How do you make different sized dogs work in the same house?

[elephantstone]

Just seen a photo someone i know has just got a doberman and a miniature dachshund and it got me thinking. How would you excersize them? And can you let them play together as i imagine a doberman could do some damage to a little dachshund during play.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience?

[megamaniac]

We had a Lowchen and our Staffycrosssomethingbig (she weighs about 35kg) and they played fantastically together.Once the Lowchen had lost 10kg he would walk anywhere.

[Jasandjules]

Depends on the dogs. Two of mine are 45-50kg and they will play quite happily with any breed - chase games though - and they are very careful with their feet so they don't tread on the other dogs.

These two will lay on the floor as well so as not to scare small dogs/puppies if they are nervous...

One of my dogs however has no idea and will bowl over a small dog like a labrador so we don't let him anywhere near tiny dogs.

[Simpo Two]

You need some kind of gearbox. That way for every lap the dax does the dobermann does 20.

[jackthelad1984]

We have a large 3-4 year old male gsd and a little old female Yorkie cross and they live together just fine. The gsd tries to play with the old girl but she has none of it and tells him off, she has also taken over his large dog bed so the gsd sleeps on the floor!

[elephantstone]

jackthelad1984 said:

We have a large 3-4 year old male gsd and a little old female Yorkie cross and they live together just fine. The gsd tries to play with the old girl but she has none of it and tells him off, she has also taken over his large dog bed so the gsd sleeps on the floor!

Must be a yorkie thing that. Our little yorkie cross has got the big posh bed and our bigger border terrier cross has to squeeze in the small bed!

[ali_kat]

There's what looks like a Great Sane/Huskey cross & a Miniature Yorkie that get walked in the park opposite.

We see the Yorkie being carried home sometimes, but not often

[KFC]

As far as exercise goes, walk them separately. Or if suitable for where you live, walk one off lead and one on lead. My little legged dog walks a lap of where I live on a lead, so he walks pretty much the same 2 miles that I walk. My big dog isn't on a lead and she's always running back and forward, she's gotta have traveled at least twice as far as me and the little guy.

I think most dogs generally learn how big they are from playing with other dogs. If I let mines off lead with other dogs their own size they charge around the place crazy. They just don't act the same if there are any chihuahuas etc

[Impasse]

They work it out.

[Hooli]

elephantstone said:

jackthelad1984 said:

We have a large 3-4 year old male gsd and a little old female Yorkie cross and they live together just fine. The gsd tries to play with the old girl but she has none of it and tells him off, she has also taken over his large dog bed so the gsd sleeps on the floor!

Must be a yorkie thing that. Our little yorkie cross has got the big posh bed and our bigger border terrier cross has to squeeze in the small bed!

My mum's yorkie cross has stolen the bed from the alsatian cross & her yorkie bullies our staffy when we visit

[Autopilot]

elephantstone said:

Just seen a photo someone i know has just got a doberman and a miniature dachshund and it got me thinking. How would you excersize them? And can you let them play together as i imagine a doberman could do some damage to a little dachshund during play.

Just wondering if anyone has any experience?

When Mrs Autopilot and I were discussing dog breeds, she wanted a Miniature Daxie and I wanted a Dobermann. We got our male Dobermann first and then were on the cusp of getting a Daxie, but decided to get another Dobermann. We weren't worried about him hurting a smaller dog, he's incredibly gentle with them but decided to get another Dobe as they would have more fun together (they love to wrestle) and as the male is used for Schutzhund, it would be easier for them to have the same training regime.

My dogs regularly play with a Pug and get on fine. They are both very gentle with him and never really been in much danger of getting flattened.

[Pints]

When I was growing up we almost always had at least a German shepherd and a toy poodle. Never any issues.

We also had a doberman and a toy poodle for many years - the poodle always had enough of a snap on her to hold her own. Kept the doberman in check.

[AdiT]

It's simple isn't it...

Short ones scrub the floor, tall ones do the washing up.

[HTP99]

Currently we have a 2.5 year old Frenchie and a 4 month old Yorkie/Jack Russel; size wise they will be very similar with the Yorkie probably remaining slightly smaller than the Frenchie.

However they are very different dogs in the type of excercise that they can take and also the weather that they can operate in, currently it isn't much of an issue with Barry (Yorkie) being so young, however yesterday highlighted the differences.

3 mile walk, 8-9 degrees c but sunny, Daisy (Frenchie) 3/4 of the way through the walk was weezing, struggling and gasping; she was desperate for a drink, I didn't bring one with me as I didn't think it was warm enough. Barry on the other hand was fresh as a daisy and could have gone on much longer; only 4 months old, so when fully grown will be able to go all day.

We are aware of the differences in both and the different excercise regimes that they will need, however one other thing is Barry walks off lead so will dart about, run off for a sniff, run back, run ahead, run back etc etc so uses alot of his energy up in running around whereas Daisy is strictly on lead so even though they walk the same walk, Barry will probably cover three times the distance.

One thing with Daisy is; in the summer she just won't be able to do a decent walk, now that we have Barry, Daisy should be able to wear herself out in the garden playing with Barry and then one of us can take Barry out for a proper long walk with Daisy maybe also having a quick early morning walk and another quick evening walk; when it is cooler, that will be fine for her.