Small Dog Breeds

There is just something about cute small dogs that I can’t resist, and no doubt many other people (both male and female) feel the same way. Of course, medium, large and giant breed dogs have their charming ways too, but for me nothing can compare to the adorable look of the miniature dog breeds. After thinking more about this, I realized it’s not just that toy dog breeds are small and cute, it’s that they’re so versatile and can be taken just about anywhere. That’s not something you can say for many large dogs, unfortunately, well unless they have a role as a service dog.

However, while we all know of popular tiny dogs like the Chihuahua and Toy Poodle, there are some toy breeds that are actually quite rare. Some are so rare that you may have never even seen one before! Here are some of the tiny miniature dog breeds:

Chinese Crested Dog:  An almost hairless toy dog, the Chinese crested is known to be extremely loyal and becomes attached to one member of the family most of all. While the body is hairless, this breed has some fur on its tail, feet and head.

Russian Toy Terrier: The Russian toy terrier is extremely rare in North America, but as the name would suggest is more common in its homeland of Russia. it’s one of the smallest of the toy dog breeds, ranging from three to six pounds.

Bolognese: A tiny fluffy white dog with only an overcoat, the Bolognese is quite rare and may be mistaken for a Bichon Frise or Maltese. however, it is a completely separate breed that may share some ancestry with the aforementioned breeds full grown.

Border Terrier: One of the smaller of the terrier breeds, the border terrier is known for its wiry coat and black muzzle. It’s an energetic small dog breed, which is sure to keep any owner on his or her feet.

Xoloitzcuintli: The only completely hairless breed, the Xoloitzcuintli is also  frequently referred to as the “Mexican hairless”, and thus you’ll know one of these cute small dogs if you see one. It’s also known for the fact that it almost never barks, and is one of the easier miniature dog breeds to train.

Puppies are cute, playful and melt our hearts. However, they are not so cute when an accident is left on our floor, and so obviously potty training dogs is an essential part of puppy or adult dog ownership. If you own a miniature dog, and especially if you have owned large dogs before, you may have come to the realization that it can take a lot longer to house train a small dog compared to their larger counterparts. This is not because of an intelligence issue, but is due rather to the small bladders that miniature dog breeds have. For this reason, it can often take much longer to train a toy dog to potty outside (or inside in a designated area.

In fact, some owners may notice that their dog has the occasion accident even when they are nearing their first birthday! However, with consistency and an understanding that tiny dogs have tiny bladders that will take time to grow and strengthen, we can ensure that our dogs eventually are one hundred percent housebroken.

As for the method of potty training dogs the quickest, you’ll find that many breeders and dog enthusiasts recommend crate training these days. This is not a method I use, as I work from home and am able to monitor my puppies quite closely. However, for those that do want to consider crate training, it’s definitely a viable option. House breaking your dog, no matter which method you use, is truly all about consistency! Here’s how I go about it:

Feed puppy at regular times: By feeding your puppy only at scheduled times (as opposed to leaving food out all the time aka free feeding), you’ll be best able to determine when your miniature dog needs to use the bathroom. Usually puppies will have to eliminate about half an hour after eating, so it’s a good idea to take them out in that time frame (setting a timer is very helpful to avoid forgetting).

It’s important that you stay outside until your puppy goes, and reward heavily when he or she does. Also, when your puppy is very young, he should be taken out every hour or two for the chance to pee. This, while inconvenient, is a key part of house training dogs and will help to ensure that less accidents happen in the house, and will reinforce the proper behavior. Also, keep in mind that upon waking up from a long sleep or nap, your puppy will need to pee almost immediately – so get him  outside right away!

It’s also important to note that if you do see your dog having an accident in the house, it’s not necessary to scold, but simply to whisk your puppy outside to finish. If you find accidents that you didn’t witness, do not scold the puppy as it will not put two and two together. Simply clean up the mess using an enzyme cleaner and carry on with the plan. With that said, it’s very important to clean up accidents with an enzyme cleaner, as it will stop the pup from wanting to soil that area again.