Good article.
My best friend, who always had large dogs, recently bought a pair of “Hava-Malts” — a cross between a Havanese and a Maltese — adorable little balls of fluff no bigger than a slipper. She is taking them to dog training, just as she did with her German Shepherds, Labs, and Standard Poodles in years past. She is tough on those little guys, and I watch her working with them just as she did with the big dogs to respect human space, etc. They love every minute of it.
OTOH, her sister in law has a Bichon that has become truly obnoxious — no training and now nips its owner. Nobody will “dog sit” that pooch.
We were discussing this the other night — how people with small dogs let them get by with all kinds of infractions, whereas large dogs cannot get by with that garbage because they would be too distructive and/or dangerous.
Years ago brought my brand new Yorkie puppy to my vet. Vet said: Chickensoup, do you want a barky nippy little dog or do you want a well behaved little dog.
If you want a well behaved little dog do not leave it alone at home, take it with you everywhere. Let it see and be with people in all settings. So for a year Yorkie went everywhere. After that he went to obedience school. then he went to the office every day with me. He was a good dog.