I have been around big dogs that were really well trained, had well trained labs. Being around a well trained dog is a pleasure. But I have never have been around a well trained small or miniature dog. They must exist, I have seen them in shows and TV. I wonder if brain size has anything to do with it, or they just weren’t originally bred for training like working/hunting dogs or what.
Freegards
I think you are right.
Most owners of small dogs handle their pets quite differently than owners of larger breeds. For example, big dogs must learn voice commands like “come” and “stay,” in part so their owners can keep them safe. Many small dogs never receive this training because their owners find it easier to simply pick them up and move them out of harm’s way.
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/07/19/training-small-dogs.aspx
Are Small Dogs Less Obedient Than Large Dog Breeds?
A 2014 study found a correlation between a dog’s size and his level of obedience — in short, the smaller the dog, the worse the behavior. The majority of the misbehavior can be attributed to the dog’s owner. “It’s very typical for trainers to experience working with small dog owners who don’t view basic manners or obedience as important for their dog as with larger size dogs because it doesn’t feel as necessary when your dog is small,” says Blake. She says many owners simply “pick their dog up” when it misbehaves instead of dealing with the behavior issue.
https://www.dogster.com/the-scoop/large-dog-behavior-training-breeds-small-dogs-less-obedient