Your comment made me smile!

But what internet brawl did YOU get into???

Rock on!

I am all about this plan! I also 100% support the idea of foster-to-adopt, and I really think all dogs should be homed that way.

i LOVE your comment

I’ve had both little and giant dogs. I suppose the subject will always be contentious because no one likes being told their baby is a brat, big or little. But it always comes back to the owners for me. Here are some phrases that owners of littledogs should really reconsider saying when their babies are yapping (ooops… barking) and lunging at a bigdog at the end of their unretracted leashes – “Don’t worry, he’s friendly.” “He just thinks he’s a big dog.” “He’s such a brave little boy.” and my personal favourite when 3 littledogs charged up to 55kg Rufus at a park, growling… “They’re scary, aren’t they?”

I suspect, in fact I know, that many littledog owners have absolutely no idea how much work littledogs can be. When JRTs became The Dog To Have thanks to the movies, even the club had to come out with warnings that they were fearsome hunters, high energy dogs and not suitable for children. Many people opt for littledogs because they think they need less exercise (how far can those short legs go, right?), are suitable for small spaces like apartments, are cute and easier to handle. With misconceptions like that, no wonder so many end up at the pound. There’s even a shelter here that specialises in nothing but littledogs.

What can we do about this? For a start, pounds (and breeders) should talk honestly with wouldbe owners about littledog personalities. They have to debunk myths popularised by celebrities, movies and commercials. I don’t see any other way to give both the dogs and the owners a fighting chance of having a good and happy life together.

That’s my belated 2 cents. BTW, if you’re a RESPONSIBLE littledog owner reading this, this has obviously nothing to do with your good work. Let me also note here that Georgia has a lot of littledog friends, both online and in real life. And lastly, I hope everyone realises that this post has nothing to do with vilifying, and everything to do with trying to build a better dog community for everyone, big and little. For that, thank you Pamela X

I have had people say “Can’t you control you dog”, “Oh my god your dog is horrible”, and much much more. I take Abby’s leash aggression VERY seriously and want everyone around me and her to be safe. I have never said “this is as good as Abby can be”, even if it were true I’d still try and because of that she has improved more than I ever thought possible.
We have a number of people in my area that are working on behavior problems, we respect each other, help when we can, are happy for each other when we see improvement.
It is the people that don’t do anything about it that I have a problem with, they make it hard for people who give a hoot, and probably at some point their dog will be surrendered to a shelter. Get a dog, do nothing, make it not adoptable.
You can’t adopt a child without being approved, and then there is follow up from the adoption agency, why should it be different for dogs.

As you refer to small dogs in your neighborhood who suffer the exact same issue as your dog horrible yappy creatures, I assume your comfortable with your great dane being referred to as a Horrible Vicious Giant? As I mentioned in my other post long leashes and flexi leashes are not in my opinion a small dog issue. Are you ok with large dogs on flexi leads and long lines because I encounter plenty of them? I am not a fan of long lines and flexi leads or off lead dogs my self but they are not a small dog issue. Same with barking small and large dogs bark and small breeds have higher pitched barks.

What about small breed owners who may be working with their dogs on similar issues to yours. I have leash aggresive small dogs and have worked dilligently. Plenty of times an off lead dog or a dog on a long line, small or large has gotten close to my dog or run up to my dog. Its part of owning a dog and its not my favorite part either. I never, ever, ever have thought of the size of the dog in the equation, I have been approached by large and small.

AS for all these classes and things people are suggesting, training classes are great, education is great. However, making it nearly impossible to get a dog and making owners feel incompotent will in the long run hurts dogs. We all want dogs to have wonderful homes, but we also need to realize that all people are different and even a home that does not seem to be “perfect” is often wonderful. What a bout people without yards, with jobs, with kids, older people, who decides what the “right home” looks like?

My husband is a great example. He would likely not attend training classes with our dogs if it were not for me. However, he ADORES our dogs. I am confident he would be a loving and excellent owner even without the classes, and I know PLENTY of caring dog guardians who did not attend training classes or only attended puppy K. Though I always recommend classes Twenty years ago training classes where a rarity, was everyone a bad owner then?

Now I am all for education, training classes, and owner outreach. However, it needs to be in a positive non-judgemental way. Training classes offered for free at local shelters, opportunities for kids to do agility with their dogs, free spay and neuter for low income owners, etc.

We also need to remember dogs are dogs: they bark, they lunge, they yap, they poo, they puke on the couch, they chew things. Part of dog ownership is accepting dogs are not stuffed animals, even your well socialized canine with training class certificates may not be therapy dog materials. He or she may chase cats or may be leash agressive. They are not perfect, though they are for more perfect then us humans, they for one are for more forgiving, if only we could be the same.

Urban Hounds

I live in a neighborhood that has a mostly small dogs, and most of them are honorable little yappy creatures with the exception of a couple who are very nice dogs. I also have a leash aggressive Dane I am constantly working with and these dogs have made my life incredibly hard, often on the very end of a flexi-leash pitching a fit at my dog. Fortunately my new trainer has helped me make amazing progress with her lately and now the yappy creatures are a training opportunity.

I will freely admit that I was not prepared for raising my girl, I had no idea how hard it would be to raise a smart, willful Great Dane. I think that there should be a certification process for dog ownership. A class that you go to and learn about dog parenting, selecting a breed, healthcare, puppy vs older dog and more. After you are certificated you can adopt a dog. The adoption process would take you through a series of classes with your new pet; you don’t complete program you surrender the dog.