Do small dogs really have Napoleon complex, or is it owner behavior?

Dogs do not think in terms of body size but in terms of attitude and assertiveness. This is why a little chihuahua acts like the big honcho and can sometimes drive away a bigger dog, unless the bigger dog has just as big or a bigger ego.

Hi, sorry to hear you are having problems with Vinney. Rage syndrome usually affects larger breed dogs, and can be when a dog gets aggressive for no reason, causing damage to a person he usually knows and loves, and them quickly goes back to normal, unfazed by the episode. I do not think your dog has rage syndrome. It sounds like he is being dominant and chihuahuas are knowns for having these behavioral problems. General aggression can be toward strangers, or over food or bones or something the dog feels possessive of. he is usually fine with his owner and family, but can be triggered by a number of things. Much aggression is fear related as well. Because chihuahuas are so small, the can be fearful and respond aggressively. You would see this type of behavior with strangers approaching. To determine what kind of training he needs, you should see a veterinary behaviorist or certified dog trainer and complete an evaluation. Good luck, I hope this helps!

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.

It's important to keep in mind that behavior is both a produce of nature and nurture. Both genes and the environment affect behavior. In addition, the heritability for most behavioral traits are low. Environment factors produce so much variability that the genetic component is minimal. That being said, fearfulness and aggression are two behavioral traits that has been shown to have high heritability.

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!

It could be that Littleboy is nipping at people's ankles out of fear or frustration, and this type of biting can indicate problems with aggression. If he's looking stiff, pulling back his mouth to show his teeth, and has tension in his face, then Littleboy's biting is aggressive and not playful. In that case, I'd recommend having him seen by a professional behavioral expert. Aggression is a difficult and dangerous behavior to train, and that's best left to a professional for safety reasons. I'd speak to your vet about a referral to one. If Littleboy's body and face is relaxed and there's no tension in his body, then he is playing. This behavior you can work with him at home. I will give you a link to the ASPCA's page that gives details on how to train a dog with play biting: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues/mouthing-nipping-and-play-biting-adult-dogs

I'm so sorry you are having this problem. It does not sound like Duke is being aggressive (and as you noted he gets along great with your other Pit). The problem is that it sounds like your Pomeranian finally frustrated Duke enough with his behavior of growling and barking that Duke finally had enough. As you said, the problem is that your Pomeranian is so small. So, although I would not be worried that Duke is aggressive, I would be worried that your Pomeranian could easily get himself hurt again. Unfortunately, I think I would keep your Pomeranian away from Duke. It is too easy for a dog that small to get hurt by 2 larger dogs. I hope that helps. Good luck!