How big is a "small" dog?

[doubledip1]

Luna's 58 pounds and DH carries her in his arms all the time.

[lovemylabby]

My Toby is around 79 pounds and I honestly don't consider him to be a large dog...more of a medium size.

He snuggles in my lap all the time...but he is too big to carry; however, my husband will lift him in and our of our truck, so he doesn't hurt himself.

[ZoeysMommy]

I think of a Corgi as a large dog with short legs because they don't have what I consider to be essential for "small dog" designation..."small dog" personality.

Corgis are definitely a lot of dog in a short body. Actually Daisees teeth are almost as big as Zoeys. She can anything and everything that a large dog does. No small dog personality at all

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

That is a hard one these days. There are so many new 'designer' dogs that are not much larger than a Guinea pig. Three years ago when I took Sunshine to puppy classes, we did the exchange a puppy exercise. I ended up with this tiny thing, that fit in one hand and was light as a feather. I remember being so scared I was going to hurt it even by picking it up! I was used to this 16... or so week old little monster that spent her time RUNNING into trees, the car, house, bushes... And to pick her up you had to GRAB this snapping, wriggling, struggling, grunting beast and hold on tightly!!! LOL! Sunshine did do well around that little thing in class though. She sniffed it once and decided the golden Retriever was more fun. The trainer did well and always had us sit on opposite sides of the room, so Sunshine, my dainty little creature, did not step on it. Not that Sunshine was overly huge, she was just... ahh... very energetic.

I would consider a little dog one that can be picked up with one hand and carried under an arm. A medium dog, two arms. A lab, remember to bend the knees not the back when picking one up. A large dog, call a friend to help.

[shelly]

It's all relative I consider my lab at 95 lbs to be large but my Newfoundland at 90 lbs to be small. People always ask what she is and we say females are smaller than the males and she is a small female. Go figure.

[ckfalz]

Hmm my pom is 9 pounds, my chihuahua is 4 pounds, i consider them tiny dogs. My corgi is 22 pounds, i consider her a small dog

I agree with the tiny dogs. Small to me is under 50 pounds. I consider medium dogs to be around 55-75 pounds. Large dogs are 80 and up with the really big breeds being giant dogs. So, I think of Ava as small and Sam as medium.

[kimbersmom]

I always think of Kimber as little until I see her next to a genuinely small dog. But compared to -me- she's little!

[barry581]

I thought Sophie was big, at least until Bruce out grew her. She's looking smaller every day!

[POPTOP]

I've always considered Mardi to be big. She's a stocky lab, full bodied and at 84 pounds the largest we've had. Then Archie came along. He was only 67 pounds when he joined us, taller than Mardi, ribs and hips sticking out. Slowly the weight came. While I still consider him slim, compared to Mardi, his ribs and hips don't show any more. He's now 74 pounds, I think a good weight for him.

First thing I notice was not having to bend down to pet Archie.

After being to shows, I consider both medium sized dogs. There are plenty of GSDs taller/bigger than Archie. I consider great danes, newfoundlands big dogs.

[Woodrow_Woodchuck]

I agree perception is a lot of it. My 3 year old black gal, Sunshine, is tall at 25.5" but slim muscular build and now 85#. When we meet other labs, she looks taller but smaller while they are standing or running around. When we get them to sit, side by side, she looks much larger than the others. She not only sits taller but she has.. rather large round feet. They are the size of a BIC lighter, 3 1/4" across. Even the other labs larger, blockier heads and chests are overshadowed by the rather oversized appendages. We get comments all the time and I have a standard answer, that some folks take offence to. Folks say her feet are way too big. I tell them their dogs feet are too small.

A better definition of a small dog versus a large dog would be: A small dog you will always win while playing. With a large dog they stand a good chance of winning. Like the ever fun rainy game of keep away. You are sitting on the couch, or floor and have 'the good toy'. You taunt them a little... Nyah, Nyan.. I have the toy now and you can't get it! Show them then hide it behind your back kind of thing. With a 'small dog' they stand little chance of getting it. With a 'large dog' you are looking at a 50/50 chance you are going to lose. Not just by them being faster, otherwise small dogs could win also! I'm talking about having 4 legs, drive and mass to pummel you into giving up the toy. Then... They do the same thing back! *I* have the toy now.... want to try and get it from me??? You stand a 50/50 there too as they have 4 feet with enough power behind them to fend you off!