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Downward Sizing Dog: A Reformed Big Dog Snob Defends the Small Dog Life
Embrace the fascinating universe of small dogs in this captivating new book by Karen Lena Izzo. Whether you’re already a small dog enthusiast or a recovering die-hard big dog fan like Izzo, you’ll love Downward Sizing Dog as it celebrates the charm and character of small breeds. Combining humor, scientific insights, and engaging stories, Downward Sizing Dog invites readers to delve deeper into the impressive world of these little canines, proving their worthiness of not just respect, but also immense adoration. Written with a blend of personal anecdotes, scientific facts, and heart-tugging interviews, Izzo pulls back the curtain on what it means to be a small dog in a big dog’s world. Not only will you meet a plethora of pint-sized pups and their grateful owners, but you’ll also get to understand the latest scientific findings about these little canines, explained in an easily digestible manner. Whether you’re a fan of Great Danes or Dachshunds, this book will broaden your perspective on the canine kingdom, shedding light on the often underestimated smaller breeds and their significant role as human’s best friend. Downward Sizing Dog is an enjoyable read for every dog lover, no matter their preference in size. Critics have praised it as a “home-run book,” and a “lovely read” filled with “delightful insights into the world of small dogs”. So, sit back, curl up with your furry friend, and get ready to explore the world through a smaller, but equally lovable, lens.
251 pages, Paperback
Published January 28, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 6, 2023
Karen Lena Izzo gives the reader a practical, honest, realistic account of her transition from a lover of big dogs, mostly hunting breed dogs, which really negative views of small dogs (with all the insulting views anyone with small dogs has heard ad nauseum), to someone who not only loves her two Havanese dogs, but happily and knowledgeably explains the advantages of small dogs.
First, of course, it's necessary to establish that small dogs are actually dogs, real dogs, with all the traits of dogs, not a failed attempt at a cat. (Whose own advantages, let me point out, not only many big dog owners, but Ms. Izzo, seem not to appreciate.) Small dogs, like big dogs, are people-oriented, loyal, ready to please if you take the time to show them how. They're resilient and adaptable.
Then there are the specific advantages of small dogs. First, and most obvious, they're small. They fit well into smaller homes and more heavily scheduled lives. They're very portable--easier to travel with if you need or want to travel.
They're cheaper to feed. I'm on a very limited income, and have been through some rough times. but my current dog is a 12 pound Chinese Crested dog, and her predecessor was a 9 pound Chinese Crested. They've both been my service dogs, so legally I have been able to have them in housing where I otherwise couldn't. But, while legally the same would have been true for a Lab or a Golden, or similarly sized dogs, I cannot imagine keeping such a dog in a 250sqft studio apartment. Over a bar. With an outside staircase down to, not a yard, but a parking lot shared with the bar.
Small dogs are also much cheaper to feed. In my case, I've taken advantage of that to feed my dogs a much higher-quality diet than I could afford if I had a border collie, like the beloved dog of my teen and young adult years. Never mind how a dog of that size and energy level would fit in that 250sqft studio apartment. (I'm out of that now, into a one-bedroom more than twice the size. And there are actual landscaped grounds for us to walk on.)
Ms. Izzo gives us lively interviews and anecdotes, illustrating the ways the big dogs she grew up with, and raised her children with, aren't really a good fit for many American families these days. More and more of us live in cities, where we don't have big yards to play with the dogs in, and are more heavily scheduled, so that we just don't have the time for devoting ourselves to other activities that would let dogs that size exercise both their bodies and their brains.
Big dogs also, just being themselves in our homes and lives, cause a lot more dirt, shedding, and even potentially destruction, the last being due not to them being innately bad dogs, but because, as noted above, they're less likely to get the exercise their bodies and brains need, in urban houses with little or no land.
Small dogs, even when they do play in the mud and come in, have, literally, much smaller footprints. They don't bring in as much dirt and mud. You can pick them up and put them in the sink for a quick bath. Ms. Izzo has lots of great anecdotes about how much difference this makes in being able to live successfully with our beloved dogs.
They can't even do, usually, as much damage if they do decide to chew on a table leg.
In addition, both veterinary and grooming visits are significantly less expensive. It really does matter how much anesthesia is needed when your dog is spayed or neutered, what the doses need to be for other drugs, such as heartworm preventatives, or how much time it's going to take the groomer to do a proper groom on your miniature poodle vs. a standard poodle.
