Small Dog Syndrome

[OSoSwift]

Actually had a conversation with someone recently who wants a small dog next as they don't have the time to put into training a larger one..................okay then.

[RiverStar-Aura]

Thanks Powerlegs for the link. Interestingly, the research involved only 49 different dog breeds and a sentence in the actual document states that some groups (esp. terriers) aren't well represented. I think only about 10 breeds of the 49 studied are classified as small/toy or terrier breeds.

How this labels the study as being about 'small dog syndrome' has me I do know the media jumped on board with it because I saw the article being discussed on The Project for about 10 seconds.

There are images of the 49 included breeds in the link that Powerlegs provided.

[_PL_]

It's a work of genius don't you know.

Just like the news article.

[melzawelza]

Correlating head shape with behaviour? Idiotic.

There are 20,000 genes that create a dog.

Six of that 20,000 govern the shape of the dog's head.

None of those six also govern behaviour.

This is just the same old BSL junk science trotted out again, except against small dogs. This research fails to take in to account the OWNER'S behaviour and how they interact with the dog. As many people have said, lots of small dog owners don't bother with training/socialisation because the dog is much easier to handle if it has issues.

[aussielover]

Actually they have found that seemingly trivial things like the direction of a hair whorl, and whether the dog is left or right "handed" are indicators of success in a guide dog training program.

http://www.journalvetbehavior.com/article/S1558-7878(08)00078-6/abstract

As for the original article, it does seem a bit unnecessary. In my experience working with dogs, I find that smaller dogs aggressive behaviours are better tolerated by owners, the general public and even those of us who work in the animal industry.

I also think that a lot of the behaviour comes down to the genetics of the dog and the amount of training the owner has done with it.

[Danois]

I reckon we just see the bad natured little dogs more because big dogs with crappy natures are hard to take out and about so their owners leave them at home but little dogs are much easier to hold on to even if they are snapping and carrying on so their owners still take them out. Therefore more exposure skews the perception.

I disagree with this. In my experience, owners of big dogs actually put the work into training their dogs because they know that an out of control giant is a liability and can easily lift them off their feet. They are also cognisant of the fact that the dog's size means behaviours are more noticeable than in a small dog. They are also aware of the usual bias that if a big dog and a small dog go head to head then they will get the blame simply because their dog is the big one.

I also find that it is a different type of person who owns big/ giant breeds than who owns small breeds and they are also less likely to mollycoddle or treat their dog like a baby/ child.

If you live with a big/ giant breed (as in share the same physical space), there is a hell of a lot less tolerance for brattish behaviour.

[Simply Grand]

I reckon we just see the bad natured little dogs more because big dogs with crappy natures are hard to take out and about so their owners leave them at home but little dogs are much easier to hold on to even if they are snapping and carrying on so their owners still take them out. Therefore more exposure skews the perception.

I disagree with this. In my experience, owners of big dogs actually put the work into training their dogs because they know that an out of control giant is a liability and can easily lift them off their feet. They are also cognisant of the fact that the dog's size means behaviours are more noticeable than in a small dog. They are also aware of the usual bias that if a big dog and a small dog go head to head then they will get the blame simply because their dog is the big one.

I also find that it is a different type of person who owns big/ giant breeds than who owns small breeds and they are also less likely to mollycoddle or treat their dog like a baby/ child.

If you live with a big/ giant breed (as in share the same physical space), there is a hell of a lot less tolerance for brattish behaviour.

A large percentage of the dogs surrendered to the shelter where I work are medium to large dogs who are surrendered because they become destructive and disruptive to the household because the owners have not put the effort into training them when they are young and smaller so when they get big the owners are unable to contol them to walk them or exercise them in public. Therefore the dog spends all its time at home without sufficient exercise, becomes increasingly frustrated and annoying and so is relegated to the backyard where the people spend less and less time with it because it's so aroused when it does get interaction.

A vicious cycle and a common one, so I'd tend to agree with kelpiecuddles.

