Displaying items by tag: pros and cons

Smaller dogs have traditionally been used for hearing alerts. Recently, more people are choosing small dogs and toy breeds as their service dog for other disabilities. Owner-trainers are selecting them for diabetes, seizures, PTSD and Anxiety. The benefits are easy to observe but examining the concerns are also worthwhile to make sure dogs of the smaller size are actually a good fit for the handler, the family environment and their resources.

Benefits 
A dog's small size means they may:

• be cheaper to feed
• have less fur overall (but still have grooming requirements)
• be easier to transport
• be easier to tuck out of the way
• may need less exercise than a larger dog (but not always true)

Concerns

• have different health issues as a group than larger dogs
  patellar luxation (knee cap) 
  protruding eye balls (especially in short-nosed breeds)
  hypoglycemia (small size/fast metabolism means they have to eat more frequently to maintain normal blood sugar levels)
  tracheal collapse (means you will need to use a flat walking harness)
  Legg Calve Perthes (hip joint issue)
  chronic valvular disease  (heart disease)
• may have higher incidence of cryptorchoidism (undescended testicles) than larger dogs
• anal gland issues are more common in small dogs
• tooth and jaw issues are standard among small dogs (which also means more dental care, and smaller food which is more expensive)
• may be harder to potty train as they can sneak through small holes to potty out of sight in the house or may not be able to hold their bladder as long as larger dogs
• small dogs tend to be over-represented in puppy mills. Rescues/shelters take in many puppy mill dogs. These are dogs with unknown genetic, medical, and behavioral histories and do not make good service dog candidates. 
• tiny dogs are not likely to be as effective in performing physical interruption type tasks
• may not be able to retrieve/drag larger objects
• may not be able to access higher locations/steps without help
• terriers like Jack Russel and fox terriers may need more exercise than you think!
• terrier breeds can be very persistent and predatory (including the tiny Yorkshire terriers)
• do not adapt well to harsh environments -may get cold or hot quickly in harsh environments or on hard floors
• shiver more often (draws attention to your dog, may need a coat in indoor environments)
• vet bills cost the same for small dogs as medium dogs. Sometimes spaying/neutering and operations can cost more due to the skill/attention to detail needed for operating on smaller bodies. Dental surgery is expensive as it requires a specialist.
• fragile structure-falling, jumping or being dropped from even low heights can break bones
• may be too environmentally sensitive or over-reactive-smaller dogs have have a faster metabolism, their flicker fusion rate in the eyes of small dog are higher so they tend to see more motion than larger dogs, tend to move faster, be more fearful
• may be more prone to alarm barking (unwanted as a service dog and you can be asked to leave if you cannot control your dog)
• most small dogs do not tolerate or enjoy being handled by children 
• not as easy to socialize with other dogs and animals due to size difference and predatory issues
• may be injured if children are handling the dog (stay with medium and larger dogs with more solid structure and temperament if the dog is intended to be a child's assistance dog)
• ears harder to clean due to size (make sure you have the dexterity to do so or can hire a groomer regularly)
• may trigger predatory behavior in larger dogs you encounter in public
• may get stepped on (and have to be carried more often as a result, you will need to bend over to pick up a small dog)
• may not be taken seriously by retailers or accommodation providers (may be mistaken for "fake" service dogs (dubious about effectiveness of small size, unfamiliar with your breed as a service dog, etc)
• may attract unwanted attention from public
• you will be bending over for the lifetime of the dog (to reward behaviors, do hand targets-sue a stick, lift it over high barriers, keep him from harm etc)
• you will be sitting or kneeling to train at times, or elevating the dog for training

Tips:

• Avoid breeds that have been "bred down" from a larger standard
• Avoid the toy breeds (dogs smaller than 15 lbs)
• Choose lines that have a heavier (more sturdy) bone structure
• Choose a breeder than breeds on the large size of the standard or get a mix with a slightly larger (also suitable) breed
• Find out what health tests have been done on the dog
• Find out about the genetic history of teeth of at least 3 generations back
• Brush your dogs teeth daily and give him things to chew
• Have regular dental check ups
• feed adult dogs at least twice a day, carry extra food for long days
• Watch for irregularities in gait, like a skip off one leg or the other now and then when running (patella)
• Avoid putting your dog in a shopping cart, use a snuggle/huggie tyoe carrier instead if you must keep him off the floor
• teach him to be confident on his own and where to tuck himself out of the way to avoid injury

Small Breeds to Consider

• conformation line beagle (breed only for companionship for many generations) (avoid hunting lines as they are higher energy, high prey drive and nose -oriented)
• conformation bichon frise
• Moyen poodle
• Miniature poodle (avoid toy sized)
• and mixes with the above breeds in them

Carefully consider your disabilities, the tasks the dog will be performing for you, your lifestyle, exercise levels, personality and those living around you (family and caregivers and other members of your support team), costs and make sure that the individual dog you choose is right for you.