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Originally Posted by Britster  I do agree; it is a risk. For sure. But I've always read a few stories of little dogs killing each other while no one was home as well, including 2 Yorkies. I think it works (big dog/little dog combos) more than not work, but of course you're going to read on the internet more about the bad things than the good things, because that's generally why people come to the internet, when there is a problem, so when reading this forum, you will read more problems than good things in general, just because it's a place people seek medical and training advice. I think you have to know your dog well (both little and large) and just be smart about things. If the dogs don't live together 24/7, I wouldn't leave them alone unsupervised. My grandma's large Lab is great with Jackson and he loves her, but because he's only been around her about 8-10 times or so, and never left alone with her, I wouldn't leave them alone unsupervised even though they've always 100% gotten along.
I believe that all dogs, large and small, need good training because, in all honesty, I meet alot more nice well behaved large dogs than small dogs, because their owners know the large dogs usually get blamed, lol. A 100lb GSD that is lunging at the end of its leash barking at other dogs while on a walk is going to get a lot more grief and criticism than a 4lb yorkie doing the same thing, and I think both situations need to be handled the same.
I totally think it's realistic for them to become friends, but you'd have to explain he mouthing and biting a little more. Is it aggressive or playful? That makes a huge difference. Also, my friends Yorkie, Nala, is on her back 90% of the time at the dog park, lol. She loves everybody... it's just what she does. She's just really submissive. But she has a blast at the dog park (we go in small dog section) but she's still always on her back. It's just the way she feels comfortable.
BTW-- this is not directly aimed at you Maximo! I'm just posting this as a general statement for this thread, even though slightly O/T. |
I absolutely agree that large breeds needs professional training but that goes for small dogs as well. I was at the petstore the other day and two elderly ladies had a chihuahua inside their cart and admitted to the cashier that their chihuahua will bite someone that it doesn't know when the cashier asked if their dog was nice.
When he bites her, its a soft bite that makes me know that he is aware of his bite inhibition but I still don't trust him because to him she is a dog that he can play with and unfortunately he does not know how rough is too rough. He also tends to use his paw to push her which is something that he gets reprimanded for. She barks at him when she knows he is being held back which I think causes the GSD to get more excited. The ironic thing is that when we take him to the dog park, he is afraid of dogs that are larger than him. He is a high-energy breed but my yorkie has a reputation with her vet and everyone else that knows her as being a hyper puppy hard to calm them down since they are both always excited and active. I really don't know how to go about doing this because I'm introducing a big puppy to a little puppy and everything I have read has been about introducing an older dog to a younger dog or vice versa.
He in general is a very good dog and all I want to do is set them both up for success. When we do the "training excercises" they are always 10 minutes or less (because the GSD gets too excited). I always have my bf and brother present with me when we do exercises like this for fear something could go wrong. I think my GSD gets upset when she is in his "room" (where we have his crate) because that is what he has established as his territory. She is crated in the bedroom with me because I had read somewhere online it is best to keep dogs in separate rooms when you first get them. My GSD was the first to join us and a month later I adopted my yorkie. We are moving to a new apartment in a week and a half so they will both be in a completely new environment so will that make any difference in how they acclimate to each other? I'm sure it will be a setback in potty training with my yorkie.
@ Ladymom: When I asked if I would have to keep them separated, I really wasn't asking for an opinion. Copying and pasting a sentence out of context and saying it mandates an opinion makes it look like that but my next sentence in my original post was gratitude for any advice that would be meaningful to my situation. What you had to say only made me feel like there was no hope for having my dogs coexist peacefully...which was why I said kicking one dog out was not an option for me because you said it was an unrealistic expectation.
They do live together and we definitely never leave any of them unsupervised since they are both puppies and like to explore and get their mouths on anything and everything. When we have to leave they are both crated in their own crates for their own safety and my peace of mind. It really is true that large breed dogs get more criticism than a small dog. I've had so many situations when walking my GSD and people back away from him in fear because he is such a large puppy and people have asked me if he bites based on breed stereotypes. We struggled to find an apartment because of the GSD because it is a restricted breed at so many apartments. I blame it on ignorance and poor handling on the owner's part.
I definitely appreciate all the advice and tips.