| I'm not talking about something that requires | | | | don't recommend it, I've known people who |
| batteries. No, I'm referring to the | | | | have taken their toy dogs along on their |
| twenty-two breeds recognized by the AKC as | | | | motorcycle trips! |
| being toy dog breeds - from Affenpinscher to | | | | |
| Yorkshire Terrier. They make great human | | | | Toy dogs can be good home protectors, too. |
| companions, adapt well to smaller spaces, | | | | Breeds such as the Chihuahua and Pekingese |
| they are generally good-natured and they're | | | | are naturally wary of strangers and bark |
| cute. | | | | readily at unusual noises. |
| | | | |
| With so many people "down sizing" their homes | | | | Finally, we can make some generalizations |
| and living in more compact areas, toy dogs | | | | about the characteristics of various breeds, |
| and other small dogs may offer the perfect | | | | but keep in mind that dogs - like people - |
| choice in a canine companion. But first, you | | | | are individuals, and they may or may not |
| need to assess your environment to determine | | | | possess the characteristics of their breed. |
| if a toy dog (or any pet) is compatible with | | | | For that reason, you may want to consider an |
| your life style. | | | | older dog rather than a puppy so that you can |
| | | | observe the dog's behavior. |
| While toy dogs in general can make good | | | | |
| companions in small apartments, some breeds | | | | OK, if you're determined to get a toy dog, |
| adapt more easily to these conditions than | | | | and have done your research to determine |
| others. Toy Poodles, for example, adapt well | | | | which breeds best fit your lifestyle, what |
| to small spaces, and they are "non shedding" | | | | should you do to ensure you get a healthy, |
| which is important if you have allergies. | | | | happy, well behaved pet? Should you consider |
| | | | a pure breed or a mixed breed? |
| Will you be leaving the dog alone while you | | | | |
| work? While no one wants to leave their pet | | | | While many people will only consider a pure |
| alone all day, sometimes it is unavoidable. | | | | bred toy dog, understand that pure bred dogs |
| There are many opinions as to whether you | | | | (of any size) will have more genetic-related |
| should leave a dog at home for eight or nine | | | | health problems than mixed breed dogs. The |
| hours per day. Some feel it is not fair to | | | | reason is that pure breeds started with a |
| the dog, while others do it successfully, and | | | | very small population of dogs, and it is kept |
| have happy, well-adjusted pets. Develop a | | | | that way to ensure consistency in the breed. |
| morning and evening routine with your dog in | | | | Thus genetic problems are carried on from one |
| which you feed them, walk them, and play with | | | | generation to the next. If you're willing to |
| them so they know what to expect. Some | | | | accept these risks and the inevitable |
| experts say that dogs have no sense of time, | | | | veterinarian bills, then go for a pure bred |
| so they can't tell if you've been gone eight | | | | toy dog. |
| minutes or eight hours. | | | | |
| | | | It's now possible to have a pure bred dog's |
| Obviously, ensure the dog has plenty of water | | | | DNA tested to see if it carries, has, or is |
| and that the dog's barking will not disturb | | | | free of specific genetic diseases. The |
| others. | | | | problem is that DNA testing can only be |
| | | | performed for a few certain diseases specific |
| If you have small children, you may want to | | | | to a given breed. |
| delay getting a toy dog or get a larger | | | | |
| breed. Toy dogs can be quite fragile, and | | | | Mixed breed dogs, on the other hand, come |
| small children may indeed think the dog is a | | | | from a much larger gene pool, so the chances |
| toy. When the child is old enough, a dog is | | | | of chronic genetic disease are much lower. |
| a great way to teach responsibility by | | | | "Mixed breed" can be a misnomer because some |
| feeding and caring for the dog. | | | | "mixed breeds" may have no pure bred dogs |
| | | | anywhere in their linage. Therefore, mixed |
| Do you have other animals in the house? Some | | | | breeds don't develop any of the, well, |
| toy breeds do not tolerate children, other | | | | "deformities" that are the hallmarks of pure |
| animals or strangers very well. Others, such | | | | breeds, like the Dachshund (back problems) or |
| as the Bichon Frise (BEE-shon FREE-zay) are | | | | Bulldog (breathing and many other problems). |
| very sociable, and get along well with other | | | | Mixed breeds have evolved to the right size |
| dogs. | | | | and shape of what a dog should be. And, |
| | | | since many pure breeds are bred for certain |
| As a group toy dogs are more difficult to | | | | behavioral traits, mixed breed dogs are more |
| train than larger dogs. So you will need to | | | | even tempered. |
| be patient while house training your toy dog. | | | | |
| Again, some breeds have a reputation for | | | | Another reality is that pure bred toy dogs |
| being easier to train than others. | | | | have become fashion accessories for the rich |
| | | | and famous, and the price of toy puppies has |
| In many ways, toy dogs are less expensive and | | | | risen accordingly. It's not uncommon for |
| more convenient to live with. Obviously, | | | | pure bred puppies of certain breeds to bring |
| they eat less, their beds, mats, and crates | | | | several thousand dollars. A better |
| are smaller and they require less fenced area | | | | alternative is to check out pet adoptions and |
| if you let them out. With many more travel | | | | rescue centers. Not only will you be giving |
| facilities being "pet friendly," your toy dog | | | | a dog a home, but you'll be helping to |
| can be a great traveling companion. Many | | | | prevent over breeding. |
| breeds can be "carry on luggage." While I | | | | |