.jpg)
Big Dogs, Small Dogs
08.11.25
Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. The treatment of the large breed pup versus the smaller breed pup.
I've found over the years in this consultancy, that larger breed pups are held to a different standard than the equivalent aged smaller dogs. (As a side note, this absolutely happens with taller young children growing up too - I was once asked "How is school going for him?" about our 3-year old boy at the time).The bigger breed dogs typically reach social maturity much later than their smaller counterparts - with a large breed dog perhaps not reaching this developmental milestone till around 4 years of age!I feel we see big dogs and lump them together with a high standard of behaviour expected, when really, we could be looking at a young individual - certainly in the social sense and the bar may be set to high for this youthful individual. This impacts our tolerance and patience with their training and so subsequently training progress.If you can, query deeper, if you have a larger breed dog, check in with yourself, is your dog still a pup (requiring understanding) in their big, gorgeous body? Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins ‘Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood’ thank you 🐾
31.05.25
Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Who is in your pack? Your pack includes all dogs residing and interacting on your property
Your pack includes all dogs residing and interacting on your property (for example a flatting situation and dogs are interacting this way).There is the potential for problems here if there are different rules and boundaries for one dog, to another - they may be allowed inside for example and the other is not, or one on the bed or couch, the other not. You can have a real impact on the social dynamics of the entire pack, with how you are interacting with all individually, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog training and behavioural tips, advice and suggestions, including around dogs pulling on their leads, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you 🐾
15.03.25Dog Behaviour. Small Dogs and Exercise.
Do small dogs need to go for walks?The Walk -The walk is one of the best forms of mental stimulation for your dog. With this, pent up energy of mental or physical forms has been linked to tension and anxiety and there is more stimulation (different sights, smells etc.) when you break up the day with two walks, as well as this burning more energy than a single big less intense one.The walk with you can be primal bonding time, where you demonstrate you have what it takes to confidently lead, ‘Out in the big wide world.’ We can compare the walk to, going off ‘On the hunt.’Throwing a ball or other item does not calm the mind of a dog, this activity hypes the dog up (promoting the production of adrenaline) and we are wanting a calmer, more stable energy so this should not really make up the bulk of your exercise regime with your dog.I would suggest, even for a small dog such as a Yorkshire Terrier (adult) he or she should be getting two, twenty minute walks per day.Remember, most dogs are confined to increasingly small property sizes and the walk breaks up a long day of monotony for many, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant and Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog training and behavioural tips, advice and suggestions, including around dogs pulling on their leads, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' thank you 🐾
13.09.24
Dog Behaviour. The antisocial dog.
A sign that a dog is antisocial about other dogs, is that he or she is uncomfortable about being sniffed at their rear end. Think of the refusal of the rear sniff as the equivalent of the snub of the hand shake in human interaction - it’s quite a big deal! Two dogs might go round and round too, until one has had enough! Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural & training tips, advice and suggestions, including around dogs pulling on their leads, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins 'Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood,' as well, check out https://selinamcintyre.podia.com/ for some online dog behaviour training, thank you.
22.06.24
Dog Behaviour. Dog Training. Raising a robust small dog. Your treatment of your small dog.
Do your small dog (and yourself) a favour and don’t ‘bubble wrap’ them.It’s best not to pick your small dog up all the time or fear socializing them out of worry of them getting hurt. Your dog will not develop the social skills needed to be great friends with their larger counterparts. Sometimes, these under socialized dogs develop fear aggression directed at other dogs and the situation can become 'combustible.'Lastly, try not to pass on your worry to your dog.Most small breeds (but not all) were developed to hunt vermin or prey. These little canines had to be gutsy, fearless, steadfast and independent. A big attitude was needed to stand up to their prey. As such, you need not worry about your dog being treated exactly like what they are, a dog, Selina McIntyre, Dog Behavioural Consultant & Dog Trainer, Dogs Best Friend. For more dog behavioural and training tips, advice and suggestions, why not check out my book in association with HarperCollins ‘Big Dog, Small Dog - Make your dog happier by being understood’ thank you 🐾
© Dogs Best Friend Limited N.Z. 2025.
Selina McIntyre of Dogs Best Friend, a qualified Dog Behaviourist, Dog Trainer & Author in the Hamilton, Waikato, Tauranga, Western Bay of Plenty and Rotorua areas of N.Z. since 2004.