How A Small Dog Behaves
A number of the small breeds were bred as companion dogs, accentuating their adorable attributes and giving rise to our protective instincts. Due to this response unruly behavior is permitted to develop in our small canine companions. When our small dogs are acting out, many of us find it hard to enforce proper behavior - we are usually laughing too hard.
This lack of resolve is our leading mistake for even though they are small in stature, the devastation they can produce is considerable! Even worse, they possibly could hurt themselves. If you genuinely want to find out just how huge your tiny dog is, let him be the pack leader for a day, it won’t be pretty.
Small Dog – Big Attitude
If size were not relative, the Chihuahua would be the most dangerous canine to walk the land; and these are not the only small tyrant breeds either. When cute, adorable and small are combined into one parcel, most owners find it impossible to discipline their tiny charges, ending in dominant attitudes. If you find this simple fact comical, you definitely won’t be laughing when your six pound Pomeranian informs you with bared teeth that the chair belongs to him!
Keeping your small dog safe will hinge on your ability to firmly make rules and then stick to them, no deviation permitted. Even if you just commit to training the three fundamental commands of “sit - stay - come”, the safety of your canine pal is meaningfully improved.
Building A Solid Foundation
The first thing to achieve when establishing your small breed dog training plan are the rudiments; you will want to establish a firm understanding of the commands “sit - stay - come”. Without these building blocks in place, you will experience considerably more difficulty moving forward to the more advanced commands.
The fundamental building blocks of your small dogs training need to be established from day one. Puppies are simple in the respect of habits, positive or negative have not been learned yet - you are starting with a clean sheet of paper. If you choose an older dog, particularly a rescue dog, you will need to wade through the baggage they always come with; if you find yourself struggling, a consultation with a professional trainer can help get you back on firm ground.
Prevent Bad Behavior Patterns
Recognizing a particular behavior as problematic before it becomes deep-rooted in your small dogs routine is important. For example, responding every time your small dog barks demandingly in your direction tells them that you are the lacky and they the overlord.
Another area that can be problematic is cuddling with you on the sofa; so long as you make it perfectly clear that you are inviting your small dog onto the furniture and make your ownership apparent to them future problems should be minimal.
Likewise, when you are trying to establish control over your dog you should not permit them to jump up on you. It’s nice to think that they are excited to see you, and they are, but when you respond by lifting them up you are placing them in a position of dominance over you.
A life-threatening issue that requires close attention is bolting; nothing is more dangerous for your small dog than darting. Bounding away any time the door opens could mean getting hit by a passing motorist. Not only could you lose your dog, but you can be held liable for restitution should a motorist wreck in an attempt to avoid your unrestrained dog.
Tips For Dog Training
- Any dog, big or small, will gain from training
- Obedience training of small dogs is not cruel
- If you want your small companion to be safe, start training today
- All dogs, regardless of size, need a pack leader - if it’s not you, it will be them!
- Dogs are instinctual creatures, responding to the fundamental needs of survival - they do not “think logically” the way a person does
- A dog does not live by the same moral standards as you, they do not comprehend the concept of “good and bad”
- Maintain a positive state of mind for the duration of the training session, never end on a negative or disappointed note
- Consistency is crucial to your training success
- A dog learns better by repeating the lessons over and over
- If your dog has a high degree of energy, they will be more focused during training sessions if you take them out for some exercise before starting
- Do not be too severe in your training sessions, if your small dog is not enjoying themselves, they will not look forward to the next lesson
- Feeding time for a small dog can be a powerful tool for bonding and establishing your status as pack leader by making them work for their meal through physical exercise or training sessions
In Summary
By making a personal commitment to engage in obedience training for your small dog, you are taking the first step towards having a healthy, happy and well mannered canine companion. Once they acknowledge your place as pack leader, the entire household will benefit; and by so doing, you are promising your small dog that they will be safe and secure when they are with you.
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