Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

shitzu, lhasa, havanese, yorkies?

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

Pekingnese...great lap dog, loyal but terrible with kids! My cousin bought a Havenese...wonderful family pet! Even recommended by their vet!!

Message edited 8/18/2006 10:31:23 AM.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

Message edited 8/18/2006 11:57:31 AM.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

we have a shih tzy/lhasa apso mix....

shes still a puppy so hard to say that much. Shes a good girl. She likes to play a lot, good outside, tires easily due to small nose( breathing) ...

Good with the cats, loves them. LOVES people and kids and all dogs even big ones. gets really excited at seeing new people and other dogs.

stubborn a lot. Likes attention a lot. She barks usually when she wants to play with the cats or wants to be near us or when we leave the house, but its not too often.

she is a licker....and a biter, but its a puppy thing Still.

Kinda high mantience with the grooming...her eyes need to be cleaned daily....she has to be brushed daily to avoid mats...shes hypoallergenic...

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

I have a Pug, they are GREAT dogs and VERY lovable!!

Pugs are an even-tempered breed, exhibiting stability, playfulness, great charm, dignity, and an outgoing, loving disposition.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

well i dont know if its spite, change or what... but since we moved she has pooed in weird places. and right after she will come into hte room walking all low like she knows she did wrong.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

I have a 1/2 Chi/1/2 min.pin= he is very protective, yipie, cute, jumps really high, you can hear him bark for miles, has seperation anxiety, friendly in his own time.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

I have a shih tzu..he is a year and 2 months old and we have had him for almost a year. He is a wonderful, friendly, lovable dog who LOVES to be spoiled. He likes to be very close to us ....as a puppy he would whine a lot at night-he hated being alone-but he got used to us being at work. He has had eye issues that were not fun to deal with but are common in Shih tzus. I love this dog so much and I would recommend them , but know that they are known for having eye problems

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

Min Pin...

he is a TOTAL mommas boy...a dog that follows you everywhere and thinks he is human not canine. He has such personality and expression. KNOWS and loves his family...
VERY intelligent dog...quick to train but definitely will test the boundaries from time to time
VERY protective...has the whole dobermin mindset. Totally adaptable. He moved from place to place with no problem. He is a barker..and hunts down rabbits (yet never catches any). He thinks he is as big as a doberman...A Lab ran after him one day and he held his own...not much frightens him

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

If you want a dog who...

Is the smallest and easiest of all breeds to carry around
Comes in a variety of sizes, coats, and colors
Takes himself very seriously (which can be amusing to watch)
Is comical and entertaining
Makes a keen watchdog
Doesn't need much exercise
Lives a long time
A Chihuahua may be right for you.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

major concerns would be:


Fragility. Too many people acquire a toy breed puppy without understanding how incredibly fragile a toy breed is. You can seriously injure or kill a Chihuahua by stepping on him or by sitting on him when he's curled under a blanket or pillow, where he frequently likes to sleep. And Chihuahuas can seriously injure or kill THEMSELVES by leaping from your arms or off the back of your sofa. A larger dog can grab a Chihuahua and break his neck with one quick shake. Owning a toy breed means constant supervision and surveillance of what's going on around your tiny dog. Chihuahuas must always be kept on-leash -- they are just too easy to injure when not under your complete control.

Chihuahuas are NOT suited to children, no matter how well-meaning the child. Children cannot help being clumsy, and that a child meant well is little solace to a Chihuahua who has been accidentally stepped on, sat on, rolled on, squeezed, or dropped onto the patio. Most Chihuahuas feel overwhelmed by the loud voices and quick movements that children can't help making -- and stress and fearfulness (even defensive biting) may be the result.


Housebreaking problems. As a behavioral consultant, I would put the Chihuahua on my Top 10 List of "Hard to Housebreak." Consistent crate training is mandatory. Sometimes a doggy door is necessary. And some owners never do get their Chihuahua fully housebroken.

Mind of their own. Chihuahuas are not Golden Retrievers. They can be stubborn and manipulative. Some are dominant (they want to be the boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.

To teach your Chihuahua to listen to you, "Respect Training" is mandatory. My Chihuahua Training Page discusses the program you need.


Suspiciousness and barking. Many Chihuahuas will put on a display of excited ferociousness (i.e. they "pitch a fit") when other people or animals approach what is THEIRS. It's not funny, because if you don't curtail it, your Chihuahua may end up suspicious of everyone in the world, which is a short step to biting.

Unstable temperaments. Chihuahuas are a dime a dozen, and most of them are bred and offered for sale by people who don't have the slightest idea of how to breed good-tempered dogs. Obedience instructors and behavioral consultants see LOTS of Chihuahuas with neurotic behaviors, including biting, extreme shyness, mindless yapping, moodiness, and general nastiness.

Avoiding the hype. Have you heard these phrases? Teacup Chihuahuas. Miniature Chihuahuas. Pocket Chihuahuas. Standard Chihuahuas. Some breeders use these cutesy phrases as "marketing terms" for the different weights that Chihuahuas come in. All of these phrases are made-up. There is only ONE Chihuahua breed. They do come in two COAT varieties (smooth and longhaired), but not in different weight varieties. For show purposes, they should be 2 to 6 pounds, but many Chihuahuas go up to 10 or 12 pounds. Whatever their weight, they are simply called Chihuahua.

I do NOT recommend a Chihuahua under 3 or 4 pounds. These individuals are great risks in the health department. Their bones are extremely fragile. There is not enough room in their mouth for healthy teeth. Their internal organs are often weak and can fail suddenly. They tend to have great difficulty regulating their blood sugar and can go into hypoglycemic shocks and comas.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

I have two very nasty chihuahua's. They are very loyal though, and they are great with Jules but horrible with everyone else. They bite...

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Message edited 8/19/2006 10:31:45 AM.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

wow! my chi is the sweetest dog i have ever met! wouldnt bite a soul. doesnt growl, nothing. LOVES kids.


eta: also, the easiest to train!

Message edited 8/19/2006 1:27:48 PM.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

we have a boston terrier and love her to pieces. they are on the small side but not miniature. sometimes they are referred to as the 'blue jeans' of breeds because they are low maintenance. they have a single coat of short hair so minimal shedding, smart, great with kids and other dogs, they tend to not bark, easy to groom and keep clean, and very compact (girls 14-18lbs ave, boys 16-20+ ave size.) They do tend to have gas, the one drawback i've experienced but they are so loving.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

I have a lhasa and he can get very nasty especially if you take something out of his mouth.

I was then told, after I got him, by vets, trainers and breeders that they are nasty dogs and wouldnt recommend them around kids.

Re: Small breeds....can you tell me about yours?

Jack Russell Terrier: Katie is the short legged version AKA puddin jack. She is smooth coated and a heavy shedder. Needs lots of exercise. Loves to dig. Slow to housebreak. VERY playful and affectionate. Loves kids. Likes to lick. She is a lap dog as long as she has been exercised.

Pug: (Betsy) Loyal, lovable and sweet. Very heavy shedding. Slow to housebreak. Stubborn. Prone to obesity. Many, many health problems. Great with kids.