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