SMALL Breed Dogs: Care & Tips

Toy Dogs are good companions, and their small size makes them great for apartment living. Miniature dogs can make a wonderful pet for people with a more sedentary lifestyle; or those that are elderly or disabled. And they are a perfect pet for those that travel.

Miniature dogs provide many benefits over larger dogs. They can adapt to a smaller space and most need less exercise than the larger dog breeds. Toy dog breeds tend to shed less, eat and eliminate less, and are light weight making them easy to pick up and move around with.

Toy dog breeds are extremely popular companion dogs. Many small dog breeds were once the prize possessions of members of the ruling class, and some are a scaled down version of another breed. Bred as house pets, they have served as companions for hundreds, even thousands of years.

Though small in stature, small dog breeds are big in attitude and quite tough. Miniature dogs often have courage disproportionate to their size. When keeping toy Dog breeds, an owner will need to provide them with love but also with structure.

Best Small Dogs

Toy dogs have become increasingly popular and can make very good pets. With the vast difference between them, picking a favorite is based on personal preference, lifestyle, and budget. Some of the most popular of these small breed dogs are:

• Chihuahua
• Shih Tzu
• Maltese
• Pomeranian
• Pug
• Papillon
• Poodle – both the Toy Poodle and the Miniature Poodle

There are a number of others that are also highly favored and make wonderful companions. Some of these are:

• Havanese
• Toy Fox Terrier
• Miniature Pinscher (Min Pin)
• Toy Fox Terrier
• Italian Greyhound
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• Chinese Crested
• Manchester Terrier
• Brussels Griffon
• Japanese Chin
• Pekingese
• Silky Terrier
• English Toy Spaniel
• Affenpinscher

Small Dog Breeds Background

Toy Dogs are small dog breeds that primarily serve as companion dogs. Bred as house pets and have served as companions for hundreds, even thousands of years. A lot of small dog breeds were once the prize possessions of nobility and members of the ruling class, often symbols of affluence and presented to one another to gain favor. Some were used as watchdogs while others were favored as lapdogs, and providing an additional health benefit by attracting pesky fleas that would otherwise afflict their owners.

Small dog breeds that are referred to as Toy dogs may be from very ancient lapdog lineages, or they can be scaled down version of another breed. For example the Toy Poodle and the Miniature Poodle are scaled down versions of the Standard Poodle. All breed registries have a Toy Dog Breeds group, though the dogs included vary from one to another.

The toy dogs are very small. They are usually under 15 inches and weighing less than 15 or 16 pounds, with some of the smallest weighing as little as 4 to 6 pounds. Toy dogs that are under 10" may be called Miniature Dogs. The very smallest toy dogs are sometimes called Teacup, or even affectionately referred to as Pocket Dogs, though these two titles are not recognized by any of the breed registries. Some of those that may be referred to as a Teacup include the Teacup Chihuahua, Teacup Maltese, Teacup Pomeranians, and the Teacup poodles.

Small Dog Information

One of the main benefits for owning a toy dog is that they make wonderful and loving pets. Their small size makes them perfect for apartment living. Their happy and energetic demeanor makes them fun and loving companions. They are great as a family pet, and have been shown to be highly beneficial for people who live alone, are elderly, or are disabled.

Being intelligent and quite attractive, miniature are also favored for showing. There are many varieties and they differ in appearance, temperament, energy, trainability, maintenance, and even size. Each comes with its own personality and care requirements. It is important to learn about the individual breed you are attracted to and be certain that it will fit into your lifestyle and budget.

Size: Though all the toy dogs are small, they can vary between 4 to about 17 pounds. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the biggest of the toys. Some of very smallest toy dogs are the Teacup Chihuahua, Teacup Maltese, Teacup Pomeranians, and Teacup poodles.

Appearance: There is a vast difference in the appearance of these small dog breeds. Their body builds vary from long and lean to heavy and stocky. Their ears and tail can be upright and pointed or they can be long, with some having droopy ears.
Coat types can also be totally different. There are those with short smooth coats and others with long flowing mantles. The fur can be curly as on the Poodle or be straight as on the Shih Tzu.

The coat of each breed will have its individual care requirements, so maintenance costs for grooming can be higher for some toy dogs. Care must be taken with some of the smallest toy dogs outdoors, as they can be susceptible to cold weather. For cold climate areas the best breeds to keep are those with a good furry coat.

Temperament: The temperaments and tendencies of each dog, just like their other traits, varies with each breed. Some of the miniature dogs are full of energy and will like to play, while still others are more mellow and enjoy affection, making good lap dogs. Overall toy dogs do not require a lot of exercise and a walk or two a day will suffice. But some, like the Pekingese, have a lot of energy and stamina and will readily go for long walks.

