Home » Dog Breeds

Miniature dog breeds pros and cons of owning toy breeds

Choose a miniature small dog breed

There is a wide range of miniature dog breeds for you to choose from, if you like very small dogs. Miniature or small dog breeds include the Miniature Pinscher, Pug, Toy Poodle, Chihuahua and Spaniel. There are many other small dog breeds available as well.

The term Miniature generally refers to what many dog breeders call “toy dog breeds“. Miniature dogs are very small dogs. There are pros and cons of owning these toy dog breeds that you should consider before adopting a toy dog breed.

[caption id="attachment_1037" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Pug Chihuahua Mix"]pug chihuahua mix miniature small toy dog breed[/caption]

Advantages of owning miniature dog breeds

The main reason people prefer miniature dog breeds over larger breeds is for its cuteness. Don’t think that its size makes these dogs less hardy for once they pass their puppy hood, they have energy that is similar to any other breed of dog. They make excellent watch dogs for their hue and cry is sufficient to make any intruder think twice before making a break-in.

The easier handling of a miniature dog breed is another reason people take to these dogs. If you live in an apartment, a miniature dog is the best option you have as a pet and partner for you. This is because these dogs don’t need much dwelling space, or as much exercise space as a large dog may require.

You don’t have much cleaning to do with a miniature dog as it does not shed as much hair as their larger counterparts do. This is not because their coat characteristics are different, but just because they are smaller in size and thus have less fur. All aspects of dog care are smaller in miniature dogs ranging from its cleaning, to its clean-up and from the amount of food it consumes and the amount of food it expels.

Miniature dogs have always been considered to be companion dogs and are friendly and alert and are always waiting to be held and petted. As they are comforting and bring peace to its owner, nursing homes and adult care facilities use them for soothing their patients. Of course, this does not imply that you have to stay in an eldercare facility to enjoy the company of miniature dog breeds. They are great companions for any dog lover.

Disadvantages of owning miniature dog breeds

The main disadvantage is that most small breeds don’t actually interact well with young children and toddlers. This means that you have to be extra careful of these dogs if you have small children in your home as the kids may get injured by the dog. Because of their small size, many miniature dog breeds are very nippy.

There are some miniature dog breeds that are prone to tooth and gum disease, and tracheal collapse. Then there are small breeds that are difficult to house train while some of them may have trouble lifting their legs. There are even some dogs that have tenancies to bark constantly.

Before selecting a toy dog breed based solely on it’s cute appearance, make sure you do your research on the breeds health and temperament.

Photo source:topdogdirectory.blogspot.com


1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (No Ratings Yet)
Loading...

One Comment »

  • Ty Brown said:

    My experience with miniatures is that they are also much more difficult to house train. They are so close to the ground it is tough to catch them in the act of going to the bathroom on the floor.

Leave your feedback! We love comments.

Add your comment below, or trackback from your own site. You can also subscribe to these comments via RSS.

Be nice. Keep it clean. Stay on topic. No spam.