Small (toy) dogs.

greendawn

They are cute breeds like king Charles, maltese, pug, etc and one can see them often on the city streets taken for walks by their owners. They feel comfortable even in a small appartment, don't shed an aweful lot of hair, are affectionate, and don't cost much to feed.

On the other hand they are not made for very long walks out in the countryside or mountains they can accidently be seriously injured due to their delicate physique and can be very aggressive with strangers.

Do you prefer small or large dogs as pets?

Jordan

No dogs for me. They get in the way...

Elsewhere

That's all I got to say about that.

Ingenuous

I've got two maltese furbabies - littermates - and they are awesome, loyal companions.

They've got different personalities that continue to develop as they get older. They are truly "people" dogs - they'd rather be inside with their humans absorbing the conversation than running around a yard. They think everyone who comes to the apartment is there to see them. They are extremely intelligent and eager to please and pick up commands like lightning when we're training with the clicker. (Although the little boy gets an attitude when we repeat the same thing too often; he obeys but is such a drama queen about it!) Mine aren't aggressive in any sense, they mind well, and are excellent watchdogs. (A little too excellent - I've got an ultrasonic bark-breaker that keeps them quiet when they're inclined to take their job too seriously.) My little girl loves training and has a little "happy dance" she only does when we've had a training session.

As for stamina - many maltese are in agility and can likely be trained to hike longer periods than inside dogs - though I'm pretty sure they'll never give a malamute a run for its money. There are backpacks and jogging stollers available to carry them if necessary. (I suppose those are good for older, arthritic dogs who can't get around outside as well.) One consideration is that maltese don't have an undercoat; their coat is like the hair on our heads, so they legitimately need sweaters/coats (and possibly boots) in cold weather.

Being so little, I can sequester them in the kitchen without feeling they're cramped and I don't need large, heavy, expensive gates to block passageways. Mine are litter-box trained - an advantage of having small dogs. No walks in the rain or snow for us!

Being so small, they also have a longer anticipated lifespan: 18-20 years. I'm hooked and will likely stick with the breed when my two pass on.

Billygoat

((((Ingenuous))))

I too am a Maltese owner. You are right about awesome and loyal! I think mine thinks she's a people. She is VERY protective and thinks other dogs are completely beneath her. She LOVES humans and will do anything to get attention from them.

I adopted her from a neighbor (single-mom) that couldn't take care of her anymore. She is a rather large Maltese - 9 to 10 lbs, but still very portable. She was 2 1/2 when I got her and still quite the puppy. She has calmed down quite a bit, but I must say this dog is the silliest happiest little thing I've ever seen. She was not potty-trained when I got her - a little tidbit of information the original owner failed to tell me before I got her. But she had never been crate-trained, so two weeks in a crate and it broke her of any indoor elimination. She has a tiny bladder, so she still has her "accidents", but rarely. She'll bark at the back door to go out.

Maltese are very smart, but also very stubborn. It took 2 years (with part-time work) to teach her to sit. She's a pro now, but won't "Stay". "Shake" we're still working on as well. Mozz and I have considered some inexpensive dog training as she isn't very obedient, but that's our fault.

Many think Maltese are fussy dogs, but generally they are not. Maltese are very active and spritely and LOVE to get dirty. (Of course because they're WHITE!) But I keep mine in the puppy haircut, so she's not very high maintenance in that regard. She loves car rides and camping. If there's a puddle to walk through, she'll find it. If there's a pile of leaves to roll around in, she'll find it. If there's a lap to sit in, she'll find it. She's quite the cutie and I'm very tempted to get another like her when she passes on. She's only 7 years old, so God willing, I still have plenty of time with her.

So to make a long answer endless...I prefer small dogs. I'm small, so they're easier for me to tote around and control. Mozz on the other hand would love to have several large dogs. But he knows that if we do that, kids are out of the question.

Andi

Andrea Wideman

I prefer medium size dogs myself,preferably mutts adopted from the SPCA, but since I live in an apt we have a cat. Her name is Shadow and Joel and I adopted her from the SPCA to cheer me up right before I had my gall bladder removed. This cat was very helpful in cheering me up as she jumped on my incision the day I came home from the hospital. Also repeated that behavior a few more times before my screams of pain scared her off my tummy for good. Oh and I forgot to mention that every time she jumped on me she had been in Joel's arms. He always felt so bad when it happened but it kept happening. At least I can laugh about it now and Shadow still stays off my stomach.
I might have a better case for getting a dog if Joel liked them, but he considers them dumb, and if we had a house with a big yard. Oh well maybe in the future....

bull01lay

I like most dogs, and feel just as happy out walking a German Shepherd as I do walking a miniature Yorkshire Terrier.

As a pet, I do prefer a larger dog though.

My old German Shepherd used to think it was a lap dog.... she'd sit on your knee and you just knew you were stuck in the chair for the duration!!!

Bull!

Gretchen956

I've had both, I had a toy fox terrier, those dogs think they are bigger than ANYone out there. I didn't think I would ever want a big dog. Bandit never did socialize though, I think he may have come from a puppy farm. The older he got the more grouchy he got and would try to bite young kids and anyone else who came around me. He absolutely HATED men. He would jump up and clamp onto their pants and shake himself, dangling there about a foot or more off the ground. So I had to get rid of him. He was absolutely devoted to me though.

As a compromise with my partner I got a springer spaniel this time. He is an absolute joy and has such a great personality. Recently I got him a sister, she's still a puppy but will be about the same size, she's just adorable and a real charmer. (both are (or will be) about 50 pounds, considered medium). I have the best two dogs in the world.

Did I mention I also have two cats? lol

Sherry

Dansk

LOL at Elsewhere's cartoon picture.

I own two border collies (well, one is a poor excuse for a border collie and we don't believe she is. We picked them both up from a border collie rescue centre). Rosie and Sally are their names. Rosie is a genuine typical black and white smooth-haired border collie and extremely intelligent. Border collies were voted (in the UK) the most intelligent dogs in the world and I have to agree that Rosie is certainly the most intelligent dog I've ever owned.

I love German Shepherds (Alsations) too, but am not averse to small dogs as long as they can move like proper dogs and don't have to be carried everywhere because their bodies are too long or touch the ground (the fault of breeders).

I sometimes wonder who owns whom. A dog kept in a good loving home is set up for life. Mine sleep on my son's bed and get spoiled rotten. They're like furry children. Guess that's why dogs are so well loved. They are like children who never grow up and they take us for what we are. Many people could learn a valuable lesson from observing a happy dog in a loving home.

Ian

Billygoat

He absolutely HATED men. He would jump up and clamp onto their pants and shake himself, dangling there about a foot or more off the ground.

*giggle* Sorry. That's a great visual. Maybe the dog was trying to get you away from men???

So I had to get rid of him.

The men or the dog???

Small (toy) dogs.

Share this