Loyal, curious, and famously amusing, this almost-human toy dog is fearless out of all proportion to his size. As with all great comedians, it’s the Affenpinscher’s apparent seriousness of purpose that makes his antics all the more amusing.
Tipping the scales at no more than 12 pounds, this humanlike toy of complex character has enough personality for 10 ordinary dogs. A sensitive companion for discerning grownups, the Brussels Griffon is smart, devoted, and comically self-important.
The tiny Maltese, “Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta,” has been sitting in the lap of luxury since the Bible was a work in progress. Famous for their show-stopping, floor-length coat, Maltese are playful, charming, and adaptable toy companions.
The leggy Miniature Pinscher is known to fans as the “King of Toys.” This proud, fearless, fun-loving toy breed of lustrous coat and a compact, wedge-shaped physique is a true personality dog, known for a high-stepping “hackney” gait.
A charming member of the AKC Toy Group, the compact, glossy-coated Silky Terrier is nonetheless a true terrier of energetic high spirits. The Silky, a native of Sydney, Australia, is larger than his close cousin, the
A diminutive satin-coated terrier with an amusing toy-dog personality, the Toy Fox Terrier is, as breed fanciers say, “truly a toy and a terrier.” They began as barnyard ratters but are today beguiling companions with a big personality.
A purebred dog (or money dog) typically refers to a dog of a modern dog breed with a documented pedigree in a stud book and may be registered with a breed club that may also be part of a national kennel club.
Toy breeds might be short on size, but they are definitely not short on personality! Breeds in the Toy group are affectionate, sociable and adaptable to a wide range of lifestyles. Just don't let their size and winsome expressions fool you: they are smart full of energy and many have strong protective instincts. Toy dogs are popular with city dwellers because they make ideal apartment dogs and terrific lap warmers on nippy nights.
Our list includes small breeds weighing approximately six to 14 pounds. While we can’t deny teacup breeds are super cute, these pups usually weigh only 4 pounds and are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC). The AKC states, “This is not an actual size classification and is usually attained through breeding runts. So-called teacup dogs often come with a host of health problems.” These include hypoglycemia, respiratory issues, heart defects, and digestive problems, just to name a few. Plus, they’re so fragile and tiny that you have to be on high alert as a pet parent to prevent injury.
Dogs with double coats boast and undercoat and an outer coat. In short, their coats are made up of long, guard hairs under which there is a denser, woollier and usually much softer undercoat. The denser the undercoat happens to be, the fluffier a dog's coat tends to be and the more grooming they need to prevent tangles and mats from forming.
The outer guard hairs serve to repel any moisture and they help get rid of any dirt whereas the softer undercoat acts more as an insulation that keeps dogs warm during the colder winter months and cooler when the weather is hot in the summertime. As such, a double coat should never be shaved because it takes away the barrier that protects dogs from the damaging UV rays of the sun.
Winter is on its way here. It’s time to bring out the doggy boots, coats, and cold-weather gear to keep your pup from being miserable on those chilly walks. But some breeds aren’t miserable in the snowy weather at all. To them, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. They’re happy to eat snowflakes, chase snowballs, and make snow angel-dogs while you stand there freezing. Here are ten dog breeds who love the snow.
Apartment dwellers have many breeds to choose from when selecting a dog. The size of your living space isn't the only consideration because many large dogs have lower activity levels and are more than happy to lounge on the sofa. There are breeds that require high energy and plenty of space, so they may not be best suited for a smaller apartment. Some small dogs with high energy are satisfied with indoor playtime or a brisk walk. Just make sure to consider your neighbors when choosing a dog: You'll want a dog that doesn't bark incessantly and is polite when meeting other people, in the elevator, on the stairs or in the lobby.