Some small dogs can be territorial and barking, but with proper education these characteristics are minimized.
Some small breed dogs, such as the Yorkshire terrier or the Chihuahua, have a reputation for being difficult to educate and for ” having bad fleas .” But what is true about it? Experts believe that the difficulty in teaching a dog is not a matter of its breed or size, but of how the owners raise their education. The character of small dogs, the most common mistakes that are made with their education and the way to solve them are detailed below .
Raising a small dog: mistakes
The overprotection is a mistake that regularly discuss dog owners of small breeds with their pets. Small dogs , such as the Yorkshire terrier or the Chihuahua , who rarely have to face a difficult situation (such as the presence of other dogs) because they always find the overprotective arms of their masters open, can be surly and rebellious with the rules .
Small breed dogs are generally overprotected by their owners, but with education they are no more complicated than the others.
However, the fact of belonging to a small breed does not mean that a dog is more difficult to educate, disobedient or more rebellious. Although they are the ones who go to the canine education consultations the most. 55% of the dogs that come to me for behaviour problems at home are of small and medium breeds, among which the cocker spaniel stand out.
A phenomenon that occurs in homes where these types of dogs live is the fact that they are allowed to bite and growl at their owners. The reason, is that, “as they are small, they are not afraid of their bites”, except when it occurs with a child. But, expert warns, “once they are allowed to do it, it is difficult to redirect the situation.”
Character of small dog breeds
Each dog, regardless of its breed and size, has its own unique personality. But small dogs have in common a more marked sense of territoriality. When a small dog barks at hearing a strange noise or because a visitor comes home, it shows that it feels threatened in front of visitors, for this reason it is territorial and dominant.
Small dogs are barking in reaction to the fear they feel in certain situations
Another common characteristic of these breeds is the fact that they are barkers , but why? it is due to a reaction caused by fear . The animal barks to try to show its fierceness and hide, what it considers its enemy, the fear it really feels.
Small dogs are, however, more independent and suffer less anxiety than large dogs when their owners leave home and are alone. The reason for this is not known, but it happens often, except with the pug.
Common mistakes in raising a small dog
- A wrong approach in the education with a small dog can cause problems of coexistence at home and a compulsive disobedience in the animal. Among the most common mistakes that occur in the education of these dogs is the excess of permissiveness and the absence of rules at home (do not get on the bed, do not growl or bite) .
- The humanization of the small dog is another common mistake committed by their owners. Dogs learn by imitation and if they are reinforced and motivated to have human behaviours, they will end up ceasing to be dogs and becoming a crude imitation of people.
- The lack of standards and inadequate socialization are also common failures that it falls in the upbringing of small dogs. They are overprotected, behaviour guidelines are not set for them. Inappropriate socialization also influences the fact that the animal is surly with other people than the owner. These dogs tend to choose a master they want their undivided attention from . To avoid excess dominance of small breed dogs with their owners, it is advisable to socialize them correctly when they are puppies and let them be in contact with as many strangers as possible. A well-socialized and well-behaved small dog from puppyhood can be obedient and tolerant of strangers. There are even those who participate in the category of small dogs for agility tests (course of an obstacle course), because they are very agile, active and prone to gambling.