Guarding your lap, biting your guests, demanding attention, barking at strangers... sound familiar? These behaviors are often overlooked in small dogs because they seem harmless or even cute. But look deeper and you may find that your little sidekick needs your help to feel secure and develop the skills to navigate our big world.

Small dogs of any breed can be an unparalleled joy to live with, but only if you're small dog savvy. Once you understand what makes these little canines tick, as well as how to meet their mental and emotional needs, you can build a loving, lasting relationship unlike any other.

Small Dog Savvy provides step-by-step guidance for topics such as handling and grooming, household manners, leash walking, and common behavior challenges like leash reactivity and resource guarding. Dozens of instructional videos are included to help you practice the techniques.

By following the guidelines in this book, you'll learn how to bring out the very best in your canine companion. This is true whether your dog is an impressionable puppy or a grizzled senior; whether you're looking to prevent problem behaviors from day one, or you're already in over your head with behavior issues.

Kate is a certified dog behavior consultant, certified dog trainer, and award-winning author. She owns High Ten Dog Training in Connecticut, and also trains with Doggie Academy in Brooklyn, NY.