Meeting large dogs

[Ari_RR]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Here is our good boy Miles meeting a strange creature. The strange creature was quite brave and inquisitive, but I wonder what small dog owners feel when their small dog comes nose-to-nose with a big one. Are they silently praying, while trying to keep a polite smile on????

Let's say Frenchie girl weighs around 20 lbs, Miles 100 lbs, 5 times heavier.
Miles getting this close to a 500 lbs animal (a Siberian Tiger) would probably give me a heart attack...

 

[Flobo]

Lovely!

 

[JoanneF]

I just read the body language and judge each dog as it approaches. Miles is such a well-rounded dog that I'm sure I'd have no qualms about my dog meeting him, and as well as being even smaller than the Frenchie, he's older and a bit frailer. Although he still walked over a mile this morning

 

[Dibbythedog]

Miles is very well behaved! Its frighening when big dogs are off lead and run up to my dogs and want to play with them or simple chase them. I pick Libby Chi up. I dont care what people say about not picking small dogs up, Libby weighs under 3 kg , I cant risk her getting hurt.

 

[JoanneF]

I dont care what people say about not picking small dogs up

I think that's exactly the right thing to do.

 

[JudyN]

Jasper was better with small dogs than larger ones, but I wasn't going to let him run up to them because no one wants to see a greyhound-type dog sprinting up to their rabbit-sized dog. And having their owner snatch you off the ground in fear when another dog approaches isn't going to help their confidence around other dogs.

 

[JoanneF]

It's not often that we disagree (and I'm not sure we even are) but I do think sometimes being lifted helps dogs feel safer, further from the perceived danger - provided that the picker-upper is trusted of course.

 

[arealhuman]

Rusty is happy to approach larger dogs, but sometimes Mrs. ARH gets nervous, and occasionally I do if they come bounding up to us.

 

[JudyN]

It's not often that we disagree (and I'm not sure we even are) but I do think sometimes being lifted helps dogs feel safer, further from the perceived danger - provided that the picker-upper is trusted of course.

Fair point - I was imagining the owner going 'EEEEK, monster dog is going to tear my pup limb from limb!' rather than 'Time for a nice little cuddle, Fido,' where the small dog would pick up their owner's feelings. And chances are the small dog feels no fear at all but just sees a nice big friendly dog coming up to say hello.

 

[Burrowzig]

As long as the other dog's body language is friendly, I'm relaxed about it. And my small dog is very good at reading other dogs. If I had to. I'd pick her up.

 

[Flobo]

I agree, it's definitely about seeing the whole picture when a large dog approaches if you have a small one. Picking them up calmly, without the fear and panic, if need be is totally acceptable I feel. Also really knowing your little one is highly relevant.

 

[Burrowzig]

I remember a day, years ago, would have been 2009. Kite was a puppy and only just on the ground after her jabs. We were in Wollaton Park, Nottingham where I was doing some renovations on my mother's house. This Great Dane charged over; Kite screamed and hid behind my legs. The Dane's owner thought their dog was attacking my puppy and started running over. By time they got there, Kite had come out from behind me and was sniffing the Dane nose to nose.