:eek: :eek: :eek: that is what I also mean, not necessarily all will be aggressive sometimes their play is rough and they can hurt the toy dogs are their head alone is sometimes the size of the entire toy breed:eek: ...then again you have some who lick their chumps when they see FOOD as I call it cuz some are really mean to small dogs.

Mine are exposed to other dogs that I KNOW are safe...and I have friends with small dogs, BUT, there's not much room for error with a dog that's not even 3 lbs. Even the most innocent play with a bigger dog could be catastrophic....If it came down to being socialized...or dead, I'd choose unsocialized every time.

My Heidi was bitten by a large Rotty a couple of years ago, it was young and playful and being curious, it started playfully biting at her but it was too much for an elderley 6lb yorkie with paper thin skin and before i could lift her out of harms way he had punctured the skin on her back and she had to have a couple of staples put in. The picture below shows you what damage a FRIENDLY & PLAYFUL large dog can do to a small breed! you have to be constantly alert at all times while out with your little ones, My Pixie is coming up to 6 months old and weighs no more than about 2 pounds, if i see another dog coming whatever breed or size i pick her up, i just do not take any risks. I lost my beautiful Heidi in may this year aged 14.:(


Kez & Pixie x

I can understand the need for concern, but just because a dog is bigger, doesn't mean it's aggressive or will hurt another dog.

Mckenzie is actually the one who causes drama at the dog park because she barks non stop out of fear and gets the others going. A large sheepdog wandered over one day w/her very nice owner and it's been Mckenzie's best friend ever since there.

As long as a dog is leashed, listening to it's owner and not acting aggressive, I try to socialize my gang whenever possible w/dogs big or small.

This also hits home for me too. I have a Owl and a abused lab that "belongs" to my neighbors who seem to not feed it much and let it just run 24-7,that stalk my Kayti and her a bit bigger sister.It is horrible,something up until a few weeks ago I never thought I had to worry about.We have a small area fenced off for them with 5 ft wire fencing.But that is little good certainly for the Owl and probably not much for a under fed abused dog that runs the hood! He could just push down the fence if he had a good running start.So now that I am off my cast and crutches it is standing out in all weather for me the Dog Warrior!!!:thumbup:

You're absolutely right, many big dogs are wonderful with little dogs.... but I would NEVER feel comfortable taking my little guy to a dogpark. Too many owners just don't take control of their dogs.
Personally, I'd rather just avoid the situation, than live with the regret of wishing I had.
And as other posters have experienced, some injuries by bigger dogs weren't caused by aggression, but by play behaviour.
It would be like you or I being played with by an infant the size of a school bus....they wouldn't MEAN any harm, but.... :eek:

Great post!!

Well all of my dogs are leashed at the dog park and if I see unleashed dogs, we head the opposite direction. Many dog owners aren't responsible as they should be and I now carry HALT spray just in case after a few incidents.

I guess I feel confident in how I allow them to play with big and small dogs. I'm right there to intervene if something was to happen and I watch for signs of play turning too rough. I like to give dogs of all sizes and breeds the benefit of the doubt.

I've seen many extremely anti social and ill mannered small dogs at the dog park too, so there really is no way of knowing.

My guys enjoy the park too much for me to deprive them of it, so I do it as cautiously as I can and we all stay safe and happy :).

I too am protective of my little guys. They do get to socialize with other dogs but I stay close. At home we have a fenced yard for them but we watch just the same. I have had horned owls and hawks close in our trees and get the dogs in right away. Our daughter had a Belgian Malinois. He was originally trained as a drug dog, but ended up as a personal protection dog. I remember my husband saying this won't work with our little guys, but you know it did and I truly believe they knew they were family. Laser would lay down so our little girl could lick him in the face and our boy would get really mouthy cause he knew he had backup. Never the less I kept my eye on them. But if I'm out walking my babies and there's a dog loose or someone is walking theirs I still scoop them up and carry them. It's alittle scarey.:animal-pa

I have had countless phone calls over the yhears of people wanting another Yorkie. When asked what happened to the first one, it was killed by their other gentle family big dog. My friend knew her neighbors for years and their Rotti. He is very gentle and friendly. He was also friendly with her older dog that had passed away. When my friend purchased a Shih-tzu puppy and showed it to her neighbors, the rotti sniffed it and cheerfully bit the puppies head off. so I dont feel really bad if my Yorkies dont get to do whats is natural and doggie and get to sniff other dogs. Better safe than sorry!!!

We are so over protective. Even when my babies are around my sisters Chi's I am never unguarded. They are not around my sis's dogs that much so I am never sure how they will react to each other. If any other dog even gets in sight I pick my babies up and never never do they go out without a leash on. Better to be too protective than sorry later. I love my babies and take no chances with anything. Everyone thinks I am crazy, but at least we have not had anything happen that could have been prevented.

First, let me say that I understand 100% being protective of our dogs. They are very small, and it is easy for them to get hurt if we're not careful.

Now, with that said - PLEASE remember that the following is all my personal opinion -

I always let my guys meet other dogs. That's how they socialize...and that's how they learn not to be aggressive towards other animals.

If they wanted to meet a big dog, it had to be a dog that I knew (which wasn't hard...considering I knew most every dog in town haha). The other dogs owner had to have a good grip on the dog's leash, and if the dog was too hyper I didn't let them get too close. But if it was just your average big dog, I would pick mine up first, then let the other dog meet me and smell me. Then I'd put mine down, and they could meet. If I ever felt any tension, I'd pick them up.

If you get nervous or skiddish around other dogs, then BOTH of them sense it. That's when things get weird.

I understand being protective of them. But I believe that a lot of little dog owners have a problem letting their dogs be dogs. There is always a risk...no matter what. But I know that I was willing to accept that risk to give my dogs the kind of life that I know they loved.

We had a lab along with our two yorkies. We had the lab first, and he was used to playing rough when we got the yorkies. After a lot of training, he got used to the fact that they are SMALLER, and he knew that he needed to not play rough with them. Once in a while, they'd get riled up, and that's when they got seperated. But the 3 of them were great friends. And if we never gave them the chance to bond like that, they never would have been socialized and they wouldn't have had as great lives as they did while they were with us.

Very well said Megan, I believe that there is such a thing as being too over protective, you have to have a comfortable balance between being protective and allowing dogs to enjoying being dogs.

I dont care if I am being overprotective. I dont let my two around big dogs at all. I am just not taking any chances with them. I would be devestated if anything would happen to them. I dont even leave them in our fenced yard long. Not because of preditor birds but because I am afraid someone will steal them.

I don't leave my dogs in my fenced garden alone for a single second, but thats another issue entirely. I wouldn't leave them alone with any unknown dog, big or small. But what i'm saying is that in order for them to be properly socialized they have to meet dogs of all different sizes and types, lots of big dogs are absolutely lovely and so I am perfectly happy for my yorkies to socailize with big dogs that I know who belong to friends and family, under my supervision. My dad has a border collie x who is absolutly fantastic with my yorkies. Best of both worlds as far as i'm concerned.