Small Dog Breeds

There are clearly many different small dog breeds in existence, and while they are all lovable and special in their own ways, some are clearly more popular than others. Whether these popular miniature and toy dog breeds are prominent because they are cute, easy to train or simply easy to live with depends on the specific small dog breed in question. A benefit of these breeds is that they are usually easier to come by than some of the more rare toy dog breeds, and this can mean less inbreeding and genetic defects . Of course, no matter which breed of dog you choose, you’ll want to ensure to find a great breeder (or better yet, get one from a shelter) in order to minimize your chance of buying a dog that is prone to health issues.

Below I’ve gathered a listing of some of the most popular miniature and toy breed dogs, so hopefully it will help you when choosing a new furry family member for your home. As always, remember that taking a dog into your home is a serious decision and should not be taken lightly no matter how irresistible a puppy’s sweet face is. Now, on with the list:

Chihuahua – Chihuahuas are the smallest dog breed and have definitely become one of the most popular of all breeds over the last decade. Unfortunately this has led to mass breeding (backyard breeders and puppy mills), so it’s very important to research a breeder extensively before buying a Chihuahua. In some areas there are many of these dogs in rescues, so you may be able to find one there. Chihuahuas are tiny tog dogs generally ranging from 2 to 6 pounds.

Papillon – Papillons are among the smartest of not only toy breed dogs, but rank fifth in intelligence in all breeds overall. They weigh an average of five pounds, are are known for their lush long hair and big butterfly ears. Just a warning, these dogs are not usually good for allergy sufferers.

Toy Poodle – Poodles of all sizes are notoriously smart and easy to train. The smallest of the poodle breeds is the toy poodle, which varies in size from four to eight pounds. There are also miniature poodles which range from fifteen to seventeen, however that is likely a little large to truly be considered as one of the miniature dog breeds.

Yorkie – The Yorkshire Terrier Breed, more commonly referred to as simply “Yorkie” has exploded in popularity over the last few years. This miniature breed of dog is known for its small size (five to seven pounds), big terrier attitude and teddy bear like appearance.

Pomeranian – Tiny with a large amount of very puffy hair, the Pomeranian is another dog with a lot of attitude in a small package (three to seven pounds). If you’re up for a lot of grooming, the Pomeranian could be the perfect toy dog breed for you.

Maltese – The tiny Maltese is an entirely white little dog that generally weighs between  four and six pounds. This breed is known for its sweet temperament, sociability and intelligence. They are considered to be one of the most friendly types of small dogs.

One thing that I’ve noticed lately about small breed dogs, or rather I should say the owners of said dogs, is that many of them don’t realize that while their dogs are small, that they are still dogs and require daily outside exercise. The fact is that all dogs, including miniature and toy dog breeds, have a migration instinct that their owners need to satisfy with a lengthy daily walk. While the length of the walk will depend on your and your dogs fitness level (a chihuahua might do with a thirty minute walk, while a husky could walk all day), it is important to meet your dogs exercise needs. I have been appalled by small breed dog owners that admit to only walking their dog once a week or less, believing that this is okay because they have a toy breed dog. While it’s okay to miss a day here and there due to bad weather or other circumstances, dogs generally need to be walked daily and not to do so is unacceptable.

If your dog’s needs aren’t met, it is likely that your dog will engage in unwanted behaviors such as chewing up furniture and even harmful behaviors such as excess paw licking (which can also be a sign of allergies). Remember, a tired dog is a happy dog and by meeting your miniature dogs physical and mental needs you’ll tire him out. Also, if you provide size appropriate chews for miniature dog breeds, like bully and beef sticks (never rawhide as it’s not digestible), then your dog will likely keep busy chewing on these and leave your furniture and shoes alone.

Lately I have noticed that more and more people are choosing miniature and toy dog breeds as the newest (furry) additions to their family, and I started to wonder why this is. Really, it’s actually quite obvious as nowadays more people live in cities and in units such as small apartments and townhouses – dwellings where it’s simple not plausible (for most people) to own a large breed of dog. However as a lot of folks still want the companionship, fun and love that a dog brings they have turned to the miniature dog breeds, and this has helped to dispel the many myths about small dogs.

For instance, the more people that own these breeds the more it will be learned that not all small dogs are yappy ankle biters, and that most miniature toy dog breeds are actually quite pleasant with great personalities. Dispelling the myths along with the fact that many folks will continue to move into high rises and small homes means that the popularity of small breeds is likely to only continue to rise. And frankly, once you own a miniature dog breed and see how much easier and more convenient they are to own over large breeds of dog, it would certainly be hard to go back.

I mean, while small dogs still need exercise and food, they do tend to need less of these things than their larger counterparts. Also, should you ever need to take your dog to the groomers or vet (the latter of which all responsible owners will do), it’s much easier as they can simply be carried and don’t need to be literally dragged in like some dogs.