I agree with the above post about exercise. These little dogs have a lot of energy. I get kind of upset when I hear people on TV say that small dogs are good for apartment dwellers because they don't need much exercise. They do need exercise and they love to run and play. A couple of good brisk walks a day and some games of fetch keep Gracie at a good activity level. She is prone to bark when she wants something but she also knows what "no" means. Teaching basic commands like "no", sit, stay, come will also make your life much easier. Your dog will know who is boss and what to do when you say something. Contrary to popular opinion dogs do not automatically understand everything you say. Once you teach them some obedience commands they start to understand what is expected of them and it makes things much easier on everyone. |