How to Handle Mean Lap Dogs?

[Christy&Riley]

Our neighborhood has several small dogs that do not like bigger dogs and have evil barks/growls. Our Riley is a 40 pound GD that rarely ever barks and just wants everyone to play. I'm always concerned she will squash the little dogs with her excitement.

Tonight I was walking Riley on a leash. I noticed one of these little terrors was outside so I turned around when I was probably three houses away and on the other side of the road. All of a sudden I hear the neighbors yell so I turn and that dumb dog is flying at us with a screeching bark/growl. I squared up and said a firm no. It seemed to stop for a second so I found myself letting Riley lean in to sniff. I didn't want to turn my back and walk away because I didn't know what it would do. In that split second I also decided to give Riley some extra leash in case she needed to defend herself. That dumb dog growled and snapped at Riley so I pulled her away immediately. Not before Riley gave her a good growl though...which is completely out of character. By that time the dog listened to its master, who was still yelling for it to come back instead of coming over to apologize, and went home. They think its cute when the dog goes nuts at Riley (passed them before).

Part of me wanted to kick the thing silly and another part wanted Riley to teach it a lesson. Is that bad to feel that way? I don't think its cute even if the thing is maybe 10 pounds. Can I get in trouble for defending us from a dog that is much smaller but barking/growling like it is possessed?

[Anita Scalf]

Riley's growling may be completely out of character. But growling at a another dog to let them know they have behaved badly is completely appropriate among dogs. Better to growl and even bark than to bite without warning. 

I have been on both sides of this kind of incident. I totally understand your fears and frustration, and I love that you took care of Riley so well! 

I used to have a smaller dog (cocker spaniel) that became extremely reactive to large dogs that she didn't know. A lot of her reactivity may have been tied to having been smacked around (literally) and bitten (literally) by an Akita in a training class. My smaller dog was behaving quietly and appropriatly at the time of both incidents while the Akita was being an Akita with no human control.  I don't blame either dog, but for the rest of my cocker spaniels life I struggled with her fearful reactions to strange, larger dogs after those incidents.  I was forever grateful for all of the larger dogs that treated my Sadie for what she was -- a frightened hot mess that was no threat to them at all.  

Over time I learned to remain as calm as the older dogs were. Any anger or fear on my part went straight down the leash from me to her.  Now I have a 75-pound dog (northern breed/shephard mix) that really could do some damage to a smaller dog and I have made a point over the 14-years of his life to reward his patience with smaller dogs.  Much to the confusion of the smaller dogs owners who wonder why Winston doesn't just smack or bite their little dogs.  I always tell them that 'Winston's mom will be very unhappy if he disciplines that dog -- and you will be too".  Then I tell them to take keep dog away so that I can take Winston away.  :) 

  

[Christy&Riley]

A friend recently got a 6 week lab and wanted Riley to bite back when it nipped to teach it a lesson. Riley never bit back. She just paused, growled, and the puppy let go. Then they went back to playing. I was concerned she would be too rough but she knew instinctively how to play with the puppy. I was a proud mama. :-)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

6 weeks is way too young for a pup to have been taken from the mother and litter already. They learn bite inhibition from their mothers and littermates between 6 and 8 weeks. It's not even legal in most states to sell a puppy that age. Your friend is right that the pup needs to learn a lesson about using his teeth, but he needed to learn it before he left his litter. She may have major problems with this down the road. :( 

[Christy&Riley]

I mentioned that once I found out how young it was...which was after they had it for a few days. Sounds like the owner (who was out in the country in the middle of nowhere) didn't want to keep the puppy. Not sure all the details so just hoping for the best.

[Sue]

Keewee was the best dog...a true gentle giant....She was a puppy found on the side of the road who we rescued....had no clue at the time that she would end of being part dane or to be so tall....She passed in September and we opted for a smaller dog this time around...hoping that Lexee will be about 30-35 lbs...

[Christy&Riley]

Sorry for your loss! I'm sure that was really tough.
Riley is just under 40 lbs. perfect size for us but I feel bad because she is a lot bigger than the mini dogs but a lot smaller than standard golden retrievers, etc. Difficult to find her a playmate that is her size.