Six Popular Small 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:

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. TheYorkie 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