Due to their manageable size, small toy dogs are extremely popular with urban as well as elderly pet owners. Their size allows them to adapt to a greater variety of situations and this is why they are rather popular with different groups of people. Indeed, these dogs are ideal apartment dogs because their small sizes allow them to fit nicely into any apartment. The joys and challenges that come with owning these type of dogs are many and varied as will be explored in this article.
To begin with, most small toy dogs are very sensitive and expect a lot of love in return from you. They are very cheerful and affectionate. They love sitting indoors with you, curling up on your lap as you work or cuddling with you on the same bed when you go to sleep. Because of this, a good number of them need emotional attention and cannot be left at home alone while you work.
On the other hand, most small toy dogs are very good watch dogs and so you should never be fooled by their sizes. They are very alert. However, they make bark excessively and you will need to train them on how to remain calm or else they may annoy you, or the neighbors, with their barking.
Many of these dogs are great with children especially when they are introduced to them at a very tender age. However, it is your responsibility to supervise your children around the small dog and teach them to respect him and be gentle with him. If you do this, then chances of your children being bitten or even your dog being harmed will be limited. Toddlers who move erratically or grab tails may be frightening to any pet, especially for a small toy dog.
Some small toy dogs are very easy to train and may not require to be sent to dog schools. This spares you the expense of having to cough up hundreds of dollars for dog trainers. In addition, many small toy dogs can be picked and toted along like fashion accessories. Think of Paris Hilton and Tinkerbell, her ever present Chihuahua. They can even fit into your hand bags.
Some of the challenges of small toy dogs include the fact that some of them are so small that housebreaking becomes quite a challenge. In bad weather, housebreaking is difficult because most of them shiver quickly when sent out. Indeed, some of the small dogs do not like to get their feet wet so walking on damp ground or wet grass can deter them from going outside. Also, the small toy dogs can easily sneak into corners or hide under furniture without being noticed and as such, leave messy surprises that can only be found later.
Another challenge is the fact that most small toy dogs are prone to health problems. Their very small sizes make them very likely to face health issues like respiratory diseases, as well as those associated with dehydration. They are also prone to injuries. Their small nature makes them very fragile and children often play rough with them. Some may even step on them. If you have children, you have to be very watchful so that your children do not hurt your small toy dogs or get hurt by the dogs.
In conclusion therefore, it is clear that small toy dogs bring a lot of joy, yet this does not come without its challenges. We must be prepared to overcome these challenges in order to enjoy every moment with our dogs.
Lee is a small dog enthusiast. He owns and maintains Small Dog Center Answers [http://www.smalldogcenter.com] To learn more about Small Dogs, how to look after them, and how to be a great owner, check out this great website [http://www.smalldogcenter.com]
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