Small breeds – we love to love them. But is too much love a bad thing? Whether your dog weighs 2 pounds or 100 – training small dogs is obligatory.
It’s a hilarious reality that any mid to large-size dog owner has often come across in public – a pint-size terror with absolutely zero leash, dog or people manners attacking their dog or other people. Often they are being a noisy nuisance. People often laugh and smile at this because we equate the dog’s small size to it being almost like a toy as it presents no perceived threat or danger.
While it’s true that the dog can’t do damage to anyone around them, as a loving owner of one of these little breeds it is important to realize that an untrained small dog is still a danger to itself. Through its uncontrolled behaviour, it may be attacked by another dog, have an accident by falling or getting in front of vehicles or even as has been reported, be killed by an annoyed neighbour for the incessant barking.
Most importantly untrained dogs no matter the size often suffer from anxiety in a world where they don’t understand the rules, making their life experience less than ideal and diminishing your relationship with them.
Keep in mind that no matter the size of the dog they still share 98.8% of their DNA with wolves! They often do not understand their size disadvantage in this world or suffer because of it. So what can you do as an owner in regards to training your small dog?
With small breeds it’s tempting I know – they are so small and sweet looking and we just want to snuggle and coo them all day. We assume that they are content with just that and that their quality of life is not relevant. It’s also often assumed that small dogs don’t need as much exercise or mental stimulation as other dog breeds, especially if they are qualified as companion breeds. Instead, people carry them around in their arms or bags and have them spend most of their time indoors relieving themselves on pee pads.
This is terrible for the dogs mental health and psychology. While a 3 pound mini breed certainly can’t walk as long as a Husky, they still need exercise – how much will be determined by their breed, age and health status. However just taking them outside long enough to put them on the ground to lift a leg is not just not enough. The dog will clearly let you know how long they can go for and when they are tired, and until you reach that point you should continue to gently exercise with the dog through play or walks. This will avoid nervous energy and frustration through the inability to express their natural drives of exploration, sniffing and playing. A dog also does not enjoy defecating in their “dwelling”. While they will do what they have to when they have to, it is not a natural practice for animals to defecate directly in their area of rest and while pee pads can be an added measure of relief, it should not take the place of regular exercise and the opportunity to relieve themselves outside.
CONSTANTLY CARRYING YOUR SMALL DOG BREED MAY MAKE THEM AGGRESSIVE
Dogs have complex social rules and interact with each other based on a variety of accepted behaviours. This behaviours are taught to puppies by their mothers who will correct annoying behaviours such as pawing at faces, shows of dominance, rough play etc. Often toy breeds are taken from their mothers too early (they should be with the mothers for at least 12-16 weeks) to make them even more appealing to potential purchasers and they miss this vital education. Later when they go to their owners, they are coddled and carried around in someone’s arms. This lack of socialization can lead to aggressive behaviour in small dogs where they are not taught the rules properly, and they also misunderstand their size as they are always “above” other dogs. It is crucially important to ensure that your small dog learns appropriate interaction with other dogs and how to approach and play with them gracefully. A larger dog, even without the intent to do harm can easily kill an aggressive small dog through corrective behaviours. Make sure your small dog interacts with other dogs of all sizes from a young age, dogs who have shown themselves to have even, calm tempers to avoid a fatal mishap in the future.
NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR YOUR DOG BARK CONSTANTLY
We’ve all seen that owner with a yappy small breed dog in their arms, having a full conversation with someone while the dog is having a full meltdown and barking incessantly. The owner seems to neither notice nor care. And while this is true for all dog breeds, owners of small dog breeds in particular seem to think that no one will mind the annoying behaviour because they are cute. News flash: We mind!
The constant barking is also a sign that something is up with your dog – either they don’t want to be held, they want to move around, they haven’t exercised enough or are suffering from some sort of nervousness because they are not being allowed to move about freely and be themselves. Ignoring the dog’s direct communication with you is disregarding their needs and disrespecting your neighbours. Be a good human and keep your dog quiet (and happy!).
YOUR SMALL DOG SHOULD NOT BE FAT
Excess weight is dangerous to all dog breeds but particularly dangerous for small dogs. Their fragile bones can’t withstand the extra pressure extra pounds add, and health problems like diabetes, heart disease, liver disease and ocular issues arise quickly, often with irreversible damage. This goes back to the first point of adequate exercise but also being vigilant about their diet. We tend to show our love through food, and especially in small breed cases real love is keeping them at a healthy weight and respecting their natural drives.
TEACH YOUR SMALL BREED BASIC DOG MANNERS AND COMMANDS
This is a more explicit version of saying don’t let your dog bark and act the fool everywhere – but it is important to train your 3-pound Chihuahua the same way you train your 100-pound Doberman. Small dogs should know basic commands, especially recall and leave as well as other important commands such as stay, no etc. It may sound obvious but we don’t always consider the repercussions of small dogs being close to the ground and the amount of things they will ingest, potentially dangerous ones. There is also the danger of them darting out into traffic, a group of larger dogs or just people walking who don’t see them. Having a solid foundation of training will make your small breed a good dog citizen and keep them safe from themselves.
DON’T LET LOVE BLIND YOU
At the end of the day, we all love our dogs and want what’s best for them and sometimes this very love can become toxic. Don’t let your small breeds size blind you to their needs and your responsibility to allow them to live a long and fulfilling life.