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  1. #1
    Real Retriever KenZ71's Avatar
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    Question Small 10 pound Dog questions

    OH is looking at Shih Tzu rescues. I am ok with the idea but trying to stay on the sidelines. Hoping if she does the legwork to find one she will be more involved in the care.

    A few questions. Toys what kind of toys works for a 10 to 15 pound adult dog? It would be hilarious to see him / her try a Lab size marrow bone.

    Raw feeding? What to give a small dog? Our Labs get chicken necks and backs a couple times a week.

    Hikes? Max and Scarlett will run for 2 - 3 hours in the woods. What should we do with the fuzz ball? Don't tell me carry tiny in a backpack! !
    Last edited by KenZ71; 06-26-2014 at 12:57 PM.
    -- Ken, owned by:

    Max - Black Lab mix gotcha 4/23/2012 Born 12/2011
    Scarlett - Yellow Lab gotcha 4/19/2013 Born 2008? 2007?
    Lizzy - Terrier mix gotcha 6/29/2014 Born 2006?
    Zeus - Papillon mix gotcha 1/30/2015 Born 3/26/2014

    Avatar: Ziggy, my kitty who crossed the bridge a few years ago.
    He slept in the sink for years, silly boy.
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  2. #2
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    I cant stand little dogs, always been a big dog person. I see a lot of people with Poms in baby carriers at the dog park.
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

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  4. #3
    Senior Dog arentspowell's Avatar
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    No shitzhu experience but we do have a little dog, an 8 lb doxie.

    I worry about Daisy choking on toys that are too small so I only buy medium to large sized toys. We have many large stuffy type toys, they are a big hit with both my dogs. We also buy lab sized antlers and ironically the wiener dog plays with them more than the lab. It's funny to watch her drag them around.

    For raw, you'd be surprised how easily a little dog can crunch up those bones! When I first started I was convinced that Lily would not be to handle a chicken drumstick but she can eat them with no problems. Turkey bones are a harder, Lily can handle the bottom parts of the wings but not the tops. They are just way too hard so I just let her clean off the bone and then I toss it. I would say the biggest challenge is portioning up the bony meals sometimes I found it easier to feed boneless meat and add bone-heavy things like chicken necks.

    We don't do much hiking. Lily is not much of an "outdoor dog." She likes exploring the outside, off-leash on her own terms. For a while I thought she hated the grass but then I realized she just didn't want me to make her go in the grass, she wants to do it on her own terms. It's very much a breed thing, dachshunds can be strong-willed and stubborn.

    P.s Bacon'smom - don't knock little dogs my fiancé was not a little dog man, he said the smallest dog he would ever consider was a beagle. You should see him now, holding Lily like a baby, she's got him wrapped around her little paw.

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  6. #4
    Senior Dog BaconsMom's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by arentspowell View Post
    No shitzhu experience but we do have a little dog, an 8 lb doxie.

    I worry about Daisy choking on toys that are too small so I only buy medium to large sized toys. We have many large stuffy type toys, they are a big hit with both my dogs. We also buy lab sized antlers and ironically the wiener dog plays with them more than the lab. It's funny to watch her drag them around.

    For raw, you'd be surprised how easily a little dog can crunch up those bones! When I first started I was convinced that Lily would not be to handle a chicken drumstick but she can eat them with no problems. Turkey bones are a harder, Lily can handle the bottom parts of the wings but not the tops. They are just way too hard so I just let her clean off the bone and then I toss it. I would say the biggest challenge is portioning up the bony meals sometimes I found it easier to feed boneless meat and add bone-heavy things like chicken necks.

    We don't do much hiking. Lily is not much of an "outdoor dog." She likes exploring the outside, off-leash on her own terms. For a while I thought she hated the grass but then I realized she just didn't want me to make her go in the grass, she wants to do it on her own terms. It's very much a breed thing, dachshunds can be strong-willed and stubborn.

