Terrier Dogs

Terrier dogs were bred to hunt – foxes, rabbits, rats, and even river rats, badgers, and otters. Today, almost all terriers are bred as pets. And with their affectionate and loyal temperament, they make lovely pets. However, they are dogs with a strong personality, and they need equally strong and determined owners. This is just as true for the small, toy terriers – they don’t see themselves as little dogs. Terriers also have a lot of energy, so will need their exercise. Their coats are wiry, and to keep the characteristic wiriness of their coats you’ll need to learn a special grooming technique called stripping.

There are many small breeds in the terrier grouping. They are: the West Highland White Terrier, Border Terrier, Irish Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Australian Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Norwich Terrier and Norfolk Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Bedlington Terrier dog breed, Sealyham Terrier, and Scottish Terrier.

Toy Dogs

Toy dogs are a very recognizable small dog type, due to their popularity with both people and celebrities. Because some toy dogs are large breeds bred down to size, you’ll find toy breeds in many of the other categories as well.

Toy dogs are generally very friendly, though they can be fierce and angry as well. They do make great lap dogs, however, and are often cherished members of the family, akin to a child. Toy dogs include: Miniature Poodle, Shih Tzu, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, the Papillon, and the Pomeranian dog breed.

Non-Sporting Dogs

Non-sporting dogs is a general term for those breeds the AKC recognizes, that don’t fit into any of the other groups. They are different in terms of their ancestry, temperament, coat, size, and color. Small breeds in the non-sporting group are: the bichon frise, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier, Boston Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Schipperke, and the French Bulldog.

Herding Dogs

Herding dogs are a relatively new classification in the American Kennel Club. The dogs in this group used to be part of the working group. And, a number of breed registrars in other countries they still are a sub-catgory of the working group. In the American Kennel Club, most dogs in this group are bought as pets, although herding (and working) dogs are still used worldwide on cattle stations and farms due to their talents in herd livestock. They can be trained to respond to specific commands and whistles, and perform a variety of herding related tasks particularly well. When herding dogs are pets, the herding instinct is still there. They generally express it by gently herding their humans, particularly if there are any kids in the family.

Small dog breeds in the herding group are the Border Collie, Shetland Sheepdog, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and the Cardigan Welsh Corgi. 

Miscellaneous Dogs

This category is for dog breeds not fully accredited by AKC. There aren’t any small dogs in it currently, however.

But, what type of dog breed should you get – large or small?

Obviously, if you have a small yard or live in a condo, you may not have a lot of choice. But even if you are blessed with a large backyard, there are many advantages to getting a small dog that are very relevant in certain circumstances.

Smaller dogs won’t feel as threatening to young children or cats. Also, if you’d like your children to learn to do things like walk the dog, then a small dog will be a lot easier for them to cope with. A caveat though – some large dog breeds make better family pets than some small dogs. Breeds like the Tibetan Spaniel dog breed, the Miniature Poodle, Maltese, Chihuahuas, and similar lap dogs, are not really suited to families with children who aren’t old enough to know how to moderate their behaviour around dogs.

For older people, a small dog is a more realistic choice. This is also true for those who are sick or frail, or not particularly strong. Large dogs will be more difficult to physically handle. For example, walking an excited, large dog on a leash is not going to be easy if your dog becomes intent on chasing a car, or another dog. And there are going to be occasions when you may need to pick up your dog. If you don’t have someone readily available to do it for you, this could be a problem, particularly when your dog ages. Will you be able to check your dog’s teeth regularly, and be able to establish yourself as ‘top dog’ when training your dog.

Additionally, large dogs need more exercise as a rule, although some smaller dogs also require a lot. This is particularly true for working dogs, irrespective of the size they come in, such as the border collie dog breed. Border collies are very high energy, active and smart dogs. They have been – and still are – used to herd cattle and sheep, and as a result they have particularly high stamina and endurance. As pets, they need mental and physical exercise. A couple of hours per day is a guide, although if you mentally stimulate them during that time, that will tire them out quicker. So, for a person who works long hours, unable to devote the time to your dog, a breed like the border collie would be an inappropriate pet.

Small dog breeds that are recommended for families with children include {Miniature Australian Bulldogs, border terriers, Miniature Australian Shepherds, boston terriers, Miniature English Bulldogs, Kerry Blue Terriers, English Cocker Spaniels, and bichon frise}. And small dogs like the French bulldog, which are happy and easygoing dogs that love their humans, and don’t need a lot of exercise, are best for the elderly. French bulldogs are even used in pet therapy in aged care homes.

The American Kennel Club in effect wanted to restrict the natural genetic variability of breeds like the Australian kelpie. Dogs in American Kennel Club recognized breeds, and with an AKC issued pedigree, have been bred for show, according to fairly limiting characteristics. The net effect is that a lot of these dogs cannot do a lot of the things their ancestors once did, such as hunt. It has also meant a lot of genetic health issues, the consequence of too much inbreeding to keep the lines ‘pure’. Dogs are mated back to their parents and grandparents, simply because it creates dogs that help do well in dog shows. On their website, the University of Wisconsin write:

“First, the AKC defines quality in a dog primarily on the basis of appearance, paying scant heed to such other canine characteristics as health, temperament, and habits of work. Over the years this policy has led to destructive forms of inbreeding that have created dogs capable only of conforming to human standards of beauty. Many can no longer perform their traditional tasks–herding, tracking, hunting–while more than a few cannot live outside a human-controlled environment.” (Source)

Of course, this may not be the only reason why a breed isn’t recognized by the AKC. Many are thought of as a size variation of the breed they’re bred down from rather than a separate breed. This is the case with dogs like the small German spitz and the toy Manchester terrier.

