Harlow Dog Trainer
Over 8,000 dogs trained

Small dog training, taken as seriously as any other dog

Small dogs get away with behaviour nobody would tolerate from a labrador, and then everybody is surprised when it becomes a problem. A ten kilo dog that bites still bites.

Small breeds are a steady share of the 8,000 plus dogs the family has trained, and they respond to structure exactly like every other dog.

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Small dogs: small dog training, taken as seriously as any other dog with Harlow Dog Trainer

What we get called about most

●Barking at everything through the window or the front door
●Being picked up mid situation, which teaches the dog nothing and rehearses panic
●Snapping at hands during grooming, nails or harness fitting
●No recall because the dog is easy to catch, so it was never trained
●Lead pulling ignored because the owner can physically out muscle it
●Terrier drive with nowhere to go, aimed at the cat or the hoover

Stop lifting the dog out of situations

Picking a small dog up when another dog approaches removes it from the problem and confirms the problem was real. The dog never learns to cope and the reactivity grows. Manage distance instead, on the ground, on a lead.

Terriers are working dogs in a small coat

A Jack Russell was bred to go underground after quarry on its own initiative. Independent, driven and noisy is the job description, so the plan gives that drive a legal outlet rather than trying to switch it off.

  • ●Digging pit or snuffle work for the hunt drive.
  • ●Structured chase games with a clear finish.
  • ●Recall trained on a line, exactly as you would with a spaniel.
  • ●Window management so barking is not practised a hundred times a day.

Handling and grooming

Small breeds get handled far more than large ones, often without consent: lifted, brushed, held. Teaching cooperative handling, where the dog can opt in and out, removes most of the snapping we get called about.

How the programme runs

Step 1
Honest assessment

We treat the behaviour exactly as we would in a forty kilo dog, because the dog does not know it is small.

Step 2
Barking and window work

Management first so the habit stops being rehearsed, then training.

Step 3
Recall on a line

Proper recall, not catching, so the dog can have real freedom.

Step 4
Cooperative handling

Grooming, nails and vet handling without a fight.

Small dogs training in Harlow and Essex, assessment workSmall dogs training in Harlow and Essex, structured obedienceSmall dogs training in Harlow and Essex, real world proofing

Small dog, real problem?

We will not tell you it is cute. Book a session and we will train it like any other dog.

Three generations of the same family, over 8,000 dogs trained.

1-2-1 TrainingCall 07471 862689

Common questions

Do small dogs need professional training?

Just as much as any other dog. They are simply easier to physically override, so problems get tolerated for years instead of fixed.

Why does my small dog bark at every dog it sees?

Usually a mix of frustration and a learned habit that being lifted or shouted at confirms. It responds well to distance work and a clear alternative behaviour.

Can small dogs do board and train?

Yes, and they do well on it. The programme is adjusted for size and stamina, not watered down.

Is my terrier trainable off lead?

Most are, with realistic expectations, a long line stage and a recall that has been paid properly. Some stay on a line in high wildlife areas, which is sensible rather than a failure.

Worth reading next

Dog barking at the door or at visitors
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Recall training, why your dog ignores you
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Dog reactive to other dogs on walks
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First time ownersRescue dogs

Training near you: dog training areas, protection dog areas, or all services.

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