Please keep in mind that the most important aspects
of a successful dog/human relationship are:
1) the characteristics of the breed,
2) the temperament of the individual dog, and
3) the training provided by the owner.
A purebred puppy will be expensive. Depending on the scarcity and popularity, expect to pay anywhere from $200 to $1,500.
To help you narrow the field, here's a few recommendations:
| Situation |
Suggestions |
| You have allergies |
Toy Poodle (won't shed much), Italian Greyhound (clean and odorless), Shih Tzu (has hair rather than fur) |
| You have cats |
Pug, Toy Poodle, Japanese Chin, Shih Tzu, English Toy Poodle |
| You have older children or a large family (No Toy dog is recommended for young children) |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, English Toy Spaniel, Havanese, Papillon, Pug
Avoid: Chihuahua, Pekingese, Pomeranians |
| You have other dogs |
Italian Greyhound, Chinese Crested, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, English Toy Spaniel, Havanese, Shih Tzu |
| You're gone all day (but leave Fido a Kong toy filled with peanut butter and have the radio on) |
Pekingese, Pug, Shih Tzu, English Toy Spaniel, Yorkshire Terrier
Avoid: Chinese Crested, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
| You want an active companion |
Affenpinscher, Brussels Griffon, Toy Manchester Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Silky Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier |
| You want a dog to sit in your lap and watch TV |
Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, English Toy Spaniel, Japanese Chin, Papillon |
| You want a watchdog (barking only!) |
Chihuahua, Miniature Pinscher, Pekingese, Silky Terrier, Toy Poodle |
| You don't want a lot of shedding |
Toy Poodle, Italian Greyhound, Chinese Crested (hairless variety), Maltese
Avoid: Pomeranian, Pekingese, Pug |
My Strongest Recommendation -
Attend a few dog shows so you can:
* You see what small dogs in that breed should really
look like (a problem for over bred and poorly
bred dogs such as Pomeranians and Toy Poodles);
* You can buy a program that will have names
and addresses of breeders, owners, handlers and
other dog business people This can be a valuable
resource when you need a referral; and
* You'll see what Toy breeds are capable of doing,
and you may be amazed.
How do you find a dog show? Easy! Check the monthly magazines, Dog Fancy and Dog World or visit this website:
www.animalnetwork.com/dogs/calendar/calendarlst.asp
Other Things to Consider
All Toy breeds make good companions for adults, but given their small stature and weight, they are not the ideal family dogs when small children are present. Many are fragile and cannot withstand rough handling.
Whichever breed you select, please do not get any dog advertised as being a "teacup." Toy breeds are small enough as it is, and a "teacup" almost guarantees you will wind up with a sickly and high strung dog.
Be sure to ask the breeder or seller whether the parents had X-rays and veterinarian clearance. Organizations that provide official clearances are the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) for hip disorders and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) at http://www.vet.purdue.edu/~yshen/cerf.html for cataracts
and progressive retinal atrophy (which always leads to blindness).
To reduce the risk of genetic problems, you should take your new pet to a veterinarian as soon as possible - before the bonding process is complete. Genetic problems may require expensive surgery, and you may have to decide whether to return or keep your pet.
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