10 Reasons Small Dogs are Better

It seems like everyone I meet “prefers big dogs.” Well I think you small dog haters don’t know what your missing. We have a 23 lb dog and a 10 lb dog. Granted the bark of a small dog is one of the most annoying noises on the planet, but they can be trained not to bark. Before you add a huge furry beast to your family, consider the following:

1. Small dog, small mess. Once I saw a Saint Bernard pee on the floor at Petsmart. No matter how much the owner pulled on the leash he wouldn’t stop peeing until every last drop was out. A poor Petsmart employee had to get the janitor-sized mop and bucket to clean the lake of urine. I can’t imagine cleaning a puddle that size out of carpet.

2. Small dogs can’t reach. As long as we don’t leave anything tempting on the coffee tables our dogs are good to go with free reign of the house. Big dogs can raid your kitchen counter and even the cabinets!

3. Small dog, cheaper meds. Monthly flea/tick and heart worm medicines are cheaper for dogs that weigh less.

4. Small dog, small stink. Dogs stink. The most disgusting smell is a hot panting dog in the sun. Ick. The bigger the dog the bigger the stink.

5. Small dogs eat less. A 15 lb bag of dog food lasts our two dogs for over a month. We don’t have to buy tons of dog food, so we can buy high quality dog food which makes for super healthy dogs. (This website is the best I have found for determining which dog foods are actually good for dogs.)

6. Small dogs live longer. Some larger dog breeds only live 7-8 years. You spend the first year or two training and shaping your dog into a well mannered member of the family just to have them die a few years later? Small dogs can live twice that long!

7. Small dogs are easier to walk. No matter how much they tug on the leash, a 15 lb dog isn’t going to yank your arm out of the socket on a walk.

8. Small dogs are portable. It is fairly easy to get our two dogs in the car and hit the road, and in my experience non-dog owners are more likely to open their homes to smaller, less obtrusive dogs. Also, many pet friendly hotels have a weight limit on how big your dog can be.

9. Small dogs require less exercise. Small dogs get tired faster. After a 20 minute walk my dogs sprawl out in the floor and sleep for hours.

10. Small dogs are stuffed animal sized. And stuffed animal size = perfect cuddling size. Just ask any toy manufacturer!

Anyway, that’s why we ended up with small dogs. No offense intended to big dogs. I have known and loved many big dogs, I just wouldn’t want them to live in my house.

Disclaimer: By the way, I’m not talking 2lb dog small, that’s just freaky. And I’m not going to name names, but some small dogs breeds are known for being stupid and/or incredibly difficult to house break—so do your research and don’t get one of those. I highly recommend schnauzer/poodle mixes aka schnoodles. They are loyal, affectionate, incredibly smart, easy to train, barely shed, and they aim to please! Oh, and if you simply must have an enormous dog, schnoodles come in “giant” size as well!