Dog Owner Chat! (for-fun poll added) (new chat)

[Saracirce]

I was just thinking more on the topic of little dogs and aggression and it hit me that I never really mentioned something that I think is key.

Even if the owner treats the small dog being aggressive as something serious, most people don't. They'll tease and harass the dog because it's 'funny' and they know the dog can't/isn't likely to seriously hurt them. Even if the owner tries to be proactive about not putting their dog in that situation, it can happen when it's not expected or even family will do it. It doesn't take much for a situation like that to make a dog worse or confirm it's suspicions that strangers = bad/scary.

I know it's something that's happened a few times with Lolita. The most recent time was when my step-sister's boyfriend's friend (we shall call him C) came over last year. While we usually don't bring Lolita out while there are visitors around, he happened to be there when it was time for her to go potty. I brought her down and stopped to say something to one of my stepsister's, still holding Lolita in my arm. She started barking because people and C apparently thought he could impress me with his bravado (he had a stalker level crush on me and couldn't take no for an answer) by putting his hands as close to Lolita's face as he could and then pulling them away before she could bite (it was in a sort of jabbing motion so it probably looked to Lolita like he was about to hit her). He only did this once and I immediately pulled her away and told him off in language very inappropriate for these forums. I let her out and then immediately took her back to my mom's room before C had the chance to try anything again. I also never brought her out again whenever C was at the house but, if we let her out right after C had been visiting, she would smell him in the house. She would obviously be stressed, stiff and you had to be careful how you approached her and make sure she knew who you were (poor eyesight, little hearing) or she'd nip. That was ONE time that he did that and for 5 seconds top and she didn't forget his smell.

[Lupen]

I know what you mean.

Even though Koda is medium (35 pounds last time we weighed him), when family comes over they like to roar and chase him. Which makes him bark and run away. While it isn't aggressive behavior it is fearful - I can tell when he's playing and when he isn't. With him still being young I hate it even more. I'm trying to get him to be confident and friendly with people and dogs. Having people chase him and scare him is going to have the opposite affect.

I've seen far too many videos of people teasing dogs, especially small, growing chihuahuas and the like... and it makes my skin crawl.

[FuzzyThePunkCat]

Omg exactly. My grandmother's Yorkie resource guards because when he was a puppy my dad made it into a "game". He will bring the toy up to you and then shove his face into it when you go to grab it and growl violently. People always shove their hands against his face while he is doing it to prove how he won't bite them. He holds onto things so hard now that I have to lift him up off the ground by thwart ever he is holding to get things like socks and stuff from him. One day this contractor and her friend were at my grandmother's house and teasing his aggression from both sides and laughing until he bit one of them and then they freaked out.
People see aggressive small dogs as funny and it's ridiculous.

[Saracirce]

I know what you mean.

Even though Koda is medium (35 pounds last time we weighed him), when family comes over they like to roar and chase him. Which makes him bark and run away. While it isn't aggressive behavior it is fearful - I can tell when he's playing and when he isn't. With him still being young I hate it even more. I'm trying to get him to be confident and friendly with people and dogs. Having people chase him and scare him is going to have the opposite affect.

I've seen far too many videos of people teasing dogs, especially small, growing chihuahuas and the like... and it makes my skin crawl.

Yeah, Lolita completely lost her cool when C did that to her and just went full on 'i will eat you' mode. (Usually her barking at strangers in the house when I'm holding her is more a warning to them then anything and more kinda half hearted unless she's really feeling threatened). I was so POed at him when he did that. I had only just met him but after that time and after he also teased the turtle I had at the time, I absolutely could not stand him. (His stalker-like behavior didn't help matters either)

I really can not stand people who tease aggressive dogs. Especially if you would tease a little dog but wouldn't tease a large dog.

[scully☆]

Ugh, there is NOTHING funny about small dog aggression. There's a new app called "vine," where you share short, six second videos, and I've seen far too many vines of people putting their phone close to a small dog's face, making it growl and laughing about it. If you wouldn't do it to a large dog you shouldn't do if to a small dog. There shouldn't be a double standard.

[blue;]

How much does she weigh? Can you give us some better pictures straight on from the side? (Similar to this)

grizz weighs around 20-30 pounds..not heavy at all. and ill try to get side pics

[scully☆]

How much does she weigh? Can you give us some better pictures straight on from the side? (Similar to this)

grizz weighs around 20-30 pounds..not heavy at all. and ill try to get side pics

She looks like she could be part corgi, maybe some chihuahua, I'm not really sure what else.

[gingertail98]

Unfortunately we booked an appointment today to get Lucky euthanized. We made it for Saturday afternoon, as it is the only time all of us are free to go say our goodbyes. I don't even know what to say. I've know this was coming since the beginning of December when they told us he had Bone Cancer. Although, I suppose given the 1 to 2 week life span he was given, getting a week into January is pretty good. It's not fair to make him keep suffering though. He's hopping around on 3 legs, crying out in pain if his leg bumps something, he's lost a bunch of weight, and he just looks sad in general, he doesn't even want to play. So, I suppose this is what's for the best for him. I just feel so numb. I love my Daft Punk doggie. </3

[Lupen]

I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to loose a pet all too well and I know nothing I say will take the pain away. But I hope that you at least find comfort in the fact you did all that you could, and while his time with you was short, it was the best time of his life. At least he'll be free from the pain now, too. It goes without saying as you clearly know this already, but its for the best, you're doing him a huge favor. :(

[Keletheryl]

Ugh, there is NOTHING funny about small dog aggression. There's a new app called "vine," where you share short, six second videos, and I've seen far too many vines of people putting their phone close to a small dog's face, making it growl and laughing about it. If you wouldn't do it to a large dog you shouldn't do if to a small dog. There shouldn't be a double standard.

Once, I got bit by a large dog, and it gave me a black eye. I got scared.
Once, I got bit by a small dog, and it tore off a bit of my finger. I got scared.

There most definitely should not be a double standard, because dogs are dogs no matter what.
And small dogs, though obviously not all the time, tend to be more aggressive simply because people allow them to be.