How do you parry/block attacks from small monsters ?

All is in the title or nearly.
When i am in parry mode, (right click maintained) I can only block attacks from monsters hitting at normal height, no wolves, no rats, etc etc...
Problem is, I'm doing the kill wolves quest and I'm getting kill over and over cause they chain me and I can't block them.
i tried pressing the sneak/down button but it does nothing.