Small dog owners face unique challenges.  The world is, relatively, much larger to their dogs, so their dog's perception of situations is different. Additionally, people often relate to them differently. After all, you can’t carry a 100 lb Akita in a purse! While all dogs can develop behavior problems, there are a few training and behavior challenges that may be more common in toy and small breed dogs. Fortunately, just like their larger cousins, small dogs are very trainable. Many of the toy breeds are especially fast learners to boot!

Small dog training and behavior:

1. House training – many pet owners report having difficulty house training the small dogs. Some breeds in particular and some individuals may be more difficult to house train than others. Their short stature can make it difficult to even notice when they are house soiling at times! That said, just because something is challenging does not mean it is impossible and even small dogs can be successfully house trained.
2. Barking—Your perspective of the world, if you were less than 12 inches tall, would be very different. Events and situations that may not frighten a larger dog, may terrify a small dog and trigger a vocal response. Consider this simple scenario: a trash can tips over. How would you feel if a trash bin that was twice your height suddenly tipped over near you? Would your reaction be different if the bin was half that size? Fortunately there are some easy ways to build a small dog's confidence and also to reduce reactive barking.
3. Dog-dog interaction— Young puppies need socialization opportunities with friendly dogs of all sizes, however, not all large dogs are able to interact appropriately with small dogs. Some small dogs may have frightening experiences with larger dogs who may inadvertently hurt them or behave aggressively towards them. If a dog does not have lots of positive experiences with other dogs before the age of 14 weeks, it may develop fearful or aggressive behavior towards other dogs later on in life. Behavior modification for dog-aggression is often very effective.
4. Fearful behavior – Because their perspective is different as a result of their size, things that do not frighten a larger dog may frighten a small dog.  Most dogs prefer being petted under their chin or on their side rather than over their head. For a small dog, however, nearly everyone will reach over the dog, even simply to look at the dog. Also, people tend to pick small dogs up, an experience that may be frightening to the dog. There are a number of easy to implement training and behavior modification strategies that can both prevent and address fearful behavior.

Reward based training methods do not rely on physical force or corrections so there is no risk of injuring a small dog. However, even reward based training techniques may need to be adjusted slightly with a small dog. After all, smaller dogs have smaller appetites and for some owners bending over to give a small dog with a treat, can be physically difficult to do when the dog is just ankle high!

Additionally, many of the small breeds have long life expectancies, which means that taking the time to train and modify their behavior pays off with years of a well-mannered pet.

At Cooperative Paws, we have experience working with dogs of all sizes and are experienced at adapting training techniques for all sizes of dogs. Our gentle collies are wonderful at facilitating socialization with small dogs. If you need help with your small (or large!) dog, contact us.

Gizmo, a charming and bright chihuahua enjoys his cozy "bed." Many toy breeds, like chihuahuas, tend to bond very closely with their owners and are adept learning new training skills and behaviors.

George, an adorable Maltese puppy and one of Cooperative Paws' graduates, demonstrates his "down." Our dog trainer and behavior consultant has experience working with dogs of all sizes from toy breeds to giant breeds.Check out some adorable pictures of our graduates online.

© 2009 Cooperative Paws Training and Behavior Consulting

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