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London Dog Forum > LDF Features > Debbie Connolly Bites Back > Big and Beautiful, Small and Annoying
Big and Beautiful, Small and Annoying
byDebbie Connolly
A few years ago I got into a row in the park. With me was my very big working German Shepherd. He was about 4 at the time, I’d had him 2 years. Although settled in my pack and grudgingly accepting of foster dogs, he was very dog aggressive. He never touched another dog all the time I owned him as he was properly trained and managed, but he would have seriously injured dogs if allowed to.
I knew I could control him, but never did anything silly. Sadly I can’t say the same for others. The scourge of the park was a Westie with the obligatory tartan collar and coat and an old couple walked him. “Walking” wasn’t really the right description, he ran around at the end of an extending lead threatening every dog he saw and they walked behind, smiling like escaped lunatics.
As regular users, we knew them and avoided them as did many others. The day of the row the dog was off lead and racing up to dogs snapping and barking. I was way off the track, with my dog off lead doing some stay practise. The Westie saw us and raced over barking. Khan was very good, he dropped into a down and laid like watching tennis as the dog ran round and round him. I kept calm, gave firm commands and walked towards him shouting to the wandering old folk to get their dog back. This prompted them to call “Whisky, Whisky” which I hoped was the dog’s name and not a cry for help.
Of course the dog didn’t come, they reached us and the dog tried to grab at Khan so I hauled it up by the scruff to save Khan eating it. They were outraged at my “abuse” of their dog, grabbed it from me and all the while it continued to look at my dog and snarl.
After telling them that thankfully I was a better owner than them as my dog could kill theirs and yet was under control, I dissolved into shouting when their reply was “oh is your dog aggressive then?”
Mine of course hadn’t moved, they were still fighting theirs, yet mine was aggressive?
This story will ring true with many owners. The number of small dogs allowed to behave aggressively is unbelievable. For some reason I’ve never quite fathomed, a small breed can run up to me, snap at me, even grab my clothing and it’s ok, yet my Rottie can’t even look at people? There really is no excuse for it.
More toy dogs and small breeds must be disabled too, because few of them seem to be able to walk? One of the funniest dogs that came to my rescue was a toy Poodle who had been living almost totally in a cage. He couldn’t get dirty, or play too much or go anywhere that might “upset” him. When he came to me I took him home and he went out with 2 GSD’s and my assistant’s 3 Labradors. Over the fields he went and ended up covered in twigs and mud with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.
If I could interview your pampered, indulged dog what would it say? Would it tell me it liked threatening people and dogs and all the fear and adrenalin that came with it? That it liked being carried in preference to running and having the wind blow its ears about? That it loved its little boots and wouldn’t want to dig a hole or pick up a dirty toy? I think not.
One thing about small dogs is that they have no idea they are small. I’ve said many times I think they have those fairground mirrors that make you look taller or fatter than you really are. To deprive a dog of the joys of being a dog is cruelty. Tiny breeds are no more nervous than any other dog. But you can make them that way by behaving as if they are. You can create a monster by not correcting the things you would do in a bigger dog and expecting the same good manners.
You can’t blame me or any other owner if your ill mannered, aggressive small dog runs around looking for a fight and finds one. Yes, a small dog could be injured more easily than a large one and there are big dogs that cause problems. But a small dog is not something that you shouldn’t train or look after properly.
If you choose to allow your tiny dog to be aggressive, you are solely to blame if it goes wrong. As I always say, “aggression is never acceptable in any size of person or dog”. Remember it thinks it’s a Great Dane, not a doll. Get some help.
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