Does size matter?

Here's one of my doggie pet peeves. People with little dogs who treat their little dogs like they are fragile babies. Who pick them up at the first glimpse of a dog weighing over 20lbs. Who haven't taken the time to socialize their winky little dog so that it doesn't wet itself or become a barking, snarling menace when it sees a bigger dog. Who make excuses for their tiny dog's misbehaviour.

When it comes to dogs, size does not matter.

A dog is a dog.

Some people get this. Most people who go to dog parks get this, because they have no control over what size of dog uses the park and they let the dogs be together. It's great.

Yesterday, we were out for a walk with the girls and we saw this tiny little 4-month-old Boston Terrier skipping towards us. All 5lbs of it was pulling the young man walking it towards Heidi and Reese...it was hillarious. Heidi and Reese were pulling just as enthusiastically in the Boston's direction-tails wagging-anticipating first sniff!

The little dog was not frightened in the least. It marched right up to Heidi and Reese (who I admit can be a little intimidating with their level of excitement when meeting a new dog) and the full sniff was happening. It then proceeded to bat Heidi in the nose and bow as if to say: "Let's wrestle tubby...I could take you anyday!"

Anyway, my point is, the dog wasn't scared in the least! And neither was the owner who allowed the playful interaction. He was willing to at least give the dogs a chance to meet before deciding they wouldn't get along.

Unfortunately for us women out there...I have to admit that it is almost always women who scoop up the little dogs, making excuses for why they "aren't good with other dogs."

Is it really the dog who's scared and nervous? Or is it the owner?