Large Dogs And Small Dogs Living Together?

[Ebony's Mum]

Ebony, Rotti girl, was on average, about 37kilo's, and Toby, foxy boy, about 7.5 kilo's when they first met at 2 years old. They were the best of mates and played constantly. Toby hung off her ears, and jaws, and she growled and played constantly with him. Never ever a problem. By the time they were both only 4 years old I had started fostering, and I probably had around 50 dogs in my home whilst Ebony was alive, and never ever an issue with her. She walked away from them if they growled at her.

I work full time, so never any supervision during the day when they were all together.

I was probably a very lucky mother.

Ebony's Mum.

[Ebony's Mum]

Ebony, Rotti girl, was on average, about 37kilo's, and Toby, foxy boy, about 7.5 kilo's when they first met at 2 years old. They were the best of mates and played constantly. Toby hung off her ears, and jaws, and she growled and played constantly with him. Never ever a problem. By the time they were both only 4 years old I had started fostering, and I probably had around 50 dogs in my home whilst Ebony was alive, and never ever an issue with her. She walked away from them if they growled at her.

I work full time, so never any supervision during the day when they were all together.

I was probably a very lucky mother.

Ebony's Mum.

PS: Toby snuggled into Ebony at bedtime. She was his gigantic "hot water bottle".

Edited July 22, 2010 by Ebony's Mum

[ash&elar]

I did have a problem many years ago, not with my current dogs.

I had a German shepherd and I brought a toy poodle, they got on well together from the start. The problem I had was the Shepherd liked to lick the toy poodle all the time.

This resulted in him licking him straight off our back veranda and sooty fell down onto a slab of concrete.He broke his leg and we had only had him for a couple of days. He did recover but it was a slow and costly exercise.

Awww you would of been so stressed esp after only having him a few days!!! I was planning on getting an adult standard poodle when i do get one just because i thought it would be less likely to hurt FEZ than an excitable puppy who is growing and doesnt know any better!

[percyk]

depends on temperament i think

if the big dog turns out to be dominant you dont want him also to be possessive of the owner...and turning on the little dog every time it jumps up on a couch or comes in close for attention

you dont want a situation where both the little dog and the big dog are fighting for supremacy

...if theyre both dominant that is

this can happen even if the older one is a bitch who wont give in

it can work and it did work for a while when i had three dogs....a gsd an aussie terrier and a possessive dachshund

in the end the gsd turned on the dachshund..all my fault because i knew nothing about hierarchies or being leader...

Edited July 22, 2010 by percyk

[traciemc]

I have a 50 kilo rott and a 13 kilo frenchie. They fight only occasionally, and the frenchie will ALWAYS start it, usually over a toy he wants or if he thinks the rott is getting too much attention - there's lots of terrible snarling but never any injuries, the rott will pin him down with one foot until he stops carrying on, it's really funny to see. I have them separated during the day when I'm at work, but they are together at other times.

[mita]

3 out of the 4 tibs we've owned were brought up by their breeders in the company of a big dog. One was a Tibetan Mastiff & the other a GSD. Those tibs actually preferred the company of big dogs (apart from other tibs)....& were very good around them. The 4th had no big dogs around & the breeder remarked that she was a bit defensive when seeing big dogs at shows. But after only being here for a few months, she was totally won over by the greyhounds next door...whose owner makes a point of socialising them with small dogs from when they were puppies.

These tibs have more trouble tolerating small, busy twittery dogs.

Edited July 23, 2010 by mita

[Rysup]

I have Lhasa Apsos (smallest is 3kgs) and Keeshonds (average 15kgs). They are fine supervised together. They go into separate areas when I am not there. Only because accidents can happen. The Amstaff doesnt get to run with anyone, because he outweighs them all by at least double (over 30kgs), and some more so, but all the girls are in love with him and would give themselves to him in a flash

[The Ark]

Our pack consists of the following dogs

3 x min pins (1 desexed male, 2 entire males)

1 x greyhound (desexed female)

4 x Aussie Shepherds (1 entire adult female, 1 x entire 7mo male pup, 1 x desexed 7mo male pup, 1 x entire 4 mo female pup)

1 x Maremma (entire female, 10mo)

I think that's all.

Most of ours play together unsupervised, except for the boy Aussies who are WAY too rough to be allowed to play with the little dogs if I'm not watching. The 3 older Aussies are usually in a yard with the Maremma - again, the baby Aussie is just a bit little for me to feel comfortable leaving her for too long with the ruffians.

