Dogs and their owners need training. Congratulations to you for your thoughts on this manner...

Unfortunately, there are many dogs euthanized or in shelters when basic training would have made them viable members of a family...

While all dog breeds and their owners need training, it, IMO, even more important with larger dogs than with smaller dogs.

Our dogs include several Maltese (which don't exceed 7 pounds) and a great goldendoodle (golden retriever - standard poodle cross) who is 70 pounds at one year.

We got our Goldendoodle at 7 weeks and immediately began training her. We first trained her to sit for her treats so we wouldn't have a dog which would eventually weigh 70 pounds jumping on us. The other basic commands we taught her were sit, down and stay; along with walking politely on a leash.

She is actually better trained than any of the Maltese but, we can easily stoop down and pick up a Maltese so the down command is not really that necessary.