The Rat Terrier weighed in at no more than 8-10 pounds yet exuded the confidence and proper etiquette to hang with Danes, Mastiffs, Shepherds and Rottweilers.
He was a little dog in a big dog park.
Although most little dogs go into the small dog section this dog did not.
He was accepted by the others because dogs don't judge other dogs on size alone.
Unlike people dogs don't think of themselves as deficient at all when it comes to the physical.
Because dogs are hard-wired to coexist in a social group they have a default program inside their brains that tells them to either follow or to lead.
When their owners give them the green light to do what they want these little guys take it and run.
Having all the power feels good.
Many small dog owners unknowingly create dogs with "Napoleon Complex".
Perhaps it is an owner's fear that big dogs will attack them or their need to baby them.
Unfortunately people who have little dogs make the mistake of "entitling" them to a life of no consequences with lots of perks.
They spoil their dogs making them into undisciplined little monsters, who charge people and other dogs creating problems.
This would never be tolerated in the wild.
An alpha dog would dominate and correct bad behavior from one of its subordinates.
The pack must have order and hierarchy is the way to carry it out.
I saw a Jack Russell two years ago who had been burned by cigarettes by his first family and consequently became a vicious people biter.
His new owner could not let go of identifying with his hatred for people.
The woman also mistrusted people and isolated herself in her home with her aggressive little dog.
They were two peas in a pod, a perfect reflection of one another.
Instead of seeing this dog's problem as an opportunity to grow and move through and face inner conflicts for both herself and the dog she totally reinforced the Jack Russell's fear aggression.
She told me, "I don't blame him for wanting to bite people.
Sometimes I'd like to bite them myself.
" When I came to her home for a consultation and knocked on her neighbors' doors to have them come to her door to test the dog, she became fearful.
She hadn't talked to them in years.
They all accepted the challenge and even seemed to want to help her.
She reluctantly agreed but wouldn't look them in the eye.
The dog's problems were just " the tip of the iceberg" for this lady.
She wouldn't heed my advice and to this day the dog continues to bite people and she would still like to (bite someone).
Dogs are born without an ego.
They do think and can use their intellect to problem solve.
They even have philosophical outlooks on the world and can help you spiritually evolve.
But they do not judge themselves on the shape and size of their bodies.
Certain small breeds like Chihuahuas can be aggressive by nature.
In order to keep them in the follower role it is essential that their owners treat them like dogs.
It is so common that small dog owners baby their little dogs and therefore do not achieve the leadership role.
A small dog (or any dog) will perceive his owner as weak and act aggressively to protect his owner.
Babying a small dog is a shame.
Little dogs need to live the same life as bigger dogs do which means they need to follow rules and respect their owners.
They shouldn't be allowed to do what they want especially if they are aggressive.
When a small dog bites someone it should be taken seriously not as something to be swept under the carpet, "Oh well, Fluffy is so small...
let's forget about it.
" Aggressive behavior is a symptom, a form of communication that cannot be avoided.
It is a signal that the dog has lost his way from his primal self, which means he needs to be dominated to find balance.
Little dogs are well, little.
They fit so nicely on one's lap and everywhere else that it's as if they are a dolly not a dog.
This kind of thinking is wrong and is harmful to your small dog.
Do your canine family member a huge favor: treat him like a dog and you will have a happy harmonious relationship for the duration of his life.