Toy dog breeds

Small does not mean timid! Some of the feistiest breeds are little ones – Yorkies, Dachshunds, and Russells, for example – and toy breeds need a lot of training and socializing (with people and other dogs alike). They can easily become mini dictators if given half a chance.

Yorkshire Terriers are one of the most popular Toy breeds

If you raise a friendly toy dog, however, they’re arguably the cutest things to ever walk the earth. They're a bundle of fun and will always make you, and other people, smile. No wonder they tend to be popular with a certain kind of camera-courting celebrity!

Toy dogs have a tendency to become very attached to one person, especially if that person tends to carry them around a lot. This is why they’re sometimes called lap dogs. Again, try your hardest to socialize them with as many other people and dogs as possible.

The Shih Tzu may be small, but he's feisty

Another thing to bear in mind with toy dogs is their love of their own voices. They can be very noisy if not taught the ‘quiet’ command from an early age, and this can make you very unpopular with the neighbors.

Having said all that, for someone living in a small apartment, a toy breed is an obvious choice, space-wise. The most popular breeds include Maltese, Bichon Frise, Shih Tzu, Chihuahua, Pug, Miniature Poodle, and Yorkshire Terrier.

Toy Dogs That Don’t Shed Their Coats

If you're looking for a dog which doesn’t shed its coat and leave your apartment looking like a dog’s blanket, these are the best choice: Bichon Frise, Cairn Terrier, Chinese Crested, Coton De Tulear, Wire-haired Fox Terrier, Havanese, Maltese, Toy Poodle, Shih Tzu, and Yorkshire Terrier.

A Toy Poodle with a lovely brown curly coat

A Toy Poodle won't shed his coat all over your lap or apartment

Are Toy Dogs Good With Children?

Toy dogs can be short-tempered and a little unpredictable if they haven’t been properly socialized with other people. An untrained small dog might see the child as a rival and try to assert itself by acting aggressively or biting. On the whole, a placid larger breed is better if you have kids who want to fuss and play with the dog all the time - good choices include Retriever or a really big softy like an Old English Sheepdog.