The greyhound shares a bed with the Aussie pup, and will tell her off if she gets too annoying - but the pup (Stella) adores her! The min pins and the greyhound all get along wonderfully, and the Maremma girl sucks up to the greyhound at every opportunity. I met some other greyhound owners when I was walking the other day and they were amazed that we let Colour (our grey) hang out with all the other dogs. They seemed to think a greyhound should be separated. I told them all about Colour's "family", and hope that their own girl might get a bit more socialisation if they loosen up. Poor thing.

The min pins boss everyone around. One little boy we have here at the moment is a bit unstable, and it was funny yesterday to see him barking at the Maremma while all she wanted to do was play with him. She is very gentle with the little ones, and will lay down to play with them. She's a bit rougher with the big Aussies though.

At the moment the Maremma, the min pins and the Aussie pup are all playing in our big front yard, with me just checking them every now and then. I know accidents can happen, but I also know that the Maremma isn't the type of dog to charge at the little ones and bowl them over so I think the risk is minimal.

At night, we usually have the greyhound, min pins and Aussie pup inside together with no issues at all. Last night the Maremma joined them, and again - all was fine.

Occasionally we'll let all 9 dogs out for a play in the front yard, and it is an awesome sight to see them all together. I love it.

[ash&elar]

Our pack consists of the following dogs

3 x min pins (1 desexed male, 2 entire males)

1 x greyhound (desexed female)

4 x Aussie Shepherds (1 entire adult female, 1 x entire 7mo male pup, 1 x desexed 7mo male pup, 1 x entire 4 mo female pup)

1 x Maremma (entire female, 10mo)

I think that's all.

Most of ours play together unsupervised, except for the boy Aussies who are WAY too rough to be allowed to play with the little dogs if I'm not watching. The 3 older Aussies are usually in a yard with the Maremma - again, the baby Aussie is just a bit little for me to feel comfortable leaving her for too long with the ruffians.

The greyhound shares a bed with the Aussie pup, and will tell her off if she gets too annoying - but the pup (Stella) adores her! The min pins and the greyhound all get along wonderfully, and the Maremma girl sucks up to the greyhound at every opportunity. I met some other greyhound owners when I was walking the other day and they were amazed that we let Colour (our grey) hang out with all the other dogs. They seemed to think a greyhound should be separated. I told them all about Colour's "family", and hope that their own girl might get a bit more socialisation if they loosen up. Poor thing.

The min pins boss everyone around. One little boy we have here at the moment is a bit unstable, and it was funny yesterday to see him barking at the Maremma while all she wanted to do was play with him. She is very gentle with the little ones, and will lay down to play with them. She's a bit rougher with the big Aussies though.

At the moment the Maremma, the min pins and the Aussie pup are all playing in our big front yard, with me just checking them every now and then. I know accidents can happen, but I also know that the Maremma isn't the type of dog to charge at the little ones and bowl them over so I think the risk is minimal.

At night, we usually have the greyhound, min pins and Aussie pup inside together with no issues at all. Last night the Maremma joined them, and again - all was fine.

Occasionally we'll let all 9 dogs out for a play in the front yard, and it is an awesome sight to see them all together. I love it.

HAHAHA :p this sounds something like how i think my house will be when we finally buy our own place.

[ash&elar]

I have Lhasa Apsos (smallest is 3kgs) and Keeshonds (average 15kgs). They are fine supervised together. They go into separate areas when I am not there. Only because accidents can happen. The Amstaff doesnt get to run with anyone, because he outweighs them all by at least double (over 30kgs), and some more so, but all the girls are in love with him and would give themselves to him in a flash

:p has he got a bit of sex appeal has he????

[ash&elar]

I have a 50 kilo rott and a 13 kilo frenchie. They fight only occasionally, and the frenchie will ALWAYS start it, usually over a toy he wants or if he thinks the rott is getting too much attention - there's lots of terrible snarling but never any injuries, the rott will pin him down with one foot until he stops carrying on, it's really funny to see. I have them separated during the day when I'm at work, but they are together at other times.

naw well its nice of the rott to go easy on him :p

[ash&elar]

depends on temperament i think

if the big dog turns out to be dominant you dont want him also to be possessive of the owner...and turning on the little dog every time it jumps up on a couch or comes in close for attention

you dont want a situation where both the little dog and the big dog are fighting for supremacy

...if theyre both dominant that is

this can happen even if the older one is a bitch who wont give in

it can work and it did work for a while when i had three dogs....a gsd an aussie terrier and a possessive dachshund

in the end the gsd turned on the dachshund..all my fault because i knew nothing about hierarchies or being leader...

