I’m not talking about something that requires batteries. No, I’m referring to the twenty-two breeds recognized by the AKC as being toy dog breeds - from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier. They make great human companions, adapt well to smaller spaces, they are generally good-natured and they’re cute.

With so many people “down sizing” their homes and living in more compact areas, toy dogs and other small dogs may offer the perfect choice in a canine companion. But first, you need to assess your environment to determine if a toy dog (or any pet) is compatible with your life style.

While toy dogs in general can make good companions in small apartments, some breeds adapt more easily to these conditions than others. Toy Poodles, for example, adapt well to small spaces, and they are “non shedding” which is important if you have allergies.

Will you be leaving the dog alone while you work? While no one wants to leave their pet alone all day, sometimes it is unavoidable. There are many opinions as to whether you should leave a dog at home for eight or nine hours per day. Some feel it is not fair to the dog, while others do it successfully, and have happy, well-adjusted pets. Develop a morning and evening routine with your dog in which you feed them, walk them, and play with them so they know what to expect. Some experts say that dogs have no sense of time, so they can’t tell if you’ve been gone eight minutes or eight hours.

Obviously, ensure the dog has plenty of water and that the dog’s barking will not disturb others.

If you have small children, you may want to delay getting a toy dog or get a larger breed. Toy dogs can be quite fragile, and small children may indeed think the dog is a toy. When the child is old enough, a dog is a great way to teach responsibility by feeding and caring for the dog.

Do you have other animals in the house? Some toy breeds do not tolerate children, other animals or strangers very well. Others, such as the Bichon Frise (BEE-shon FREE-zay) are very sociable, and get along well with other dogs.

As a group toy dogs are more difficult to train than larger dogs. So you will need to be patient while house training your toy dog. Again, some breeds have a reputation for being easier to train than others.

In many ways, toy dogs are less expensive and more convenient to live with. Obviously, they eat less, their beds, mats, and crates are smaller and they require less fenced area if you let them out. With many more travel facilities being “pet friendly,” your toy dog can be a great traveling companion. Many breeds can be “carry on luggage.” While I don’t recommend it, I’ve known people who have taken their toy dogs along on their motorcycle trips!

Toy dogs can be good home protectors, too. Breeds such as the Chihuahua and Pekingese are naturally wary of strangers and bark readily at unusual noises.

Finally, we can make some generalizations about the characteristics of various breeds, but keep in mind that dogs - like people - are individuals, and they may or may not possess the characteristics of their breed. For that reason, you may want to consider an older dog rather than a puppy so that you can observe the dog’s behavior.

OK, if you’re determined to get a toy dog, and have done your research to determine which breeds best fit your lifestyle, what should you do to ensure you get a healthy, happy, well behaved pet? Should you consider a pure breed or a mixed breed?

While many people will only consider a pure bred toy dog, understand that pure bred dogs (of any size) will have more genetic-related health problems than mixed breed dogs. The reason is that pure breeds started with a very small population of dogs, and it is kept that way to ensure consistency in the breed. Thus genetic problems are carried on from one generation to the next. If you’re willing to accept these risks and the inevitable veterinarian bills, then go for a pure bred toy dog.

It’s now possible to have a pure bred dog’s DNA tested to see if it carries, has, or is free of specific genetic diseases. The problem is that DNA testing can only be performed for a few certain diseases specific to a given breed.

Mixed breed dogs, on the other hand, come from a much larger gene pool, so the chances of chronic genetic disease are much lower. “Mixed breed” can be a misnomer because some “mixed breeds” may have no pure bred dogs anywhere in their linage. Therefore, mixed breeds don’t develop any of the, well, “deformities” that are the hallmarks of pure breeds, like the Dachshund (back problems) or Bulldog (breathing and many other problems). Mixed breeds have evolved to the right size and shape of what a dog should be. And, since many pure breeds are bred for certain behavioral traits, mixed breed dogs are more even tempered.

Another reality is that pure bred toy dogs have become fashion accessories for the rich and famous, and the price of toy puppies has risen accordingly. It’s not uncommon for pure bred puppies of certain breeds to bring several thousand dollars. A better alternative is to check out pet adoptions and rescue centers. Not only will you be giving a dog a home, but you’ll be helping to prevent over breeding.

The Internet has many, many good sites to help you learn more than you ever wanted to know about toy dogs - or any dog - for that matter. With a little research, you can find an ideal companion you’ll enjoy living with for many years.

toy dogs that tend to get along well with older children that are less likely to make loud noises, suddenly run or jump around or do something completely unexpected are more numerous. These dogs typically respond well to children, especially if they have been raised in a household with calm, respectful and responsible kids.

Each of the types of toy dog breeds require different types and amounts of care, training, food, and exercise. They have different “personalities” and drive, so if you want to own one, do take care to research their good points and the less liked points of behavior and health which apply to each toy dog breed.

