Tell me about having a tiny dog

[Anonymous]

My kid wants a puppy to raise to do agility, and is thinking maybe a papillon.

I know there are issues with very small dogs, like hypoglycemia, which are different from larger dogs, but I don't know about those issues. What should I know?

(Note: I know all the issues with teacup dogs or dogs that are bred to be small. I'm talking about a papillon that's the size a papillon is meant to be.)

[Anonymous]

My small dog is really opinionated and refuses to do that stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My small dog is really opinionated and refuses to do that stuff.

What breed?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My small dog is really opinionated and refuses to do that stuff.

Maybe you have a cat.

[Anonymous]

Mine loved agility! They were so tiny though that they got tired earlier than the big dogs who could take big strides.

[Anonymous]

I once had a neighbor had 2 JRTs she agility trained. The wirehaired ones.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My small dog is really opinionated and refuses to do that stuff.

Maybe you have a cat.

No, not a cat.

[Anonymous]

i had a neighbor with a papillon and it was one of the most high strung, bitey dogs i've ever met. would literally bite strangers' ankles. 0/10 do not recommend.

i have known a few delightful apartment-dwelling havanese. they are clever and eager to please. that is the dog I would pick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i had a neighbor with a papillon and it was one of the most high strung, bitey dogs i've ever met. would literally bite strangers' ankles. 0/10 do not recommend.

i have known a few delightful apartment-dwelling havanese. they are clever and eager to please. that is the dog I would pick.

I have never heard of a havanese doing agility. I don't think they have the right build.

[Anonymous]

No offense, but if your child is within the average for their age, they will end up dumping most of the care and training on you... which is the developmentally-appropriate response. Don't kid yourself that they will do agility with your dog.
Get the dog you can live with first, consider agility second.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My small dog is really opinionated and refuses to do that stuff.

Maybe you have a cat.

No, not a cat.

Maybe he identifies as a cat.

[Anonymous]

Paps are the breed of choice for people wanting to do agility with littles. I have a friend with highly titled min pins, and they can be great, all round working dogs. Also fairly inexpensive, even very well bred dogs. You could do agility with terriers, but then you have to live with them as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No offense, but if your child is within the average for their age, they will end up dumping most of the care and training on you... which is the developmentally-appropriate response. Don't kid yourself that they will do agility with your dog.
Get the dog you can live with first, consider agility second.

I haven't mentioned how old my kid is, so I'm not sure how know what's "developmentally appropriate" for him.

His current dog is quite elderly, so I have had many years to observe his dog training and caregiving skills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No offense, but if your child is within the average for their age, they will end up dumping most of the care and training on you... which is the developmentally-appropriate response. Don't kid yourself that they will do agility with your dog.
Get the dog you can live with first, consider agility second.

I haven't mentioned how old my kid is, so I'm not sure how know what's "developmentally appropriate" for him.

His current dog is quite elderly, so I have had many years to observe his dog training and caregiving skills.

There are junior sections in dog sports for a reason! Plenty of kids are responsible enough for it. One of my friends has a junior handler for her GR, who placed 9th in the 2023 NAC last month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i had a neighbor with a papillon and it was one of the most high strung, bitey dogs i've ever met. would literally bite strangers' ankles. 0/10 do not recommend.

i have known a few delightful apartment-dwelling havanese. they are clever and eager to please. that is the dog I would pick.

They are cleaver and really smart but opinionated and minds of their own.