I think yorkies have more personality in their faces than s**tzu's. I think s**tzu's have a sort of "duh" look about them, probably because of their squished faces....Of course, my neighbor has one and he is nice, but dull. I don't think they are all like that, I think they raised him like that. Maggie has so much more zip and life!
Maggie is a yorkiepoo of about 9.5 pounds. I don't know how much sturdier she is than a yorkie but she has a great personality.
I often wonder how much of the personality (or doggonality?) is from how they are raised or their genetic disposition? Why are some yappy and nippy and mean and others are not? Do uptight parents have uptight pups? My neighbor's dog is sort of uptight, but so is the whole family. (he isn't mean or nippy, just dull compared to Maggie-she is very playful even on a leash).
Maggie LOVES everybody. She wants to say hi to everyone and everything. I don't know if she wants to eat the squirrels or play with them. She growls at unknown strollers and dogs walking by, but if she sees them on a walk she wants to meet them. She has NEVER nipped or growled at a person. Is this because we were nurturing but laid back? Because we welcomed people to visit her while young and walked her outside at an early age? (some people do not walk their dogs, they let them out in their fences only-THAT can't help social skills!)
I would hope you can meet a few dogs to consider rescuing and that one will just click with your family. Maybe you can find a non-dull shihtzu! (actually, I know they are not ALL dull, another friend had one, but he was bad--poor training really, I think he could have been a good pet) |