nut cases" out of their pets.NUT CASES were his actual words.

DBB · 09-08-2011 12:15am

There's no doubt that the way a dog is kept has a big effect on his behaviour, but it's a tad sweeping to suggest they all need to live outside in packs. Some parents make nut-jobs of their children too, often for the same reasons some owners make nut-jobs of their dogs, but I don't hear anyone advocating shoving kids outside?
Indeed, whilst I'm not aware of Shannon having any expertise in animal behaviour, I do know many fully qualified and renowned dog behaviourists who would also disagree with the advice to leave the dog outside with lots of other dogs.
Dogs just don't work like that, and such advice is very outdated and based on spurious ideologies.
Which is perhaps why your use of his advice jars somewhat.

why are some small dogs so angry

Comments