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Small and toy breed dogs have issues not unlike the larger
breeds. But because we, as humans, tend to “baby” these
little ones, we make the issues even worse. Hence, the reason so many
end up being given to rescues
or found in shelters. “Humanizing”
your dog is the worse disservice you can do for him.
It is helpful to
always view your small dog as, first and foremost, a
dog. Not as a cute, furry baby human. Once
you treat him as a
dog, life becomes much easier for both
of you.
Sometimes humans believe all a dog
needs is food, love
and attention. Not so. All
dogs, large and small, need structure, exercise, rest, and to know they
aren't required
to be the "pack leader".
A dog’s natural
instinct is to be part of a pack and you need to establish yourself as
the pack leader. A dog's life is based on the hierarchy of his pack. When
you don’t show leadership by setting boundaries or disciplining your dog,
just as a pack would, your dog will
feel insecure. He will believe that if you aren’t going to be the pack
leader, he
will have to be. Your dog will want
to assume the lead
position and he does not know what
to do with it. He
will think he has to worry about
food, water, safety, etc.,
as a pack leader does. He
will get stressed and many
issues may present themselves.
Good
books to read include:
-
"Why Does My Dog...?" by
John Fisher
-
"Chihuahuas
for Dummies" by
Jacqueline O'Neil
-
"Cesar’s
Way” by Cesar Millan.
Cesar also has a wonderful show,
The Dog Whisperer on The National
Geographic Channel. He is amazing, and
knows personally the issues with toy/small breed
dogs as he's worked with many of them. Of course, finding
a great trainer will greatly enhance your own training
skills.
One of our goals at PUP is to help owners build a
stronger relationship with their dogs. Hence, the reason we
recommend reading and training. It's not a lot of money
or time to spend, but it is worth every penny and second
in
the end. |
