Can I get a big dog if I have a small dog?
Miles Stroman
2025-06-12 05:58:29
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Large dogs have to be well trained so as not to hurt anyone. Small dogs you don’t have to be so stringent as they’re very unlikely to hurt someone accidentally. Some small breeds can be quite aggressive/reactive to other dogs. My advice for anyone thinking of getting a dog is to pick a breed that suits your lifestyle rather than by size/looks, or by it’s nature if you’re getting a rescue, define before you go looking as to what you can offer a dog and how it will fit in with your life. We’ve got 2 small, 1 medium and until recently 1 large and they are all an absolute joy.
Carrie Block
2025-06-12 02:38:52
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Big dogs and little dogs can safely live together, but there are precautions you need to take to ensure all goes well. Before considering bringing another dog into your home, your first question should be if your existing dog wants another dog in the house. You get to make final decisions regarding bringing pets into your home. Just know that if you have a dog who already doesn’t like other dogs, you should address that first. Adding another dog is going to be a major project in management, training, and keeping your dogs and family safe. Before bringing your little dog home, brush up on your existing dog’s training. Have your big dog on leash, you can tether him if you don’t have someone else to hold his leash. You can put the smaller dog in your lap to avoid your bigger dog’s flailing paws, which could injure a small dog. Let them check each other out, if one backs away, do not allow the other to approach. Make use of crates, baby gates, exercise pens, and tethering to ensure everyone stays safe.
Maynard Robel
2025-06-12 02:10:26
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While it may seem funny, small dogs and big dogs can make the best of friends. Take best friends Jamie and Pirate for example. These two learned how to be great companions who know how to play safely & kindly. Sometimes, small dogs need a couple extra breaks as well as a few safety precautions to ensure a fun time. Keep the small dog’s comfort and desires in mind. Many small dogs, especially those that are older and may not have a lot of experience being in close proximity with larger dogs, use overt communication like growling or snapping to get across their needs & wants. Small dogs can be awesome adventure buddies.
Dedric Kozey
2025-06-12 01:38:01
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Big Dogs And Little Dogs Sharing A Household Small dogs and big dogs can get along beautifully, and may even snuggle up and share beds. With safety precautions in place, bigger and littler can have fun, enriching relationships. As with all doggy housemates, it's important that you do not show favouritism, and try to avoid situations that can lead to resource guarding. Give your dogs food and bones in separate crates, or use a puppy pen to give each dog a safe space of their own.
Dogs typically recognize another from their own species, though it is possible for large dogs to think small dogs are prey, and they may lunge, chase, even kill small dogs. Stop immediately if either dog shows signs of prey fixation: stalking, stiffness, staring and lunging. If possible, avoid grabbing your small dog and picking them up, as this can sometimes make a large dog mistake the small one for a toy.
When large and small dogs play together, look for signs that the bigger dog is accommodating their little buddy. Often, large dogs will slow down, even lie down to get on their smaller friend's level. Play fighting is normal, even if it's noisy, just make sure both dogs are relaxed and bouncy, and neither dog is actively trying to get away. Praise your dogs when you notice that they are playing nicely.
Laurine Cummerata
2025-06-12 01:14:46
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If you get a puppy, obviously it is going to have a lot of energy, especially a Labrador puppy. The puppy won’t know the boundaries of how big they are and additionally, puppies can play really rough. So, depending on how sturdy your little dog is, they certainly could co-exist together. We see big dogs and small dogs in families all the time, and they do just fine. I’d say that if you do end up getting a large breed puppy, you might have to just be a little cautious about how much unsupervised playtime they have together, before your lab puppy learns that maybe the older dog doesn't always want to play rough. I think it's very possible that you could get a Lab puppy and they'd get along really well. I wouldn't worry too much about your smaller dog being hurt. You just may have to take some extra precautions, so that she doesn't get irritated by the puppy, or that the new puppy doesn't inadvertently cause her harm.
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