Imagine being a smaller dog. Everything and everyone towers over you. People come to pet you and they loom high over your head. Random strangers approach and put their hands on you. Perhaps it’s your cuteness but many people, and children, see no problem with touching you without asking for permission first.
Some pick you up quickly and suddenly when you least expect it. Other dogs can play nice but some larger dogs play rough and bully you because of your size. Some may see you as prey and give chase when you run from them. Small children are loud. They disturb your sleep and rudely interrupt you during meal times.
To a small breed dog the world can appear scary and intimidating. Many dogs respond to certain situations with fear and apprehension and this can easily make them go on the defensive.
We humans tend to take certain liberties with smaller dogs that we wouldn’t consider with a larger breed. I’d like to see someone suddenly walk up to a strange Pit bull, Doberman, or German Sheppard, startle him by greeting him from behind, and pet him without seeking permission. Or try to suddenly pick them up off the ground.
We don’t see this frequently because it’s considered unsafe and plain stupid to sneak up on an unfamiliar dog and touch him. However, many people wouldn’t think twice about doing the same to a smaller dog. Why should that be acceptable?
Life isn’t a cake walk for a small breed dog. Many live in a constant state of anxiety or are always on the look out for scary situations, children, people, other dogs. It’s not surprising that a dog living under such conditions and in such a frame of mind can go on the defensive at the sight of other dogs, especially larger dogs.
On the surface it seems almost laughable when a small dog goes crazy on a larger dog. I’ve had owners tell me, “Oh, he thinks he’s a big dog” or “he forgets he’s a small dog”.
I don’t believe that’s the case at all. My feeling is that the dog is very well aware of the size differences and it’s because of this difference that he feels the need to act the way he does.
While there are some smaller dogs that do want to pick a fight for no other reason other than to fight, I find that those are the exception and not the rule. What you’ll most often find is a small dog with a great amount of anxiety and fear about the larger dog and is trying to keep the other guy at a distance.
How can you easily know the difference between the two? Learn your dog’s body language.