Small Dog Breed Personalities
There are a lot of things that make small dogs different from other dogs. These differences are important to know because they affect almost every way you handle them. Knowing generalized tips and needs about small dog breeds will help you take better care of your dog now and in the future.
Small dog breeds tend to live longer than other dogs. Depending on the breed, a small dog can live anywhere from 14-20 years and in some instances even longer. Because of this longevity, it becomes quite the commitment to own one of these little things. Before buying a dog of your own, think about the future and what you think might happen. If you know that you will not be able to keep a dog its whole life, then it is better to not buy one in the first place. Most dogs become greatly attached to their first owners. When that attachment of trust is broken, even though they can become happy with new owners, most times they don't stick around the rest of their lives. More tragic cases have reported that dogs given away to new owners will just lay down and refuse to live any longer because of the overwhelming feeling of rejection. This kind of emotional turmoil is terrible and completely unnecessary if possible. Know what your plans are and make the new dog a part of those long term plans.
Small dogs love to run around and get into things. Even the most trained small dog still finds satisfaction in jumping into a pile of leaves, chewing on an old shoe, and running through the flower bed. Do your best to teach these dogs what is ok and what is not ok to do. If you set up too many restrictions and don't allow them some kind of outlet for all of their energy, they will continue to disobey and cause trouble. Have a toy just for them that they can chew on. Take them to the park where they can run through anything they want to.
Remember that these dogs get out of yards easily. Even the most secure gate is subject to the escape skills of a small breed dog. The danger in this is a small dog running into busy traffic. Hundreds of dogs are killed every day on the roadways. Most of the time, these could have been prevented if the owners had tried harder to keep their dogs safe. Also, little breed dogs have a tendency to think they are bigger than they really are. It would be a terrible thing if your little pooch got into a full out fight with a German Shepard or a Doberman Pincher. Always use a leash out in public. Most cities have laws now about keeping dogs on leashes. Use the leash to keep them out of trouble and in your control.
Small breed dogs love to play. They love simple games that involve toys and fetching. You can train them to do harder things such as run through an obstacle course, but that is time consuming and usually isn't as fun as playing with an old tennis ball. Spending time with your little dog and playing games will help the trust the dog has for you to grow. They will express these feelings when you come home from work, when you are feeling sad, and anytime that you want to spend time with them.
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