Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Vital Statistics: Life span: 9-14 years Adult weight: 10-18 pounds Adult height: 12-13 inches

What’s good and bad about the Cavalier?

Pros:

• Sensitive and loyal to his owner
• Cheerful and affectionate, your lap will be among his favorite places
• Easily trained, he wants to please

Cons:

• A dependent personality, this is not a dog to leave home alone all day
• He’s a shedder and requires regular brushing and combing
• His spaniel instincts will cause him to chase small prey
• Heart diseases, mild to major, are common. Insist on appropriate tests before buying

Who could resist these?

What’s good and bad about the Manchester?

 Pros:

• Excellent watchdog
• Perfect companion for joggers and other active owners
• Minimal grooming, just brush his coat once a week
• Tends to be one owner dog and often follows owner around
• Will be happy on your lap but only after he gets his exercise

 Cons:

• May be possessive and nippy of his food when
  he isn’t tearing around your home
• May chase cats and other small animals
• He’s a terrier – don’t let him dig up your yard
• He’s a terrier – he will bark at anything

Can you do this?

Known as the King of Toys, he is not a miniature Doberman (or any other breed) but a separate and older breed of dog

Vital Statistics: Life span: 13-14 years Adult weight: 8-10 pounds Adult height: 10-12.5 inches

What’s good and bad about the Min Pin?

Pros:

• Excellent watchdog who wouldn’t hesitate to go after an intruder
• Active and high-energy, he’s your workout buddy
• Brave, playful and adventurous

Cons:

• Curiosity and high-energy may cause him to take off any time he gets a chance. (He’ll daydream about how to tippy toe out of your house)
• Fragile and doesn’t realize it. If he gets hurt, he may react aggressively. Not a pet for small children
• He can be a handful; this is not the dog for novice dog owners

King of Toys is also the king of hearts.

What’s good and bad about the Peke?

Pros:

• Good watchdog who’ll bark at strangers
• Independent dog who can stand being left alone while you work
• Perfect for apartments; he may need to be made to take a walk
• Small but not as dainty or lightweight as some Toy breeds (just wait until you try to lift one)

Cons:

• Cats may be tolerated but children and other dogs usually aren’t
• Daily grooming is a must and shedding will be noticeable
• Needs air conditioning; he can’t tolerate heat and humidity (just look at his coat)

 Adorable little puppies.

What’s good and bad about the Papillon?

Pros:

• He’s perfect size for apartment and condo dwellers
• An affectionate, devoted companion who enjoys being fussed over
• Very smart and trainable; you’ll see many Papillons in dog competitions

Cons:

• Daily grooming is best; shedding is noticeable
• Large households may overwhelm him
• Too fragile for roughhousing
• His fragility combined with his energy can be difficult for some owners to manage

They are cute.

Ideal for former cat owners who want to get a dog

Vital Statistics: Life span: 12-16 years Adult weight: 3-7 pounds Adult height: 8-11 inches

What’s good and bad about the Pom?

Pros:

• A good watchdog
• He does well in obedience class and his exercise needs are minimal
• A definite lapdog who lives to be pampered
• He is well suited to an apartment

Cons:

• Needs to be socialized as a puppy to avoid excessive barking and possessiveness
• He sheds, make sure you own a good vacuum cleaner
• Regular dental care is required, as he will lose his teeth if not properly tended

See how charming these little ones are.

A classic lap dog

Vital Statistics: Life span: 12-15 years Adult weight: 4-7 pounds Adult height: 5-8 inches

What’s good and bad about the Maltese?

Pros:

• Good watchdog
• Intelligent and lively
• Loves attention, pampering and your lap
• Doesn’t shed much, may be fine for owners with allergies

Cons:

• Grooming demands are high – daily brushing is required to maintain a lustrous coat, not to
  mention keeping his coat white and avoiding tear stains
• Usually difficult to housebreak
• Will be neurotic and timid if over protected and over indulged

Here’s a fully grown Maltese.

What’s good and bad about the ET?

Pros:

• Grooming requirements are low, just brush regularly
• He’s perfect for an apartment and a couch potato owner
• Calm and quiet

Cons:

• He’ll wheeze
• He’ll shed, a lot
• His gentle nature is best for adult households although
  he gets along well with well-behaved children and other animals

Here’s a full grown ET.

A Doberman brain in a midget body

Vital Statistics: Life span: 12-15 years Adult weight: maximum 6 pounds Adult height: 6-9 inches

What’s good and bad about the Chihuahua?

Pros:

• Has special affinity for the elderly
• Needs love and much lap-sitting
• Makes a good watchdog
• Requires little maintenance, just occasional brushing, and minimal exercise

Cons:

• Beware of pranksters who yell “a rat”
• May be snappy and obstinate and difficult to housebreak
• Has been overbred which creates health and behavior problems – buy only from a reputable breeder
• Small size means you must protect him but not to the point you create a frightened, nervous dog (and the need for visits to the doggy therapist)

Here’s a sweet Chihuahua puppy.

Vital Statistics: Life span: 12-16 years Adult weight: 7-10 pounds Adult height: 9.5-11.5 inches

A spunky pal, these dogs are best for active, alpha owners

What’s good and bad about the Affenpinscher?

Pros:

• Fearless watchdog
• Hardier and more energetic than most dogs his size
• Minimal shedding
• His nickname – ‘monkey dog’ – aptly describes his playful personality
• Rare enough breed that he hasn’t been overbred, but may be difficult (and expensive) to find

Cons:

• Can be difficult to housebreak, intact males like to mark their territory
• Regular grooming, including stripping his coat of dead hairs, is necessary
• Smart but may be headstrong, best for alpha dog owners

 Two minute video that shows Affenpinschers at various ages.