I don't think they should be offended at all if you pick your dog up.
Sometimes I am annoyed that people assume it's okay for their big dog to come over to mine. Biscuit is agressive with big dogs, he just had too many bad experiences with them. so when I see a big one (and they usually aren't on a leash) I pick him up right away. The big dog owner always says "Oh- he/she is friendly" and I say" well mine is not". I just feel that people should maybe ask if it's ok for their dog to come to my dog first.
Bad things can happen very quickly if the dogs decide they don't like each other-to me it's a safety issue.

I have had dogs all my life so I'm pretty good at reading dogs body language. if a dog approaches us no matter what size & seems friendly & interested in play. I will hold Logan back & ask the owner if it's alright if they play, then the owner will say yes or no. if they say no we walk away end of story. Logan is a bigger/sturdy yorkie that plays with my mom's weimereiner all the time so I'm not has worried about him as I would be with a little one.

I have a story about kids, I take Logan to Lowes everytime we go. The one near us encouraged us to bring him. He rides in the cart & loves the attention. Well the last time we went we passed a family with a little boy & girl, well the little boy ran up & tried to pet him once on the head & then ran back to his parents, he petted a little hard & Logan looked up at me like what was that. And the dad reprimanded him & told him when he meets a new dog he needs to let the doggie smell him first before petting. so then he told him to go back to the dog & let him smell him first. I know Logan would never in a million years hurt anyone, but it made me smile that the parent was trying to teach the child the correct way.

I ALWAYS pick up my Yorkies when around large dogs for good reason. On more than one occassion I have had large dogs come after my small dogs when walking them on a leash and I now walk with pepper spary which I have had to use. I had a Lab/Pitpull mix to jump up on my back while I was shielding my two Yorkies in my arms to my chest. I really try to steer clear where I know big dogs live and if someone is walking a big dog, I will cross to the other side of the street to give the big dog his path.

Another time I took one of my Yorkies across the street to visit my neighbor who had a very nice gentle lab. I thought her lab would be fine around my Yorkie but that wasnt the case, the lab went after my dog which shocked both of us and I think it was a respect thing between little dog to big dog. My Yorkie thinks he is as big as a lab and refuses to give the respect that is needed to the bigger dog and the big dog felt like she needed to put him in his place.

I ditto that! Amazing who these little squirts think they are!;)

If I'm alone with Max, I sometimes pick him up because he has fear issues around some other dogs and I don't want him to freak out. The behaviorist that I worked with said that since Max feels anxious around other dogs that I should not force him to go up to other dogs to say hello and play. She compared his anxiety to the anxiety a person who is afraid of heights might feel if he/she were forced to stand on the edge of a cliff.
What offends me is that some people with big dogs just let their dogs come right up to Max without even asking if it's ok and sometimes I don't have time to scoop him up. The one day I walked out my front door (I live in a townhouse and the sidewalk is a few feet from my door) and BAM-a Lab was sniffing up on Max before I could react. Of course, Max freaked out because we were up against my door and cornered in a sense. The woman had the nerve to give me dirty looks because Max started his high pitched barking and lunging. She never should have had her dog's lead extended the way she had--I thought it was incredibly rude and inconsiderate. :thumbdown

I wouldn't be offended. We pick up Penny or go to the other side because she is a pain in the butt with other dogs while we are on walks. I do it so the other dog owner (and dog) will not be annoyed.

I am very sorry if they are offended but I rather that, than have a dead dog on my hands. I speak from experience. My little Chihuaha was killed by a German Sheppard "that wouldn't hurt a fly". You NEVER know what can trigger an attack even from a dog that has no history of aggression.

To be quite frank I couldn't give a flying rats patoot if anyone gets offended when I pick up my babies. I have a responsibility to my yorkies, NOT a total stranger with a big dog. ;) I don't know these people and don't care if they get offended, it's a personal choice for them to make.

I agree with what others said. My guy isn't "small" as in tiny, but small enough. Generally, however I pick him up because he thinks HE is the MAN! He has too much attitude to big dogs sometimes and I think the big dog must be saying...Yeah right, get a grip little man!!! When we are at the dog park however I do not shelter my little dogs, they run with all the big dogs and get along just fine. Generally once the big dogs sniff em a bit they take off. Now, if my dog was just a wee little Yorkie, I might feel a bit differently. Man I love dogs!! all of em..

Kathy

this may sound like a dumb question, but do they allow dogs in home depot? little ones i mean? I am new to the dog owning world and would love to take mine places more often with me in a little dog purse, but i don't know about policies at different places...

It depends on the store. Ours does so does Lowes and menards but I have heard other people on here say their home depot didnt

No I would not get offrnded, but then again I know how it feels to be protectective about our small ones.

Defiantly not. I of all people would understand. Gus's attacker was a so called friendly German Sheppard. I beg to differ,,, but I have always been very cautious when it comes to big dogs around my babies. Even with my cousins Lab, (the sweetest gal you'll ever meet) I am very careful. She gets so excited and even with simple play can hurt these little ones.

