This week’s post is all about toy dog breeds. We’ll look at what toy dog breeds were bred for, their typical behaviour and whether they make good pets. We’ll also discuss the potential downsides of living with a toy dog. You can read more about different types of dogs on our breed posts here- herding breeds, terriers, gundogs and sighthounds. 

Toy Dog Breeds

The toy dog breeds are a group made up of dogs who, unlike most other dog breeds, have been bred not for work, but as companions for humans. They are known as toy breeds due to their tiny size and make fantastic lap dogs. Toy dogs can be found all over the world and they include the Chihuahua, the national dog of Mexico, the Maltese from Malta and the Pekingese from China. Whilst intelligent and trainable, these are definitely not sporting or working dogs. Indeed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a favourite breed in the UK, was bred as ‘the ladies spaniel’. They would stay home to keep the women company whilst the men went out to hunt with their Springer and Cocker Spaniels. 

Toy Dog Breeds – typical behaviours 

Toy dog breeds are typically affectionate, loyal and people oriented dogs. They often form a very strong bond with the person they spend the most time with, though they can certainly bond with the rest of the family too. They are known as lap dogs for a reason and are very tactile little dogs, needing a lot of attention. Given their breeding, they’re often not that interested in other dogs and may seem ‘aloof’. Toy dog breeds may vary in colour and coat type depending on their country of origin.  The Havanese, Shih Tzu and Papillon all have longer coats that require daily grooming and regular maintenance. On the other hand, the Pug and Brussels Griffon have shorter coats requiring less input. The factor that unites all toy dog breeds is their small stature- an adult Chihuahua typically weighs 1.5 to 3kg! 

Do toy dog breeds make good pets?

Like every type of dog, whether a toy dog is right for you and your family depends on your lifestyle. They thrive on human company so will not enjoy being left for hours on end. As long as they are not treated as actual toys, they can make fantastic pets for young families. Their compact size means they can easily live comfortably in small homes and apartments. They have relatively low exercise needs too. As such, they can make fantastic companions for those seeking the companionship of a dog but don’t necessarily want to be doing long walks in the rain everyday! 

The down sides

One of the most common issues owners face when living with a toy dog breed is that they are often prone to separation anxiety. This can be prevented with early, positive exposure to time alone and by ensuring the dog is never left alone for longer time periods than they are able to cope with. Ensuring a good network of family, friends and professionals to care for your toy dog if you do need to leave them for longer than they can cope with is key to preventing the worsening of separation anxiety symptoms too. Additionally, toilet training often takes longer with the very small breeds than it does with larger dogs. A study into this found several potential causes, including that smaller dogs have a higher metabolism and smaller bladders, meaning they need to urinate more often. The research also found that small dogs were less likely to receive training than larger breeds. It is perfectly possible to completely house train a tiny dog breed though. 

Lastly, many tiny dog breeds have been bred to have childlike features to increase their cuteness and appeal to humans. This means that many of them have shorter noses (brachycephalic) and are prone to the health problems associated with this, such as breathing issues. Toy dog breeds are also very prone to dental disease and tooth decay which can lead to other health complications too. 

What next?

• Looking for help with your dog? Contact us to arrange in person or online training.
• Read more blog posts here.
• Perfect Recall: Teaching your dog to come back when called every time. Our guide is free to download when you join our email list- sign up here.