August 17, 2017 Page 5
How to Control the Problem
of Small Dog Syndrome
By Dr. Greg Perrault
Mark Twain famously said, “It’s not the
size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the
fight in the dog.” If you own a small dog, you
may have observed this phenomenon. Why
do small dogs seem to want to pick fights
with much larger dogs? Why do they act
like a Great Dane packed into a five-pound
body? Why are they so yappy and bossy?
There is even a name for this behavior and
it’s called Small Dog Syndrome or SDS.
There are theories on why SDS occurs, but
many behaviorists and trainers believe it’s
the fault of their owners. After researching
SDS for this article and being an owner of
a small dog, I can say I may be guilty of
doing some of these things.
The main reason for SDS appears to be
allowing a smaller dog to behave in ways
we would not tolerate from a large dog. The
“traits” that we give little dogs may actually
be learned behavior and not in their genes.
The dominant behavior of little dogs is seen
as cute rather than threatening and they often
are allowed to run up to people or bark at
them, for instance. Little dogs may pull on
the leash when walking because they are too
small to really knock you down. But allowing
these behaviors may embolden them and
reinforce their dominant behaviors.
Behaviorists advise using positive
reinforcement training with treats and praise.
Getting down to the little dog’s level when
giving instruction may be helpful. Teaching
tricks such as paw shakes for treats can
be a fun way to reinforce discipline. Ask
your veterinarian to refer you to a trainer
or behaviorist to help with difficult cases.
Avoiding SDS in your little dog may also
save his life.
When little dogs encounter larger dogs on
a walk, SDS can lead to a lopsided and brief
battle that usually does not favor the little
dog. Serious injury, or in some cases death,
can happen in a blink of an eye.
One way to avoid conflicts is by staying
alert and keeping your dog under a short
leash and voice control at all times. You can
take the additional step of not allowing your
dog to look or sniff at another dog.
Teaching a dog early on that he can’t visit
with every other dog he meets is one good
way owners can prevent leash aggression.
Teach the dog not to pull on the leash, and
to sit and wait for permission before greeting
another dog. Basic obedience training can
help prevent fights.
Along with leashing and good training,
owners can avoid conflicts by keeping their
pets from roaming, neutering young dogs
before six months of age, and socializing
their dogs during the critical puppyhood stage
between six to eight weeks of age.
Even if you follow all the rules, many fights
occur with little warning. Watch for these
behavioral cues to see if a fight is imminent:
– A hard, unwavering, targeted stare
– Dominance posturing, such as mounting
– Stiff body movements
– Extreme body language: the tail held
stiffly up or down, lips pulled tight against
the teeth
Dogfights can occur between any dogs,
not just little dogs with SDS. We are a very
dog-friendly city and we like to take our
dogs with us to enjoy the great Southern
California weather. We all love our dogs
big or small. Let’s keep them as safe and
healthy as we can. – Dr. Greg Perrault owns
and operates Cats & Dogs Animal Hospital
in Long Beach. •
Looking Up
NASA Recommends These Safety Tips
for Viewing the August 21 Solar Eclipse
Based on Press Release from NASA,
Provided by Bob Eklund
More than 300 million people in the United
States potentially could directly view the
August 21 total solar eclipse, and NASA
wants everyone who will witness this celestial
phenomenon to do so safely.
That Monday, a partial eclipse will be visible
in every state. A total solar eclipse, which is
when the Moon completely covers the Sun,
will occur across 14 states in the continental
U.S. along a 70-mile-wide swath of the country.
It’s common sense not to stare directly at the
Sun with your naked eyes or risk damaging
your vision, and that advice holds true for a
partially eclipsed Sun. But, only with specialpurpose
solar filters, such as eclipse glasses or
a handheld solar viewer, you can safely look
directly at the Sun.
NASA recommends that people who plan
to view the eclipse should check the safety
authenticity of viewing glasses to ensure they
meet basic proper safety viewing standards.
Eclipse viewing glasses and handheld solar
viewers should meet all the following criteria:
• Have certification information with a
designated ISO 12312-2 international standard
• Have the manufacturer’s name and address
printed somewhere on the product
• Not be used if they are older than three
years, or have scratched or wrinkled lenses
• Not use homemade filters
• Ordinary sunglasses – even very dark
oness – should not be used as a replacement
for eclipse viewing glasses or handheld solar
viewers.
“While NASA isn’t trying to be the eclipse
safety glasses ‘police,’ it’s our duty to inform
the public about safe ways to view what
should be a spectacular sky show for the
entire continental United States,” said Alex
Young, associate director for science in the
Heliophysics Science Division at NASA’s
Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt,
Maryland. “It’s important that individuals take
the responsibility to check they have the proper
solar eclipse viewing glasses.”
An alternative method for safe viewing of
the partially-eclipsed Sun is with a pinhole
projector. With this method, sunlight streams
through a small hole—such as a pencil hole
in a piece of paper, or even the space between
your fingers -- onto a makeshift screen, such as
a piece of paper or the ground. It’s important to
only watch the screen, not the Sun. Never look
at the Sun through the pinhole—it is not safe.
NASA has coordinated with medical and
science professionals to provide additional
safety information: https://eclipse2017.nasa.
gov/safety
More than 6,800 libraries across the U.S. are
distributing safety-certified glasses. Many are
working with scientists to hold viewing events
and activities before and during the eclipse.
Listing of participating libraries: https://www.
starnetlibraries.org/2017eclipse
NASA Television is offering a special live
program, “Eclipse Across America: Through
the Eyes of NASA” with real-time coverage
of the event from coast to coast. The nearly
four-hour program will include unprecedented
images of the August 21 eclipse from numerous
spacecraft (including the International Space
Station), high-altitude aircraft and balloons, and
ground observations. Each will offer a unique
vantage point for the eclipse. Additionally,
the broadcast will include live coverage of
activities in parks, libraries, stadiums, festivals
and museums across the nation, and on social
media. Watch the Aug. 21 NASA TV eclipse
broadcast online and access interactive web
content and views of the eclipse at https://
www.nasa.gov/eclipselive •
Be kind. Save a life,
Support animal rescue.
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