Small Dog Breeds
Small dog breeds are becoming more and more popular today especially in urban areas. These dogs make wonderful companions that can adjust to an owners busy schedule when necessary. They do very well in apartment living and with the elderly.
If you include rare breeds there are about 90 small dog breeds that are under 25 pounds and would fall into the small dog breeds category. Some of these are very delicate others not as much, and some are actually pretty sturdy. There are several small dog breeds that are hypoallergenic and many do make excellent watchdogs.
The most common small dog breeds today are Yorkshire Terrier, Dachshund, poodle and small poodle mixes, Shih Tzu, pugs, Maltese, Miniature Schnauzers, Pomeranians, Boston Terriers and Chihuahuas. All of these breeds have unique personalities, are usually very playful and adventurous yet they will sit happily in your lap and many love children.
A few things to keep in mind as you are selecting your small dog are that some are more one person dogs, like Chihuahuas. Pugs can not tolerate humidity or hot weather and should not be kept in warmer locales without air conditioning to retreat too. Poodles on the other hand are very sensitive to the cold and shouldn’t be left out in the cold for any amount of time. Of course you could get them a bunch of those cute little coats to wear also.
Some other benefits of these small dog breeds are that many are literally small enough to fit in a women’s purse, hence the nickname of Pocket Pet Dogs. They are sometimes allowed to go where larger dogs aren’t because they can fit in a bag. They also travel well and can fit in a carrier under most airline seats.
As stated above some of the more popular small dog breeds are more popular for different reasons. Maltese and are always content to sit in their owners lap. While pugs cannot tolerate the heat, they are sturdy little dogs that do well sitting in a lap but also rough-housing with the kids. Chihuahuas are usually devoted to one person, there are a few exceptions that do love the entire family but most are one-person dogs. This is definitely something to consider if you have children. Miniature Schnauzers while good with children also make excellent watchdogs. The Shih Tzu are one of the even more affectionate lap dogs but they also do great with children. With poodles you get more of a mixed bag and if it’s a poodle mix you get the best of both breeds. Poodles do tend to attach themselves more to one person but also do well with children.
Of course these small dog breeds are more delicate than larger dogs so they should always be watched closely with children especially if they are not used to them. Naturally, like their larger cousins they are also vulnerable to all the common dog health problems from fleas to heartworms. There are many online pet pharmacies that you can order preventive medications from for these conditions while saving a few dollars. Also let’s not forget that another way you save with small dog breeds is that they eat considerably less than big dogs.
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