I try to take mine in anywhere that doesn't sell food or clothes. The first time I took mine to Lowes I had him in a bag & the workers told me he could ride in the cart that they didn't mind. Just give it a shot. The worst that can happen is they will ask you to leave or not bring it next time. P.S. I won't take him in anywhere where it clearly states no dogs on the door.

I wouldnt be offended, i have one of each a small and a large and see both sides. Ive had people pick up their little ones when they see my lab and i just politely tell him he wouldnt hurt a fly and let them decide whether to put their dog down again or not. I also pick up my Pippa when i see bigger dogs and just joking say shes not friendly lol

It depends on the dog. If we are at a pet supplies store and there is an older collie type dog on a leash that acts very calm, I don't pick Mia up. I actually let Mia become friends with two 10+ year old bigger dogs in the past. But, those guys were obviously docile, were spending significant energy just walking around, and Mia is on the bigger side (she's 10 lbs.). Plus, Mia is very submissive and friendly towards other dogs. If Mia was smaller and agressive towards other dogs I would not have taken the chance even with senior dogs.

On the other hand, if I see the neighbor's "intact" rottie, I cross the street or pick Mia up because even from afar it is very obvious that the rottie is looking to pick a fight. I don't think there is anything for big dog owners' to be offended about.

Sometimes baby Doxie or Chi owners that carry them around on lap, don't let their dogs on the floor to meet Mia, and I don't get offended at all even though Mia is a friendly toy dog as well. She is well-built, what can I say? :) Whatever makes the owner comfortable is cool with me, because in the end, the dog is the owner's responsibility. Better safe than sorry.

I would think the same thing. :thumbup: I know I would be embarassed if one of my dogs misbehaved and I couldn't control them (like excessive barking and pulling on the leash).

Codie, Tia and Cali are friends with my landlord's dog April. She is a Rottweiler/German Shepherd mix and she's as gentle as ever. She loves my dogs and they always play together ... although April is always hesistant to play with Cali. I think she recognizes how tiny she is and is nervous around her. Whenever Cali approaches her, April lays down and Cali climbs up on her back -- she usually zeros in for April's ears and chews on them lol :D But April loves her and is always licking her (one lick covers her WHOLE body lol) :D

My babies are also friends with Lucky, a big Black Lab who lives 2 blocks away. Lucky is a SWEETHEART and whenever he seems Tia (his girlfrfiend lol), he throws himself on his back and sticks his tummy in the air for a belly rub! :p Oh yeah, they're also buddies with a big Cocker Spaniel named Bunny. She lives around the corner from us and when we do our nightly walks, Bunny always comes out for kisses! :D

I allow them to play with these 3 dogs because I KNOW them personally and I've seen them in action already. They're gentle, well behaved and respectful. I would be VERY CAUTIOUS around a big dog that I do not know. If the owner gets offended (if I pick my dogs up), too bad! I could care less. My babies are more important to me than a stranger's hurt feelings. Sorry to sound so harsh but that's just how it is.

PS - They made a new friend last week. Another big Black Lab who lives 1 block away from us. I forgot his name but he's a SWEETIE and he loves Tia!! :D They've only played with him once so I still need to be cautious until we really get to know him but already he's showed signs of being respectful and very well trained. He completely OBEYS his master. It's unbelieveable how well trained he is! He showed us tricks and knows commands like stop, come, sit, stay, paw, lay down, roll over and a whole bunch more! He's one spoiled little guy and it looks like he and my babies will become good buddies over time. :p

PSS - There is one NASTY HUGE Rottweiler that lives 3 blocks away and I never walk my dogs down that block. This dog is vicious and his owner LIKES him that way!! So I avoid him at all costs! Once I was walking the dogs by myself (just Codie and Tia, not Cali) and the owner, Frankie, taunted me and my dogs because I picked them up and went in my front gate when I saw him coming. Trust me, his dog is really mean and scary. He said I should let my dog eat your 2 little rats and I said TRY IT!! I told my hubby Jim and a few days later Jim went over to his house and spoke to Frankie and told me NEVER again to speak to me or even look at me. I don't know what else happened in detail but this guy doesn't even glance in my direction anymore lol :p I guess Jim scared him lol :p

Ha Ha! I forgot about saying that. It is so funny to see people crossing the street when they see Ivan. If they only knew what a dufus he is they wouldn't be afraid! He protects home and family but on a walk he is focused on going straight. I totally understand picking up a small dog. He does look kind mean to non-dog lovers.
:p

I wouldn't be offended. I walk my yorkies alongside my boyfriend's doberman and they have no problem with eachother. They also don't have a problem with our friend's two great danes, but I know there are other dogs that I wouldn't want my babies to be on the ground around, the same way how we have to watch Kaiser (doberman) when he's around little dogs he's not used to. He's not mean, just super playful and it scares the poor babies. I think it's just a precautionary measure to pick them up.

:2popkorn: lol thanks for sharing your stories! :)

What an ahole! I can't stand people like that, who want dogs to be attack dogs! Sounds like your hubby scared him, and I'm glad he did!