In any case, unless you plan to show your dog, registration by the AKC is not as critical as buying a good quality dog from a breeder who breeds with the health of the dogs in mind, as well as to preserve the dog’s natural abilities. Breeders who breed mostly to achieve a certain look are more likely to follow breeding practices that create genetic defects. And it could result in dogs that have less than desirable temperaments as pets. Whilst there may be some instances where this is not true, in the long run, sustained inbreeding can only result in long term problems for a breed.

I’ll run through three different breeds in this article – welsh terriers, whippets, and brussels griffons.

Brussels Griffon Dogs

According to rumors the big, soulful eyes of the brussels griffon were part of the inspiration behind the creation of the ewoks by George Lucas in the Star Wars films. And looking at pictures of them, you can see why people think this.

Brussels griffons are extremely sensitive and devoted dogs who will bond with one person in particular. They should be socialized when they are young pups. Brussels griffon are not really well suited as a family pet due to their sensitivity and one-person nature.

Brussels griffon get along well with other animals, particularly cats. You may need to keep an eye out on how they are around bigger dogs, however. They can challenge for dominance, not really aware of their small size.

The Welsh Terrier Breed

These cute dogs are fairly calm when you compare them to other terrier breeds. They are sturdy looking dogs with lots of personality, especially the males. They are affectionate, joyous, without fear, outgoing, and curious.

Historically, Welsh terriers were used to keep the rat and vermin population down, and as a result welsh terriers love to chase things – including cats. Consequently, if you own a cat, this may not be the best pet for your family.

Excellent with children,  welsh terriers need a backyard where they can’t escape as they have a predilection for digging, and may thus escape. When walking a welsh terrier, be sure he stays on the leash, because his road sense when on a quest for fun is not very good.

Welsh terriers need quite a bit of time from their owners. They have to have grooming regularly, and get bored if left by themselves for the normal workday. They are better suited to someone with a part time job rather than a full time job. When they’re bored, they can be destructive around the house.  

Whippet Information

Whippets are a type of sighthound dog, which are named because they hunt by using their sharp eyesight and great speed, instead of using smell like scent hounds. whippets are petite, elegant dogs, ranging in height from 18.5 to 20 inches for male whippets, or 17.5 to 18.5 inches for female whippets. And the whippet dog breed look just like small versions of greyhounds!

In temperament, whippets are like toy dogs, liking nothing better than curling up on your lap. These are very loyal dogs, bonding with their owner strongly, though still friendly to strangers and children. The whippet dog breed are very gentle, and as such they have been used in aged care facilities.

These dogs should be kept inside. With such thin coats, they will be too cold outside, and they have a strong bond to their owners. If you’re prepared to exercise them regularly, whippets are great for apartment living.

Feeding:

You must consider the size of the food you buy them from the grocery store as they won’t be able to eat the normal type of food ordinarily purchased for a regular size pooch. Make sure that your dog gets a kibble which suits his tiny mouth and you could get these along with the premium brand of dog foods. Fortunately, canned food should not be a problem and will definitely be easier to obtain.

Having a place for them to exercise:

Every dog needs the following: regular exercise, an outdoor place for his potty needs, and an enclosed area which provides the animal with security. Smaller dogs are much more nimble that larger dogs and what might be a secure environment for one is not necessarily for the other. It is also important to remember that fences can not provide top protection where you might find hawks eyeing your tiny pet as they are known to come down fast and sweep away minute dogs and puppies. Hence, get your pet a kennel which is covered on the top for the right protection.

Training methodologies:

The problem with this is that most tiny dogs are spoilt by their owners even though they should not be any harder to train – according to dog experts. No matter if he fits in a purse or a pocket, your small dog still sees the world in terms of pack behavior, and if you’re not leading the pack, he is. One of the most important aspects of training is that the dog must imperatively be house trained even if the mess seems insignificant. Dogs are naturally working creatures with many types bred purely for this function so this should also refer to your pet too. By this it means teaching them to run and fetch, to sit and lay down etc.

Shopping online for small dog collars:

You can buy new small dog collars online and get a great deal. The modern small dog collar comes in all kinds of colors and materials. From leather to synthetic materials. You are sure to find new small dog collars that are comfortable as well as stylish.

Their appearance and smell:

Keep in mind that grooming a small dog is slightly different to larger ones and cater for this. These diminutive pets usually require more frequent nail trimming than larger dogs, because they typically spend less time on rough surfaces wearing them down. If the pet is on soft canned diet, make sure that he brushes his teeth at least twice a week. Small dog care is not that different for a large one except you have to be aware of certain needs that will affect a smaller animal. The differences between each dog, may look minor and insignificant, but when you pay extra attention to each one aspect, it can provide the correct answer to a dog’s specific requirements.