Big dogs, medium dogs, little dogs, no dogs.....what do you prefer...and why?

Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
I have always had MEDIUM size dogs...about 30 pounds or so. They don't take up TOO much bed space (ha, ha) and yet are not so small that I feel I am going to break them by picking them up or rough housing.

However, I know a lot of people are in love with their micro toy breeds, or their monster giant pups. I love them ALL, but am happy with my Medium dogs (also don't eat me out of house and home, or have all the medical problems the micro dogs do).

SO, how do YOU feel about dog sizes?
11/13/2011
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Contributor: Cherrylane Cherrylane
Big dogs and medium dogs. I don't "do" small dogs. Especially not the tiny ones.

Big dogs are smarter and more chill. More useful. Better companions.

I just don't consider them "real" dogs, ya know? I want a REAl dog. Woof.
11/13/2011
Contributor: Ms. Spice Ms. Spice
i love small to medium sized dogs. In theory, they take up less space (except when I go to bed with my 12 pound dachshund- for some reason, he seems to have me sleeping on the edge and he has the rest of the bed ) and they're less likely to cause serious damage if they get aggressive. I'm not a huge fan of big dogs because they scare me
11/13/2011
Contributor: Vanille Vanille
We've had a little dog and now have a med/large (A Akita) dog.

I rather have no dogs, as I'm pretty afraid of 'em (and sometimes my own dog freaks me out..)

But hey, I deal with it. My Akita can be a sweetie when he wants to be.
11/13/2011
Contributor: chicken12 chicken12
I love all good doggies. If a little dog isn't annoying and yappy and is housebroken, then it's great!
11/13/2011
Contributor: Taylor Taylor
I've always been afraid of big dogs. I've always had small dogs. I have two little dogs now that I love.
11/13/2011
Contributor: T&A1987 T&A1987
little. Pomeranians, dachshunds, corgis, i like one's that are small fluffy (except dachshunds ofc) and cute.
11/13/2011
Contributor: MaryExy MaryExy
I love our 60-70 pound dogs at home. I prefer larger ones because they feel more sturdy, and I don't feel like they're a huge tripping risk, but any dog that showed up on my doorstep would be welcome.
11/13/2011
Contributor: Ash1141 Ash1141
I like big dogs! Great danes are my favorite.
11/13/2011
Contributor: Rossie Rossie
I prefer medium to large dogs, but I love to play with tiny ones that will not yelp at me also!
11/13/2011
Contributor: authorzero authorzero
Quote:
Originally posted by Cherrylane
Big dogs and medium dogs. I don't "do" small dogs. Especially not the tiny ones.

Big dogs are smarter and more chill. More useful. Better companions.

I just don't consider them "real" dogs, ya know? I want a REAl dog. Woof.
I completely agree. Big dogs are usually smarter and more chill. I had a medium sized dog who was kind of an ass (at least to everyone but me), but otherwise every big dog I've ever had has been awesome and brilliant (for a dog). Little dogs are often stupider, think they're bigger than they are, and LOUDER. Big dogs all the way.
11/13/2011
Contributor: Shellz31 Shellz31
I will only ever own a large dog. They are highly intelligent (depending on the breed of course), powerful, they are great for protection cause most won't take on a larger dog and they are often very strong willed/dominant!
I think larger dogs are more willing to please their Master and have a far better understanding/connecti on with their owner.

I have absolutely no time for little dogs. In fact, they annoy me.
11/13/2011
Contributor: slynch slynch
We want to get a medium sized dog when we are able to have one.
11/14/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Cherrylane
Big dogs and medium dogs. I don't "do" small dogs. Especially not the tiny ones.

Big dogs are smarter and more chill. More useful. Better companions.

