Chis—I can’t imagine why the smallest dogs in the world, often owned by people who want a small dog for companionship precisely because they have very little social contact otherwise, might find the presence of giant strangers alarming.

I’ve been telling people for YEARS that most dachs
unds are hateful little things, and everyone responds with the same disbelief…despite the fact that they’ve only encountered one or two doxies and I’ve suffered through dozens and dozens of them. I’m glad to see the truth about their temperaments finally get some air time.

And chihuahuas…seriously, folks, who *didn’t* know that chis were mean?? On the other hand, I wouldn’t have put pit bulls or beagles on the list at all…

I have a two-year-old Chinese Crested, who had a really unfortunate home for the nine months from age three months to age one year. She arrived in my home, after being reclaimed by her breeder, terrified of everything except me, and fear-aggressive because of it. People, dogs, bikes, carts, yard lights, plastic bags, you name it.

After three months, she was an utter charmer with people, as long as they weren’t “dressed funny” (backpacks, hats, umbrellas), and there wasn’t anything else to set her off—like a dog. Or a bike. Or…

After six months, we were able to take a group obedience class.

After nine months, we were able to join a pick-up trick training class at Petsmart without difficulty or distress for anyone.

At a year—I was able to take her to a dog party and turn her loose in a fenced yard with seven other dogs, only a couple of whom she’d met before. The main problem we have with other dogs now is, that she’s figured out they can be fun, and is still working on learning proper doggy etiquette.

And just now—I just got back from walking her around the local pedestrian mall, including a stop in a bookstore to pick up a book.

My friend has a six-year-old Maltese, who had a remarkably similar early life to my dog’s, and was rehomed to my friend at a year old. With four more years than my dog has had, he’s learned more, still needs work, but he’s a sweet, sweet dog.

How were these miracles possible? By recognizing that they are dogs, not stuffed toys, and not convenient verbal footballs.

You have no imagination and no empathy, Bernie, or you would not be able to make the cruel and crude “jokes” that you do.

Friends don’t let friends drink and use the Internets.

Dead bunny jokes are really wearing thin here.

Well, thats only true within limits but since I was a kid visiting my mom’s best freind who had a pekinese I have referred to these dogs as “carpet sharks”. They can be nastly little buggers who despite having no size to speak of clearly compensate with bluster and ankle biting antics that make you want to step on them just to shut them up!

If you could do a Mel Brookes / Young Frankenstien transplant of their “Abby somebody…” brain into a pit bull you would have to shoot the pit bull (probably several times - in the head) to put it down unless it got to the gun first.

Go ahead and try it! See how long the bunnies last then! Eh?