And all of this is interspersed with real data.
But in many ways the best parts of this book are the stories about how her own Havanese, Phoebe and Scout, and other people's small dogs, have made themselves important, even vital, in the lives of their people. I'm not the only person, by far, who has a small breed service dog. They can't be guide dogs, and are very limited in the mobility assistance they they can provide (mostly picking up or fetching small items so their person doesn't need to do what are for them physically challenging movements), but they're great as medical alert dogs of all kinds. And for all they are mocked for being yappy, nonstop barkers, most, if their humans pay attention and reward desired rather than undesired behavior, are really good at alerting to someone at the door, and stopping when you acknowledge what they're telling you. In that tiny studio apartment with the paper-thin walls, my dog was vital to knowing whether there was actually someone at my apartment door, or instead someone at the neighbor's door. I am not kidding. And yet, I have often been asked, "does your dog ever bark?", because she doesn't do so unnecessarily. She barks when she really has something to say.
Ms. Izzo tells wonderful stories, or has their owners do so, of service dogs, therapy dogs, and just household watchdogs who know when they need to bark and when their voices aren't needed.
They don't need the hours of running per day that my sister's Labs used to, but they love to go for walks with you, and are a great way to meet your neighbors and know your neighborhood.
This is a fun and useful book. If it has a drawback, it's that Ms. Izzo is a retired estate planning attorney, with perhaps an unrealistic idea of how often people take trips in which they would like to take their dogs on the plane with them. It gave me an uncomfortable sense that she's not completely aware of the degree of privilege she has. (Not completely unaware, either, though, as a few other comments elsewhere reveal.) However, if you do have to or want to do that, it is absolutely true that it's both cheaper to do that with a small dog, and safer for the dog. Dogs who are too big to fit in a carrier under your seat need to fly cargo, and that should be absolutely a last resort in a dire emergency. Ms. Izzo doesn't say this, but I will: If you have to travel with a dog who can't fly in the cabin with you, drive instead if at all possible.
Ms. Izzo does a wonderful job of making clear that small dogs are just dogs in a smaller package, with all the same traits that make us love dogs, and there's also a lot of useful information in here.
I bought this book.
First, of course, it's necessary to establish that small dogs are actually dogs, real dogs, with all the traits of dogs, not a failed attempt at a cat. (Whose own advantages, let me point out, not only many big dog owners, but Ms. Izzo, seem not to appreciate.) Small dogs, like big dogs, are people-oriented, loyal, ready to please if you take the time to show them how. They're resilient and adaptable.
Then there are the specific advantages of small dogs. First, and most obvious, they're small. They fit well into smaller homes and more heavily scheduled lives. They're very portable--easier to travel with if you need or want to travel.
They're cheaper to feed. I'm on a very limited income, and have been through some rough times. but my current dog is a 12 pound Chinese Crested dog, and her predecessor was a 9 pound Chinese Crested. They've both been my service dogs, so legally I have been able to have them in housing where I otherwise couldn't. But, while legally the same would have been true for a Lab or a Golden, or similarly sized dogs, I cannot imagine keeping such a dog in a 250sqft studio apartment. Over a bar. With an outside staircase down to, not a yard, but a parking lot shared with the bar.
Small dogs are also much cheaper to feed. In my case, I've taken advantage of that to feed my dogs a much higher-quality diet than I could afford if I had a border collie, like the beloved dog of my teen and young adult years. Never mind how a dog of that size and energy level would fit in that 250sqft studio apartment. (I'm out of that now, into a one-bedroom more than twice the size. And there are actual landscaped grounds for us to walk on.)
Ms. Izzo gives us lively interviews and anecdotes, illustrating the ways the big dogs she grew up with, and raised her children with, aren't really a good fit for many American families these days. More and more of us live in cities, where we don't have big yards to play with the dogs in, and are more heavily scheduled, so that we just don't have the time for devoting ourselves to other activities that would let dogs that size exercise both their bodies and their brains.
Big dogs also, just being themselves in our homes and lives, cause a lot more dirt, shedding, and even potentially destruction, the last being due not to them being innately bad dogs, but because, as noted above, they're less likely to get the exercise their bodies and brains need, in urban houses with little or no land.
