growling and snapping?

[Susan and Bentley]

Bentley is 7 months old.  He doesn't love to be picked up, he will growl a little so our trainer said never to pick him up, at least until he's older, that small dogs don't feel safe.  He's growled at the vet and the groomer before but last visits with them he was fine.  We had people over on Thanksgiving, and he didn't sleep the whole day.  He did something he's never done before, he snapped at my 30 yr old nephew who tried to hold him on his lap too tightly, which he also doesn't like.  He fell asleep on my couch when everyone left and I figured he was wiped so I gently tried to move him and not only did he growl at me but he really snapped - he's never done that before.  He growled a little again last night when I gently nudged him off my couch to go to sleep in his crate.  He was neutered a few weeks ago. He's never snapped at me or anyone else.  He's so good with little kids, and he lets you do anything to him.  He's being trained, we go to class weekly - all positive reinforcement.  I'm just a little freaked out by the way he acted?

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

I am so glad.  Your trainer sounds reasonable and caring.  My daughters both have little lap dogs.  I never assume that I can pick them up and cuddle them.  I always feel honored if I sit on their sofa and a dog or cat chooses to come sit with me.  Big dogs have the advantage of commanding respect for their space.

Something that I learned as a groomer is that no matter the size of the animal, you have to respect their space and be invited in (or not) by their body language.

[Susan and Bentley]

you are exactly right.  I think we naturally think because they are so little, that we can pick up little dogs and unlike big dogs, they have no say in the matter!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

This sounds like perfect advice to me.

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I don't agree with your trainer that growling is not a bad thing. True that dogs don't like being hugged and some don't like being picked up but you should be able to do both without fear. Is your trainer going to be responsible if this growling escalates to biting? I'm sorry to sound harsh but many years of dog ownership has taught me one thing. Not all trainers are giving the correct advise. I would ask Jane who is the owner of Guinness and Murphy. If I had a problem such as this that can be nipped in the bud she is the person I would listen to.