I just don't consider them "real" dogs, ya know? I want a REAl dog. Woof.
Funny you added WOOF, since my Medium dogs don't WOOF. Yes, there are indeed breeds that don't woof!!!!!
11/14/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Taylor
I've always been afraid of big dogs. I've always had small dogs. I have two little dogs now that I love.
Funny you say that. I just looked at some statistics, showing more bites from small dogs, by far, then from larger breeds!!!
11/14/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by T&A1987
little. Pomeranians, dachshunds, corgis, i like one's that are small fluffy (except dachshunds ofc) and cute.
There ARE "fluffy" dachshunds!!! We have "wiener dog races" every year and some are down right silky soft long hairs.
11/14/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Ash1141
I like big dogs! Great danes are my favorite.
Those can be some serious big. I knew one once, who could stand eyeball to eyeball with me. He was a GREAT gentle giant.
11/14/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Vanille
We've had a little dog and now have a med/large (A Akita) dog.

I rather have no dogs, as I'm pretty afraid of 'em (and sometimes my own dog freaks me out..)

But hey, I deal with it. My Akita can be a sweetie when he wants to be.
Your own dog freaks you out???? HOW??? I bet if you are tense, it make him tense too. The one thing dogs are SUPER at, is reading human moods and body language.
11/14/2011
Contributor: Bignuf Bignuf
Quote:
Originally posted by Ms. Spice
i love small to medium sized dogs. In theory, they take up less space (except when I go to bed with my 12 pound dachshund- for some reason, he seems to have me sleeping on the edge and he has the rest of the bed ) and they're less likely to ... more
My own dogs weigh about 30 lbs and stand about a foot high. However, when in bed, they do indeed seem to instantly stretch to four feet high (taking up 90+ percent of a King Size bed) and if you TRY to move them, some strange law of physics seems to make them increase their weight to 300 lbs the moment they go to sleep. Not sure HOW this happens, but it is a FACT that it does!!!!
11/14/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Big dogs! We have Malamutes and Labs as a rule.

Our smallest dog was a Rescue and she was probably a Jack Russel-Short Haired Pointer-Chocolate Lab mix. She weighed about 35 lbs at her fattest and 23 lbs when she was sick with a kidney infection (we finally had it properly diagnosed and treated and she lived an other 7 or 8 years.) She was the size of a small lab, and her behavior was a mix of Jack Russel Terrier and Lab. She lived for 17 years.

Malamutes are fairly large dogs, usually between 70 and 120 lbs. The "Giant" Malamutes (150 up!) have usually been subjected to suspect breeding procedures and are not healthy animals and do not usually live long.

Normal Malamutes are great companions, but require intense training and continued gentle, but firm discipline as they are pretty arrogant animals (all the Spitz breeds are) and are extremely powerful. They are usually very sweet, but eat a LOT! They love the winter months. (Obviously.) They are also one of the few dogs that actually smile when pleased.

11/14/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Vanille
We've had a little dog and now have a med/large (A Akita) dog.

I rather have no dogs, as I'm pretty afraid of 'em (and sometimes my own dog freaks me out..)

But hey, I deal with it. My Akita can be a sweetie when he wants to be.
Akitas are beautiful, but they are Spitz dogs (related to the Malamute, and these dogs resemble wolves and have similar personalities) but they can be very aggressive and try to "Top" you in your own home.

The best strategy with a dog like this is to take charge and do so frequently. We strictly control the food of our dogs (although they are constantly scrounging and with kids there is always food on the floor.) One of the techniques I use, if I am going to share a bit of my food after we eat as a family (and feeding the dog after the family eats is actually a very easy to do Dominant behavior that they understand well, as it is practiced in wolf packs) is to take a bite of the food or even chew on it a little (EW!) and then give it to the dog. It then has my scent on it, and the dog knows "Food comes from Alpha Bitch! She Alpha Bitch! Good Alpha Bitch!" (OK, I'm guessing how dogs think, and in this context "Bitch" is a good thing, because the dogs know I am the "Breeding female" in the family, which also adds to the Alpha status.)

That and letting her know you are the Alpha around the house and yard and during walks will all help you to overcome your fear of her.

Any book or show by Cesar Milan contains great information for training and living with any dog, but with powerful and aggressive dogs like Akitas and Malamutes, his advice goes double!

