Question for small dog owners

That is, owners of small dogs!

Do you pick your dogs up or generally keep them well away from bigger dogs or certain breeds?

I was walking my two today and chatting to a woman who also had two small dogs. All the dogs were off lead, sniffing, socialising and so on, when the woman tensed up and put her dogs on the lead as an 'Akita' was approaching and "they can tear small dogs in half".

The Akita was actually a Norwegian Elkhound pup that my two had already met earlier in the walk and had a great time playing with and helping him learn his manners.

It got me wondering though, technically a bigger dog could very easily kill one of mine, but I don't want to deprive them of playing and socialising opportunities, or make them fearful. One of mine in particular prefer bigger dogs to smaller ones and is in love with a greyhound/great dane we see regularly.

So what's right?

Take a look and judge appropriately? Friends bouncy Chi got picked up for an inquisitive Husky that bounced our way. Chi wasn't fussed but owner wanted to be sure it wasn't mistaken for lunch. Lodger's big enough to not be a "Small dog".

I never pick Jinty up. If she is unsure, she will hide behind me, lol. Especially ever since she finished her season and dog, big or small, have been keen to knock her over for a sniff.

I carry pet corrector and a personal alarm. If things got too rough or out of hand, I would use either in hope of startling the other dog, I would then grab it by the collar, or grad Jin by the collar and knock the other dog out of the way.

I would check that the other dog was okay and its' style of play before allowing my terriers to run about with a large breed of dog. I think that's wise with any dog irregardless of size but moreso when there is a big size difference as the small dog could get hurt even unintentionally.

Whether that required me to put them on lead or just stand with me. I would be very unlikely to pick my dog up unless I felt the approach of a dog was aggressive and had no other choice.

I walk a greyhound and sometimes board her. She is fine walking with my yorkie and fine around the house. There is no way I would allow her to run about off-lead with the small dogs through as I would be concerned about predatory drift. If Maisie is off-lead she will always slow down and walk near the greyhound never run. She aint stupid either!

I pick Mia up around my friends GSD's
older one has attacked her
young pup wants to play with her but is totaly out of control. Mia knows the older dog will go for her if she plays with the pup (its why the attack happened)
pup will keep bugging mia till she shows her teeth
older dog would attack and owner would say it was mias fault

so easier to just pick her up than to try and explain to this guy why his dogs are out of control

I suppose I do go off body language, but we've been lucky not to encounter any aggressive off lead dogs. Of course if we're going past dogs on leads mine go on theirs too.

I have Chis, obviously tiny!
They are off lead, but if I see another dog on lead, I put them back on theirs, or if someone recalls their dog and puts it onlead, I do the same - but I'd do that with any dog.

They can hold their own, ask K'Ehleyr, as we went walkies today!

We saw aGSD puppy (not too small, so prob a bit older), and the Chis were not bothered at all!

I don't like picking them up, and so far have never needed to, but if I really had to, then I would.

Yup those guys defo wont be bullied by anything. They put K in her place and shes 16KG to their 1.7

I think I can count on one hand the number of times I've thought picking my Yorkshire Terrier up was the right move. One was an iffy Border Collie that was stalking towards her. Another was when a pair of unruly BC x Staffies with no manners came bombing over, who have thankfully moved away from my area. There have probably been a couple of other times that I can't remember.

So generally speaking, I definitely do not pick her up as routine as there is absolutely no need. I will, however, react accordingly at the time depending on the behaviour of the dog and even the owner. I think it is best to trust your gut instincts as and when as they are usually correct.

There is a big difference between being way too over protective like the woman you met today and being cautious. I had the misfortune of watching a loose Greyhound chase and catch a Toy Poodle (who was very lucky to live) which opened up my eyes the potential of what COULD happen if you don't exercise sensible caution & keep aware.

It was quite amusing recently watching my 3kg Yorkie mingle with 5 German Shepherds (all owned by the same person) and my two big dogs. The combined weight of the 7 big dogs must be near 300kgs compared to her 3kgs -- guess who was boss?