Small and Misunderstood

"Her bark is worse than her bite" - Deborah Harkness

Last month an electrician was over fixing my thermostat. My two pups, Birdie and Hennessy, sat quietly and watched him work. Before leaving he leaned over and gave them a pet as they danced around his feet. He then uttered a phrase that I know all too well, “I always thought little dogs were mean”.

I don’t blame people who have this perception because a few years ago, I was one of them. I never pictured myself with small dogs. I had always dreamed of Malamutes and Saint-Bernards. But that all changed when I met Caesar.

Photo: Caesar during a much needed wash-down

I was working for the BC SPCA when a chihuahua named Caesar was carried through the door by a police officer. I’m not going to get into his case, but I spent most of that afternoon trying to gain his trust and coax him out of his carrier. He desperately needed a dental so I decided to bring him home and foster him until that procedure could be done.

That month with him changed the way I saw small dogs. Had I not been working the day Caesar was brought into the shelter, I would have never later adopted Birdie and Hennessy. Life has a funny way of falling into place like that.

Small dogs certainly get a bad rep. It’s no secret that many of them are vocal and have a tendency to bite. But the more time I spend with my girls, the more I understand the way they see the world.

Hennessy stands exactly 10 inches from the ground. Birdie is just a few inches taller. Their everyday life is VERY different than our own. If they are approached by a 50lb dog, that alone is going to be intimidating, no matter how friendly that dog might be. Imagine seeing a 20 foot tall human running your way! Simply walking down a busy street can also be stressful as I’m sure every small dog has been clipped by a shoe at least once in their life. For them it’s like being surrounded by a heard of wild elephants and trying not to be trampled. Their guard is always up.

Photo: The girls getting a cuddle from their mama

While small dogs may appear to come across as brave, what you’re likely witnessing is fear or stress. Hennessy will stand tall and bark at the top of her lungs but will flinch if the thing she is barking at takes a step forward. She knows, as many small dogs do, that the only defence she has is her voice. Sure, she could try to bite and most likely will as a last resort, but she is very aware of her size disadvantage. So she does the only thing that makes her feel some sense of control; she howls.

I used to be annoyed and embarrassed when she’d make a scene in public. I'd tell her to shush and apologize to people passing. But after many books, podcasts and webinars, I’ve come to realize that barking is a totally normal dog behaviour and something that shouldn’t be silenced. She has every right to announce her discomfort and it’s my job to help her cope.

Photo: Birdie braving a Quebec winter

I could go on about small dogs and the challenges they face on a daily basis (and most likely will in future blog posts), but I want to use this as a starting point. Perhaps the next time you walk by a vocal pup, you'll realize that they aren’t trying to be mean or aggressive. They’re simply asking for space and a bit of compassion.