Why dog lovers have this preconceived notion that small dogs are more difficult to train than medium sized or larger dogs, I will never be able to understand.
Small dog training, is no different from training a puppy of any other size. While training any puppy will have its peculiarities, according to its breed, most all other aspects remain the same, and the approach to training the puppy should remain the same irrespective of its size.
Having said that, I will make an allowance here, and accept that small dog training may pose problems in two areas, (1) Aggression and (2) Potty Training. However, this is not because of the size of the dog, but 10 times out of 10, because of its owner.
If a small breed puppy is aggressive and cannot be easily disciplined, or if a small breed puppy cannot be potty trained or poses difficulties in being potty trained, it is the owner who has rather unknowingly contributed to this situation. Let us examine how and why.
Aggression.
Small dogs are loved because they are cute, they are like toys. Owners enjoy having their pet sit on their laps. This is where the trouble starts. The natural aggressive trait of the canine, not because it is small, is to claim ownership over its domain, its food, even its master; all canines want to be the alpha dog.
It is the aggressive streak in the canine animal that causes it to jump onto the lap of its master or mistress, especially when there are a number of people sitting in the room.
This is a blatant act of aggression. Instead of chastising and checking the animal, every owner bar none, would cuddle the dog and kiss it, even though it jumps on to their lap uninvited, fostering the aggressive streak in the animal. By doing this the owner has given in to the dog’s natural desire and instinct to be the alpha dog.
Growling and snapping at a bigger dog is another blatant act of aggression. To the owner, and even the onlookers, this is regarded as cute, just because one dog is tiny while the other is large. Most owners pet and pat the dog instead of chastising it, when it displays this aggression against a larger dog.
The above are but examples as to why small dogs are aggressive, and it s not because small dog training is different or difficult.
Potty Training.
Owners tend to carry their small dogs around where ever they are, even while they are at home and that makes it very difficult to potty train them
It comes natural to the owners of small dogs to carry the animal to the designated place where the pooch should do its dirty business and then carry it back into the house or where it was, from where they came.
By doing this the owner would also un-train a toilet trained mutt.
It is this habit of carrying the puppy that is the root of all problems. Because the pup is carried around so much it has no way of telling or alerting the owner to the fact that it has to go outside.
Small dog training starts with treating the dog as any other medium sized or larger sized dog. They have to be taken to their toilet area on a leash, and not by being carried. If owners stop carrying their small sized dogs they would be very successful in training them.
If you want to take your small dog training skills to the next level, visit the Puppy Obedience Training website where Noel Benjamin D’Costa will show you a trick or two on how to successfully train any sized dog.
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