I don't like little dogs.
Apr. 7th, 2015 05:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
angledgeMy neighbor S* - my closest friend here in Denver - just took over care for a second dog. This dog, Sophie, is nine years old & has been poorly cared for by S's younger sister. Since S* & I often have our dogs our in the shared yard playing together, or walk our dogs together, I've been spending a lot of time with Sophie. She's a puggle, maybe ten pounds, with lots of health issues stemming from neglect.
And I don't like her.
I have NEVER liked little dogs. I didn't like Sliver, my mom's cherished Yorkie mix rescue. He was squirmy, prone to biting, & too big for his teensy britches. Stacy also had a small dog, a miniature Pinscher. I despised that dog too (to the point of wanting to kick it on a daily basis). I have a couple of friends who adore their weiner dogs, but all I see when I look at them are mockeries of what a dog should be.
They ALWAYS look pitiful, or guilty, or deceitful. They skulk. A little dog always seems to be furtively mincing around, looking for food, or trying to find a cozy corner of the house in which to take a tiny crap. When they're sitting in your lap, they don't ever seem to relax, like a cat does. It's like holding a stress bomb up close to your body.
They seem to suffer disproportionately from the gross facial deformities that make me hate dog breeders - ridiculous underbites, protruding eyes, oversized skulls. The healthier breeds - terriers & daschunds, for instance - at least seem functional, but they tend to be hyper & yappy. The "toy" breeds - bred just to be small & cute - may not be as hyper, but they're rarely well-behaved. I think people find it hard to discipline such a small dog - you can't smack them without real risk of damage, you sometimes can't grab & shake them because they move so fast, & I think they get a "pass" on bad behavior because they're tiny. Ask most animal professionals (vets, groomers, dog walkers, etc.) & they will tell you - little dogs will bite you first.
And finally, they don't fulfill my dog expectations - at all. I expect a dog to be willing to wrestle with me. I want my dog to bark & growl at strangers - with the possibility that such behavior would actually intimidate & deter a potential intruder/assailant. I want my dog to be willing & eager to swim & walk & hike with me - for long distances, sometimes. And when I hug my dog, I want to be able to really give a hug - not cup a little critter in my hands & hope I don't accidentally throttle it.
And I don't like her.
I have NEVER liked little dogs. I didn't like Sliver, my mom's cherished Yorkie mix rescue. He was squirmy, prone to biting, & too big for his teensy britches. Stacy also had a small dog, a miniature Pinscher. I despised that dog too (to the point of wanting to kick it on a daily basis). I have a couple of friends who adore their weiner dogs, but all I see when I look at them are mockeries of what a dog should be.
They ALWAYS look pitiful, or guilty, or deceitful. They skulk. A little dog always seems to be furtively mincing around, looking for food, or trying to find a cozy corner of the house in which to take a tiny crap. When they're sitting in your lap, they don't ever seem to relax, like a cat does. It's like holding a stress bomb up close to your body.
They seem to suffer disproportionately from the gross facial deformities that make me hate dog breeders - ridiculous underbites, protruding eyes, oversized skulls. The healthier breeds - terriers & daschunds, for instance - at least seem functional, but they tend to be hyper & yappy. The "toy" breeds - bred just to be small & cute - may not be as hyper, but they're rarely well-behaved. I think people find it hard to discipline such a small dog - you can't smack them without real risk of damage, you sometimes can't grab & shake them because they move so fast, & I think they get a "pass" on bad behavior because they're tiny. Ask most animal professionals (vets, groomers, dog walkers, etc.) & they will tell you - little dogs will bite you first.
And finally, they don't fulfill my dog expectations - at all. I expect a dog to be willing to wrestle with me. I want my dog to bark & growl at strangers - with the possibility that such behavior would actually intimidate & deter a potential intruder/assailant. I want my dog to be willing & eager to swim & walk & hike with me - for long distances, sometimes. And when I hug my dog, I want to be able to really give a hug - not cup a little critter in my hands & hope I don't accidentally throttle it.
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no subject
Date: 2015-04-09 09:14 pm (UTC)My brother has a Jack Russell. MacLeod. MacLeod is named after the Highlander character, completely inappropriately. You nailed his personality in your description above; particularly the 'find a cosy corner...' bit.
You're also right on the 'you can't smack them without real risk of damage'. In my experience a proper dog likes a good smack on the arse. If you cannot wrestle the hell out of a dog, what good are they?
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Date: 2015-04-09 09:18 pm (UTC)Exactly. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose, but for me, a dog needs to big enough that I can get on the floor & wrestle with it, without fearing I'll crush it accidentally.
Shadeaux is about 60 lbs., for the record. Good wrestling size.
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Date: 2015-04-10 04:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-04-10 04:39 pm (UTC)