You should find that owning a small dog, similar to owning a larger breed. The owner of a small dog must however make some adaptations to suit the animal's specific needs.

Consider the following daily dog care routines, and how they're adapted to meet the needs of your pint-sized pup.

Feeding the dog: You must consider the size of the food you buy them from the grocery store as they won't be able to eat the normal type of food ordinarily purchased for a regular size pooch. You'll need to be sure to buy a kibble designed to fit his smaller mouth (these are easy to find among the premium dog food brands). It is also recommended to offer the Lilliputian canines some canned soft foods.

How to contain them: It is easy for them to run around and go to the toilet outside providing the area is secure isn't it? Smaller dogs are much more nimble that larger dogs and what might be a secure environment for one is not necessarily for the other. It is also important to remember that fences can not provide top protection where you might find hawks eyeing your tiny pet as they are known to come down fast and sweep away minute dogs and puppies. A simple answer to this problem is to construct an enclosed play area which should stop this from happening.

Getting your pet to obey your commands: While tiny dogs aren't any harder to train than large dogs, the consensus of many pet experts is that many of them end up spoiled. Although your pet might indeed fit into your pocket (and some breeds can), they still see the world in relation to pack mentality and someone has to be the leader so if you are weak, they will govern you. It may seem like a minor matter but just because they are diminutive and the mess they leave might not be much, it doesn't mean they do not need to be house trained. Dog experts also suggest you make your dog work for you, to keep him responsive to your rules. If you can train your dog to perform small tricks and other normal things like fetching a stick for example you can then provide them with a small treat afterwards.

Grooming: Keep in mind that grooming a small dog is slightly different to larger ones and cater for this. These diminutive pets usually require more frequent nail trimming than larger dogs, because they typically spend less time on rough surfaces wearing them down. If you want to ensure they have healthy teeth and gums you will have to brush them at least a couple of times each week as their main diet will consist of soft food from a can. The above makes it clear that it does not matter whether you are taking care of a small dog or a large dog the methods are pretty much the same. The differences between each dog, may look minor and insignificant, but when you pay extra attention to each one aspect, it can provide the correct answer to a dog's specific requirements.

If you are busy and have a hard time taking out your dog check out Dog Treadmill. Also visit here to a get free course on Dog Training.

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Written by Tom Clark using tags: dog, dog behavior, dog care, dog training, family, pet, Pets, puppy, puppy behavior, puppy care