Small dog breeds

Not everyone treats small dogs with generosity and sympathy. Some do not even call them dogs, considering them to be purely decorative animals, unworthy of respect, you can also hear dismissive reviews. Of course, such arrogance does not paint a person, and it is certainly unfair to babies.

Medium and large counterparts of small breeds of dogs and look more impressive, and, it seems, are ready to serve a person thoroughly. And the kids seem to be for beauty. Of course, this opinion is not entirely true. Miniature dogs can become a true friend to their owner, a pet, equated to family members.

The main advantage of small dogs is the convenience of keeping them in an apartment. It is the housing issue that often becomes a stumbling block in deciding whether to purchase a dog. People soberly understand that it will not be easy for a big dog in a standard small apartment. And the owners themselves will now and then face inconveniences. But mini-dogs, it seems, were created to be with a person in rather modest external conditions.

Small dogs molt on a smaller scale, they eat less, they do not need to be walked for hours and strictly on schedule. They do not need serious physical activity, which is obligatory for large dogs. All this unambiguously simplifies the care of pets, pushes a person to find a friend.

But this does not mean that it is not necessary to prepare for the establishment of a puppy, that it will grow "like grass", and that caring for it may not be systemic.Whoever you bring into the house requires serious attitude and love. Otherwise, why call a living creature into the house? AND Before you get a friendly and sincere pet, learn about all the possible pros and cons of small dog breeds.

Many experts (dog handlers, veterinarians, professional breeders) advise those who are thinking about a dog to honestly answer to themselves a simple question - why is it needed. It happens so, and quite often, that a dog is just a tribute to fashion, and small breeds are preferred to large ones for this very reason. If you also start a dog with an eye on this fact, a small dog that appears in the house can be a major disappointment. Therefore, honestly understand the reasons for acquiring a dog, and do not do such a responsible act to be like everyone else or to satisfy the instinct of a mod.

Now let's talk about the absolute benefits of small dogs.

• You can take it with you almost everywhere. Indeed, you cannot take a large dog on a long trip, you can take it on board with great thought, and so on. With a baby, all this is much easier. You can travel with them without any special restrictions. And this is the correct argument, since you have a dog, bear responsibility for it, do not leave one and do not "throw" your loved ones.
• The little dog makes up for the lack of communication. Because of his mobility, he is there almost all the time. Therefore, it is easier, more convenient to communicate with such a dog, he really, like a tail, walks after you. People who feel lonely, yearning for loved ones who have passed away, and going through a difficult period actually need such communication. And how many cases when small dogs became, if not the meaning of life in a difficult period, then the center of care and attention, thereby saving a person, forcing him to get out of depression.
• Care and training will not be difficult for those who understand little about it. In the public domain there are a lot of tips, practical recommendations for training and caring for small dogs. And if coping with a big one seems to be a more serious problem, it is psychologically easier to decide on raising a baby.
• The dog is unlikely to harm your life. If small dogs begin to spoil furniture and tore slippers, then quickly restraining the dog, the problem can be solved. And if a large dog is able to cause irreparable damage to furniture in a couple of minutes, the baby is unlikely to be able to do it physically.
• Aesthetic pleasure. You can be skeptical about this, but there is nothing reprehensible in the fact that a person likes not only to take care of, but also to decorate the baby, to admire the pretty one. In this sense, the criterion of "mimicry" of small dogs is much higher than that of their large counterparts.

At the same time, it is impossible not to note the conditional shortcomings of the establishment of a small breed dog.

Here is what the owners of small breeds themselves note:

• Chihuahuas, with all their beautiful features and characteristics, sometimes show courage on the verge of recklessness, which costs the owner a lot of nerves and worries;
• Yorkshire Terriers need special care, frequent washing and meticulous preparation for exhibitions, which takes time and does not cost the smallest money;
• Russian toy terriers are wonderful dogs, but if you miss the fertile time for their upbringing, they will simply sit on the owner's neck;
• dachshunds are sometimes unmotivatedly aggressive, completely unfriendly to such an extent that the owner begins to be ashamed of his pet;
• the Labrador Retriever, on the contrary, sometimes shows excessive love, even dangerous for him;
• French Bulldog - for all its cuteness, a representative of this breed can turn out to be a big snorer.

But if you start from the idea that there are no ideal creatures on the planet, then accepting some of the pet's shortcomings is a normal thing. And if you have already decided that you want to have a small dog, you just have to choose the right breed. And the choice is just very large.

First, a person who is thinking about purchasing a small dog, as a rule, pays attention to representatives of popular breeds. The most beautiful dogs are in sight, therefore other options (and the list of small breeds is large) are not even considered. But in vain: you may want a plush white dog, and a red hairy dog ​​can become your ideal friend. Therefore, consider all the options.

