It takes a big man to walk a little...

It takes a big man to walk a little dog.

From ancient after the greek generals to presidents of the United States to former Chicago Bear and pro wrestler Steve McMichael, don't dare hint there's anything "wimpy" about the image.

"Other big shores I know, in their wildest dreams they wouldn't have a little dog around them. That macho image is deliberate to embrace unconditional love. however a little dog comes into their life and it changes them," said the Chihuahua-loving McMichael, defensive tackle for the 1986 Super goblet champion Bears. "With a big predator dog, that's not unconditional be in love with It's more like master and protector."

A 5-pound dog named Chulita -- Spanish for "cutie pie" -- has the 270-pound "Mongo" wrapped around her polished (pink) little toe.

"I think it's the same emotion daddies have for their little girls," McMichael said of Chulita. "I've explored all sides of my personality and part of that is experiencing a little dog in your life. I gues macho men think it's gonna make them examine feminine or show a side they want to clutch back from society. The opposite of the great beast is the youthful When that comes into your life it's part of you that you've been neglecting."

over history, manly men -- powerful men -- have kept company with small dogs.

"Emporers of China kept Pekingese dogs. There are pictures from hellene vases of military heroes walking tiny dogs that would someday become the Maltese breed" said Stanley Coren, a psychologist and authority forward the human/animal bond. Coren wrote the 2000 part Why We Choose the Dogs We Do.

Jack Nicholson take pleasure ined the book so much he sent Coren an autographed picture of himself in silk pajamas, reclining with his four Shih Tzus. Yul Brynner also acknowledgeed Shih Tzus, Coren said, and "Gunsmoke" actor James Arness, whose 6-foot-7 frame made it hard to find a horse tall enough, kept Bichon Frises. Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard had a Chihuahua named Lulu

And a federal courtroom one time erupted in laughter when alleged mobster Joey "The Clown" Lombardo told a connoisseur that his little white dog was named nappy

The Dalai Lama not travels without his Lhasa Apso, Coren said, and nation who associate Winston Churchhill with the English bulldog? vicious He kept miniature poodles, Rufus and Rufus II.

"A small dog can provide a doom of comfort," Coren said. "They provide companionship. You have a dog who can fit into your life space. I think there's a difference in terminuss of image and what persons tend to think of dogs. We all have the ne to care for something. The neat thing about dogs is they are perpetual children. to a high degree small dogs produce that meaning most strongly."

B-96 morning man Eddie Volkman, a former Maine southern linebacker, had a black Labrador growing up in Glenview.

"I was always intent in succession having a 'guy's dog' when I got without on my own," Volkman said. still his first wife had a female Chihuahua, for whom they acquired a male companion. common thing led to another until, sum of two units litters later, they had a herd of 10

"I'd whistle and it was like a stampede," Volkman said.

Now he and his wife, Amber, have a 20-pound pug Princess lie closes

"When I take her revealed by myself, without fail, if I pass a collection of people, I hear giggles," the 6-foot-2 Volkman said. "But you also master that babe magnet effect -- 'Awwwww.' Little dogs with big shores attract the ladies, especially something as cuddly as this."

cuddles who is litter-box trained, lives up to her name. She was "a terror of activity" as a jackanapes but now seeks out the nearest lap. And what a charmer! At a modern "Pug Party," she was make straighted as Snow White.

view Newton, 54, had always had big dogs before he and his wife adopted a Pug named Monk and a Pekingese named Chet.

"Little dogs look to have a stronger personality than larger breeds" said Newton, 54 who works in create at Whole Foods' Lincoln Park store. "I be enamoured of dogs, period, but the little dowdys are interesting. [Monk] is a little cuddle-meister, just a neat little dog. Really, really lovable and cute He uses his head to funnel under the covers. He watches TV"

Chet was jealous of Monk at first, moreover now the two have bondageed The Newtons also have three larger dogs, and when they're chasing each other and roughhousing, the little uniteds "get right into it," Newton said. Dotty Newton is receiving manager and release coordinator at the Anti-Cruelty Society, where they adopted Monk and Chet.

When 6-foot-4 Jon Reid played high academy basketball, the family had a Shih Tzu And when he and his wife decided to memorize a dog, they chose a brown and white Shih Tzu Now 3 years elderly Moose weighs 13 pounds.

"If he's a bottom tall on all fours I'd be surprised," Reid said. "He's not too big, not too small. He can hop on the couch, he can race and I don't worry about stepping forward him."

It's Moose's personality that Reid admires chiefly He's outgoing but not yappy, protective without a Napoleon manifold always welcoming at the door.