Lovely Poppy

Here she is Poppy the Chiuhauhau all 10 months of her. With her purple harness and red lead I must look a right sight with my little handbag dog! Joking aside though, she is a lovely little lady and I know that there is a syndrome that makes humans love small dogs, but you can see why people make the mistake of turning these pocket dogs into substitute children! They don't answer back and they are always pleased to see you and when they do see you they don't ask for money! Result!


Anyway, every dog has issues of some sort or another and this little lady has a couple. Firstly she whimpered and whined at everything and I mean everything! If she walked she whimpered, if you let her out and she was at the door she whimpered, constantly! Instructions to the family were only to acknowledge her if she was quiet, if she whimpered she was either ignored or shushed!


Within a day or so the whimpering has tailed off to virtually nothing and she is being treated like any other dog that stops with us and you can see the dog coming out in her! She was dominant at her home, dictating the pace like most small dogs do, but if you reverse that behavior and encourage her to follow your leadership, you create a happier less stressed animal that knows and is confident to do things without the baggage of leadership around her shoulders!


When Poppy was playing in the garden she was hesitant to go out at first and constantly barking if she heard a noise. By stopping that behavior and by assuming the leadership role, you can allow your dog to play safe in the knowledge that you will defend and protect it and alert it if you think something needs its attention!


Her other issue is around food, if you are eating then she will mug you and be all over you to try to get something! This is rude and a dog that enters your personal space like that is not respecting you or your personal space and this can lead to dominance issues in certain dogs! My advice and what I have done with Poppy is to enforce the distance around me whilst I eat, which is again another signal to the dog that you are in charge of the resources and you decide when to share them which makes you powerful!


So if you want your dogs respect, go ahead and show it some leadership and see the results!


Cheers Steve