Caution: many pictures of my dog ahead
I considered writing this article in the form of a pros and cons list, but when I realized that there really are no cons to owning a small dog, I decided to just go with the perks.
"There really are no cons to owning a small dog"
My dog Finlay is even smaller than we expected him to be. He is a West Highland White Terrier (A.K.A. a Westie) that weighs in at around 12.5 pounds on his chunkiest days, and he can barely stretch up to your knee on his hind legs. He easily, and quite happily, fits inside a cat-sized travel carrier and eats less than one cup of food a day. He is fully grown at nearly two years old and was always the smallest of his eight siblings (note: a typical Westie litter is between 3 and 5 pups).
When we picked him up from the quirky breeder that referred to herself as “Mama”, she reminded us that he was the last of his litter aside from his sister, whom she intended to keep for breeding. We knew that, and we wanted to rescue the little runt from an overcrowded farm where he was not particularly wanted. Now if you are a person, like myself, who believes that nearly all animals should be adopted from shelters and the like, allow me to explain that both my husband and I are severely allergic to dogs. Finlay is actually hypoallergenic, and we chose him specifically due to the nature of his home situation and the fact that he was the last unchosen dog from his litter for a full month. It was not quite a rescue, but not quite not a rescue. But I digress.
You see, Westies are a naturally small breed. If you have been lucky enough to encounter one in this age of (relative) Westie rarity, you’ll know that they’re delightfully little. They’re usually about ten inches tall and only a bit bulkier than the average terrier of similar height. They are sassy, intelligent, and fun-loving little dogs that don’t care if you think that their personality shouldn’t fit into such a tiny frame. My Finlay is no exception. He is unbelievably audacious and loves challenging me to wrestling matches, races, and competitions to see which one of us loves the other more (it’s usually a tie). We are the best of friends and I am obsessed with the hairy little ball of energy with his expressive ears and a beard. And not only that, but I am obsessed with having a small dog. Here are some of the top reasons that having an itty bitty puppy is the way to go.
They don’t need much space.
My husband and I are recently married and even more recently moved, so we’re not looking to become homeowners quite yet and are taking advantage of apartment living. Finlay takes no issue with this because his small frame always has the space it needs when he gets the zoomies. With enough walks throughout the day, tight spaces are a non-issue.
They don’t eat much food (see: less than one cup a day).
Not all small dogs eat the same amount, obviously, but according to an article by PetMD, the average small dog eats about a cup of food/kibble and a dog classified as “large”, or between 60 and 100 pounds, would eat at least three. We only have to buy Finlay a couple of big bags of food a year, and that win speaks for itself (if you’re wondering, he eats this Hills Science Diet recipe).
They are more economical than larger dogs.
Not only does it cost much less to feed our little rascal, but his medicine, boarding, grooming, etc. are all considerably cheaper than they are for larger breeds by about 50% on average. And when you also factor in the reduced cost of smaller toys, beds, leashes, and other items that you need when you first get a dog, a smaller breed practically pays for itself.
They are easier to manage.
Even if Finlay didn’t absolutely love kids and everyone with all of his heart, he would be incredibly easy to manage in sticky situations. For example, when he tries to go somewhere on his leash that he isn’t supposed to go, redirecting him is effortless thanks to his manageable size. It is no trouble at all to take him on car rides or give him baths, and it can certainly be a plus that he tires out pretty quickly on those days when I just don’t have the time/energy for a nice, long walk. One con, if you choose to call it that, might be that they sometimes need to be carried when they get tired too quickly on those days that you do have the time/energy for a long walk.
Lap snuggles.
Sure, large dogs can sit on your lap, too, but you run the risk of losing feeling in your legs or your big, clumsy dog might ruin your furniture (n.b. I love large dogs, but this article isn’t about that). Little dogs can curl up on your lap and make themselves comfortable, hardly inconveniencing you and definitely melting your heart.
They are less likely to drool.
Enough said.
They are great with kids.
Always be careful with this one and get to know the exact breed you choose before deciding on the right one, but small dogs are naturally more kid-friendly because of their size. With proper training from a young age for both the kids and the dog, a little dog will become the perfect addition to your home. They are more manageable, so they will be easier for your kids to interact with safely and help take care of. Check out this article from The Spruce Pets on how to train your dog to be their best self around kiddos.
I could go on for at least another 30 bullet points, but the list would become progressively less objective and I’d probably just start talking about the perks of owning and being owned by Finlay. With that said, small dogs are a great option for any owner. If you’re on the fence about what kind of breed you’re looking for, think first about the limitations of your home and care. Is your house a little smaller, like mine, or is space not an issue? Do you have a yearly budget for taking care of your dog that you’d really like to keep? Maybe something prevents you from being active with your dog for long periods of time, or you’re looking for a running companion to train for your marathon.
No dog is perfect (or so I'm told), and all breeds come with their advantages and disadvantages, maintenance requirements and medical problems. Pitbulls, for example, are prone to food sensitivity and require certain food, Labrador Retrievers are predisposed to hip dysplasia and need to be monitored from a young age, and West Highland White Terriers are more likely than others to develop skin conditions and allergies. Westies are also stubborn on another level.
The point is, I'm not trying to say that little dogs are just all-around better or easier. Whatever the circumstances, the right dog for your home is out there and it just might happen be an itty bitty terrier like mine.
