Toy Dog Breeds: The Top Ten Dogs Of This Group
The Toy Group includes most of the very small and miniature lap dogs and
apartment-sized
companion dog breeds.
Toy dogs play a critical
role in the lives of
people that live alone
and their presence can
have beneficial effects
on the health of the
sick, the elderly and
the housebound. Toys are
popular companion dogs
for people living in
cities and adapt well to
apartment life. Many
Toys distrust strangers
and make great watchdogs
and don't need a lot of
exercise beyond what
they get running around
and playing indoors.
Toys make great
traveling companions and
are readily accepted
just about everywhere.
Toy dog breeds are
always difficult to
housebreak but usually
adapt well to apartment
life. If your Toy isn't
completely house trained
after 3 months then you
should seek professional
help. Toddlers and small
children are too rough
for toy dogs that may
bite in self-defense.
The top 10 most popular
Toy breeds in the US
according to the
American Kennel Club
2005 registrations are
discussed below and
their registration rank
is included in brackets.
The inclusion of the Toy
Poodle as #2 is
incorrect as its rank is
a composite total of all
3 Poodle varieties -
Toy, Miniature and
Standard. It probably
belongs somewhere in the
top ten but not in the
#2 position.
 The Yorkie (#3) almost
overtook the Golden
Retriever as the second
most popular dog in the
US in 2005. This rugged
toy dog is very popular
because it has all the
admirable attributes of
larger dogs but in
miniature. The typical
Yorkie plays hard and
has limitless energy.
With persistence a
Yorkie can be obedience
trained. Some are bright
and learn quickly, while
others are more
obstinate and
opinionated. Yorkies get
along well with other
pets but they can be
very possessive of their
food and toys. The
Yorkshire makes a better
pet for older and calmer
children. The Yorkshire
will bark at strangers,
often in a high pitched
voice. Early
socialization is
required so that the dog
doesn't become too
shrill and to ensure
barking is controlled.
 All the wonderful things
that you can say about a
Standard Poodle don't
all apply to the Toy or
Miniature versions. Toy
Poodles (#8) are less
than 11 inches at
shoulder height but the
same American Kennel
Club standards apply
across all sizes. Toys
are generally more
sensitive than the
Standard and are also
more active, louder and
less confident. Early
socialization and
training to curb
excessive barking and
leg lifting is required.
Even though these dogs
are very small, they
still enjoy lots of
playtime and long walks.
Toy Poodles will do fine
with older considerate
children.
Shih
Tzu
 The
exotic looking Shih Tzu
(#9) is one of the
sturdiest and most
robust of the toy dog
breeds. Shih Tzus are
intelligent, playful,
affectionate, friendly,
self confident and
outgoing. Shih Tzus make
great apartment dogs and
companion dogs for the
elderly. These charming
and personable dogs are
devoted to their owners
and their families. They
make great traveling
companions and rarely
show any aggressive
behavior toward
strangers or strange
animals. The breed gets
along extremely well
with older, considerate
children.
Chihuahua
 The
Chihuahua
(#11) is the
smallest of the toy dog
breeds. Chihuahuas are
intelligent, charming
and loving dogs who are
devoted to their owners.
This breed needs close
contact with its family
and make great
companions. Chihuahuas
can have delusions of
grandeur and
self-confidence and will
challenge much larger
dogs. Chihuahuas are
good with older children
if raised with them.
Chihuahuas are
intelligent and can be
trained fairly easily.
Some Chihuahuas can be
overly insecure and are
prone to excessive
barking and early
socialization and
training while a puppy
is recommended.
Pug
 The Pug
(#12) is a sturdy small
dog that is one of the
most popular and largest
of the toy dog breeds.
This charming, adorable
and playful small dog
will make you laugh. The
Pug is an even tempered,
easygoing, pleasant and
friendly companion. This
sturdy, small dog breed
gets along well with
children and with other
pets although toddlers
and small children
should be supervised
carefully to ensure they
don't injure the dog.
The Pug doesn't need
much training but enjoys
the process and is
fairly easy to train.
Pomeranian
 Pomeranians (#14) or
“Poms” are one of the
smallest toy dog breeds.
The Pom is lively,
spirited and animated.
This breed is a
keen-eyed extrovert who
is very inquisitive and
must check out all
activities going on
around him. The Pom is a
proud and confident,
even cocky, toy dog that
requires early and
thorough socialization
with strangers to
minimize its tendency to
bark. This toy breed is
intelligent, eager to
learn and takes readily
to positive and gentle
training methods.
Maltese
 The
Maltese is one of the
most intelligent and
most gentle of all the
toy dog breeds. This
lively and agile little
toy dog loves to play
games. This toy breed is
cheerful, loving,
playful, smart and has
lots of personality.
Maltese should have
early socialization
while they are puppies
to give them more
confidence and overcome
their distrust of
strangers and minimize
their tendency to bark.
Maltese enjoy obedience
training and some will
do well in competitive
obedience and agility
competitions. This toy
breed does fine with
older and considerate
children.
Miniature
Pinscher
 The Miniature Pinscher
or Min Pin is the most
active and lively of all
the toy dog breeds.
Miniature Pinschers are
full of energy, alert,
loyal, intelligent and
very courageous for
their size. Min Pins
think they are much
larger than their toy
size and can be
aggressive towards other
dogs. These toy dogs can
be stubborn and need
lots of early
socialization and
obedience training while
puppies. The breed does
fine with older
considerate children and
household pets.
Outdoors, this toy breed
should be on a leash or
in a securely fenced
yard as they can
disappear quickly.
Cavalier
King
Charles
Spaniel
 The
Cavalier King Charles
Spaniel (#31) is a
graceful and happy toy
spaniel that is larger
than its close relative,
the English Toy Spaniel.
The Cavalier is a
gentle, even-tempered,
happy and playful small
dog. Cavaliers make
excellent family dogs
who even like to play
with small children
(always under
supervision of course).
The Cavalier finds all
humans delightful and
loves to cuddle in their
laps and snuggle in
their beds. However,
these comfort-loving
Spaniels love to run in
the yard and chase
chipmunks, squirrels,
and birds. Cavaliers are
easy to train but
require early
socialization as puppies
to overcome their
natural timidity.
Papillon
 The
Papillon (#35) is one of
the oldest European toy
dog breeds and the
French word for
butterfly was used to
describe this lively toy
breed with the erect
butterfly ears. The
Papillon is a friendly,
affectionate and
intelligent dog that is
much more robust than it
appears. The Pap is
definitely not a lap dog
and is high spirited,
active and loves to play
outside and go for
walks. This breed is
very smart and can be
trained to be a good
agility and obedience
dog for competitions. If
the Pap is socialized
early and trained
properly, and not
pampered and spoiled, it
becomes a confident and
outgoing companion who
gets along well with
older children and pets.
Written by: Mike Mathews
|