Never Assume: What a "Chill" Havanese Reminded Me About Small Dogs

When I learned the joke about the word “assume,” I thought it was so very clever. It’s also very true.

(Just in case you don’t know it: “Never assume. It makes an ass of u and me.” Ass-U-Me.)

And yet, every once in a while, it still happens. Even more surprisingly, I recently made an assumption about a dog in one of my training classes. Most of the dogs in this particular class are medium or larger. This was a Havanese—an adorable little guy named Rocco in my Impulse Control class.

So, my brain decided that since he was:

• A little dog, and
• Enrolled in an Impulse Control class...
• ...he must therefore be a barky, out-of-control, ill-mannered little nut job.

My brain was wrong. Rocco is possibly the most chill dog we’ve ever met. He just sat at his dad’s feet and watched. He wasn't motivated by food, and toys were a no-go. At 15 months old, he was the "old man" in the room.

I actually wondered why they were even there! Apparently, Rocco was in class because his mom thought he and his dad needed some bonding time together. We agree wholeheartedly. Training is a phenomenal way to strengthen your bond with your dog.

Setting Up For Surprises

Even with all my experience with dogs, I still catch myself making assumptions based on a dog’s size and breed. I expect German Shepherds to be solemn. When I see a Golden Retriever, I assume it’s going to be a sweet goofball. Portuguese Water Dogs will always find a way to have fun, and so on. And despite being a small-dog person all my life, I often expect the vast majority of small dogs in training classes to be either loud little lunatics or shivering scaredy cats.

In fairness, those behaviors are exactly why small dogs (other than puppies) tend to show up in training classes in the first place. Sadly, most small dog owners don’t pursue training beyond the basics. Which makes me sad, because some of my best times and dearest friends are thanks to training classes—both taking them and teaching them.

Rocco’s demeanor surprised me because of the circumstances. While the Havanese we’ve known have all been amazing dogs, they have also been highly energetic and engaged. And they bounce when they run! Not once did I see Rocco bounce in class.

All Dogs Love Playing Training Games

I’d be really interested in knowing why more small dog people don’t engage in training for dog sports or performance events. Do they think that small dogs can’t compete? They absolutely can! They’re just as smart, just as trainable, and just as happy to play with their people.

I have a feeling it might be a disconnect. Maybe little dogs catch on to their puppy-training skills so fast that their people never feel the need to take a second class, and then a third. Because of that, they miss out on the opportunity to get hooked on the pure joy of partnering with their dogs.

This is Maple, a Toy Fox Terrier, in training class. I use tuna cans to teach "Put Your Toys Away" because no dog refuses to drop a tuna can.

Let Us Know

Do you have an idea why small dogs are a rarity in advanced training classes? If you have a small dog, what has your training experience been like? Let's talk about it in the comments!