Many people choose to own a small dog because the dogs adapt well to many different lifestyles. The care for a small dog is much like taking care of a larger dog, but with a few adjustments.
There are some things that you will need to change or consider when owning a smaller breed dog:
- Feeding. You will be feeding your dog each day, but the regular size dog food will be too large for your dog to eat. You need to buy a dry dog food that is made to fit a small mouth. Canned dog foods are perfect for a smaller breed dog to eat.
- Containment. All dogs, big or small, need a good safe place outdoors to exercise and potty. A fence is not always the answer for smaller dogs; there may be holes or gaps big enough for a smaller dog to squeeze through. Fences also do not protect smaller dogs from birds or hawks that fly overhead. Sometimes a covered kennel run is better.
- Training. A smaller breed dog is not any harder to train than any larger dog. All dogs see the world in terms of pack behavior whether they are large or small; you need to be the leader of the dog and let him know it. It is just as important to house train a smaller dog no matter how small the messes might be. Just as other dogs, also make sure he learns the same tricks like sit or shake for treats or praise.
- Grooming. Smaller dogs need some special grooming. They need their nails trimmed more often. If they are eating a lot of canned food due to their size, they need to have their teeth brushed twice a week.
- Dressing. When you take your smaller dog outside to play on colder days, dress him in a sweater or coat. Small dogs tend to get chilled easier. Make sure to clean and dry their paws and in between the toes; with their paws being so small, tiny particles tend to get stuck in them easily.
As you will quickly see, taking care of a smaller breed dog will take just as much or even more time than a larger breed. All dogs follow the same routines with very minor detailed changes. Paying a smaller breed dog a lot of attention will make a big impact when it comes to meeting his special needs.
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