The Surprising Mistake Most Small Dog Owners Make

While small dogs don’t take up much space on the sofa, many of them have big personalities. Small dogs can be a lot of fun to share your home with. Most people consider breeds and mixes in the toy group small, such as the Italian Greyhound, Maltese, and English Toy Spaniel, but there are also small to medium dogs in the terrier, hound, and other groups, too.

Why 'Smaller' Doesn't Mean 'Easier'

If you’re considering adopting a small dog, the first thing to understand is that smaller does not mean easier. Small dogs require training, grooming, veterinary care, dental care, and everything else it takes to care for a dog. Many are very active and need plenty of exercise and enrichment, too. When their exercise needs aren’t met, dogs can become stressed or develop behavioral problems.

Assuming a small dog is nothing more than a lap dog is a huge mistake. Terriers offer one perfect example of this. Some terriers weigh under 30 pounds, but that doesn’t make them easy dogs. These dogs can be fearless. Bred to hunt vermin, squeeze into burrows, and even flash out foxes, terriers are far too active and intelligent to skip the training.

Mastering Loose-Leash Walking and Focus Skills

Whether you know the breed of dog you’re adopting or you’re adopting a small, mixed-breed dog, getting to know what level of exercise is right for your dog is important. One way to exercise your dog is going out for walks. While small dogs might be more manageable on the leash, it’s still essential to teach them to walk politely. Loose-leash walking is an overlooked skill for small breeds that makes walks more enjoyable and takes the constant pressure off both the dog’s body and the handler’s arm.

Another important skill is teaching your dog how to redirect attention from a distraction back to you. If you have a breed with a natural interest in chasing animals, you’ll want to begin training your dog how to focus on you even around distractions right away. Some dogs will pick this up more easily than others, so be prepared for plenty of practice with this skill.

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Stop Lifting, Start Communicating: Respecting Your Dog's Space

Even with their big personalities, small dogs are still tiny compared to us. It’s important to teach your dog the same skills you would if you couldn’t physically move, lift, and redirect your dog. Training built on clear communication helps create a well-behaved dog and gives them a fair way to learn. Communicating with your small dog instead of using the lead to pull your dog away from something, or picking them up and moving them, is important. While there’s nothing wrong with lifting your small dog, it should be done in a way the dog doesn’t find aversive. For example, you could train a cue for picking up your dog, so your dog knows when he is about to be picked up instead of being surprised.

Fixing the 'Keep-Away' Game: Reliable Recall Techniques

Along with all of the important life skills, small dog owners should train their dog how to come when called and stay while being reached for. So many small dogs play a game of chase where they run toward a person and then quickly run away. This can be very frustrating when you have to leash up your dog and dangerous if the dog gets loose. Right from the start, train your small dog how to come to you and allow you to reach for them so that you can attach a leash. Start slow. Treat your dog for staying while you reach forward with a leash in your hand (practicing inside where the dog is safe), and work up to being able to recall and easily attach the leash.

Small breeds are capable of all of the same training you see other dogs do. Training safety skills and the skills that make living with a dog easier is always a must, but it’s also worth considering giving your little dog a job through advanced obedience training, tricks, scent training, or another sport. At the end of the day, your small dog might just be turning heads with behavior that shows small dogs are capable of much more than people realize.