Though small in stature, small dog breeds are big in attitude and quite tough. Miniature dogs often have courage disproportionate to their size. Some types are protective and cautious of strangers, while others will love just about everybody. There are those that are very tolerant of other people and animals while others such as the Chihuahua and the Pomeranian, may tend towards being jealous and temperamental.

Some of the small dog breeds make good watchdogs, barking profusely at unusual behaviors and occurrences. These toy dogs are naturally very alert and easily excitable. Some good examples are the Chihuahua, Toy Poodle, and the Shih Tzu.

Very young children and toddlers may be too rough for some breeds that may bite in self defense, and some small dogs may attempt to take on a dog many times their size. Some breeds are better suited for children or other pets than other breeds. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for example, is the biggest of the toy dogs, and can be ideal companions for children. But all toy dogs need to be well socialized when they are young.

Training: Depending on the breed, the trainability of some miniature dogs can be a bit of a challenge. n contrast to their small stature, they are often known to have a large attitude and can be quite willful and headstrong. Some breeds such as the Toy Poodle and the Toy Fox Terrier are more compliant and easier to train, but most tend to be more difficult. Toy dogs require an owner that is firm and consistent, yet patient and loving, to succeed in training and housebreaking.

Small Dog Care

Toy dogs are favored for their small size, reduced care requirements, and ease of mobility when traveling. Small dog breeds live longer than large breed dogs. They are readily accepted into public places and are spoiled and pampered much more than any other dog breed.

Miniature dogs have energetic happy personalities and can make wonderful, loving pets. Most do not require a large amount of living space nor do they need a lot of exercise. The daily activities of romping around an apartment, along with a walk or two, is usually all that is required. Many toy dogs require regular grooming, and some have coats that require special grooming care.

Keep in mind that these are very small animals. Some breeds are more fragile than others and have a greater risk of injury, though small animal breeds generally experience fewer health problems than larger breeds. Some toy dogs can be snappy if provoked. Not all small dog breeds get along with youngsters or other animals, though the majority will be fine with proper socialization.

As with all dog breeds, miniature dogs are prone to a various health problems and behavioral issues. But selecting a dog from a reputable breeder, providing adequate care, a balanced healthy diet, along with good socialization and training, many problems and issues can be avoided or minimized.

LARGE Breed Dogs: Care & Tips

Rescue Dogs, Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Guard Dogs, Police Dogs, Sled Dogs, and more - these are Working Dogs. Working dog breeds were bred to watch over and defend people, their property, and their livestock. They have been used to help guard estates and livestock, pull carts and sleds, as rescue dogs, and to serve in war. Some breeds were bred to have close human bonds, others to bond with and defend livestock and have less affinity to people.

Working dogs are large and strong dogs. Those that were bred for human companionship tend to be gentle with friends and family. But they are protective and can be reserved with strangers. They can also be fierce when provoked. These dogs must be properly trained. It's important to know what the type of work the dog was bred for, as many are not suitable as pets for the average family.

Popular Working Dogs

This group includes most of the guard dog breeds as well as the northern northern dog breeds. The most popular types of working dogs are:

• Boxer
• Rottweiler
• Doberman Pinscher
• Great Dane
• Siberian Husky
• Mastiff
• Saint Bernard
• Bullmastiff
• Newfoundland
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Schnauzers
  

Popular Northern Dogs: Some of the best known northern dogs are:

• Alaskan Malamute
• Siberian Husky
• Samoyed
• Akita.

Those recognized for their search and rescue abilities include:

• Saint Bernard
• Newfoundland
• Bernese Mountain Dog

Popular Guard Dogs: Some of the more familiar working dogs that were developed as guard dogs include:

• Antolian Shepherd Dog
• Black Russian Terrier
• Boxer
• Bullmastiff
• Doberman Pinscher
• Dogue de Bordeaux
• Great Dane
• Great Pyrenees
• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• Domondor
• Duvasz
• Mastiff
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Rottweiler
• Waint Bernard
• Tibetan Mastiff

Working Dog Backgrounds

Throughout history all dog breeds were developed by man for some particular work or purpose. The Working Dog Breeds were bred for heavy work such as pulling carts and sleds, or to guard livestock and property. The oldest of these breeds, the Tibetan Mastiff, was used as a guard dog for thousands of years. Many of the modern working dog breeds are believed to have been developed from its lineage.