Small dogs, even when they do play in the mud and come in, have, literally, much smaller footprints. They don't bring in as much dirt and mud. You can pick them up and put them in the sink for a quick bath. Ms. Izzo has lots of great anecdotes about how much difference this makes in being able to live successfully with our beloved dogs.
They can't even do, usually, as much damage if they do decide to chew on a table leg.
In addition, both veterinary and grooming visits are significantly less expensive. It really does matter how much anesthesia is needed when your dog is spayed or neutered, what the doses need to be for other drugs, such as heartworm preventatives, or how much time it's going to take the groomer to do a proper groom on your miniature poodle vs. a standard poodle.
And all of this is interspersed with real data.
But in many ways the best parts of this book are the stories about how her own Havanese, Phoebe and Scout, and other people's small dogs, have made themselves important, even vital, in the lives of their people. I'm not the only person, by far, who has a small breed service dog. They can't be guide dogs, and are very limited in the mobility assistance they they can provide (mostly picking up or fetching small items so their person doesn't need to do what are for them physically challenging movements), but they're great as medical alert dogs of all kinds. And for all they are mocked for being yappy, nonstop barkers, most, if their humans pay attention and reward desired rather than undesired behavior, are really good at alerting to someone at the door, and stopping when you acknowledge what they're telling you. In that tiny studio apartment with the paper-thin walls, my dog was vital to knowing whether there was actually someone at my apartment door, or instead someone at the neighbor's door. I am not kidding. And yet, I have often been asked, "does your dog ever bark?", because she doesn't do so unnecessarily. She barks when she really has something to say.
Ms. Izzo tells wonderful stories, or has their owners do so, of service dogs, therapy dogs, and just household watchdogs who know when they need to bark and when their voices aren't needed.
They don't need the hours of running per day that my sister's Labs used to, but they love to go for walks with you, and are a great way to meet your neighbors and know your neighborhood.
This is a fun and useful book. If it has a drawback, it's that Ms. Izzo is a retired estate planning attorney, with perhaps an unrealistic idea of how often people take trips in which they would like to take their dogs on the plane with them. It gave me an uncomfortable sense that she's not completely aware of the degree of privilege she has. (Not completely unaware, either, though, as a few other comments elsewhere reveal.) However, if you do have to or want to do that, it is absolutely true that it's both cheaper to do that with a small dog, and safer for the dog. Dogs who are too big to fit in a carrier under your seat need to fly cargo, and that should be absolutely a last resort in a dire emergency. Ms. Izzo doesn't say this, but I will: If you have to travel with a dog who can't fly in the cabin with you, drive instead if at all possible.
Ms. Izzo does a wonderful job of making clear that small dogs are just dogs in a smaller package, with all the same traits that make us love dogs, and there's also a lot of useful information in here.
I bought this book.
June 11, 2024
I really like this book. It's a well-researched and very inciteful look at people's perceptions, preconceived notions, and expectations of small/tiny dogs. It was a bit hard for me to relate to since I see all dogs - big, small, or in between - by their hearts and souls rather than the body that contains them. I've had mostly big dogs, several small ones, young and old, and they are really all the same inside - the smaller their bodies are, the bigger they THINK they are. But if the author can change the views and perceptions of even a few people (hopefully many), all dogs will benefit!
October 16, 2023
What a fantastic read this was! As someone who has grown up around dogs that were owned by friends and family I was regrettably, one to hold the stereotypical view of small dogs being ‘toy’ dogs. I can honestly say this book has changed my perspective. The author did a wonderful job breaking those stereotyped barriers down and going in depth with how and why they’re wrong. Never was there indication that this was a book to ‘bash’ big dogs; everything that was stated was fact based with research and personal stories to further reiterate how small dogs can fit into everyone’s lives. That small dogs are dogs. I never before thought about how smalls dog could have a smaller carbon footprint, never considered that a small dog could be trained as a service dog. And even be as helpful as their larger counterparts. This book is not meant to speak badly about larger dogs, but to educate on how and why small dogs are not simply ‘yappy’ dogs. It was a wonderful read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You can tell when reading this that the author feels passionately about this topic. It was well thought out, well researched and had the perfect about of humor to give you a chuckle. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. It’s perfect for those who don’t believe they could ever have a small dog, it’s clearly fantastic for those who own small dogs and understand how they are so much more than a ‘toy dog’. Even to someone who may not like dogs or may be on the fence about dogs, this book may not change your mind, but it will make you think differently about dogs!
