Size is not directly proportional to training

[Husky_mom]

agree.... small dogs should not be allowed to have nasty behaviours... just as one demands good behaviour for a big dog, small dogs should be demanded likewise..

I hate yappy dogs... and I´ve found out it´s not a small dog thing... yes they do have to make up for their size in temperament.. but in my case having big and small dog... I´ve learned Queeq is not a yapper... and it could well be just how she is but most learning takes place at home...

just yesterday I was taking a vid of her to show her "sounds" and barely got a yap out of her... I mean it´s a great thing... she just growls/barks while chasing a ball but even then not always.... so I do have a quiet wel behaved small dog... if I can have one anyone can....

what I also hate is people having untrained dogs that lunge ours and say "they are friendly".. well... I don´t doubt that but lunging a dog like that one can not know the others dog reaction... good for Ivy being such a good girl and to you doing a great job... but if in this case Ivy lunged back and bit the small dog it would have been your fault and your dog would be the aggresive one... so not fair... (I used this as an example only)

[CathyBogart]

Wilbur is very much like that. It's embarrassing, frankly, and it means he doesn't get as many walks as he should. My family has worked with Wilbur, and even hired a behaviorist to help, but it has only helped to a point, and he still loses it occasionally.

He has several problems resulting from a very old injury (before we had him) and some really bizarre behaviors that he displays, so we have wondered if he might be brain damaged in some way.

Believe me, it's really embarrassing to be holding the leash of the dog that loses his head. I don't take Wilbur to parks, or places where he is likely to run into large dogs (since his problem seems limited to dogs at least 3x his size), and I have to be on my guard CONSTANTLY when I'm with him.

My pet peeve when I'm out with him is bozos who think that just because they have a friendly dog that every other dog is friendly too, especially the little black mop-dog. One day a man let his three HUGE dogs (two shepherds and a disgustingly obese lab) drag them over to me and Wilbur, and when I snapped at him all he said was "well, they're all friendly".

That's great, but what are your friendly dogs going to do when my 15lb dog latches onto their nose? Defend themselves maybe? I couldn't blame them if they did, but the results wold likely be catastrophic for my little guy.

Here's the problem child:

[caseysmom]

Cathy,
Your problem child looks a bit like mine. I know what you mean it is embarrasing.
I have had Bubba since a pup and it happened gradually, I would take him to the dog park and he would mostly hide under my chair, then the snarling started toward big dogs.
He wouldn't dream of trying any of that with his sister.

[Taz_Zoee]

what I also hate is people having untrained dogs that lunge ours and say "they are friendly".. well... I don´t doubt that but lunging a dog like that one can not know the others dog reaction... good for Ivy being such a good girl and to you doing a great job... but if in this case Ivy lunged back and bit the small dog it would have been your fault and your dog would be the aggresive one... so not fair... (I used this as an example only)

And this is why I do not take Zoee to the park as much anymore. But I hope to correct this behavior so I CAN take both of them to the park again. My problem lies in ME. I am the one that gets so wound up and it transfers to the dog. While I know this, I do not know how to change it. But I am definitely going to work on this.

[Giselle]

Oh, I certainly understand that legitimate issues and temperaments can exacerbate behavioral problems in any dog. I'm not criticizing ANYBODY who is actually trying to curb their pups' problems. What ticks me off is people who disregard behavioral problems in small dogs as amusing, entertaining, or "cute". That's it! Nothing less, nothing more

BTW, Cindy, I never knew Zoee had gotten that bad. Anytime you want to work on it, just let me know