My small dog acts like a giant. Why do little dogs have big personalities?

No, it's not a myth, small dog breeds can suffer from a Napoleon complex or small dog syndrome. But it isn't due to genetics, it's due to the way owners treat and raise these small dogs. Oftentimes, their aggressive behaviors are laughed at, ignored, or excused, and the owner thinks it's cute. The dog therefore isn't corrected for their inappropriate behavior, which reinforces the behavior. The owner will use the rational that because the dog is little, they are scared, that he thinks he a big dog, or he's all bark and no bite. This continues their pattern of inappropriate behavior, and without training, they become this yappy and ill-behaved dog. Owners of small dogs need to realize they are dogs who need training just as much as a bigger dog, and should treat them as such. If they did that, there wouldn't be a problem with a Napoleon complex.

It's not necessarily the size of the dog but the temperament and breed that makes a difference. Some small dogs like Dachshunds are usually very active dogs. Some big dogs like a St. Bernard are fairly inactive. When you think about it though, a small dog who walks a mile every day will take many more steps than a large dog who walks the same distance. So the little dog will be more tired than the large dog at the end of a one mile walk. So even if they do require more exercise, this is generally easier for the human to achieve. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Chihuahuas are loving devoted dogs when properly trained. They can be protective, and aggressive if spoiled, not socialized or have not had obedience training. I would not recommend this breed for a new dog owner or in a house with small children, since they often will bite and can be stubborn. They also can have some medical issues such as luxating patellas and sometimes back problems. One of the best personality small dogs is a Shih Tzu. They are great family dogs, are affectionate and live a long time. They do need to be groomed though to keep the coat from matting. Many people clip them to keep the fur short and manageable. I'm glad you are researching dog breeds before you get a dog to make sure it is a good match. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

Hello and thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is a good question, and we do not definitively have the answer. The reason why is still unknown, though some suggest that there are several possibilities, including that larger dogs may succumb to age-related illnesses sooner. Also, larger breeds grow from puppies to adults at an accelerated rate, and this may lead to a higher likelihood of abnormal cell growth and death from cancer. I hope this is helpful!

In general, the bigger the dog, the deeper and louder the bark. For example, German Shepard Dogs, Rotties, and Mastiffs have loud, deep voices and Huskies and Pointers have loud but sharper, not as deep-pitched barks. Small dogs are very loud but have a much higher-pitched bark, and tend to bark more frequently than big dogs.

Chihuahuas are, by nature, noisy little guys. It's likely that they evolved to become excessive barkers because their small size makes barking one of the few ways they can gain attention. For more facts and characteristics about Chihuahuas, visit PetCoach's breed page: www.petcoach.co/breed/chihuahua

It sounds like your pups may be a little under socialized and may need some extra help. Tugging on a extra short leash can just create more tension and stress which may encourage the barking and aggressive behavior. It is best to contact a local trainer or behaviorist in your area who can work with you on dog on dog aggression, usually with a training technique of BAT or desensitization to get your dogs used to being around and positively interacting with other dogs. It is important to work with someone in person that can be there to step in if there is a problem and observe/teach what behaviors are happening. If your dogs are able to, a basic obedience class may also be useful to teach some loose-leash walking manners, and help you and your dogs understand and work better together.