Yes i too think it has ALOT to do with the temperaments, dominate and dominante together with any breed isnt a good idea, my boy isnt submissive or dominate just somewhere in the middle.

[Amika]

No words needed.......it can work, depends on you and your dogs.

[Dame Aussie]

If I separated my two, the big dog goes nuts. He hates being awy from his best girl (I usuallywalk them separately andhe cries the whole time she is gone, she ont he other hand doesnt care lol). She has been flung roung by him a few times in play and she just learnt to run quicker. Tehy do get very rough and I was concerned initially but she is a tough wee mite and as someone else pointed out, I thin she would be the one to hurt the big dog if anything LMAO

I am feeling a little relieved I am not the onyl one who lets my dogs run together all the time.

So, my question for those who supervise the small dogs with the big dogs is, do you also supervise dogs of the same size? If not, why not?

Mo is the same. If we try and take Lili somewhere without him he almost knocks doors down Cries/screams....it's terrible

She couldn't care less if we take him out without her though

They are always together in the yard, not a huge size difference though really compared to some of the littlies in here!

[Hafhafa Hounds]

So i am wondering who out there has large and small dogs living together? what breeds?

I have 2 Tenterfield Terriers, a JRT-X, 2 Salukis and a Kelpie.

The Salukis, JRT-X & Tenties all share the house well. The Kelpie doesn't get along with my Saluki bitch, so they are always seperated (bitches! sheesh!!).

Sonia

edited to add pic:

Edited July 24, 2010 by Hafhafa Hounds

[mita]

Amika & Hafhafa Hounds, I loved your pics.

[indigirl]

My backyard is fenced into two separate yards. One yard is for the 4 iggies plus any foster iggies. The other yard has the bigger dogs - a kelpie cross, a golden retriever and a staghound cross. Both yards have half of the back verandah each, plenty of shelter plus warm kennels. Both have shadesails for the hotter weather, plus a dog pool - clamshell for the iggies, and a stock watering trough for the bigger dogs.

I never let the bigger dogs out with the iggies, too much potential for injury. They interact with each other thru the mesh fencing and all seem to get along. When in the house the iggies are crated, and i bring them into the loungeroom with me by twos. The bigger dogs are kept out of the loungeroom by a toddler gate.

My dogs are all used to my routine where I let the bigger dogs out first in the mornings into their yard, then the iggies out 2nd. In the evenings the iggies come in first etc.

By keeping the bigger dogs separate from the smaller ones I havent had one injury. Its a minor hassle I guess, but more than worth it. I had all the fencing etc done prior to getting my first iggy.

[Hafhafa Hounds]

Amika & Hafhafa Hounds, I loved your pics.

Thanks!

Sonia

[Hafhafa Hounds]

Off course the little dogs are the bosses & the big dogs would never cross them, lol.

So true - my 5 kg Tenterfield Terrier can move my 30kg Saluki out of an armchair with 1 look!

Sonia

[angelsun]

We currently have German Shepherds living with German Pinschers. I agree with the thoughts about supervision, very very important, however it's more in our case of the sheppies stepping on the pinschers by mistake really. The pinschers rule the house flat out...not a surprise really. Angel for example will remove food from Samm's mouth and he walks away a bit annoyed but without doing a thing.

The only injuries we've had have been lack of hair (Pinscher swinging off Shepherd neck ruff) or the chiropractic fee to put Pinscher back in place after a hard roll at a full run and impact. Not mean, just play. Doesn't happen often though as the Pinschers are sharper on the turns and usually get out of the way easily enough.

I used to have German Pinschers with Chinese Crested. Same rules. Cresteds ran the house then and took the best spots on the couch which often meant the GP's got booted off. Again, because of the agility of the toy dogs, they quickly were able to step out of the way of a rambunctious GP before getting trompled.

I also sent my Gp's to a friend with Danes and again, no issues. I think overall it's not the size difference but the fact that the dogs are made understand the rules and no tolerance for anything rough or over the top. Generally size differences aren't a big deal. Some of my GP's best buddies in the world were Mini Doxies...neither realized the difference in size, nor cared...

I liked that their sleeping arrangements put the larger crates on the ground level and I could stack the smaller ones. Took up less room overall. I never really segregated any of the dogs due to size as they all knew the rules and although there were at times a few that didn't get along as well, it had nothing to do with size.