Small dog and a Rott??

[s3rous]

Does anyone have a Rott and a very small dog? Like a poodle or pomeranian? We have a 6 month old male Rott and the wife insists on getting a small dog. I couldn't find another thread on this topic, so feel free to direct me to that if you know of one. I would like to hear of experiences/dangers of having this combination. I know that rotts can live with cats, but what about very small dogs? Does the sex of the small dog matter? I would eventually want to leave them both out in the house unsupervised.... would this ever be possible? My wife just wants that lap dog...

Thanks

[Sharon Marples]

We ourselves do not have a small dog (yet - we will be getting an ACD next summer to go along with our rotties), but we have several friends who do.

One of our friends has a mini-daschund (who, by the way is also black and tan, makes for an interesting combination when we take them all somewhere!). If the dogs are brought up together, you should have no problems.

The main thing is early training. The rottie needs to be taught that the little dog is not a toy, is not something that he can play with at will. The rottie needs to learn that the little dog is "off limits" unless you are there with them (and I would definitely NEVER leave them alone together). If the rottie is brought up to learn that he must never think about being too rough with the little one, you can have them live together.

As far as what sex of little dog to get, I don't think it matters. If you are not a breeder, they should both be spayed or neutered immediately anyway so as not to bring on any problems associated with an intact male or female.

Sharon Marples

[Sasso]

I have an 8 yo male beagle/chihuahua who weighs 15 lbs. He has been with me since he was a puppy. We just got our rottie puppy Labor Day week-end. Harley was just about 5 mo at the time and is also a male.

Quila was very reserved toward him the first few days, but now they are the best buddies. Quila is the boss, but I don't know if it will stay that way when Harley is older. They play together very well and Harley is very aware of my little guy. When he does get too rough, Quila sets him in his place. It is really funny because Harley is more than 70 lbs now and Quila is only 15.:D :D

My situation is opposite yours because the little dog was already here, so I don't know how it will be with the rottie pup already at your house. Good luck with whatever you do.:)

[DoggGuy]

WE had a miniarture chihuahua that weighed 2 lbs. when Daz was about 2yrs. he was extremely gentle the only thing that would kind of hav eme leary is the age of your rott. at 6 mos they are still full of play and can be quite rough for a human less known a little dog. you will have to be extra watchful for a while and make sure that your rottie doesnt play to hard it could be the end of the little guy. but generally i tink its a good idea to give im some companion.

Daz and petie were great friends and after a while they became road dogs, inseperable, i have pics of them both roling on the floor together and when daz would lay by the couch pedro used him lit a ladder and they even slept together. It can work very well with training and vigilance, good luck

[SABELLESMOM]

:) We intriduced both an adult female Rott and a new puppy, also female, to our Cocker Spaniel. And they all lived together well.

The Cocker is the only one who's neutered, but he still consideres himself a stud muffin and the resident in charge. I'm predicting the pup...now 18 mos will eventually move to head of household position. She's tried that apron on and she likes it!

In fact, she's pretty bold with her play mates as well...2 other Rotties, an Amer. Bulldog, and a Dane...all males. She likes to play with feet, take their toys, inspect their teeth, and...er, um-m, personal appendages?

But small and large? No problem here! Both girls always treated smaller friends (neighboring Llassa's, Cockers, Mini Schnauzers, Beagles, Pom's and a family of Scotties) with respect and courtesy.

[austin]

I don't have a small dog, but I would suggest socializing your dog around as many other dogs/small dogs as possible, and before you actually get another dog bring one home (maybe even foster the kind of dog your wife is interested in) to see how your dog reacts to another dog in the home. I think every dog will have a different reaction to a newcomer, and you don't want to bring another dog home and find out that it won't work.

[Hershey's Mom]

We had Hershey, our female rottie for 1.5 years before we got our second dog which is a Jack Russell. The Jack Russell weighs 15 lbs, and is also a female. We have not had any problems between the two, they get along great. Although I did socialize Hershey quite a bit with small dogs before we got Tipper. Also, for the first few months I never left them uncrated together.... I wanted to be certain that Hershey understood how she was to treat the smaller dog! We had definite rules from the very beginning that Hershey had to understand in terms of rough play etc... not being acceptable. I'm sure that if you commit to making the new situation work, it will be well worth your effort!!

