In defense of little dogs

I visit another dog forum from time to time in order to broaden my knowledge about dogs in general. There are more big-dog owners there, and I sometimes get information that I can't get here.

Recently, someone there posted a rant about "freaking" little dogs. I bit my tongue for a week and finally decided that the best way to address it was with a blog entry. I thought I'd pass on a version of that here in case others run across the same ignorance and are looking for arguments to address it. Here it is (I apologize for the length):

A recent thread about people "coddling" little dogs got me to thinking that little dogs might need a defender around here. There are some stereotypes and misconceptions about little dogs that I'd like to address.

First of all, I'm not upset by any of them. I understand. For the first 40-plus years of my life, I was the one who was disgusted by small dogs. I didn't see the point. But I changed my opinion when one was thrust upon me. I learned to appreciate them. And that's what I'm hoping to do with this blog entry. Just to plant a seed. Maybe the stereotypes are wrong.

Rather than go into a long tirade, I'll just list some of the comments that I felt were unfair followed by my response.

* Comment: Little dogs bite.

Response: Biting is not just a small dog phenomenon. No dog, with the exception of trained attack dogs, should be allowed to bite. I honestly haven't run across a small dog that bites, well, not since its puppy years. So to single out small dogs for biting when medium, large and extra-large dogs also bite doesn't seem like a fair appraisal.

* Small-dog owners carry their dogs wherever they go.

Response: This reminds me of a joke a gay co-worker once told me: Why do dogs lick their genitals? Because they can.

I apologize for the humor, but it helps with my point: Small-dog owners occasionally carry their dogs because they can. Who hasn't carried a puppy? Why did you do it? Because you could. Small dogs don't grow beyond puppy size, and they can be carried.

I'm not saying you should carry small dogs around ala Paris Hilton, but there are occasions when it's appropriate. My small dogs are the machoest small dogs on the planet, but I've carried them in a crowd when they could have been stepped on and a leg broken. I've also carried my geriatric 4-pounder when he couldn't keep up with my 10-pounder trudging through the snow. And I've carried my 10-pounder in areas where dogs aren't allowed but when I wanted to bend the rules. In fact, I'm required to carry Eddie for his therapy dog visits to the hospital because he was tested as a small dog.

To say that people carry small dogs all the time because you've seen them carry the dogs once is unfair. I have a friend who stuffs her 4-pounder in her coat when she visits friends because it's convenient. She doesn't have to worry about her getting stepped on. But the dog is in no way out of shape. It is the fastest dog at the dog park.

* Little dogs yap. Sad but true, but it is a tough habit to break. Many little dogs were trained and bred to yap when they cornered their prey. It is also one of their only defense mechanisms against threats. Look at any other tiny creature in nature. Skunks. Puffer fish. Turtles. They all have defense mechanisms. Yapping is a little dog's defense mechanism, and while annoying and a habit that should be addressed, to discount a breed because it has a defense mechanism you don't like is denying that nature exists.

* Don't pick up your small dogs when a big dog approaches.

Response: Big dogs can, and do, kill small dogs. All it takes is one bite. Or one paw that can break its neck or back. They don't even have to be aggressive to do it. They just have to be clumsy. I've taken my dogs to big-dog meetups every week for the last year. They do great. The big dogs have learned how far they can go with them. But it was a learning process. There were some times when I picked up my dogs because the play got too rough.

But I've gotten good at spotting dangerous situations. If a dog seems mellow, I'll let it go. But if there's any doubt in my mind about the big dog's intentions, I pick mine up. The risk is not worth the reward. Some people aren't as good at spotting those situations as I am. Should they roll the dice and hope their dog survives? I wouldn't.

* Dogs don't need clothes.

Response: This one is a little harder to defend, but I've come to the point where I understand why it's done. People get dogs that fit their lifestyles. If you love hiking, you get a big dog with a lot of energy. If you love sports, you get a border collie that can leap 6 feet into the air and nab a frisbee while upside down.

But if you're a homebody who favors social events over hikes or sports, what's the harm in dressing up a dog? The dog doesn't know the difference. Some of the machoest dogs in the world, sled dogs, wear coats for the cold. Some of the smartest, service dogs, wear a vest. It's not cruelty to put a coat or a shirt or a dress on a dog. If someone wants to put a coat on a dog because they think it's cute, why should the rest of us care? It's just personal preference.

That's pretty much all I have to say. In a sense, I agree with some of the comments I've just tried to rebut. All dogs need lots of exercise and they need to be trained to be obedient and social. And some people don't understand that. But it's not just a little-dog thing. To write off all little dogs as "freaking" little dogs is showing a lack of understanding. They are amazing creatures.

Look at human boxers. The heavyweights are the ones that get all the glamor, but a true boxing fan appreciates the featherweights. They're faster. They're more precise. They are amazing athletes. Little dogs are the same way, and to discount them because they're small is just plain wrong.