Why Do Small Dogs Behave Differently From Large Dogs

[zenzele]

Dogs are dogs... right? So why do small breeds tend to have behavior issues larger dogs don't have.... interesting article...

Small Dogs vs. Medium and Large Dogs

[marcerella02]

Originally Posted by zenzele

Dogs are dogs... right? So why do small breeds tend to have behavior issues larger dogs don't have.... interesting article...

Small Dogs vs. Medium and Large Dogs

lol i can answer that without looking at the article... because we treat them differently how do you NOT baby a cute little yorkie

[bildio]

Very interesting read. I learned a lot, and may even be able to effectively compete for pack leader .

[mscat]

I read most of the article, and to me, it seemed like they were making the smaller toy breed dogs out to be more behavior problems then the larger breeds.
BTW, My Suzi does not bark at people she is the most friendliest sweetest Yorkie . IMO they forgot to mention that it is the temperment in the dog that can and does make a difference, no matter what the size of dog. AND how well the dog is trained, and treated by its owner.
I do not like lumping big dogs, and small dogs into different catorgories. They all have their pros and cons.
I personally love the toy breed and esp. the YORKIE.

[marcerella02]

Originally Posted by mscat

I read most of the article, and to me, it seemed like they were making the smaller toy breed dogs out to be more behavior problems then the larger breeds.
BTW, My Suzi does not bark at people she is the most friendliest sweetest Yorkie . IMO they forgot to mention that it is the temperment in the dog that can and does make a difference, no matter what the size of dog. AND how well the dog is trained, and treated by its owner.
I do not like lumping big dogs, and small dogs into different catorgories. They all have their pros and cons.
I personally love the toy breed and esp. the YORKIE.

i agree- dogs are the way they are because of their owners.. kinda like kids

[ajprez73]

I think that the way their owners treat smaller dogs has a lot to do with it. They are our babies. My Bailey, though she is spoiled, is not a yappy, unfriendly dog. She has the sweetest disposition and is loving to anyone who she has been introduced to.

[zenzele]

Originally Posted by marcerella02

lol i can answer that without looking at the article... because we treat them differently how do you NOT baby a cute little yorkie

Yes, I understand, I knew the answer before hand also. My goal is to help Yorkier owners who treat their furbabies as babies first then dog second (if at all) will become informed Yorkie owners with a better more enjoyable dog. I've read some posts where the dogs are ruling and no one is happy ... not the dog, nor the owner, nor family members.

[Xaleia]

Originally Posted by zenzele

Yes, I understand, I knew the answer before hand also. My goal is to help Yorkier owners who treat their furbabies as babies first then dog second (if at all) will become informed Yorkie owners with a better more enjoyable dog. I've read some posts where the dogs are ruling and no one is happy ... not the dog, nor the owner, nor family members.

Very good information. We all want to baby our Yorkies and we should, but that should be on our terms.
As I understand it, our babies are happiest when we lead them. I'm dealing with a dominant personality for the first time in 17 years of owning yorkies. I WILL become the pack leader so I can then baby him as I have done with my others. My other gals have never been aggressive or had bad behavior ( except I have allowed them to sit and beg while eating and I have given them food..) lol but never a biting, barking, yapping..etc.
This new boy I have is going to learn I am the Big Kahuna..errr the Big Dorkie Yorkie Leader........hahaah
And I will baby him too much ..after he learns to behave

[JenniferLeigh]

Interesting read.

My yorkie is anything but the stereotypical small dog, and I'm always getting compliments on how well behaved and friendly she is.

I completed attribute this to have 3 large breed dogs in the house. I think Lexi realizes that she will never be the pack leader with the other dogs around.

