I WANT MY DOG TO...

Small dogs often have smaller bladders and shorter physical margins for error. Their environment can also have a major impact on success. We don't simply tell you to “take the puppy outside more.” We build a structured system around biological needs, timing, supervision, environmental management, reinforcement, and the puppy's ability to recognize and respond to the appropriate potty routine.

Yes. We first determine whether the problem involves incomplete training, inconsistent routines, environmental factors, learned habits, communication issues, or another underlying factor. For persistent or sudden house-soiling, veterinary evaluation may also be appropriate to rule out medical causes.

Yes. Our goal is not simply to make a puppy stay in a crate. We want the crate to become a predictable, secure place where the puppy can relax and settle.

Being alone is a skill. A puppy does not automatically understand that separation is temporary or that being alone is safe. We gradually teach the puppy how to settle, self-regulate, and tolerate appropriate periods of separation while carefully managing the difficulty. 

Vocalization can have different causes, including frustration, protest, fear, discomfort, an unmet biological need, or an environment that is simply too difficult for that puppy. We look at what the puppy is communicating and why, rather than assuming every vocalization means the puppy is being stubborn.

Socialization is much more than meeting as many people and dogs as possible.

We focus on helping small dog learn how to observe, process, recover, and remain functional in different environments. That can include people, surfaces, sounds, handling, transportation, veterinary environments, grooming, household activity, other animals, and appropriate social interaction.

A socially healthy dog does not need to interact with every dog. We teach small dogs that they can observe other dogs without automatically approaching them, which can become especially important when living in a world where larger dogs may physically overwhelm them.

Yes, but we don't treat barking as an isolated problem. We first ask: What is the barking communicating? Fear, excitement, frustration, uncertainty, territorial behavior, learned reinforcement, overstimulation, and lack of appropriate boundaries can all produce barking. The intervention depends on the reason behind the behavior.

Yes. Our Mani-Padi program focuses on cooperative paw and nail handling. We gradually build the dog's ability to tolerate and participate in handling rather than overwhelming the dog with restraint.

The goal is not simply:

“Hold the dog still and get the nails done.”

The goal is to build a dog that can feel safe enough to participate.

We can evaluate the behavior and determine what is contributing to the response.

For dogs displaying significant aggression or bite risk, the first priority is safety and appropriate management. Training may include handling desensitization, counterconditioning, cooperative-care skills, muzzle conditioning when appropriate, and veterinary collaboration

Yes.

We work on skills such as:

• Being touched and examined
• Paw handling
• Ear and face handling
• Brushing
• Nail-care preparation
• Being held or positioned appropriately
• Remaining calm around unfamiliar people
• Entering unfamiliar environments
• Waiting and settling

The objective is to prepare the dog emotionally and behaviorally—not just physically.

Car anxiety can have multiple causes, including motion sensitivity, previous experiences, lack of exposure, confinement, unfamiliar environments, anticipation, or general anxiety. We break the experience into manageable pieces rather than expecting the dog to immediately tolerate an entire trip.

Yes. We can work on entering the carrier or car seat, remaining safely contained, settling, handling movement and environmental stimulation, and gradually increasing travel difficulty. Safety remains the priority.

Absolutely. The AKC Canine Good Citizen program can provide an excellent foundation for manners, handling, attention, and functioning appropriately around people and dogs. For small dogs, we also emphasize the practical reality of navigating a world where people and other dogs may be physically much larger.

No. CGC preparation develops specific manners and skills. Behavior modification addresses the underlying emotional and behavioral challenges that may interfere with those skills. A dog may be able to perform obedience in a controlled environment and still struggle emotionally in everyday situations.

We can help develop the life skills, stability, manners, and environmental confidence that can support a successful life as an emotional support companion. However, ESA status is not simply a training certification. Legal housing or other accommodations involve separate requirements, and we do not guarantee legal eligibility

Potentially. Small dogs can be excellent therapy candidates, but suitability depends on the individual dog's temperament, emotional stability, sociability, handling tolerance, environmental behavior, and ability to recover from stress. Training can prepare the dog for the skills and environments involved, but no trainer can guarantee that every dog will be suitable for therapy work.

Some small dogs can perform legitimate service tasks, depending on the handler's disability-related needs, the dog's physical abilities, temperament, and the tasks required. We can help establish foundational skills and task-oriented training, but suitability must be evaluated individually.

No. A working dog needs more than commands. The dog must be able to function emotionally and behaviorally in the environments where the work will occur. That means reliability, recovery, neutrality, environmental stability, handler communication, and appropriate behavior under distraction are all important.

Because knowing a behavior and being emotionally capable of performing that behavior are not always the same thing. A dog may know “sit” but be too frightened, aroused, frustrated, overstimulated, or distracted to perform it effectively. This is why we look at Biome + Boundary + Bridge, rather than treating obedience as the entire solution.

That does not mean your dog is “bad” or beyond help. Previously learned behavior can often be changed, but the process depends on how long the behavior has existed, what reinforces it, the dog's emotional state, the environment, and what alternative behavior we teach. We don't simply suppress the behavior. We work toward understanding and changing the pattern.

No—and we believe honesty matters. Some dogs have permanent limitations, genetic predispositions, medical factors, trauma histories, or environmental circumstances that affect what is realistically achievable. Our goal is to determine what can safely and realistically improve, then build the strongest functional outcome possible for the dog and the owner.

Some cases may require a more intensive assessment and individualized behavior plan. Because safety and welfare come first, we evaluate each case individually. Dogs displaying significant aggression, severe separation distress, extreme fear, or other high-risk behaviors may require veterinary or veterinary-behavior involvement as part of the overall plan.