I have noticed this, some people seem to forget that small dogs are still dogs, and need training just as much. It's funny, because my first dog, Sheba, (best, smertest dog in the whole wide world) was a German Shepherd mis, almost all black, with tan spots for eyebrows and tan on her legs. She was not only smart, but amazingly well-behaved. My family got her when she was a full-grown stray, so we don't know who had her, or how much training she had as a pup. Anyway, people were literally afraid of her because she was llarge and black. My mother once saw a traveling salesman walk backwards down the driveway when Sheba, who hadn't even looked at him, barked her soft, polite "Let me in, please" bark!

On the other hand, the lady up the street had miniature poodles. She bred them, and claimed they were show-quality (though I never saw them with "that" haircut) - but they were the loudest, most yappy, obnoxious bunch I have ever encountered. They would jump at you through the door the entire time you were talking to the woman, and barked so much that one had to shout to be heard over them. To my mind, they were not even cute, that's how obnoxious they were, and I never understood why anyone would want a dog like that!