[Harley_chik]

I really enjoyed reading that article, thanks for posting it. Honestly, I'm blushing now b/c I'm guilty of treating my Maltese differently. I have one of each, a Maltese and a Rottweiler. I do require much more of my Rottie, then I do of my Maltese. Bailey is allowed on the furniture, Harley is only allowed on the sofa, if he is invited. Bailey prefers to be carried as opposed to walking on a leash and usually gets his way. I expect Harley to heal perfectly by my side on walks. I make a lot of excuses for Bailey and Harley is required to follow the rules without exception. I do attribute part of that to the fact that I raised Harley from a puppy and Bailey was adopted from a Humane Society. He was abused, neglected and then left for dead, so he has issues. He has made a lot of progress. I think raising a large breed dog has been beneficial for me as well as Bailey. I do require a little more of him, since Harley has come into our lives. After reading that article, I think I need to step it up a little, though.

[Marilize]

Thank you for the post, it was a great article to read. I definitely need to step things up with Cash (yorkie) since I am looking after my sister's labrador as well and I treat them completely differently.
But Mauzer (labrador) is almost ten years old and he is an outside dog - I am allergic to him and can't have him in the house at all times.
I think when we move into the new house (moving again ), I will change some routines to establish Cash as my subordinate.
He is very cheeky with other dogs and with Mauzer and this makes him very hard to take for walks. He pulls and barks and lunges at the other dogs. I usually pick him up then, but since I read the article, I will definitely make some changes. The article is completely right - I would never allow that from Mauzer (or any big dog).

[Wabbit]

Basically because they are smaller....We don't tend to discipline them for their naughty behavior! They get away with more because of their size and that can lead to behavioral issues!

I always encourage people to view their furbutt as an 80 lb dog... If you wouldn't let your 80 pounder get away with it...don't let your yorkie! Discipline and setting limitations and boundries are a must...to help keep our babies balanced!!! And make sure that YOU are pack leader...walks are the best way to establish dominance..make sure that YOU are leading them...and not the other way around.. Have them walk beside you at all times. That helps them to see you as pack leader.. especially with the dominant ones! That is a must. To have a happy home and a happy yorkie.

Good luck and Good question! :0)

[Maddie23]

I followed one of the links at the bottom of the story to get to another article about walking. Maddie and I go for a walk every day, but I have a problem getting her to walk beside me until the end of the walk when she is getting tired. All the articles/books say to use a collar, high up on the neck, not a harness because a harness actually encourages pulling. But, we all know what a Yorkie can do with a collar, or at least mine, just pull until she starts choking herself! When we head out, she is exciting and wants to go ahead and pulls to go faster than I do. I read about treating them at the calf of your leg, but she is a long way down there!!! Any suggestions?

[Harley_chik]

Originally Posted by Maddie23

I followed one of the links at the bottom of the story to get to another article about walking. Maddie and I go for a walk every day, but I have a problem getting her to walk beside me until the end of the walk when she is getting tired. All the articles/books say to use a collar, high up on the neck, not a harness because a harness actually encourages pulling. But, we all know what a Yorkie can do with a collar, or at least mine, just pull until she starts choking herself! When we head out, she is exciting and wants to go ahead and pulls to go faster than I do. I read about treating them at the calf of your leg, but she is a long way down there!!! Any suggestions?

They make two different types of anti-pulling halters. You could also look for any halter with a place to connect the leash in front, where the dogs breast bone is. What about a head halter. I've also heard that changing directions(180 degrees) everytime the dog pulls works very well.

[zenzele]

Originally Posted by Xaleia

Very good information. We all want to baby our Yorkies and we should, but that should be on our terms.
As I understand it, our babies are happiest when we lead them. I'm dealing with a dominant personality for the first time in 17 years of owning yorkies. I WILL become the pack leader so I can then baby him as I have done with my others. My other gals have never been aggressive or had bad behavior ( except I have allowed them to sit and beg while eating and I have given them food..) lol but never a biting, barking, yapping..etc.
This new boy I have is going to learn I am the Big Kahuna..errr the Big Dorkie Yorkie Leader........hahaah
And I will baby him too much ..after he learns to behave

LOL and always heard that the male Yorkies were more easygoing than females!! So how old is he? Did he come from a rescue situation that may have led to his aggressive behavior? Keep us posted on the little man, he definitely need to know that he is the new kid on the block, not the pack leader!!