Darlene Arden is interviewed about her new book, and discusses some of the issues with owning small dogs. In particular:
Small dogs also "need gentle, positive obedience training." A trainer as well as an award-winning pet writer, Arden is "a firm believer in clicker training" because, she said, it's easy, and it works.
"I believe in starting training on the floor with your dog, or someplace where you can work at the dog's level," she said. "Bending over a dog is considered a dominance stance," and to a small dog it may be perceived as threatening.
"Never pat a small dog on the head," she said. Imagine what it's like to see a hand as big as you are coming toward you and landing on top of the head. "I don't think even big dogs care much for that," she said.
