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Toy DogsCommon Characteristics of the Toy Breed Group According to Animal Behavioral College, Inc. Size-Related Lenience - Sometimes a small dog’s misbehavior is dismissed due to her size. For example, it is much easier to ignore a Maltese barking at strangers on a walk than it would be to ignore a Rottweiler exhibiting the same behavior. In addition, some dog owners view small dogs as surrogate children or "toys" and not the true dogs they are. Owners that treat their small dogs like this can inadvertently send the wrong message to their dog about their relationship, increasing the difficulty of obedience training. This skewed relationship often creates behavioral problems that would never be tolerated in a larger dog. Training Small Stature Dogs - Training may be more difficult in the beginning because of the dog’s stature. Some owners will find it frustrating to bend over repetitively to reward their dog. To help with this problem, the owner can place his dog on a table to train or train while he is seated on the floor or in a chair. Using a target stick or teaching the dog to catch tossed food treats can alleviate the need for the owner to bend down. Small Dog, Big Attitude - Many dogs of the toy breeds do not realize that they are small and often behave as though they are larger dogs. It is common to see a toy breed dog confront a much bigger dog to play with or fight. Many dogs of the toy breeds do not realize that they are small and often behave as though they are larger dogs. It is common to see a toy breed dog confront a much bigger dog to play with or fight. Small Dog, Big Attitude - Many dogs of the toy breeds do not realize that they are small and often behave as though they are larger dogs. It is common to see a toy breed dog confront a much bigger dog to play with or fight. Delicate Physiology - Owners of toy breed dogs should be aware of their dog’s delicate physiology. It is possible for a toy breed to break a leg just by jumping off a sofa or bed. Care should be taken to not overdo any physical methods of training or correction. |