When I visit Disney, one of my favorite places to watch is “It’s a Small Small World”, I enjoy watching it and then humming the song for days.

I like small things and that goes for dogs too. Toy breeds are so cute, cuddly and precious. However, they are not really “toys”, but living, breathing creatures that need to be watched and cared for properly.

Each toy breed is a category unto itself. If you’re looking for a small dog, you should do yourself a favor and research the breed you’re considering. I’ll give you a thumbnail overview of a few breeds later in this article, but you owe it to the dog to do a lot more research.

There are approximately two dozen American Kennel Club and United Kennel Club recognized toy breeds to choose from. These breeds are perfect for a small house or an apartment. They are not the perfect choice for someone with small children or large dogs.

Toy dogs are not for everyone, they require care and should be treated like real pets and not a “moving stuffed toy”. Due to their size, care must be taken to protect them from being sat on, tripped over, or stepped on by unsighted adults.

Most toy breed dogs tend to be easily excitable, territorial, reactive with their surroundings, and protective of their owners.

Most make excellent watchdogs and some can be active barkers.

However, they are quite portable and welcome in most motels, hotels, and airlines.

It is recommended that you keep your toy dog ​​on a leash at all times when you are away from home as it is likely to run into traffic or chase an unseen object. Collars are good for attaching tags, but with a toy breed a harness is suggested for walking outside on a leash.

Why? Due to its small size, pulling or yanking on a collar on a leash can easily injure a dog’s throat or neck. Remember, these are small guys with small, delicate bones.

Small, delicate bones can also be injured by jumping off furniture. Think about this for a moment, jumping off a sofa or chair for a small toy breed is like a human jumping off a one story building. If your dog is able to climb onto a sofa or chair and does so 20 or 30 times a day, think about the impact that jumping has on his front and rear legs. Add a flight of stairs to the dog activity and he may tire just thinking about it.

Jumping over furniture and all the other jumping and climbing that a small dog will do over the course of a day can lead to many injuries. Small dogs suffer from broken legs, sprained legs, wrists, shoulders, broken toenails, tendonitis, broken kneecaps, and ruptured discs.

How can you prevent these things from happening? First of all, teach your pet not to climb on furniture. Okay, so they’re lapdogs and we put them up on the furniture and hope they jump.

However, there are small ways that won’t disturb your home decor and can make life a little easier for your precious little dog.

Ramps are great. A ramp covered with carpet or some other traction-enhancing material can be made simply or purchased at the store. It doesn’t need to be large, just wide enough for the dog to walk on and long enough that it’s not like climbing a steep mountain.

There are even low steps made especially for small dogs, so they can climb onto beds, chairs, or even your bed without hurting themselves.

A ramp or set of stair treads may seem like a frivolous thing, but a visit to the vet for a broken leg or back pain would have more than paid for it.

In the small world of small breed dogs there are many things to consider, grooming is a very important thing, as many small breeds have a large amount of hair, which needs to be brushed and combed, along with trips to the groomer.

Barking can also be a problem in an apartment complex. Toy breeds must be extremely well socialized in order for them to adapt to external sights and sounds that generate barking.

Attitude is another problem, some breeds have very superior attitudes and can be very demanding. With some breeds, patience isn’t just a requirement on your part, it’s an absolute necessity.

That’s why I can’t say it enough, do your homework and research the breed you’re considering.

Here is a thumbnail sketch of 10 of the most common small breeds:

Shih Tzi:

Shelf life 12 – 14 years

Weight 9 – 16 pounds

Height 8 – 11 inches

Pros: They are kind, loyal and affectionate. As a general rule, they do not bark, they are not demanding or nervous and they get along well with other pets.

Cons: Grooming, needs combing and brushing almost daily as hair gets matted and tangled. Air conditioning needs can not be overheated or high humidity.

Italian Greyhound:

Shelf life 13 – 15 years

Weight 7 – 12 pounds

Height 13 – 15 inches

Pros: Clean and odorless. Calm, undemanding and needs little training. Beauty in motion.

Cons: They are prone to broken legs and slipped kneecaps. They are better in situations where there are no children. It is not considered a guard dog and needs a leash at all times when it is not in the house. Prone to running after anything that moves.

toy poodle:

Shelf life 10 – 14 years

Weight 6 – 9 pounds

Height up to 10 inches

Pros: They need little exercise and don’t shed (as much as dogs can be), they are lively dogs and good watchdogs.

Cons: Needs to be fixed every 6 to 8 weeks. They are overbred due to popularity which can lead to genetic health issues. Avoiding the “teacup” variety is suggested as they can be neurotic and/or sickly pups.

Yorkshire Terrier:

Shelf life 12 – 14 years

Weight 3 – 7 pounds

Height 7 – 9 inches

Pros: They are beautiful, intelligent and very loyal to their owners. He can be cunning and deceitful, a great lapdog who loves attention and makes a great watchdog.

Cons: Needs constant grooming, not good with children. Yorkies like quiet, but they can be barkers. High energy and very lively. He needs a harness and not a collar when he goes out and must be on a leash at all times. Very adventurous.

Pomeranian:

Shelf life 12 – 16 years

Weight 3 – 7 pounds

Height 8 – 11 inches

Pros: Good apartment dog, does well in obedience training, needs little exercise. He makes a great lapdog.

Cons: Needs good socialization to curb barking and possessiveness. Pom’s shed is quite and needs brushing.
Prone to dental problems and needs proper dental care.

Pekingese:

Shelf life 13 – 15 years

Weight 8 – 14 pounds

Height 8 – 9 inches

Pros: Doesn’t mind being alone, good dog for someone who works. A small dog, but not as delicate as other small dogs, needs an occasional walk in the park.

Cons: Not suitable for children, likes some cats, does not like other pets. Needs grooming, brushing and sheds. It needs to be in an air-conditioned space as it cannot tolerate heat.

toy fox terriers:

Shelf life 13 – 14 years

Weight 4 – 7 pounds

Height 8 – 11 inches

Pros: Highly intelligent, a quick learner, and the easiest of all the small breeds to tame. The newest toy breed to be recognized by the AKC and UKC in 2003, so they are not overbred. They have few genetic health problems and make good watchdogs.

Cons: They are Terriers and will dig, chase and run. They need a lot of socialization as they will overreact to things. They are usually a single person or family dog. Very high strung and not for a person who is not active or for the elderly.

Pugs:

Shelf life 12 – 14 years

Weight 14 – 18 pounds

Height 10 – 11 inches

Pros: Good with children and other pets. Very easy to live with, quiet. It needs minimal preparation and little exercise.

Cons: The indoor dog that needs air conditioning cannot tolerate heat or humidity. Has wheezing issues along with grunting and snorting, prone to breathing problems. She sheds a little and needs eye care.

miniature pinscher

Shelf life 13 – 14 years

Weight 8 – 10 pounds

Height 10 – 12 inches

Pros: Excellent watchdog – will attack. Very active, with a lot of energy, playful and curious. He needs a lot of exercise.

Cons: Not suitable for young children. Very fragile, but do not know this. Strong-willed, very curious and needs to be on a leash at all times when outside, as he will run and chase anything that catches his eye.

There you have a quick rundown of 10 of the best small dog breeds. If one of these is for you, do your homework and know what you’re getting into before you jump.

good luck and have fun