6 toy dog breeds that make great pets

A toy dog breed can be an excellent pet for people who live in small living quarters such as an apartment or who are older and unable to exercise a larger dog on a daily basis. Fortunately, these small toy dogs get a great deal of exercise just running through the house on a daily basis. Here are some of the most popular toy dog breeds.

A look at 6 popular toy dog breeds that make great pets

The Yorkshire Terrier

This tiny toy dog breed is a boundless ball of energy that requires little formal exercise since he essentially creates his own by bounding around the house in play. The Yorkie tends to get along well with both people and other animals but is prone to excessive barking if not trained properly. These tiny dogs may be easily injured due to their small size. Socialization is also important with this toy dog breed since a poorly socialized Yorkie is prone to be mistrustful of strangers and may react by biting.

The Papillon

This small toy dog breed is quite lively and playful and is known for its keen intelligence and quick response to training. The Papillon also tends to be quite fearless and will sometimes challenge dogs much larger in size. Weighing in at around five pounds, this tiny breed tends to be unaware of its size limitations. In general, this is a happy, affectionate toy dog breed if given the proper guidance and attention. One drawback which is common with most of the toy breeds is the potential for excessive barking,

The Toy Poodle

The Toy Poodle is considered to be one of the most intelligent of all dog breeds. They are not only eager to please and highly trainable, but they also excel at obedience, agility, and flyball trials. They have a long history of stunning performances in traveling shows throughout history due to their intelligence and agility. This toy dog breed also interacts well with both people and other animals making it a very popular pet all around.

The Shih Tzu

Although the Shih Tzu breed tends to bark less than the other breeds of toy dogs, many of them snort frequently and are prone to snoring loudly. They are otherwise quite friendly with a propensity towards being rather strong willed which can make training a challenge. They interact well with both people and other pets if exposed to them regularly. Like many of the other small toy dogs, they require a lot of grooming to look presentable.

The Maltese

The Maltese tends to be a bit more reserved and mistrustful of strangers than the other toy dog breeds which makes early socialization extremely important. When properly socialized, they interact well with strangers and tend to be lively and playful. Like the other toy breeds, they are prone to bark at the slightest provocation and are notoriously hard to housebreak. They are quite happy to live in small quarters which make them an ideal apartment dog.

The Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is among the smallest of the toy dog breeds and is easy to take along on trips and other excursions. They make excellent watch dogs and take their job of protecting their home and family very seriously. There is quite a bit of variability in a Chihuahua’s personality with some members of the breed being extremely friendly and others being quite mistrustful of strangers. Early socialization is particularly important for this breed.

As you can see there are a variety of potential small toy dog breeds that might be the perfect canine companion for you and your family.

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