It is impossible to imagine a single similar list in the world without this dog. This is a companion dog, the breed is considered ancient, moreover, one of the most ancient in the world. Such sociable and friendly kids were once bred for the amusement of the emperors of the Chinese dynasty.

Pugs are cheerful, lively dogs with an affectionate, noble and balanced character. They are loyal to the owner and the whole family as a whole. Pugs love children and kids love to play with them. They get along well with other animals in the house, without claiming leadership. Dogs lend themselves well to training: they are very cunning, for the sake of a treat they will please the owner, they know how to exactly deserve a present.

It is believed that black dogs are more strict, alert, energetic, while white dogs are calm, loyal, affectionate. But the pug, unlike many other small breeds, requires regular walking. You will have to walk with your pet for at least an hour a day.

But at night the pug does snore quite often. True, not all owners are annoyed by this, they often consider such a defect to be cute. Usually, the pug quickly becomes a favorite of the family, all pets, friends and guests quickly become sympathetic to the baby, and are not ready to exchange their pug for any other breed.

This is a decorative dog breed, companion. Cheerful, cheerful, playful and curious dog quickly becomes a favorite of the household. York is brave, smart and infinitely loyal. Although he is small, he will be able to stand up for himself (and he is ready to stand up for the owner too).

Dogs are still fashionable, show off at exhibitions, appear in advertisements and participate in shows. The boom in Yorkies has been observed for the last 5-7 years, and the number of owners walking around with a Yorkie under their arms is great. But do not make the good looks of this breed its main advantage. The kid will be patient with your desires to decorate, comb and braid, but nevertheless Yorkies like it much more when they play and communicate with them.

Yorkies love when the whole family is at home, they like to be with people, so they feel confident and protected. But this is not because of the cowardice of the dog, but because of its sincere affection and devotion to the owner. The breed is active, during the games the doggie will gladly bring a stick to a person, run after the ball, follow the command. York is a classic case of "small and smart."

You will have to take care of the Yorkie seriously: take care of the fur, do haircuts and hairstyles, and also buy clothes for the dog. In the cold season, the baby needs a jumpsuit and a raincoat (this way you protect him from colds, as well as from pollution).

Indoor and decorative dog breed is also in great demand. The very name of the dog hides its peculiarity: the toy (toy), indeed, does not look like an adult animal, but like a cutest soft toy. The breed was bred in the Middle Ages in England, so that small dogs exterminated rats and mice, a serious attack of that time.

So it turns out that the slender dog has the character of a hunter. And if during a walk she brings you a bird or a mouse, do not be alarmed: this is how that one demonstrates her strength and skills. It is noteworthy that in the first half of the 20th century, the breed was on the verge of extinction... But the Russian dog handlers began to work hard on breeding Toy and were able to bring out a graceful, beautiful dog, which it is today.

The character of the toy is kind and affectionate. Dogs are often called bad-tempered, but this is unfair and highly exaggerated. The doggie is energetic, self-confident, cheerful, for some reason it is sometimes interpreted as aggressiveness. It's just that the dog is not one of the modest and quiet ones, and against the background of diminutiveness, such confidence is assessed as arrogance and aggressiveness.

Little Toy has a ringing voice like a bell, they have excellent hearing and no less wonderful sense of smell. They will always give a signal if they hear a stranger. The dog gets along well with others, but at the same time dogs are vigilant: it is impossible to impose friendliness on them if the dog feels danger.

But for a family with small children, that will not be a suitable living acquisition. It is susceptible to stress (and children will create them every day), besides, children can harm the dog by inaccuracy, for example, step on its paw. If the children are already 6-7 years old, you can think about the establishment of a Russian toy. But first, you need to have more than one conversation with the child: to tell that this is not a cute brown toy, but a living creature with which you need to be careful, attentive, caring.

And these handsome men belong to the smallest breed in the world. There is evidence that Mexican monks used Chihuahuas as a heating pad, and Christopher Columbus discovered cute animals in Cuba in the 15th century. Dogs are energetic, light, cheerful, graceful. They are considered the dogs of one person who are strongly attached to the owner, and do not lose their loyalty until the end of their days.

They are fearless animals, although looking at them, you would not think so. Dogs are calm, with a stable psyche. Shy and cowardly individuals are rare. Kids often squint their eyes, which gives them a special charm: they seem like little sages. It seems that with this look, the dog goes into a trance, sways a little from side to side. And the dog really does have some psychological abilities - he knows how to feel the mood of the owner, his pain and tension.

