Hey everyone,
I've been thinking about getting a second dog to keep my current Shih Tzu company during the day while I'm at work. However, I'm not quite sure if getting a bigger breed such as a Doberman or Rottweiler would be a good idea. I'm worried they might accidentally harm my Shih Tzu or Chihuahua (which is also a possibility) due to their size and strength.
I've heard stories of these breeds being gentle and loving with smaller dogs, but I'm not sure if it's the norm or just an exception. Has anyone had experience with introducing a larger breed to a smaller one? Can they get along well? Should I just stick to small breeds for the safety of my current dog?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hello,
I have a Chihuahua and a friend of mine has a Doberman. I was initially quite worried about introducing the two dogs because of the striking size difference. However, I was really surprised by how well they got along!
Honestly, the small dog was actually more challenging than the big one because of its tendency to bark and snap at other dogs. But the Doberman remained calm and gentle, and eventually won over the small dog's trust.
I think the most important thing is to ensure that both dogs are well-behaved and socialized, and to supervise them continuously. While there's no guarantee that two dogs will get along, I don't think breed necessarily determines whether two dogs can coexist peacefully.
In my experience, introducing a large breed to a small dog isn't always an issue, as long as both dogs are well-behaved and trained. So, I would recommend that you take your time with the introduction, and closely monitor the interactions between your Shih Tzu and any new dog you bring into your home.
Hope this helps!