Newsday Article by Denise Flaim

Little dogs aren't for toying
August 21, 2006


It's too easy to blame Paris Hilton.

After all, teeny-tiny dogs were hot millennia ago, when "The Simple Life" was indeed just that.

Consider, for example, the pear-shaped Pekingese and the monk-guarding Lhasa apso, which both predate Christianity. In the intervening centuries, humans continued to breed dogs for small size and big personality, from Renaissance royalty, which rarely posed for a portrait without a toy spaniel in hand, to those kooky Victorians, whose fondness for pugs reaffirmed the very modern notion of "so ugly, it's cute."

At the kickoff to this century, toy dogs are as popular as ever. Much of this has to do with the unfortunate "marketing" of them as accessories - warmer than a scarf, cuter than most Dooney & Bourkes.

But before you make a decade-plus commitment, remember that little dogs come with big caveats, including:

It's anatomy, Watson. Most toy breeds have small litters - perhaps only two or three pups. And they can easily have price tags in the thousands.

A well-bred puppy generally doesn't cost more than a pet-store puppy that likely came from a puppymill. (If you have to ask what a puppymill is, then you need to do more homework.)

Consider a rescue dog, or buy from a reputable breeder who does appropriate health screenings and who insists on meeting you in person. And be prepared for the inevitable waiting list.

"Do not buy a puppy over the Internet," warns Darlene Arden, author of the newly revised "Small Dogs, Big Hearts: A Guide to Caring for Your Little Dog" (Howell, $19.99). "If they take VISA and MasterCard, run."

The view from the curb never changes. Given their diminutive stature, toy dogs have a different world view - literally.

"If you only come up to people's ankles, what does the world look like?" asks Arden rhetorically. To get the idea, she suggests you lie down on your driveway next to your car and take in the panorama. "Everything is humongous."

Swooping down on toy dogs, or even patting them on the head, can lead to skittishness and fearfulness; instead, it's best if you sit on the floor for your initial training, or put the dog on a slightly higher surface such as a wide bench.

But don't let him get too accustomed to the altitude. "If you pick up a dog, you are elevating his status, and there are times when you don't want to do that," says Arden. To prevent your Papillon from becoming a Napoleon, let him walk places on his own steam, unless he's truly tired.

A choke, prong or most any collar is a no-no for toys, which are prone to collapsing tracheas. Instead, Arden recommends using a harness. If you must use a collar, use a flat one, and no jerks or pops, please.

At least they have their health. Well ... toy dogs are often far more delicate than your average Fido. Perhaps the most extreme example are Italian greyhounds, which can and do break legs just by jumping off couches.

Hypoglycemia is a life-threatening concern in toy puppies, Arden warns. "You can go out in the morning and come home to a dead puppy that night." (Triage: "Put sugar water or Karo syrup on the dog's gums and run to the vet as fast as you can.") For this reason - and because toys develop more slowly than larger breeds - most breeders keep them until 12 weeks of age.

Did we mention dental problems? A Chihuahua has the same number of teeth as a Great Dane - just less room for them, Arden notes.

"Toy dogs can retain deciduous teeth. You'll see some Yorkies living with double row of teeth" - making daily brushing that much more critical.

Children optional. While there are exceptions to this rule - the sturdy pug come to mind - small dogs are often not the best choice for a families with youngsters, who often take the "toy" label more than literally.

"Anything a child can pick up, he can drop, and most small-dog breeders will not sell to homes with children," Arden says, adding that socializing toys to kids is still a must. "If they don't get used to children as puppies, they never will like them."

Love the one you're with. Potential dog owners need to contemplate how a breed's hard-wired instincts will mesh with their lifestyle. Don't like frenetic barking? Don't get a herder. Don't like independence? Don't get a hound.

And ... if you can't provide regular companionship, don't get a toy, which was bred to crave interaction with humans. Nine-to-5-ers might want to hire pet walkers for a midday visit, or enroll their dog in day care, Arden suggests.

Expect puddle-jumping. "Toy dogs can take up to a year and a little more to be reliably house trained," Arden says, "and some never are." (The Bichon and its cousins, the Maltese, Coton de Tulear and Bolognese are tough customers in this regard.)

Because toys tend to lose heat rapidly, they'll need a sweater or coat to go outside in colder weather, another barrier to housebreaking. "Unless you're willing to sleep in sweats and get up at 3 a.m. for the first year," Arden says cheerily, "don't get a toy puppy."