Being a tiny service dog isn't always as easy as it appears on the outside.
Sure, you get carried and pampered in a way the bigger service dogs don't get. You get more cooing and in-your-face attention.
But even with the best will in the world, because you're small, there are some things you flat are not allowed to do, things you could have done if you'd been bigger.
So you sulk.
And you get yourself into places where you think maybe you can be both safe and do your job. And maybe some of those places aren't such a great idea after all.
And you sit at the window, watching and waiting for a chance to work again.
When I was chopping the Zombie Maple up, Itzl (and Xoco) were not allowed outside. Even the smallest bits of falling wood could have seriously hurt either one of them. I think, even if they'd been bigger, I would still have left them inside as I plowed through all those branched with my chainsaw.
Heavy yard work is one of the many things Itzl can't accompany me doing because of his size. He's too small to be safe when I swing hoes and use clippers and chainsaws. Mowing, he's fine with. He heels and walks beside and slightly behind me as I push the mower, ever ready to alert if it's needed. Xoco walks beside him, keeping pace and letting him take the lead. The neighbors have stopped commenting on how well behaved they are when I mow the front yard. It's a common sight - me, pushing the mower, followed by the two little dogs.
When I was done with the chainsawing and had taken a quick shower to remove all the sawdust and tiny bugs that crawled onto me from the tree, I needed to grocery shop. I went to the nearest store instead of my usual places.
I'd forgotten just how suspicious and rude people can be when you carry in a small dog, even when his tags are prominently displayed. A bigger dog wouldn't have gotten more than a glance and perhaps a smile, but a tiny service dog faces constant challenges, constant suspicion, constant surveillance.
After passing the challenge by the store security, we were followed by security throughout the store, encountered glares from all the store employees, were approached by several store employees to be told "dogs aren't allowed in here!" even though security was standing right behind me. I hate it when store employees think I haven't already been notified numerous times that my presence with my partner is unwelcome, and I hate it even more when they see I am being shadowed by security (hence lending a vague sort of approval, or at least a vague "yeah, they're here, we're dealing" sort of aura) and still feel the need to challenge us.
I ended up forgetting a few things on my list and didn't feel like returning to any store to get them.
Itzl has started picking up on that degree of hostility. He used to ignore it. But now, he notices, and he watches. When a store employee is about to approach us, or to make a snide comment as we pass, he raises up slightly in his carrier and fixes his gaze on them, one lip slightly raised in a contemptuous sneer. When they actually do approach, he snaps his mouth shut and turns just slightly so the tag sticks out, then tosses his head up in the air and over my shoulder so he doesn't have to look at them. One ear twists to face them, though. He's listening.
That's what he does. And he does it well. He may be a tiny dog, but he provides a really big service.