    P.s Bacon'smom - don't knock little dogs my fiancé was not a little dog man, he said the smallest dog he would ever consider was a beagle. You should see him now, holding Lily like a baby, she's got him wrapped around her little paw.
    Correction to the statement: I dont like little dogs that are yappy. I am IN LOVE with dachshunds!! And pretty much any other nice little dog I just have had not the greatest set of encounters with small, mean dogs in my neighborhood.
    Julie & Jake, Bacon's Humans

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  7. #5
    Senior Dog arentspowell's Avatar
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    We trained ours not to be yappy. That's honestly why little dogs get such a bad rap, it's just so easy to get away with not training them.

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  9. #6
    Real Retriever KenZ71's Avatar
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    Also concerned about the Labs choking on small toys. Going to be interesting I am sure!
    -- Ken, owned by:

    Max - Black Lab mix gotcha 4/23/2012 Born 12/2011
    Scarlett - Yellow Lab gotcha 4/19/2013 Born 2008? 2007?
    Lizzy - Terrier mix gotcha 6/29/2014 Born 2006?
    Zeus - Papillon mix gotcha 1/30/2015 Born 3/26/2014

    Avatar: Ziggy, my kitty who crossed the bridge a few years ago.
    He slept in the sink for years, silly boy.
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  10. #7
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    everything the same but smaller. but not too small, and yes, i cant give eli a toy that i think vangie will eat as she is the queen destroyer. so no stuffed toys for eli, and a bone that is indestructible and too big for vangie to swallow.

    keep in mind, the one dog from eli's kindergarten class that made me think i was going to turn into pele, the soccer player, was a shih tzu-henry, who randomly became insane and went for every dog there, without warning. i really do believe it was the owner's fault, as she would pick him up and coo to him, instead of teaching him NO BITE. once, i even had my foot in kick position, and i have never kicked an animal in my life.
    somehow, he was fearful of eli, not the retriever or the labradoodle. but little tuff eli, the bully. he actually went between his owner's legs, for a meet and greet.

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    KenZ71 (06-26-2014)

  12. #8
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    We have a Shih tzu rescue. Miles is as sweet as the day is long and just as docile. I always joke it's like having a living, breathing stuffed animal. He is not a yapper at all. When he does bark, it a gruffy bark. And he generally only barks when Thea barks. He's very selective on when he wants to listen. Not at all like a lab. As far as the hikes, you'll end up carrying the dog. Their front legs are only 3 inches long, no way they'll last for 2-3 hours hiking. For toys, we only bought him a smaller kong. All of our toys, both dogs can play with. Thankfully, they are not destroyers so we have all kinds of stuffed animals, cuzs, etc. He'll carry around a stuffed animal that's as big as he is. And he loves to sleep in the toy box with all the stuffed animals! The first time I found him in there, I nearly melted from the cuteness.

    Good luck with your search. Miles was a foster failure and he basically decided from the moment he came through the front door, that we were his new family.

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  14. #9
    Real Retriever brownietrout's Avatar
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    I never thought i would have a small dog but I now have a cavalier king charles spaniel and she is amazing.
    my best advice is NOT to carry it everywhere when it is little or you set yourself up to have a fearful mean little dog. Let them learn about the world on their own feet just like any dog. That is one of the biggest mistakes owners make with their little dogs.
    it is called small dog syndrome. Here is a link Ask an Expert - Small Dog Syndrome | Modern Dog magazine
    Have fun with the little one!

  15. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by brownietrout View Post
    I never thought i would have a small dog but I now have a cavalier king charles spaniel and she is amazing.
    Me neither! If I didn't have a Shih tzu, the CKCS would have been my next choice. My DH's boss has one and every time we go to their house at Christmas, I go and find Abby first. She is freakin' adorable!!

    And I agree with everything you said. Just because they are cute and small, doesn't mean they don't have to follow the rules.

    Also, with Shih tzus, they are notoriouosly difficult to house train. Frequent trips outdoors and a crate are your friends. Thea goes out 5-6 times a day. We take Miles out 7-8 times a day.

    FWIW, I often threaten my husband with the idea that we are going to have a whole army of Shih tzus when we're too old for labs.

 



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