I never considered myself much of a small dog person. I always had medium to large dog breeds for pets. My dogs were bigger and bigger breeds each time I got another one. The last and biggest one was Willie, my American Bulldog. When I was told my next one had to be a small breed, I thought…”What am I going to do with a small, yappy little dog?”
Compared to the big dogs I was used to, having a tiny dog brings on a whole new world of cuteness and its own challenges. I must say she is much more portable than a big dog. Willie had his own little “apartment” (as my friend Tonya called it) in the back of the Ford Explorer. He had his bed and his food and water bowls. He took up the whole back end but he was comfortable.
Penny can sit on my lap for short trips around the neighborhood. On longer trips, it is nice to have her car seat. It boosts her up so she can see out the window. It also has a hook to connect to her harness so that she can’t just jump out or fall out if I had to hit the brakes quickly. That keeps her out of the way so she is not distracting me as I’m driving. It’s safer for both of us that way. She also relaxes for the ride sooner. Sometimes she is so excited to go for a ride she will shiver and pant for a long time. But when she is in her car seat it doesn’t take her as long to settle down. She will even sleep for much of the trip in her seat.
Big dogs take up more room and so does their stuff. Penny’s bed isn’t half the size that Willie’s was. Her little food and water bowls are not near as big either. RVs don’t have a lot of room to move around in. It was a little trickier getting around with a big dog in there but with a little dog, you have to be careful not to step on them. Penny has learned that a little nook here or a quick hide under a chair or a jump up onto the couch will keep her safe from our trampling feet as we move in the RV.
Tiny dogs get the zoomies. I love it. Big dogs will get energetic. They love to chase something or put all their effort into playing fetch or catching a frisbee. But little dogs will go crazy for a bit just because. They will run as fast as they can as if they are evading being caught by some unseen dog catcher. Running in circles jumping on the couch or running through Grandma’s flower bed as fast as they can. Then laying there with their tongue hanging out and their eyes half-closed, so content and proud of themselves.
Having a small dog jump onto your lap and take a nap feels different than a big dog also. Mainly because there is no “lap” with a big dog. They will push you down and use your whole body as a “lap”. Whereas, a small can be a lap dog.
If you have ever adopted a large dog or taken one for a walk that is not leash trained it takes a lot more effort to walk them than it does with a small dog. A lot of small dogs like to be held. Penny likes to be held like a little kid or resting on my forearm. My family says it’s like I have a toddler that will never grow up.
I love having my “tiny dog” and all the challenges and joy she has brought into my life and now I think…”What would I do without my tiny dog- Itty Bitty Penny?”