[R-Teddy]

SMALL DOG SYNDROME:

I have been watching a pet re-homing site on facebook an have noticed a lot of things. But one thing I have noticed most with little dogs are of people getting rid of their pets because of their behavior, which from description, seems to be bad cases of small dog syndrome. It really makes me sad because in truth, its the owners fault not the dogs.

It is a common mistake many people make with small dogs, especially toy breeds. They are so cute and little, we tend to baby them WAYYYY to much. They do things like jump up on people, bark and get possessive over their owner, and a whole lot of other acts of dominance and we say....awwww, isnt that cute. He is protecting me, or he likes you or whatever. But you have to stop and as yourself something.....


If my dog was a Pit bull, not a yorkie, would I still think thats “CUTE”??

If my dog was a Pit bull, not a yorkie, would I let him do that?

If the answer is “NO”, then you shouldn't be letting your yorkie do it either.

My first little dog was / is a Shih Tzu. I was lucky that someone warned me about small dog syndrome before I even got him. This being the case I started researching it right away. I did not want to make those mistakes that cause it. I was very surprised actually on all the different things dogs do that are “Acts of Dominance” that before my reserch, I never would have thought of as being so. For example,


*Sitting / laying on the back of the couch: this is an act of dominance. They are putting themselves up higher then everyone else. Saying, I'm the boss/ alpha of this house.”

*When sleeping or sitting an cuddling with your dog, you should never move yourself to fit around them, but instead get yourself comfortable and make them fit around you. Fitting yourself around them makes them feel more superior according to research.

*Apparently jumping up on your leg is an act of dominance.
Bull kicking is an act of dominance ( especially if they do it at times other then going potty.

*Some experts say that at meal time, you should feed the humans in the house before the dogs because the alpha of a pack usually eats first.

The list goes on. Now mind you, I do not believe in disciplining your dog in a ALPHA manner an showing them who is boss in that way. I believe in positive re-enforcement. This being said, there are still things that I feel you shouldn't let your dog do that do relate to being the one in charge, the alpha of the pack. I admit that although I know about Small dog syndrome, there were many things that I did allow my shih tzu Zeus do that I shouldn't have. But once I got Athena , my yorkie I realized letting him do those things were bad and I had to correct them. He was too possessive over me and didnt want me to pay any attention to Athena. He never got aggressive over her thanks god. In fact they got along very well and played. But whenever I tried to play or love on Athena he would try to get in the way and make me love on him instead. He thought he owned me, and it was my fault that he thought that ad I had to correct the behavior. I stopped letting him sleep above my head on my pillow, I stopped fitting myself around him when sleeping, I stopped letting him sleep on the back of the couch above everyone else. Yes, even with knowing those were acts of dominance, I let him do it before because I never thought it would really be a problem, or that he really thought he was the alpha of the house, until I got another dog an saw it for myself.

I had an experience that I admit heighten my reason for wanting to post this just the other day. I have two small dogs as I said, my shih Tzu Zeus and my little Athena who is a yorkie. But I also work for a Pit bull rescue. The other day I was walking my Pit Bull foster. He was very well behaved. We came in the same area of a little dog walking her small dog, a chihuahua. Her little dog started barking like crazy at us and using very aggressive behavior. Caesar, My foster Pit was however very well behaved and didnt even react to it thanks god. The lady owner of the little dog LAUGHED and thought it was funny.

EXCUSE ME?

I had to say it. “Mam, now if my dog, a pit bull, was acting an doing all of the same things your dog is doing right now, would you think THAT was funny?”

She just kin of looked at me funny and confused, so I went on.

I said, “ I dont think you would think that was funny. In fact, im willing to bet you would fear for yours and your dogs safety. You would probably at least THINK if not say out loud that I need to control my dog better, that I should keep him locked up at home. Possibly even go as far as to think my dog needs to be put down. But yet when YOUR dog does it, ITS FUNNY???”

“Im sorry, but I strongly disagree. Its NOT funny in the slightest. Although, yes, it is true that my dog could do a lot more damage then yours could, that doesnt make it any more ok. In fact, your lucky that my dog is so well behaved and I do have such good control of him. Otherwise your dogs behavior may have made him feel threatened and cause him to act aggressively towards your dog. Then Your dog could have very well gotten hurt or even killed. But yet I guarantee that its my dog that would be made to look the villain here and likely would get put down. NO, Its not funny”

the lady just hmph and walked away with her little dog.

Moral of the story....

People PLEASE, whenever your babies are doing something and you stop and say, “Awww isnt that cute”. PLEASE PLEASE take a moment an ask yourself, “Would it still be cute if he was a pit bull?

I dont want to see anymore babies being re-homed for the mistakes their owners make.

Also look up online and research SMALL DOG SYNDROME. I only barely touched on it here.