Pet Week: Simple Tips for Training Small Dogs

I am a big dog person. I always had big dogs growing up and now as an adult, so I really didn’t have much interaction with small dogs until I started working at the Escondido Humane Society. I have met many adorable pint-sized pooches during my time here and have developed a bit of a soft spot for them.

But I still sometimes have a difficult time getting past the small dog stereotypes. Behaviors such as nipping and barking, plus a lack of training and disinterest in listening to commands, are (unfairly) synonymous with the smaller breeds.

I think in some cases we expect more out of our big dogs, especially when it comes to training. It makes sense, as large breed dogs are stronger and capable of causing greater harm. For that reason, it is imperative that large breed pet parents have control over their dogs at all times.

But small dogs are just as smart and trainable as their larger counterparts, and just because they are small does not mean we shouldn’t hold them to the same standards. Fortunately, training is no more difficult to accomplish with a small dog than with a big one. Here are a few small dog training tips from The Whole Dog Journal to help you get started:

• The smaller the canine, the more threatening our natural human body language can be. When you are training your little dog, at least until he learns to read and trust you, conscientiously use soft eye contact; make your gestures and voice small and soft rather than large and effusive; turn slightly sideways to him; and squat instead of looming over your dog to interact with him.

• When you use training treats with your little dog the treats must be very tiny—perhaps the size of a quarter of a pea.

• If you always train your little dog standing up, you are guaranteed to end up with a sore back. In the beginning, sit on the floor with your dog to save your back, and to make yourself less intimidating to him. You can also work with your little dog while you sit on a stool or chair, or you can put him on a raised surface where he is comfortable, such as a table, sofa or bed.

Hopefully these tips will be a good starting point for you and your little one. See the rest of the training tips from The Whole Dog Journal here.

I would love to hear from you: Do you have a small dog? If so, what training tips have worked for you?

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