First Coast Pet

Posts Tagged ‘Small dogs’

The most important aspect of keeping a pet is to take its proper care. In case your pet is a dog, you’ll need to be really careful about grooming it correctly. Correct grooming not only makes your dog look good aside also makes it feel good. There are a number of things which make a part of dog grooming but there are certain fundamental things which are an essential.

One of the first things to do to guarantee your dog is groomed properly is to brush his/her hair. Not brushing your dog’s hair often enough could lead to caught fur which in turn could finish up damaging the dog’s coat. Regular brushing can help prevent that and maintain the coat.

While hair brushing is important, you need not brush your dog’s hair daily. The frequency of brushing that your dog needs will depend on the length of the coat. Dogs with longer hair require more frequent brushing as compared to dogs with shorter hair.

Washing your dog is also an essential part of grooming. A bath is ensures that your dog is both clean and well groomed. Showering consistently doesn’t simply keep your dog’ coat clean but also dumps a bacteria or germ sticking to his coat. Some of these bacteria or germs could pose a threat to the dog’s health if left unchecked and cause illnesses and other disease.

Again, the frequency of your dog’s bath depends on the breed of the dog. While almost all of the dogs can do with one bath in a month if kept clean, some exceptions have to be considered. The most important exception naturally is that your dog had gone out and has come back all dirtied. Dogs need a bath with halfhearted water so watch out about the temperature. And , ensure that you get the right dog shampoo for bath.

Nail trimming is also a part of dog grooming. Dogs with longer nails are sometimes more susceptible to diseases of diverse kind then those with shorter nails. This is because without regular trimming the nails could attract dirt or germs making your dog more inclined to sicknesses.

Now, about nail clipping you’ve got to realize a vital thing. There’s a likelihood that your dog might not ‘agree’ to the exercise. If you have trained it about clipping part since it was just a puppy, the picture could be favorable. Grown up dogs are a different story. Best path is to give some sedatives to dog before you go about clipping its nails.

You do not need your pet to be a social embarrassment for you. Thus, it is vital that you follow these necessities of dog grooming and make your pet appear and feel good.

For most parents, if they wanted to give a pet to their kids, they would instantly think about small animals. Sometimes, they would think about getting a small dog but there are other people who think that a dog is not an ideal pet for a small kid. What they wanted is even smaller and all they could think of is a guinea pig. Well, this kind of animal sounds a cool pet. As a doting parent, you want something that is preferred by and for your children, right, especially when it comes to choosing pets? So, a pet guinea pig would be a great recommendation.

But, because this kind of specie is so tiny and so flimsy, you also need to learn a lot of guinea pig care so that it can survive and live happily and healthy. All you need to do is go through the Internet and find a book guide that will teach you how to care for little guys like Guinea pigs. Actually, right now, there are lots of book guides that can teach people how to care for guinea pigs and some of them are even in the form of video-audio software so that you can visually understand how to care for guinea pigs and even learn how to teach them tricks. Yes, little guinea pigs are also trainable just like the way you train your dog.

Now, with so many learning tools out there, you will really be dazed on what to choose. Perhaps, the best way to do this is to read first some guinea pig pets book guide reviews so you will have the idea on what to get & use so you can better teach yourself how to care and train for these little cuties. You also have to bear in mind that your little ones would also want to take part in the whole ritual of learning so you better find a learning tool that will allow them to do the same.

Part 2 of this article on small dog breed types covers small dogs in the non-sporting, herding, toy, and terrier groups.

Terrier Dogs

Terrier dogs were bred for the hunt – rabbits, foxes, rats, and even badgers, otters, and river rats. Today, most terriers are bred as pets. And with their affectionate and loyal temperament, they make lovely pets. It’s important to remember, however, that they are dogs with a strong personality, and they need equally strong willed owners. This is just as true for the small, toy terriers – they don’t see themselves as small dogs. Terriers also have an abundance of energy, so will need their exercise. They have wiry coats, and they have special grooming needs in order to maintain that characteristic wiriness.

