Aggression in small dogs
It is often the case that small-breed dogs are chosen by owners of apartments in high-rise buildings or by parents of young children.These dogs are often considered ideal lap dogs and perfect companions for small children, as their size means they can’t hurt them.However, the idyll comes to an end when the difficulties begin.Unfortunately, these days it is becoming increasingly common to see small dogs exhibiting aggression toward people and other dogs.Why does this happen??What to keep in mind when you have a small dog at home?
A small dog is still a dog with needs
Because of their small size, small dogs are often underestimated and treated as mere pets.
Often, a dog that lunges at a larger dog while out for a walk isn't a problem in public—it's just something to laugh about.We may also hear the opinion that these little ones have no needs other than lying on the couch.Of course, there are also many conscientious caregivers.That is why, in recent years, small-breed dogs have been appearing more and more often at puppy training classes.The ancestors of these dogs took part in hunts or performed other tasks alongside humans, and today they excel in certain dog sports.
Small dogs get less respect from people
When we see a large German Shepherd or Great Dane, we often approach it with respect.We don’t approach it with outstretched hands, we don’t invade its space, and if we do want to interact with it, we ask the caretaker if we may.The situation is the same when we walk our dog.Most of the time, when we see a large dog, we avoid approaching it.
It's a different story with a small dog.Passersby often notice them, and children learn that they can pet them.We invade their personal space because we’re convinced they love it.When we're out walking our dog, it's easier for us to introduce him to a smaller dog, because we know he won't hurt ours.In short, we don’t heed or respect the signals these dogs send us.And that is disastrous.
Let’s remember that small dogs need space just as much as large ones.When a dog jumps on strangers, it doesn’t mean “pet me” or “pick me up”; it’s a request for them to leave.What may seem like sweet behavior to us can be a source of stress for a dog.Behavior toward caregivers can also be a request to step back.It is very important to take such signs seriously, as they may be the first sign of aggressive behavior toward people.
Social Media and Trends
It’s very common to come across videos on various social media platforms showing small dogs growling.Sometimes these behaviors are triggered by an attempt to take an object away, and sometimes by cuddling the dog against your face.It doesn't matter which trend we made the video for; what matters is the one thing they all have in common.Every time the little dog growls or barks, people laugh.Is growling or barking a signal for us to back off?!
Through what we might consider harmless play, we can end up damaging our relationship with our dog and, as a result, cause the dog to develop a dislike for its owners.Is a few seconds of fun worth it??Remember, dogs don't care about being popular online.If we’re going to show it off, let’s show how we train with it.
When browsing the most popular social media sites, it’s much rarer to come across a video of a large dog growling at its owner when the owner puts their head near the dog’s muzzle or tries to take something away from it.Large-breed dogs command more respect.
Summary
Small dogs have a harder time in life because everything is bigger than they are.As caregivers, let’s look after their needs and be their best friends.Let’s show that we understand them and put them into practice during training.These little bodies are bursting with energy that can be channeled into many dog sports, which will strengthen our bond.A little dog running through an agility course will go viral online much more than a dog growling at its owner because the owner wants to take away its treat.Let’s remember to respect our dogs’ signals.
