{"id":22842,"date":"2022-12-19T06:57:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-19T13:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/?p=22842"},"modified":"2022-12-09T06:58:42","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T13:58:42","slug":"napoleon-syndrome-in-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/outwardhound.com\/furtropolis\/dogs\/napoleon-syndrome-in-dogs","title":{"rendered":"Little Brave Dog \u2013 Is it Napoleon Syndrome?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019ve got a little dog, but he\u2019s not little in his own mind! I often laugh at him and tell him he\u2019s got a Napoleon complex. He seems to think he can take on any other animals for sure, including large dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His confidence is inspiring, but it can also inspire some very bad behaviors. Is this small dog syndrome? Let\u2019s take a look and see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Napoleon Syndrome in Dogs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Small doggies, like my little guy, usually have big personalities<\/a>, but when does that big personality become a syndrome? Small breed dogs like Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, and Yorkies often get away with behavioral problems that you wouldn\u2019t let a larger dog, like a German shepherd or a Rottweiler, get away with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was working as a veterinary technician, it was always the small dogs that would growl and nip at people and other animals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That type of aggression is not acceptable, and it\u2019s not cute. In fact, it can lead to big problems.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, your little dog can develop an attitude problem with you because he thinks he\u2019s the boss. This can lead to nipping, whining, and other bad behavior that can drive pet parents mad! Moreover, your pooch might refuse to obey basic commands because he doesn\u2019t recognize that you\u2019re the big dog in your pack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The paradox of small dog breeds who aspire to take over the pack has led some professionals like dog trainers and veterinarians to refer to this problem as the Napoleon Syndrome or the Napoleon Complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s named after the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, whose small stature may have been the true motivation behind many of his successful military campaigns. Likewise, your little guy may be looking for a little respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behaviors Associated with Small Dog Syndrome<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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When a small dog is allowed to do as he pleases, he can come to rule the roost over his people and the other animals in the household. While there is no genetic basis for this syndrome, and it\u2019s not a scientific term, it is a phenomenon that is seen in small breeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It results in some typical dog behavior that is problematic. Some of the bad behaviors are<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n