[gemy]

Special treatment for Little dogs? That is a question you asked.

I believe all dogs need "special" treatment, that is treatment designed specifically for your breed and the individual personality of your dog.

For our Yorkies, I believe this special treatment, is more about discriminate safeguarding within a context of a good social rearing of the pup. And yes that means your dog needs to be socialized with other dogs, people, places and things. You are already starting to do this with puppy obedience class.

You have a Yorkie, and dependent upon his temperament needs to be kept safe from himself, and occasionally from other "aggressive dogs".

What does this mean to you as an owner? Well always with any dog you need to be alert to your surroundings when you walk your dog. Prevention is worth a pound of cure as they say. If you see a dog off lead, then I would deter around that dog, if possible. If that dog is making a bee line to you, you snug up on your lead (without jerking up on the harness), you step two steps out in front of your dog, and it is your body that meets that perhaps friendly dog. You are in a position to (if need be) to lever your boy up and out of harm's way.

Example; just today I was dock diving with my two boys. New place, new environment, new people. I was walking Razzle up to the dock diving entrance, and the previous dog who was supposed to be on lead, coming out of the pool, had escaped. This sweet puppy probably 10x Razzle's size, was gambolling merrily free. She was about 20 yards away. I had an excited dog with me, just aching to get to the pool for some ball retreival, so he was very excited and jumping up for the toy.

What did I do? I immediately tucked toy under my far arm, closed up on the leash, and watched the female pup. And I stopped movement. She in the end did not veer over to us, but happily after a bit of a run came to her owner. But yes I was very alert, cause in her puppy exuberance could have bowled over Razzle, and quite frankly hurt him.

A different example; my large boy on one of our walks to the pool, got free of me. And ran excitedly towards the pool, trying to find a way in. What did all the other folks do? Immediately stayed still; didn't try to catch him; and trusted that I would call him back. Which I did of course. That was a very wise choice in that situation. He couldn't hurt himself out in the acres of country property. And it was very obvious what he was after... the POOL.

Finally I would say, for me I want each one of my dogs to enjoy a full life; and like humans there are always risks. A rich and enjoyable life is so much preferable to mere existence.