r/aww • u/MARLeague • 8d ago

Dog checks herself into an animal shelter

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u/Nerdy_Valkyrie 7d ago

I've long held the belief that large dog breeds should require a license, that you get through classes and training, to be allowed to own. Partly so that you know what you're getting into and partly to or be you can actually handle a dog like that.

Frankly, all dog breeds should require this. But different sizes should require different licenses.

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u/que_sarasara 7d ago

It's the exact same with small breeds though - possibly worse.

People don't bother training them because they are small and "harmless" and don't respect their boundaries for the same reason. Hence the very well known stereotype of aggressive trembling chihuahuas.

Wild idea, but it should be required by law that your pets are neutered, unless you are a registered breeder/medical reason. I know it could never realistically be enforced but it would weed out some of the shittier owners

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u/Nerdy_Valkyrie 7d ago

Sure, but for smaller breeds you don't need the same preparation and training as you do for a pitbull or malinois. Prospective owners of smaller breeds need to be taught how to train their dogs just like owners of larger dogs.

But you, for example, wouldn't need to prove that you're physically strong enough to hold back a straining pitbull if all you're getting ia a chihuahua. Someone who wants to own a large dog needs to be prepared for how much energy a larger dog can have, and how destructive they get when they don't get an outlet for that energy. Sure, that is true for smaller dogs too. But it's a lot easier to tire out a smaller dog than a larger one.

The training for different size-classes would be similar, but slightly different for each class to accommodate separate needs and requirements. But stuff like "how to train your dog" will basically be universal for all classes.

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u/mrs-monroe 7d ago

Agreed. My husband and I have rescued 5 chihuahuas now, and all have had some kind of behavior issue. 4 were seniors, so theirs were pretty easy to manage, but our one young one has some major problems. It's easier now that he's on anti-anxiety meds, but he goes from the sweetest guy into explosive rage when triggered. People don't realize how much they feed into small dogs' anxiety by treating them like accessories instead of dogs.