Because of their external characteristics, Chihuahuas are vulnerable: they cannot be left alone unattended. They are threatened by birds of prey, big dogs and small children. A minute's distraction of the owner threatens the dog with problems. Although she herself, it seems, is not afraid of anyone: she feels confident, strives to constantly run outside the fence of the house, outside the territory of the intended walk.

Dogs lend themselves well to training, and already from puppyhood they can be seriously dealt with. But there is also such a danger as overprotection. Some owners try so hard to please the pet, "love" the dog, which leads to obesity of the dog, diabetes and displacement of the knee caps. Although the dog has a pretty good health by nature.

This is a small wire-haired dog breed that is a dwarf species of pinscher. Dogs are called mustachioed beasts with the muzzle of a little monkey. Affenpinscher is practically an exemplary domestic dog. She will become your good friend, cheerful, good-natured and inquisitive.

Pets are obedient and friendly, they are fearless and ready for any adventure. It seems that they all the time need to climb somewhere, climb, get. They are in good shape all the time and are ready at any time to defend the owner, and the size and growth of a potential rival does not scare them.

He is, indeed, ready to attack anyone in case of danger, therefore, during a walk, the Affenpinscher should not be let off the leash (or do it only in calm places, without threatening the baby). With training, not everything will be easy, since this "student" is open to the world, and is constantly distracted by everything interesting that is happening nearby. Therefore, it is worthwhile to be patient and resilient, but the strictness of the owner in education is required, otherwise the baby will command you, and not vice versa.

Another cute representative of the order of small breeds. Very cute, good hunting dog. A companion dog is ready to become a faithful watchman. She will be devoted not only to the owner, but also to all family members. Outwardly, he looks like a Yorkie, which is not surprising: the breed was obtained by crossing a Yorkshire Terrier and a Cairn Terrier.

Representatives of the breed have an enviable flair, therefore they can successfully hunt small rodents. Some bold Australian Terriers are capable of attacking even a snake. These are funny dogs, ready to play and move as long as they want.

The dog gets along well with other animals, loves children, readily responds to their games. On a walk, your pet must be kept on a leash, otherwise it will constantly hunt rodents. The dog needs physical activity, long walks. This is not an indoor dog breed that can get by with less frequent and not so long walks.

In training, the dog shows character, sometimes the owner loses patience. But this does not mean that Australian Terriers cannot be trained: you just need to be tougher and stricter with them, and then you will bring up an excellent companion.

Another popular decorative dog breed. French Bulldogs are distinguished by good health, they rarely get sick and, in principle, do not cause much trouble. These are affectionate, brave, active dogs that look a little confused, but in fact show a bright temperament.

You will not get bored with such a friend: he will not keep you company in sadness and melancholy, he will offer to play, have fun and communicate. At the same time, the dog is delicate, if it sees the tension, fatigue of the owner, it will just quietly sit next to it.

The kid does not like loneliness: he misses, sometimes because of this he plays pranks. If there is still an animal in the house, and it has been kept since the childhood of the French Bulldog, they will make friends. And this is a good way out if you cannot be around often.

But on the street, a dog can conflict with other animals - chase cats, for example. Training lends itself well if you do it on time. If the owner can turn the training into a game, the process will go more fun and will be successful.

Such a dog is attracted by its puppet face. An active, agile, energetic dog loves attention very much. In his family, he usually has many admirers, which he will not fail to take advantage of. By nature, affectionate and playful. Like many other small dogs, he is fearless and ready to intercede for the owner.

Pomeranian puppies should be socialized very early on. They lend themselves well to training, they can be brought up without much effort (Spitz will not test your patience). But if the dog has not been trained, it can bark for no reason, rush at strangers who will seem to be enemies to it.

Pomeranians love active walks, they go out for a walk with pleasure, and the bad weather does not bother them. But caring for a spitz is laborious, not every owner will be able to maintain such a rhythm. Bathing, combing, cutting - every day you need to monitor the baby's condition, not let him get very dirty, and so on. And the Pomeranian has many restrictions in his diet: for example, he is not allowed milk, pork, river fish.

This is a hunting dog, considered an outstanding fox hunter.A very active, nimble, energetic dog, which seems to be ready to stir everyone up for the sake of play and constant movement. He is even called a "flying" dog: indeed, he is ready to be constantly in jumps for the ball. A real positive, a conductor of energies, a cute quickie - all this is about this breed.

Elderly people, not very healthy, busy dogs of this breed are definitely not suitable. It requires such attention and such active care that a lot will have to change in its schedule and lifestyle. The dog gets along well with children. With dogs of other breeds practically does not conflict (at least, he himself does not climb on the rampage).