Good luck with your sweet pup.
11/14/2011
Contributor: Jaimes Jaimes
I have three Australian Cattle Dogs. I would call them a large medium. About 60 lbs. each. This is my favorite size, and all time favorite breed. I can wrestle around with all three of them on my bed, play frisbee in the backyard, and while they can't sit in my lap, they are perfect for laying next to you and using your legs as a pillow. They can be a bit much if all three somehow manage to get on the bed together.
11/14/2011
Contributor: P'Gell P'Gell
Quote:
Originally posted by Jaimes
I have three Australian Cattle Dogs. I would call them a large medium. About 60 lbs. each. This is my favorite size, and all time favorite breed. I can wrestle around with all three of them on my bed, play frisbee in the backyard, and while they ... more
I love these dogs. They are so cute and intelligent. Does any of yours have different color eyes?
11/14/2011
Contributor: Cherrylane Cherrylane
I have an Australian Shepherd. Interestingly enough, they aren't at all from Australian and aren't related to Australian Cattle Dogs, but they both can have merle coats.

My special girl is a blue merle and has brown eyes. She's the smartest thing and the absolute sweetest cuddliest dog I've ever had. She will actually hug you if you let her, and it's not something we trained her to do. I'll pat my lap and she'll come up to me and then just leaaaan against me with her head resting against my neck and shoulder. It's adorable. We also do something where I'll have her sit in front of me and then put one hand up, and she'll put her paw in my hand (basic "high five" trick) and then I'll put my other hand up, and she'll put her other paw on that hand so her upper body weight is resting on my hands, and then I say "kisses!" and she leans forward, paws still on my hands, and kisses my nose lol.

I think she's a great size, probably around 45-50 pounds or so, which for me is a little on the small side but still substantial. My guy has a thing for huskies, as he grew up with them. They're great dogs too, and I'm definitely partial to both herding and working breeds (and of course mutts & mix breeds).

I'm a sucker for the HUGE dogs though. I always go back and forth about whether I could "handle" a St. Bernard. Honestly, the only thing that really concerns me is the slobber! This video epitomizes what my experience has been with them and what their general personality and disposition has been like:

link

How can you not love a dog like that?
11/14/2011
Contributor: Jaimes Jaimes
Quote:
Originally posted by P'Gell
I love these dogs. They are so cute and intelligent. Does any of yours have different color eyes?
Nope. That's much more common in Australian Shepards. I have two blue merles, and my Dante is the red dingo coloration. He has the most beautiful amber eyes. It's like the color of his fur just moved over to these soulful, adoring eyes. He's a fighting ring rescue (bait dog, not a fighter) and has a few issues with large groups of people or dogs and big men, but he is the best snuggler in the world. He buries his head into your armpit, and then rolls his body over onto you. He is smart, but not with tricks. He is very intuitive to our moods, and knows exactly what you need at your lowest times.
11/14/2011
Contributor: Sinfully Sinfully
I prefer small to medium sized dogs. My heart breed is the Papillon.
11/14/2011
Contributor: Errant Venture Errant Venture
I prefer medium to big sized dogs (though not so large that they could wrestle me to the ground and drag me along the gravelly road ... like my Terrier did, once), but I'm not a fan of those little ones. I call them half-dogs.
11/15/2011
Contributor: Darklyvan Darklyvan
Quote:
Originally posted by Bignuf
I have always had MEDIUM size dogs...about 30 pounds or so. They don't take up TOO much bed space (ha, ha) and yet are not so small that I feel I am going to break them by picking them up or rough housing.

However, I know a lot of people ... more
I like big dogs, probably because I grew up with them. There are some medium dogs that are nice to but almost all small dogs are annoying. My sister-in-law has chihuahuas. Any time you walk into a room they start yipping and if my 5 year old runs through the room the nip at his ankles. Studies have shown that small dogs (in general) have a meaner temperament than large dogs.

Small dogs are only good for chew toys for big dogs.
11/15/2011
Contributor: Jaimes Jaimes
I love that other people enjoy chihuahuas, but they are definitely not a match for my personality. I enjoy the working breeds the most.
11/16/2011