[LavenderRott]

I do not have a small dog now but my mom has a yorkie that my Chase gets to visit. My mom also has a standard poodle and a greyhound. That yorkie holds her own against all comers!

Chase has never been rough with little Lindy and Lindy rules grandma's roost.

With rules, socialization, and vigilance, I would think that you will be fine.

[yuki]

We have two rottweilers and one chihuahua/German Sheperd mix female dog. Our male rottweiler gets along well with her but female it's not so well. With a lot of training they don't fight anymore, they just staying away from each other but still can't be left unsupervised. My female seems to have a problem with small dogs anyway.

[Carina43]

I used to have a French Bulldog (not really tiny, more Pug-sized) when I had my last Rottie, and she totally dominated him! Except when he used to pee on her head by mistake. :D I also fostered a number of small dogs, and never had a problem. Three of my current dogs have proved to be very good with small dogs - will play nicely and gently - and all four of them have learned not to annoy the cat. One of my dogs I'm not sure about - I'd be hesitant with Dutch around really little dogs.

I've known plenty of people with very small dogs coexisting well with big ones (I have a friend with two Malamutes and a Pom, guess who rules the roost!) And my Cooper has a best buddy male Jack Russel - I wish I had a scanner so I could show you photos of the two of them playing together, it's very cute.

The only thing I worry about with yours is, if he's not neutered, could he get an attitude around another dog when he starts maturing a bit more sexually? Just a thought. If he's been around small dogs & learned to interact well with them already & is reasonably well trained, I bet there won't be a problem though.

[Teena]

chihuahua/German Sheperd ...now Ive got to see a pic of that! hehe

I have a small boston terrier. He drags my rott around by the collar. Axel is very tolerant of him. It's good thing, because my boston doesn't realize just how small he is. :p
If anything I have to correct the little dog more than my other 2 big dogs.
My boston & Axel are males. My lab mix is female. I wouldn't dare bring another female in the house. I don't think she would tolerate it. She keeps both the boys in check.

[MaryJ]

I have a 10 pound Bichon Frise that is 2 years old. I (like your wife) had to have a lap dog. We got her when my other female Rott was 4 years old. The Rott seemed to "know" she was little and was always gentle. Ruby, my Rott, died of cancer at the age of 5. We subsequently have a 1 year old female Rott that we got as a puppy. She has to be reminded occasionally to be gentle, but they get along fabulously. My Bichon doesn't shed so she is allowed on the furniture, which she sometimes uses as an escape! I am a big dog lover, but I love my Bichon!! Tell your wife to investigate Bichons for a lap dog. They are playful, smart, easily trainable, good with kids, and don't shed. When all my kids are in bed for the night, Sadie comes to sit on my lap for a snuggle....heaven!
Mary

[yuki]

Chihuahua was the father. It's approximately 35 lbs dog. She is colored like German Sheperd, tail looks like GS. But she has huge ears and bulging eyes. She also has chihuahua attitude.

[SABELLESMOM]

BICHONS! I almost forgot! And how dare I forget...I'm their "Aunt!" My s-i-l has a pair of bichons. They get along great with the Rotties and the Cocker.
They ARE sweet. My b-i-l got Truffaut as a gift for his wife (hubby's sis). Since he wanted to surprise her, (she was a gonner as soon as she saw them...talking about "some day") I got to be his foster mom for about a week until (few years ago) Christmas.
When they came to the house, my daughter brought True out and my s-i-l, thinking it was my daughter's pup, started to tear up. You should have seen the look on her face when she found out Niick bought him for her!

Enough of that! They ARE a great dog and generally very easy to train...except ...well...they are a bit of a challenge in the house training dept. <sigh>

[Knucklesmom]

We have a 4 lb. neutered male Yorkie who was in our home before Knuckles came to live with us. Piper, the Yorkie, is the dominant one! I have seen Knuckles lay on the floor with Piper sitting on Knuckles' nose. Piper "tells" Knuckles off if he barks and we tell him to stop. Piper will growl and bark in defense of the cats if Knuckles wants to play with them. The Yorkie is a big dog in a little dog suit but has enough sense to stay out of the way of those big ol' paws!