Care is not too difficult: examine the coat, teeth, ears and eyes. The dog's molt is seasonal, practically non-allergenic, has no smell. It is worth bathing it as it gets dirty, at most once a month. If you have a Jack Russell Terrier, he needs to have a nice corner at home. And it should not be in the hallway or in a walk-through place: it should be a place without drafts, comfortable, with a medium hardness bench.

Another dog, whose muzzle reminds many of a monkey. The dog has a strong character, even proud. She definitely will not tolerate rudeness towards herself. She also requires attention, love, she will suffer from loneliness and melancholy. Very often it is advised to get a Pekingese for elderly people or lonely people. The dog does without great physical exertion, but no one canceled the training: if you give it up, you will get that more prankster in the house.

The dog has a docile character, she has excellent command of the situation, the dog is smart and cunning, fearless. He joins the game well, but if he sees that the owner is busy, he may not bother him for several hours. But if you already have a pet, it is unlikely that the Pekingese will get along well with him. In this sense, dogs of this breed are jealous.

The Pekingese does not show much indulgence towards children. He will not allow anyone to offend himself, he will be able to show pride and a strict disposition. Therefore, children need to immediately explain that the dog should be respected, and that it will not be as generous as many big dogs, ready to endure all the pranks of babies and play with them, not knowing they are tired.

These are, of course, not all breeds of small dogs. There is also, for example, the cutest Bichon Frize, affectionate and quick-witted. There is a proud Shih Tzu, with all its aristocratic appearance, very friendly and affectionate. It is worth mentioning both the Japanese Chin, very calm and noble, and the smallest shepherd dog, the Schipperke - devoted, vigilant, courageous.

In 2014, the smallest dog in the world took pride of place in the Guinness Book of Records - it is Chihuahua, whose full name is Miracle Millie... She did not even reach 10 cm in height (only 9.65). At two years old, the dog weighed 400 g, preferred to walk in the arms of the hostess, rarely appeared at exhibitions. However, running on the ground with Millie's paws is really dangerous: he can get lost in the grass. But the dog turns out great in the photo, and this is also a talent and certain dividends.

It is worth remembering Millie's predecessor, Macy the dog, a tiny terrier 7 cm tall and 12 cm long. He weighed only 150 g. True, for a long time Macy was not considered the record holder, since his age did not fit clear measurements. But people who saw the photos and videos with the baby, and without any official titles, recognized Macy as the cutest of all baby dogs.

If you make a list of the smallest breeds, then the mini-seven will look like this:

• Chihuahua - up to 3 kg in weight, up to 21 cm in height;
• Brussels Griffon - up to 6 kg in weight, up to 20 cm in height;
• Pekingese - 3-6 kg / 14-24 cm;
• Pomeranian Spitz - 1.5-3.2 kg / 15-27 cm;
• Yorkshire Terrier - 1.8-3.2 kg / 18-25 cm;
• Maltese lapdog - 1.8-3.2 kg / 20-25 cm;
• Japanese Chin - 1.8-4 kg / 20-25 cm.

First, decide on the breed, sex, breeder. If you are purchasing purebred puppies, you need to understand that they will not be cheap.

You should find out the different nuances before visiting the breeder.

• Ask how many puppies there were in the litter. For the offspring to be strong, the bitch must give birth to no more than 7 puppies. In this case, they receive adequate nutrition and development. But if a bitch has only 1-2 puppies, this is also alarming. Perhaps one of the newborns died of illness or even was born dead.
• Close inspection of the puppy. To do this, you should study the standards of a particular breed in advance. Small, they are almost all cute and fluffy, but certain features of the dog can already be seen. It is necessary to assess the number of teeth and bite of the dog, coat, tummy, nose, eyes and ears. The dog should stand confidently on its paws, keep balance. Check your baby's hearing too.
• Check the puppy's vaccinations by age, as well as the veterinary passport. You can also ask for the veterinary passports of the puppy's parents.

Also, be sure to watch the puppy. If possible, arrange surveillance for several hours. You will understand the character of the dog: she is affectionate, playful, active, curious, or maybe a coward in front of you. If during observation you see that the puppy is passive, he sleeps almost all the time, practically does not react to extraneous sounds, he has a poor appetite, most likely the baby is sick.

But in addition to rational selection criteria, there are also emotional ones. Seeing "your" baby, you will surely feel it and do not want to continue the choice further. And often the dog chooses the owner, which intuitively can be very correct.

A small dog can become a great friend and bring a lot of happiness to your home!

In the next video, everything about the smallest dog breeds.