HOW WE CREATE SMALL DOG SYNDROME

[KIKIMYLOVEBUG]

The number one biggest mistake the dog owners can make is treat them like humans. Dogs have very different thought process. The mistake is made when we give our dogs only love and other factors are overlooked. A dog is an animal and does not posses the same reasoning as us humans, they do have emotions but their emotions lack the complex thought process. They live for whatever is happening at the moment.

Let’s say you are upset at the moment, your dog will sense this but will not know why. They sense your energy and see you as weak.

If you comfort the dog that had traumatizing experience instead of letting them work it out in their mind you intensify this thought for them. They do not reason things as us humans.

If you show a weakness to your dog, in their head, they instantly take the leadership over, whether they want it or not, as they see you as weak and there must be strong leader in the pack.

This behavior causes separation anxiety in dogs as well. In their world, leader is allowed to leave, however the followers never leave the leader. If the dog sees you as the follower, and when you leave, it causes so much mental anguish that the dog takes it out on your house or themselves by eliminating, being overly excited, excessively barking,  whining, not following commands, obsessively digging, chewing furniture, scratching,  snapping, growling, biting, etc… They think that if follower left the pack, something bad is going to happen to them for what they are responsible for, so they panic.

When a dog accepts you as a leader, there will not be any separation anxiety. So when you are leaving home, do not pay attention to the dog, by petting them or talking to them as you feel sad you are leaving them. They will sense your sadness and it will upset them. When you get inside the house, do something else before you pet the dog. You do not want to leave impression on them that leaving house is a big deal.

In dog world, respect equals space, so when you have your dog jumping at you, this is not because they missed you. They are showing alpha behavior over you. We would never allow a big dog to demonstrate this behavior as we do to little dog. This is why little dog syndrome exists.  They are just being given the alpha position in our lives, as they are cute and cuddly and funny when they bark or jump. We tend to see it in human eyes as they missed us or are being protective of us. This is not true; it demonstrates complete disrespect toward us. They have to be allowed to jump first; we have to be a leader who dictates this behavior. This will give you among many other behaviors, a much happier, healthier dog. If you treat your dog like a human, they treat you like a dog.

[shorkiejem]

Excellent article.  Little dogs are not babies, they are still canines and need to be allowed to be one.

[minnie mee]

I agree with this 100%!

[Pinky]

Uh oh, I'm in trouble  I feel sooo guilty leaving Stormy in the morning. I say bye to her a ton of times and hug her and kiss her but she knows I'm leaving and is crying It makes me want to cry. When I get home she jumps all over me, but I thought it was bc she's excited to see me. Ugh they're just so cute!

[KIKIMYLOVEBUG]

I know Pinky, I think we are all guilty of the same thing. This is why it is called Small Dog Syndrome. If we would to have a big dog, we would react differently, but they are our little furbabies! I do the same thing with Kiki, I try hard not to, but hey, in my human mind she looks happy and excited. If you want her to be true dog, than, treat her like one. I want mine to be my baby  ...