Working dogs are highly intelligent, large and strong, and can be fierce in their work. Those working breeds living closely with people were not developed as a house pet, but rather as a defender or guardian. But this close companionship developed into a strong affinity for their families. Some working breeds were developed as guardians over those that were lost and injured, rescuing people from cold water or snowy avalanches.

Working breeds kept with the animals they guarded, developed an affinity for their herd. These breeds tend to be most comfortable with other animals and wary of people. Northern breeds bred to pull sleds with other dogs, developed their affinity to the pack. These breeds tend to be most comfortable with other dogs and more aloof towards people.

Besides being guard dogs, search and rescue dogs, and sled dogs, there are a variety of other jobs Working Dogs are developed and trained for. Working Dog Breeds are used as hunting dogs, therapy dogs, guide dogs, assistance dogs, mascots, tracking and fighting dogs, detection dogs, with their guard dog instincts they were used as herding dogs, war dogs, as well as a police dog and cadaver dog. As you can see, those are a lot of jobs, and the list these dogs are capable of goes far beyond this.

There are many other dog breeds that also perform work, but kennel clubs do not group them with the Working Dog Breeds. The Sporting Dog Breeds and Hound Dog Breeds were bred to hunt and track birds and animals. Herding Dog Breeds were primarily developed to control and herd other animals. Terrier Dog Breeds also work, bred to hunt and catch vermin. Many other small breeds to large breeds were developed for a large variety of other tasks or purposes, with a primary aim of also being good companions. These are grouped as the Toy Dog Breeds, Non-Sporting Dog Breeds, and the Mixed Dog Breeds which includes the 'Designer Dogs'.

Working Dog Breeds

There is a wide diversity of Working Dog Breeds, stemming from the multiple tasks they have been and still are used for. Though they are bred for specific types of work, they are highly intelligent and are trained for a great number of specific tasks.

Northern Dogs - Spitz Dogs: The working dogs from northern climates do best in cool temperatures. Being developed as part of a pack, they generally get along well with other dogs. These dogs may be a bit more aloof with a single person, again because their preference is to mingle with a group, or pack.

These dogs will roam, and can be great escape artists. Many are multi-talented dogs that serve as hunters, herders, sled dogs and companions. These are also known as Spitz dogs, and can be easily identified by their double coats, pricked ears, and a tail that curls up and over the back. They are wolf like in appearance and behavior. The Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, and the Samoyed were primarily used as sled dogs. Whereas the Akita was originally a guard dog or fighting dog.

Guard Dogs: A large number of working dogs were bred to serve primarily as guard dogs, watching over people, property, or livestock. The Tibetan Mastiff, serving for thousands of years, is the oldest of these breeds. Some, like the Doberman and the Rottweiler, were developed with close bonds to their family and often served as personal guards. Others were developed with close bonds to the livestock they protected, and independent of people.

Dog Care Tips for Working Dogs

Working Dogs are greatly admired for their responsiveness and their temperament. They can make wonderful, loving pets. These breeds need a fair amount of living space, and with the exception of some of the guardian types, most working dogs need a lot of exercise.

A lot of the working dogs have thick double coats. These breeds can be heavy shedders and require regular grooming. All large dogs tend to have a shorter lifespan and many can develop joint disorders and hip dysplasia.

Working dogs will require training as they are quite large and do not know their own strength. They also need good socialization. Understand that these dogs were bred to do a job. Working dogs are highly active and must be provided with a job or other stimulating activities to keep them busy.

If left alone for long periods of time or not provided with enough exercise or stimulation, these intelligent animals will find something to do. The activities of a bored working dog are often digging, chewing, excessive barking, and attempting to escape. They are happiest when living up to their name and doing work for their owners.

A note about Guard Dogs: Keep in mind that many of the Working Dog Breeds are inherently guardians. These dogs are large, but most tend to be gentle, if somewhat reserved with people. But they can be fierce if provoked. Most of these guardian type dogs can and do make great family companions. But due to their size and their instinctive wariness of strangers, all the guardian type Working dogs must be very well socialized as puppies.

It is very important to know the background of the guardian type breed you are interested in beforehand. In generally most breeds are friendly with their family, but some can be wary of strangers and protective. Even with good socialization, some of the guardian type dogs may not be reliable. These dogs require firm consistent training from an owner who is experienced with guardian type dogs and understands their special needs.

Some exceptional guardian types that make really good family pets include the Boxer. It has been well developed for over a hundred years as a companion animal. Others, like the Saint Bernard and the Newfoundland, were developed as guardians of missing people. They served as search and rescue dogs and also make excellent family pets. But even these giant dogs, because of their large size and for the safety of children and fragile people, will also require training and need good socialization.