Small Dog Breeds

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.

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.