[danielleheather]

The problem on the Gold Coast is that only two types of people own small dogs and that's airheaded bimbos who parade their Chihuaua's around the dog par and then yell at people when the stupid thing starts barking and snapping at bigger dogs "Oh your monstrous dog is scaring mine! stop it! get away!" a girl actually said that to me whereas my dog was only looking at it in obvious disgust. I think it said "Bella" in diamontes on the little beasts bright pink jacket that matched it's mummy dearest; and 2 are old people who believe it does nothing wrong and that when it bites your ankles YOU

[Salukifan]

The problem on the Gold Coast is that only two types of people own small dogs and that's airheaded bimbos who parade their Chihuaua's around the dog par and then yell at people when the stupid thing starts barking and snapping at bigger dogs "Oh your monstrous dog is scaring mine! stop it! get away!" a girl actually said that to me whereas my dog was only looking at it in obvious disgust. I think it said "Bella" in diamontes on the little beasts bright pink jacket that matched it's mummy dearest; and 2 are old people who believe it does nothing wrong and that when it bites your ankles YOU

Me in Dec 13:

I predict this study will get a good workout from the SWF haters in the months

to come/

Nice of someone to prove my earlier prediction correct.

Edited June 12, 2014 by Haredown Whippets

[trinabean]

The problem on the Gold Coast is that only two types of people own small dogs and that's airheaded bimbos who parade their Chihuaua's around the dog par and then yell at people when the stupid thing starts barking and snapping at bigger dogs "Oh your monstrous dog is scaring mine! stop it! get away!" a girl actually said that to me whereas my dog was only looking at it in obvious disgust. I think it said "Bella" in diamontes on the little beasts bright pink jacket that matched it's mummy dearest; and 2 are old people who believe it does nothing wrong and that when it bites your ankles YOU

Me in Dec 13:

I predict this study will get a good workout from the SWF haters in the months

to come/

Nice of someone to prove my earlier prediction correct.

:laugh:

[melzawelza]

The problem on the Gold Coast is that only two types of people own small dogs and that's airheaded bimbos who parade their Chihuaua's around the dog par and then yell at people when the stupid thing starts barking and snapping at bigger dogs "Oh your monstrous dog is scaring mine! stop it! get away!" a girl actually said that to me whereas my dog was only looking at it in obvious disgust. I think it said "Bella" in diamontes on the little beasts bright pink jacket that matched it's mummy dearest; and 2 are old people who believe it does nothing wrong and that when it bites your ankles YOU

Me in Dec 13:

I predict this study will get a good workout from the SWF haters in the months

to come/

Nice of someone to prove my earlier prediction correct.

:laugh: Classic.

[danielleheather]

The problem on the Gold Coast is that only two types of people own small dogs and that's:

1; air-headed bimbos who parade their Chihuahua's around the dog par and then yell at people when the stupid thing starts barking and snapping at bigger dogs "Oh your monstrous dog is scaring mine! stop it! get away!" a girl actually said that to me whereas my dog was only looking at it with his unimpressed face :p (Winston secretly loves little dogs but is afraid of foxies and chihuahuas cause 90% of the time he meets them they bite him and he knows not to bite back although i know he wants to). I think it said "Bella" in diamantes (or however you spell it) on the little beasts bright pink jacket that matched it's mummy dearest;

and 2 are old people who believe it does nothing wrong and that when it bites your ankles YOU must have done something to provoke it because schnookums wouldn't hurt a fly. You treat a dog like a spoiled brat and you get little dog syndrome meaning it's little and it think's it's big however they don't learn their lesson when the bigger dogs don't take very kindly to Beverly Hills Chihuahua coming into their park and acting like twits. That's the Gold Coast. Retirees and walking talking helium tanks.

What's the point in walking a dog by carrying it under your arm? Lol.

