Small Dog Versus Big Dog
Posted in dogs on February 5th, 2012 by Steve SpillmanSmall dog training usually means dogs which are small regardless of age. This includes toy dogs or miniature dogs (very small dogs). Often times training small dogs is a more difficult task than training larger dogs but it can vary from breed to breed and dog to dog. Here I will discuss some of the benefits and some of the disadvantages that come with owning and training small dogs come with.
One of the largest benefits to having a small dog is that they are great for small apartments or small houses. So they are excellent for these living situations as well as larger homes where space is not a concern. Often times small dogs are capable of getting all their necessary daily exercise just by running around a small apartment throughout the day. Larger dogs typically require a larger space to allow for their needed exercise and activity. Some small dogs are very intelligent. Some more intelligent than large breeds and some less intelligent. In this case, size does not matter.
Generally speaking small dogs are fairly easy to live and travel with. Not only do they take up minimal room in a car or truck but they also have smaller space requirements for their accessories such as food and water bowls, food, kennels, etc. Some factors that influence the ability of your dog to learn are breed, bond with owner and motivation. Human factors such as patience, time and consistency will also play a large part in your dogs training.
Some small dogs can be very stubborn. If this is the case with your small dog you must put an emphasis on your commitment to training as well as your patience. Find out what motivates your dog. Some dogs prefer toys or attention while others go crazy for treats. Once you have figured out what motivates your dog spend the necessary time teaching it what you need and rewarding positive behaviors.
Some small dogs have a tenancy to bark or yap at sounds or objects. This is one disadvantage of small dogs and is something that can be minimized but should also be tolerated to a point. If you prefer to minimize your dogs barking you must establish this early on. It is not easy to correct after your dog is several months old. Your dog should be corrected every time it barks with the same words to learn that it is not ok. For example you might say “No barking!” when the dog barks with an assertive tone. Do not use various words such as “stop barking” then later “don’t yap!” then “quite making noise!” The dogs should hear a consistent word or set of words to correct the behavior.
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