Take care to gain your information from kennel club web sites, because depending on reading only the descriptions on the breeders sites may not alert you to some of the aspects the toy dog breeder may shall we say fail to see due to their familiarity and tendency to wear what we might call “rose tinted glasses” when thinking of their own sweet toy dogs dogs.

Nursing homes and adult care facilities have found toy dog breeds to be soothing for their patients. Contrary to common perception, there is no law preventing animals from living in nursing homes. Very many of these facilities have found the toy dog breeds to be very soothing for their patients, and with careful breed selection to match the care home residents physical exercise capabilities are not demanding on their ability or staff time to exercise them.

We are great fans of the toy Papillons, which unlike many other toy dogs, are not just a lap dog. Owners claim that this toy dog breed is truly well rounded in its personality and is a big dog in a small package.

Papillons, although dainty and small they are quite capable of taking long walks with their humans and often excel at the energetic sport of dog agility. The Maltese are another example of very robust daintiness, and would also feature in my list of toy dogs to consider.

We think that Papillons are wonderful spirited toy dogs, and find that their devotion as a companion are second to none. Papillons from the best toy dog breeders have been carefully selected for their own special traits, personalities and conformation.

Just like any dog, early socialization and training of the puppy to curb excessive barking and leg lifting is required. We would like to stress that even though these dogs are very small, they still enjoy lots of playtime and long walks. We also recommend consistent obedience training for these dogs just like dogs of any size the owner should be able to control them when in any public location.

Finally, if you are considering a toy dog breed have you thought of buying an adult dog? Adopting a homeless dog is not just the epitome of kindness. In fact the investment is one in loyalty, devotion and companionship for a lifetime. Adopting a really sweet toy dog is like giving a lease on life on the animal and having lost one owner they seem to heap even more devotion on a second owner.

Dogs are indeed cute and cuddly. They also serve as man’s best friends. Nowadays, different dogs are making a scene everywhere. It is even a form of fashion for some celebrities.

A toy dog is actually a petite dog which is quite small when compared to working dogs. It is safe to determine toy dogs by their size although it is quite confusing since there is still no guaranteed facts which state that height and weight is considered in classifying a dog as a toy.

Some of the toy breeds are Pomeranian, Pug, Shih Tzu, Poodle, Papillion and the likes. These toy dogs are beautiful and charming and they also represent an important role in people’s lives. Although they are small, they also have the capability to hunt and eliminate pest animals.

Some of these toy dogs also serve as man’s guardians. They also bark at people whom they are not familiar with. They can be as tough as the other large dogs.

The most fascinating thing about toys dogs is their affective capability wherein they can fill the needs of sad and lonely individuals and the adults. They are also known for helping those that are in depressed state of mind through manifesting care and of course happiness. They also have impetuous instincts which help in providing all the friendship and as well as affection, and in turn gives new meaning to people’s lives.

A legend states that when a noble Aztec was about to die, a Chihuahua is used as a sacrifice to transmigrate the sins of the noble man to the sacrificed dog, which in turn avoids the noble man from divine punishment. The Chinese religion, which is Buddhism, has a lion symbol meaning a sacred nation. They used the Pekinese dog to represent as lions because they have no lions back then and the Pekinese dogs have the closest resemblance to it.

There are lots of breeders of the toy dogs who keep their cute puppies for about ten to twelve weeks old rather selling or distributing them at about eight to nine weeks. They also consider the family before selling it. More often than not, they will not sell it to family with too many kids and even to those who has hyper active child.

Generally, toy dogs are very easy to take care of. There are some who needs heavy grooming such as the Shih-Tzu, Terrier and Pomeranian. The Toy Poodle, Japanese Chin and Toy Spaniel on the other hand require only a moderate grooming. While other toy dogs do not require any grooming at all.

The basic and most important thing to remember is to maintain the long and fine hairs free from tangles to prevent pain and other skin problems that your dog may acquire. You don’t want to shell out big bucks of money for veterinary cost in the end, don’t you?

The production of toy dogs is by mass production when compared to larger breeds. Some distributors can just put their little Chihuahuas on a shopping cart or chicken cage and they are easy to deliver when compared to the larger ones like the German shepherd. The downside of buying toy dogs in a pet shop is that most often than not they are quite difficult to house train.

There are some toy dog breeds that are crossbred to other breeds to produce a -poo dog breed. So for those consumers who want to buy a purebred toy dogs, beware of such -poo breeds. They look like the other toy dogs but then they differ in attitude sometimes. Some of these -poo dogs are ill-tempered, hyper and yappy.

Is it possible to train the toy dogs with regards to their attitude? Absolutely, yes! The best way to teach your toy dogs with manners is through obedience commands. You should teach your dog on how to obey such as for example, if he is about to do something bad or any inappropriate act, you should reprimand him with a firm NO!

By doing so, you’re practicing the dog to acquaint himself from knowing what is okay to do from not. Your “no” should always catch his attention. But then remember also to acknowledge the good things that your toy dog will do. A simple saying of “good boy” with a piece of his favorite snack will do the trick.