[Rosetta]

The problem on the Gold Coast is that only two types of people own small dogs and that's:

1; air-headed bimbos who parade their Chihuahua's around the dog par and then yell at people when the stupid thing starts barking and snapping at bigger dogs "Oh your monstrous dog is scaring mine! stop it! get away!" a girl actually said that to me whereas my dog was only looking at it with his unimpressed face :p (Winston secretly loves little dogs but is afraid of foxies and chihuahuas cause 90% of the time he meets them they bite him and he knows not to bite back although i know he wants to). I think it said "Bella" in diamantes (or however you spell it) on the little beasts bright pink jacket that matched it's mummy dearest;

and 2 are old people who believe it does nothing wrong and that when it bites your ankles YOU must have done something to provoke it because schnookums wouldn't hurt a fly. You treat a dog like a spoiled brat and you get little dog syndrome meaning it's little and it think's it's big however they don't learn their lesson when the bigger dogs don't take very kindly to Beverly Hills Chihuahua coming into their park and acting like twits. That's the Gold Coast. Retirees and walking talking helium tanks.

What's the point in walking a dog by carrying it under your arm? Lol.

Are you for real? Had to check the calendar to see whether school hols had started. Talk about a bull in a china shop :laugh:

[Guest donatella]

The problem on the Gold Coast is that only two types of people own small dogs and that's:

1; air-headed bimbos who parade their Chihuahua's around the dog par and then yell at people when the stupid thing starts barking and snapping at bigger dogs "Oh your monstrous dog is scaring mine! stop it! get away!" a girl actually said that to me whereas my dog was only looking at it with his unimpressed face :p (Winston secretly loves little dogs but is afraid of foxies and chihuahuas cause 90% of the time he meets them they bite him and he knows not to bite back although i know he wants to). I think it said "Bella" in diamantes (or however you spell it) on the little beasts bright pink jacket that matched it's mummy dearest;

and 2 are old people who believe it does nothing wrong and that when it bites your ankles YOU must have done something to provoke it because schnookums wouldn't hurt a fly. You treat a dog like a spoiled brat and you get little dog syndrome meaning it's little and it think's it's big however they don't learn their lesson when the bigger dogs don't take very kindly to Beverly Hills Chihuahua coming into their park and acting like twits. That's the Gold Coast. Retirees and walking talking helium tanks.

What's the point in walking a dog by carrying it under your arm? Lol.

As I live on the Gold Coast and have 2 small dogs and am not old I guess I must fit into the first catgegory. Idiot

[Leah82]

The problem on the Gold Coast is that only two types of people own small dogs and that's:

1; air-headed bimbos who parade their Chihuahua's around the dog par and then yell at people when the stupid thing starts barking and snapping at bigger dogs "Oh your monstrous dog is scaring mine! stop it! get away!" a girl actually said that to me whereas my dog was only looking at it with his unimpressed face :p (Winston secretly loves little dogs but is afraid of foxies and chihuahuas cause 90% of the time he meets them they bite him and he knows not to bite back although i know he wants to). I think it said "Bella" in diamantes (or however you spell it) on the little beasts bright pink jacket that matched it's mummy dearest;

and 2 are old people who believe it does nothing wrong and that when it bites your ankles YOU must have done something to provoke it because schnookums wouldn't hurt a fly. You treat a dog like a spoiled brat and you get little dog syndrome meaning it's little and it think's it's big however they don't learn their lesson when the bigger dogs don't take very kindly to Beverly Hills Chihuahua coming into their park and acting like twits. That's the Gold Coast. Retirees and walking talking helium tanks.

What's the point in walking a dog by carrying it under your arm? Lol.

I'm pretty sure these are actually the same type of people, just separated by age :laugh:

[OSoSwift]

Only two types of people own small dogs........okay then.............that is quite a broad generalisation.

I know of some very intellegent people who own small well behaved and trained dogs. I also know of dickheads that own small, medium and large untrained dogs that bark and growl and carry on like idiots.

Must remember to tell the small dog owners they are morons and either a blonde dumb bimbo or an old blonde bimbo or just old.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[Boronia]

Perhaps you are writing 'tongue in cheek' danielleheather, one would hope so as you surely can't be for real.

[Loving my Oldies]

What a charmer. I predict a long and illustrious tenure on DOL.

[Guest donatella]

I must tell my delicate little darling she's not to come inside looking like this:

It's really ruining my Gold Coast image

[Loving my Oldies]

You should be totally ashamed, Donatella. You are letting all the Bimbos down. And WHERE IS YIU BABY'S DIAMENTE COLLAR. :whip: