Small dogs or lap dogs or quilts, as they were called in their day, have a very long history, spanning several thousand years. Small breeds were often kept by the nobility and given as gifts to royal figures. Small breeds were also thought to be good for health. Pekingese, pug and King Charles Cavalier Spaniel are three examples.
Many dog owners have a preference for small dogs over larger breeds, and for many different reasons. However, by virtue of their diminutive size, these dogs are much more affordable to keep, require less exercise relative to larger breeds in general, and are easy to transport, for example.
Many owners of larger dogs, and often those thinking of caring for new dogs, avoid smaller breeds, due to perceived differences in their behavior relative to larger dogs. It is thought, and of course erroneously, that smaller dogs are by nature barking, aggressive, possessive, overprotective and demanding, etc.
If this assumption is not true, why are so many small dog owners experiencing problems with their dogs behaving aggressively towards other dogs and humans and displaying possessive and demanding behaviors etc.?
To gain an understanding of the problem, we have to start at the beginning. All the puppies are cute and adorable, even the largest breed was small and cuddly at the same time. However, small breeds tend to retain their puppy-like appearance and size, long after the cute Rottweiler puppy has grown and gained 50kg in weight, for example.
Researchers have discovered that humans have developed a biological response to ‘cute’ things, especially baby animals. The need to nurture and protect perceived helpless creatures is believed to be automatic.
This is where the problems often start; the owner is overprotective of the dog, may walk him around, let him sleep on the bed or jump on the furniture whenever he wants, pick him up in the presence of strange dogs, and give in to their demands for attention. This is often done through the mistaken notion that the dog needs protection, by virtue of its size and “baby” qualities.
So how does all this work in the mind of dogs? Although our domestic dogs are very different in many ways from their wolf ancestors, they have inherited much of the instinctive behaviors of their ancestors. Out of this instinctive pattern comes the desire to be part of a group or pack. Although most dogs are more than happy to be the followers of their human pack, if there is no obvious leader, or if the dog receives signals from his owner that he is the pack leader, then the dog will not have no choice but to play the role, as that is how life in the world of dogs unfolds.
Over time, the dog may display behaviors that would, to the experienced eye, be considered dominant; however, to the dog owner, these behaviors are considered breed-specific, eg, “that’s what Chihuahuas are like,” or an integral part of dogs. personality, for example, ‘he’s always been like this’. This type of behavior would be cause for concern if seen in a larger dog, but is somehow overlooked or not considered serious in many smaller breeds.
There are a number of behaviors that are common to small dogs acting in a dominant manner, so much so that this type of behavior seen in smaller breeds has inherited the label “small dog syndrome” or “small dog syndrome.” Some of the common behaviors that characterize ‘small dog syndrome’ are listed below.
- Your dog has developed the habit of sitting on you, or jumping on you, or next to you, whenever he pleases.
- Your dog won’t let you near him when he’s eating or has a toy he’s playing with
- Barks excessively to get your attention.
- Your dog is overprotective when other dogs or humans approach you.
- Your dog growls when you try to get him out of his favorite resting place.
- Your dog is often beaten up and refuses to follow commands given to it.
- Your dog displays an overreaction to being left alone, characterized by constant barking or destructive behavior.
Much can be done to reverse this problem, however owners must first consider the role they play in encouraging this type of behavior in their dogs. Owners need to realize that their small breed dogs are, in fact, animals and not little humans.
Second, owners need to understand that it is natural for dogs to be part of a “pack” and more importantly a pack in which they would rather be followers than leaders. Understanding these two concepts alone will help greatly reduce the problem.
In terms of retraining, owners must communicate to their dogs that they are the leader, provider, and protector of the team. This can be done by controlling all of the dog’s resources, for example, food, toys, treats, walks, and favorite resting places, and allowing the dog access to them when the owner chooses.
All demanding behaviour, eg barking for treats or to be picked up etc. should be ignored and all appropriate behavior praised.
Aggressive and possessive behavior towards other humans by the dog can be treated by having a place for the dog to go when the owner is interacting with others. This can be to his box, or a cushion in the corner of the room, for example.
Owners should be aware that retraining takes time, especially for dogs that have been allowed to display this type of behavior for a long time. However, with patience and repetition, the dog will be content to become a follower, rather than the leader, of his human pack.
