As more and more folks move into urban centers (condos, townhouses), miniature dog breeds continue to  gain in popularity. This is not a surprise as such breeds take up less space indoors and many such breeds can do without the luxury of a back yard. However, it’s important to remember that there are many differences between the kinds of toy dogs and some will have much different requirements than others – you want to ensure that the one you choose is among the good dog breeds for your lifestyle. It’s of the utmost importance to do adequate research on any breed before selecting one for your family. Matching the dog’s needs with your lifestyle will allow for a high chance of a harmonized family – dog relationship, that will hopefully last many years!

Unfortunately, small dogs often get an unfair bad rap for being yappy and aggressive, when the reality of the fact that these behaviors are often caused by the humans they live with. While all miniature dog breeds are small and cute it’s important to remember that they still are dogs, and treating them as toys or fashion items will not yield the best results for their temperament. Proper training, discipline and exercise will almost always produce a dog that is well mannered and polite regardless of its size.

Many toy dog owners make the mistake of always carrying their furry friend around, and allowing unsavory behaviors that may appear cute when a small dog performs them, but would never be tolerated if it were a larger dog. Allowing behaviors such as jumping up, chewing items, or barking because a dog is small will have the dog believing it can make its own rules, and contributes to the “yappy” stereotype of small and toy breed dogs. Miniature dogs require training and rules just like you would provide for a larger dog. Also, while they are small and cute remember that miniature dog breeds are still dogs and benefit from regular daily walks in which they can burn off energy and enjoy some sniffing in the great outdoors. They are still dogs and enjoy nearly everything a larger dog breed would.

One thing of note with dogs under twenty pounds is that they should not be left unsurprised outdoors, even in a fenced back yard in many ares. This is because they are at an increased risk of attack from birds of prey such as hawks, eagles and owls. Even if the bird is unable to fly away with the dog its talons will have often killed or maimed the canine significantly. In other areas you may need to keep an especially close eye on your small dog as coyotes can be a major danger, striking and killing in only a few seconds.

Also, I know that a lot of people look for dog breeds good with children, and if that’s you then you should know chihuahuas are a poor choice because kids can easily step on, drop and accidentally hurt tiny dogs.

If you are considering a Maltese for your family, keep it mind that it is very small (between two and six pounds is the breed standard), and so it may not be a good idea to bring a Maltese into a home with very young children, as they could easily injure the dog by accident. Unlike some small dog breeds the Maltese is generally quite patient with children, and so older, respectful children can do quite well with a dog of this breed. As a companion dog the Maltese is not suited for people who are not home often, as dogs of this breed require a good amount of attention to be truly happy.

The Maltese breed is exceptionally long lived, and is is not uncommon for them to live fifteen years and beyond. For that reason, it’s important to be sure of your continued commitment to a Maltese before bringing them into your household, ensuring that you will be able to care for them for many years.

Exercise Requirements: While Maltese are lively little dogs, they are able to satisfy the majority of their exercise needs through indoor play sessions. Provided they receive a daily walk, Maltese can do well in a variety of living conditions, and make a good choice for individuals living in apartments and townhouses. They should be closely supervised when in rural areas, as dogs of their small stature can fall victim to attacks from birds of prey.

Shedding: The Maltese breed has a long, white coat that should be rushed daily, to prevent tangles or matting. Many Maltese owners choose to have their dogs hair clipped or professional groomed in order to keep it easy to manage. However, despite this breeds abundance of luxurious white hair, it is actually a very low shedding and so is a good choice for people prone to allergies. It’s also importance to regularly clean around the eyes of your Maltese in order to prevent tear staining from occurring.

Training: Maltese dogs are intelligent, and will quite quickly learn basic commands such as sit, down and stay. They are ideal obedience training students and are often the star of any dog obedience classes they might attend. However, like many of the toy breeds the Maltese can be challenging to house train (possible due to their smaller bladders) and will require consistent and patient training until they are able to overcome this hurdle. It may be a good idea to pad or litter train your Maltese as they are often reluctant to go outside in very cold or warm weather.

Health Concerns: The Maltese breed is overall generally healthy, provided that you purchase your dog from a reputable breeder that performs health testing of their breeding stock. It’s important to ensure that the breeder has a firm understanding of the breeds health issues, as Maltese that are not well bred can be prone to an eye condition called retinal atrophy, which in its worst cases leads to blindness. Also, like many miniature dog breeds, poorly bred Maltese can suffer from a knee condition called luxating patella, which often requires an expensive surgery to correct. Furthermore, these dogs should not be raised in damp conditions, as this can cause otherwise avoidable respiratory issues.

Exercise Requirements: The Dachshund has low to moderate exercise needs and will do well in a apartment as long as it is provided a daily walk and off leash outdoor opportunities. As a hound, the Dachshund will especially appreciate opportunities to sniff and follow outdoor trails whenever safely possible.

Grooming: The amount of grooming required for the Dachshund breed largely depends on whether you have a Short haired, long haired, or wire haired dog. While short haired Dachshund can do with only an occasional brushing, the long and wired hairs should be brushed twice weekly and bathed whenever an odor is present.

Training: The Dachshund is a hound that was bred to track small game, and like others from these roots can be difficult to train due to their stubborn nature. Firm consistency and positive reinforcement is a must when training any hound, including the clever but independently minded Dachshund breed. Furthermore, this breed is notoriously difficult to house break and may not be best suited for those without previous dog training experience.

Health Concerns: Like many popular dog breeds, the Dachshund has been subjected to a large amount of inbreeding to fulfill public demands for this breed. It’s of the utmost importance to purchase your Dachshund from a reputable breeder or rescue, and to avoid places like pet store that almost certainly have poor quality breeding stock. Dachshunds are prone to obesity and should have their food intake closely monitored, with free feeding (leaving food out all the time) avoided if possible. Obesity is very dangerous in dogs and raises the chances of health issues developing.

Dachshunds are prone to epilepsy, luxating patellas, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and back issues due to their build. While it is important not to allow any dog to become obese, it is particularly important in the Dachshund due to problems extra weight can cause for their spine (again due to their build).