If you’re after a small dog, you’re spoilt for choice in the terrier group. The small dog breeds are: the Australian Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Border Terrier, Irish Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Norwich Terrier and Norfolk Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier, Bedlington Terrier dog breed, Scottish Terrier and Sealyham Terrier.

Toy Dogs

Toy dogs are a very recognizable small dog type, due to their popularity with celebrities and people alike. Because some toy dogs are large breeds bred down to size, you’ll find toy breeds in many of the other groups as well.

Toy dogs are friendly, though they can be fierce and angry as well. They do make great lap dogs, however, and are often cherished members of the family, akin to a child. Toy dogs include: Chihuahua, Shih Tzu, Miniature Poodle, the Papillon, Yorkshire Terrier, and the Pomeranian dog breed.

Non-Sporting Dogs

Non-sporting dogs is a general term for those breeds the AKC recognizes, that don’t fall into any of the other categories. They have different ancestry, temperaments, coats, sizes, and colors. Small breeds in the non-sporting group are: the bichon frise, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier, Boston Terrier, Schipperke, French Bulldog and the Lhasa Apso.

Herding Dogs

Herding dogs are a fairly new classification in the AKC. The dogs in this category used to be part of the working group. In fact, a lot of breed registrars across the globe they still are a sub-catgory of the working group. The dogs registered by the American Kennel Club are generally bought as pets, although working (and herding) dogs are still used throughout the world on farms, cattle stations, and ranches because of their abilities to herd livestock. They can be trained to respond to specific commands and whistles, and perform a variety of herding related tasks particularly well. In families as pets, herding dogs may try and good naturedly herd their human family, especially the children.

Small dog breeds in the herding group are the Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Border Collie, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, and the Shetland Sheepdog. 

Miscellaneous Dogs

The miscellaneous category covers breeds not fully recognized by he AKC. There are no small dogs here.

Dogs bring many benefits to their owners. Dogs provide great companionship, they can significantly reduce your stress levels, improve your blood pressure, provide unconditional love, are a source of joy, and provide a vocal incentive to exercise more. Not only that, they can be a great way of meeting people whilst you’re both out for a walk. And if you’ve got kids, dogs can provide someone to play with and nurture.

But, what type of dog should you get – large or small?

Of course, if you don’t have a big yard or live in a condo, you may not have a lot of choice. But even if you are blessed with a large backyard, there are a number of benefits to getting a small dog that bear weight on other issues than the size of your home.

Having said that, some large dogs make better family pets than some small dogs. Breeds like the Tibetan Spaniel dog breed, maltese, chihuahuas, and miniature poodles, and similar lap dogs, are not really suited to families with children who are too young to know how to moderate their behaviour around dogs.

For older people, a small dog is a more realistic choice. This is also a valid point for those who are frail or sick, or just not very strong. Large dogs weight more – so they are going to be correspondingly more difficult to handle on a physical level. For example, walking an excited, large dog on a leash might be near impossible if your dog has a stubborn moment when he wants to chase something, like a car or another dog. Plus, there are going to be times when you will need to lift your dog. If you don’t live with someone who can help you, this could be a problem, particularly when your dog grows old. Will you be able to handle him to check his teeth, and be able to provide a strong pack structure by being the top dog.

Additionally, large dogs need more exercise as a rule, although a few smaller breeds also need a lot of exercise as well. This is especially true of working dogs, no matter whether they are big or small, such as the border collie dog breed. Border collies are very high energy, active and intelligent dogs. They have been – and still are – used to herd cattle and sheep, and as a result they have very high stamina and endurance. They can run for hours, although as a pet owner, a couple of hours of exercise – both mental and physical, ideally – would be sufficient. So, for a particularly busy person, and therefore unable to devote the time to your dog, a breed like the border collie would not be the right pet.

Small dog breeds that are recommended for families with kids include {Kerry Blue Terriers, boston terriers, border terriers, English Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Australian Bulldogs, Miniature English Bulldogs, Miniature Australian Shepherds, and bichon frise}. And small breeds like the French bulldog, whose temperament is easygoing and happy, and who love spending a lot of time with their owners, and do not require much exercise, are recommended for the elderly. French bulldogs are even used in pet therapy in aged care homes.

To the everyday dog lover, the rules and regulations of some nationwide dog registry associations like the American Kennel Club (AKC) can strike one as problematic. Whilst you would expect a puppy registered by the American Kennel Club to be a high-quality, healthy purebred, this is not always the case. You can only be certain of getting a puppy with a recognized pedigree. The health of the puppy’s parents and ancestry, and the quality of the breeder, are not regulated by them. To many dog lovers, this can be startling. It’s natural to expect that a prominent dog association such as the American Kennel Club would be interested in breeding out genetic illnesses, and making sure a healthy constitution is maintained in a breed. And it demonstrates why some breed clubs, such as those for the Australian kelpie dog breed, have decided not to finish the requirements for AKC registration. This makes them ineligible for recognition by the AKC as a distinct breed, and these dogs are not allowed to compete in the numerous American Kennel Club sponsored dog shows. What is does mean, is that a breed’s health and working dog qualities are protected.

The American Kennel Club in effect wanted to restrict the natural genetic variation of breeds like the Australian kelpie. Dogs in AKC recognized breeds, and with an AKC issued pedigree, have been bred for show, according to quite limiting characteristics. The result has been that a lot of these dogs cannot do a lot of things the breed was once known for, such as hunt. It has also meant a lot of genetic health issues, as a result of injudicious inbreeding to keep the lines ‘pure’. Dogs are bred back to their parents and grandparents, all because it creates dogs that help do well in shows. On their website, the University of Wisconsin write:

“First, the AKC defines quality in a dog primarily on the basis of appearance, paying scant heed to such other canine characteristics as health, temperament, and habits of work. Over the years this policy has led to destructive forms of inbreeding that have created dogs capable only of conforming to human standards of beauty. Many can no longer perform their traditional tasks–herding, tracking, hunting–while more than a few cannot live outside a human-controlled environment.” (Source)

Of course, this isn’t the reason some dogs aren’t recognized by the AKC as a separate breed. Some are considered a size variation of the breed they’re bred down from rather than a distinct breed. This is true of dogs like the small German spitz and the toy Manchester terrier.

Ultimately, unless you plan to show your dog, registration by the American Kennel Club is not as critical as finding a good quality dog from a breeder who breeds with the health of the dogs in mind, as well as to preserve the dog’s natural abilities. Breeders who breed mostly to achieve a certain look are more likely to follow breeding practices that don’t support a dog’s wellbeing. And it could result in dogs that have personalities that might prove difficult to live with. Whilst there may be some instances where this is not true, in the long run, sustained inbreeding can only create problems for a breed.

If you don’t have a favorite dog, it isn’t easy deciding which breed to get. The first step is to look at what size dog is most suitable to your needs and environment. Can you manage a large dog where you live? Or do you live in a small house or apartment? Small dogs can provide great company. And there are a lot of different types of small dogs, very different in both temperament and appearance. Whilst toy dogs are amongst the most well known of the small dogs, there are others that are similar to their larger canine siblings.

We’ll look at three different breeds in this article – welsh terriers, brussels griffons and whippets.

Brussels Griffon Dogs

The soulful eyes of the brussels griffon are thought to have been part of what led George Lucas, of Star Wars fame, to create the Ewoks. And looking at pictures of them, you can see the resemblance.

Brussels griffons are extremely sensitive and devoted dogs who will be more closely bonded with one person than others. They should be socialized when they are very young. Their sensitivity and one-person nature make them a better choice for childless couples, singles, and the elderly than those looking for a family pet.

Brussels griffon get along well with other animals, particularly cats. You will need to keep an eye out on how they are around bigger dogs, however. They can challenge for dominance, not really aware of their small size.

Welsh Terrier Information

These cute dogs are fairly calm when you look at other terrier breeds. They are sturdy looking dogs with quite a big personality, especially the boys. They are affectionate, inquisitive, extroverted, happy, and fearless.

Many years ago, Welsh terriers were used to keep the rat and vermin population down, and as a result welsh terriers love to chase things – including cats. Consequently, if you own a cat, this probably isn’t the ideal pet for your family.

Great with children,  welsh terriers need a backyard where they can’t escape as they have a predilection for digging, and may thus escape. When taking your welsh terrier for a walk, be sure he stays on the leash, as his road sense when on a quest for fun is not very good.

Welsh terriers require quite a commitment from their owners. They have to have grooming regularly, and get bored when home alone for too long. They probably suit someone with a part time job rather than a full time job. When they’re bored, they can cause destruction around the house.  

The Whippet Dog Breed

Whippets are a type of sighthound dog, so named as they hunt using sight and speed instead of smell. These elegant looking dogs are petite, ranging in height from 18.5 to 20 inches for male whippets, or 17.5 to 18.5 inches for female whippets. And the whippet dog breed look just like miniature greyhounds!

In temperament, whippets are like toy dogs, in that they are happy to sleep on your lap. They are very loyal to their owner, though still friendly to strangers and children. Whippets are gentle dogs, and as such they have been used in aged care homes.

These dogs need to be kept indoors. Their coats don’t keep them warm enough outside, and they have a strong bond to their owners. If you’re prepared to exercise them regularly, they are great for apartment living.

Caring for the small dog is pretty similar to caring for a larger pet. The small dog has some specific needs and the owner has to make the necessary compromise whenever needed. Just think about some of the everyday events that may need to be looked at when considering certain needs.

Feeding:

You must consider the size of the food you buy them from the grocery store as they won’t be able to eat the normal type of food ordinarily purchased for a regular size pooch. You’ll need to be sure to buy a kibble designed to fit his smaller mouth (these are easy to find among the premium dog food brands). Fortunately, canned food should not be a problem and will definitely be easier to obtain.

Having a place for them to exercise:

It is easy for them to run around and go to the toilet outside providing the area is secure isn’t it? Well so you would think but remember that larger dogs may be fine confined this way but a smaller dog may find ways to escape. It may seem bizarre but it has been know for very large birds to actually take tiny dogs from their gardens. A covered kennel run might better meet your pet’s needs.

Training your dog to obey your commands:

While the training methodologies may be the same for large as well as tiny and are not any harder, but canine experts confirm that more often than not, the smaller counterparts are usually over-mothered. However tiny your dog may be, the small dog is still a follower of pack behavior where the important thing to remember is that you do not lead the pack, the dog does. It may seem like a minor matter but just because they are diminutive and the mess they leave might not be much, it doesn’t mean they do not need to be house trained. To make the dog obey your commands, dog experts recommend that the dog must be made to work for you. Before you reward him with a treat or with his meal for having obeyed your commands, make his sit or run or do small tricks.

Buying dog collars:

Shop for great deals on small dog collars online. You can find many kinds, styles and designs. Just remember that you want the small dog collar to be comfortable and not interfere with their breathing or comfort. Compare and get a great deal on small dog collars by browsing online stores. then when you find the one you like you can either buy it from the online store or at your local pet store, whichever has the best price.

Grooming your dog:

Keep in mind that grooming a small dog is slightly different to larger ones and cater for this. These diminutive pets usually require more frequent nail trimming than larger dogs, because they typically spend less time on rough surfaces wearing them down. If the pet is on soft canned diet, make sure that he brushes his teeth at least twice a week. Small dog care is not that different for a large one except you have to be aware of certain needs that will affect a smaller animal. The differences between each dog, may look minor and insignificant, but when you pay extra attention to each one aspect, it can provide the correct answer to a dog’s specific requirements.