Small Dog Breeds
Personality and charm are two of the traits that most people associate with small dogs. With the help of selective breeding, many species were created, with an emphasis placed on specific character traits.
The reasons why small dog breeds exist are varied. In some cases, certain small dogs did specialized tasks for hunter, and two of these species are the Yorkshire terriers and the dachshunds. In other cases, races like the Maltese, Shish Tzu or the Pekingese were made to keep company to nobles and rich people. Each area of the world has its own small dog breeds and they spread all over the world, becoming popular wherever they were brought.
The origin of the Chihuahua dog is Mexico, while the Shih Tzu and the Pekingese were brought from China and Tibet. Many of the terrier breeds originate from Scotland. The poodles and the petit chien lion are thought to originate from the ancient Greece.
A long time ago, owning a small dog, like the Shih Tzu or the Pekingese, was something only for rich or privileged people, as it was a purebred that was expensive to own. As middle class appeared in the last few centuries, the expensive small dogs became affordable for more people and since they were special when compared with mutts you saw on the street, they also became popular.
The standards of breeding for each type of dog vary, depending on their character traits, appearance, height and weight. The standard of the breed tells you how a dog from that race should look like. Of course, this is more of a goal, since no two dogs are exactly the same. Nature decides each dog’s appearance in the end, so breeders can only do so much about it.
The only difference between large and small dogs is the size. Just because it is small, it doesn’t mean that you should protect a dog too much. A small size doesn’t mean that they are extra susceptible to illnesses when compared with a larger race. Actually, a small dog usually has a longer life expectancy than a big dog.
Many people seem to enjoy using clothes on small dogs, dressing them and adding accessories to make them look cute. You can do the same with a large dog, of course, but the effect just isn’t the same as it can be with a small Yorkie or maybe with a Chihuahua.
Leukemia in dogs – Learn more about symptoms of Leukemia in dogs and treatment for Leukemia in dogs.
Processing your request, Please wait....