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2023
Small dogs are people, too.
I have to admit I’m a dog person who is also a cat person. I love critters in all sizes and I’ve been known to put a book down forever if the dog dies in the end. This isn’t such a book (the dog doesn’t die). This is a good read for someone trying to figure out if they’re a dog person and what size might work for them.
I’ve always been of the opinion that the dog picks you, not the other way around. My animals have all come from the APL or rescues and while I’ve had an idea who I wanted, it’s the dog or cat that’s picked me. I must also confess, I don’t have a bias toward the size of the dog. This author, though, sort of does. It’s implied in the title–defending the small dog life. That’s okay. Some are meant for small dogs and others for larger ones.
I liked this book in that the author does a great job of defending why small dogs are great. All dogs are great, but sometimes the smaller ones get the bias of being seen as ankle-biters or walking puffballs. They’re pups, too and demand love. Then again, large dogs get labeled as dangerous or big and scary. It’s all about perspective. This book gives that.
I had some issues with the way big dogs were portrayed in this book, though. Any animal, when left to their own devices, can be destructive. They can have anxieties and will leave messes. Any dog can be a travel companion and the best of friends to their master. It’s all about how the dog is raised and how the owner accommodates the dog. Small dogs are good in their own ways and so are big ones.
If you’re considering getting a dog, I highly suggest going to the local shelter or a rescue. Adopt, don’t shop. But that said, you have to pick what’s best for you. This book will help you do that. If you’re wanting a dog, then try this book. It’s worth a read.
I have to admit I’m a dog person who is also a cat person. I love critters in all sizes and I’ve been known to put a book down forever if the dog dies in the end. This isn’t such a book (the dog doesn’t die). This is a good read for someone trying to figure out if they’re a dog person and what size might work for them.
I’ve always been of the opinion that the dog picks you, not the other way around. My animals have all come from the APL or rescues and while I’ve had an idea who I wanted, it’s the dog or cat that’s picked me. I must also confess, I don’t have a bias toward the size of the dog. This author, though, sort of does. It’s implied in the title–defending the small dog life. That’s okay. Some are meant for small dogs and others for larger ones.
I liked this book in that the author does a great job of defending why small dogs are great. All dogs are great, but sometimes the smaller ones get the bias of being seen as ankle-biters or walking puffballs. They’re pups, too and demand love. Then again, large dogs get labeled as dangerous or big and scary. It’s all about perspective. This book gives that.
I had some issues with the way big dogs were portrayed in this book, though. Any animal, when left to their own devices, can be destructive. They can have anxieties and will leave messes. Any dog can be a travel companion and the best of friends to their master. It’s all about how the dog is raised and how the owner accommodates the dog. Small dogs are good in their own ways and so are big ones.
If you’re considering getting a dog, I highly suggest going to the local shelter or a rescue. Adopt, don’t shop. But that said, you have to pick what’s best for you. This book will help you do that. If you’re wanting a dog, then try this book. It’s worth a read.
March 11, 2023
An entertaining and informative book for lovers of dogs - of all sizes!
This was a fascinating and extremely well-researched book about small dogs. The author presents a wide array of information, facts, research and evidence to support her view that most people would be better off owning a smaller dog. She cleverly weaves her own stories, experiences and anecdotes about her own life with dogs – both large and small – into the text, which results in a book full of humour, insight and wisdom.
What comes across so strongly in this compelling book is the fact that, at the end of the day, a small dog is just that – a dog – who is just smaller than other breeds. They have the same capacity to love and be a much-loved member of the family. And the author even lists lots of ways they are actually better than a larger dog.
If you are the owner of a small dog – or you are considering adopting or buying one, then this is the book for you!
This was a fascinating and extremely well-researched book about small dogs. The author presents a wide array of information, facts, research and evidence to support her view that most people would be better off owning a smaller dog. She cleverly weaves her own stories, experiences and anecdotes about her own life with dogs – both large and small – into the text, which results in a book full of humour, insight and wisdom.
What comes across so strongly in this compelling book is the fact that, at the end of the day, a small dog is just that – a dog – who is just smaller than other breeds. They have the same capacity to love and be a much-loved member of the family. And the author even lists lots of ways they are actually better than a larger dog.
If you are the owner of a small dog – or you are considering adopting or buying one, then this is the book for you!
March 14, 2023
Amazingly informative about the life of small dogs!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews