Little dogs are susceptible to 'small dog syndrome,' in which they become more anxious and aggressive than larger breeds. But experts say it may really be their owners' fault. Here's why, by CompAnimalPsych
"Small dog syndrome" refers to little dogs when they bark, jump up, lunge, growl, hide, or are excitable.People treat small dogs differently. Small dogs get less exercise, training, and enrichment.When I take my little dog, Pepper, for a walk, it’s more like a meander. He’s 12 years old and is on pain meds for arthritis. I let him choose where to walk, which means following his nose and making sure he gets to sniff all the smells in our part of the street.
But do little dogs get their fair share of enrichment and training? And if not, could that explain “small dog syndrome”?Small dog syndrome is the name given to small dogs who behave in ways that are often seen as misbehavior: growling, barking, jumping up, being excitable, lunging, and snapping at people or at bigger dogs.
These behaviors may be signs that the dog is uncomfortable in that situation, such as when the dog is growling or hiding to try to increase distance, or they could simply be signs that the dog has not been trained, e.g., not to jump up. Small dogs are very popular. Common breeds include the toy and miniature poodle, dachshund, chihuahua, Yorkshire terrier, and miniature Schnauzer. Of course, not all small dogs engage in these behaviors much. Research suggests that people treat little dogs differently in a number of ways. So could it be that small dog syndrome is due to their guardians' behavior?One issue is that small dogs are often not given choices.
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