Please tell me about very small dogs

[MissTMornings]

I only lost my old girl on Monday so I'm still in shock and feeling bereft. But I have always had dogs and can't imagine being without one forever.

When the time is right I am thinking that my next dog would need to be a small one, I'm thinking Yorkie or similar. My youngest DC will be off to uni in a couple of years and I will be looking to downsize significantly.

The thing is all my previous dogs have been medium or large breeds. So what do I need to know? How far can a smaller breed walk? Are they more difficult to train etc.

I imagine other people may be my issue, wanting to pick up and cuddle a cute tiny dog? I'm all for snuggles but I do want a dog that is a dog and not a furry accessory.

I'm guessing that a dog is a dog is a dog and it will depend a lot on how it is trained/treated but I would like to hear your experiences please. Especially if you too have gone from bigger high energy dogs to little tiny ones.

Have you considered a Cavalier spaniel?

So sorry about your girl.

I want to put a word in for Yorkies. We have a rescue one. He is bigger than most and isn't yappy at all. He has a lovely temperament will walk for hours or do just as well with a quick round the block in bad weather. He's nearly ten now and as sprightly as ever. He is very cuddly and loves people.

The pp who's mum has smelly Yorkies. I have had four Yorkies (not at the same time) and they were all feisty terrier types, who loved long walks or going out with the horses, and were keen ratters, though not as efficient as jrt's. They were always treated as dogs, never toys, and they thrived on it.
Border terriers are lovely dogs op, but I am now a poodle convert. Our toy poodle walks for miles without tiring, and she looks like a normal dog, no fancy haircuts here!

We had always had big dogs and still have an elderly one. We also have a 5 year old cocker spaniel who is quite small and has the most wonderful personality. My friend dog sits and dog walks and has also always owned big dogs but says, since doing her job, she has realised what a great character many small dogs have. Terriers are full of personality but, be warned they’re often feisty!

I have a Patterdale terrier - hardy working dogs, high energy, can run all day long (until they rupture a disc at age 4 like mine did).

But probably more neurotic, prey-driven and dog aggressive than your average JRT or border, so...yeah, maybe not. I adore her but I'll never have another.

A nice rescue! You'll be able to see what you are getting, and choose one that suits your circumstances.

I have Affenpinschers, they are small but cobby which is one of the reasons I chose them as I didn’t want anything too delicate.

They really are fantastic little dogs and I really don’t know why the breed isn’t more popular.

Here they are with my Mini Schnauzer.

A dachshund would be perfect, big dog in a small body! This is Wellington

Have you considered a papillion op? I used to have two and they are fab little dogs. Very beautiful to look at, and they'll walk for miles despite being little.

I currently have a five month old Shih Tzu, and she is the most wonderful little dog. So happy and loving. Very easy to train too, despite what I read about them having stubborn natures. Here she is in all her fluffy glory at the beach

I think surely a miniature poodle is your dog? Working type, but a "proper" dog in a small body?

I love daschunds but the bark tendency & spine issues would probably stop me.

I’ve always had yorkies, and just got a new puppy.

Current one is silent. Only way i know where he is is by looking down, he’s usually at my feet. In fact all of mine have only barked as an alert, once we take notice they quieten. None smell, all can take a fair bit of exercise, and a fair bit of cuddling. I love them, they are proper little terriers if you treat them properly. Mine goes hunting with the cat. His only problem is he hates rain, and gets cold, so he has an assortment of very un dog like jackets and raincoats. For a 6 month old he’s a joy, no bother, just follows me around, plays with the cat, and waits for me to sit down so he can snooze on my lap.

I tried to rescue. I was open to any small dog under 5. I applied for at least two dogs a week for a year. Problem is it’s first come first served, many don’t even make it to be officially adopted as they are taken on by friends and family of adopters/rescues. We got as far as being invited to meet a dog half a dozen times, only to be told sorry, someones been in and reserved it before we could get there. Once we were about to set off for an hour drive when i got a call that the fosterer had decided to keep the dog. It was a rollercoaster, especially as they always insisted i bring the kids to meet the dog, so i had to let them down every time.

Another vote for a yorkie. They don't shed, mine doesn't smell of fish and we've trained him so he's not a yapper. He's got tons of character, walks for miles and loves a cuddle.

I've got a miniature Dachshund and he is walked with my Border Collie. The Collie ranges and does frisbee/rugby ball etc. so goes twice as far, but I have to take a little ball for my Dachs to fetch otherwise he gets cross. He brings it back too. He can go for miles, is fit and the right weight which is very important for their backs. The vet commends me on his condition and weight every time .

He's a joyful, funny little clown, comedy gold. He loves cuddling but hates being picked up. He was very hard to housebreak, (still have to be on it, his cues are rubbish and he won't wait!) was easy to crate train (they love a den and to be buried in blankets) and he's no more barky than the collie - I trained him from the start, he gets zero attention if he barks.

He does have separation anxiety which is a hound thing apparently. He can be left about half an hour with a frozen kong but that's it, no more - he keens, cries, paces and searches non-stop, even though the collie's there (have recorded him). If it wan't for that he'd be perfect, but any dog can have that, 20% apparently do.

How can I explain it. He's got a huge soul. He's loving and friendly and interested in what's happening, loves people and other dogs, is bossy - he rules the collie, or rather the collie graciously acquiesces.

He's a proper dog, loves to bury pigs ears, loves a dig. He's clever too but not that motivated to please, he pleases himself! He sticks by me when off lead though. He's food motivated so it's easy to overcome indifference/stubbornness. He loves scent games, play fighting, battering his kong teddy. He grooms it too. His recall is dodgy if there's decent smells (hound) but he will stop dead with 'stand!' and stay there 100%.

Well that was long. Can you tell I like him? :)

I am currently minding a Yorkie for a family member. She is not smelly and very trainable. She yaps, a lot, but is learning to reduce it. She is perfectly capable and happy to trot along for 6 - 10 miles.
However if you are a big dog person I wouldn’t get a Yorkie as a substitute. They are small dogs at heart and I don’t think that would satisfy a lover of big dogs.
If I wanted a big dog in a small body I would get a Daschound. They are as a pp said they are absolutely fabulous dogs but you do have to treat them as big dogs not lapdogs in order to get the best out of them.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to give me the benefit of your experience. Much to mull over but I'm but I'm much more open to a Daschund now and may possibly have to think about one of the other fabulous breeds you have mentioned as a companion

We’ve got a chihuahua. He’s very trainable in terms of tricks, they love to please... But he is fear aggressive and so can’t be off lead/terrible recall. He doesn’t smell, doesn’t really shed, looks adorable and happy to walk as long as it’s not wet (would never cross a puddle).
He’s very much a small dog though - all he really wants is to cuddle up on you all day every day - inside your jumper if you’ll let him. He is quite yappy - he doesn’t bark at nothing but he’s a very on the ball alert dog!

Also a real poser

When we were in a similar situation, we went to a rescue with everything we wanted in a dog and they came out with a beautiful staffy. I'd never given the breed a thought before but he was a perfect fit for our family. Maybe it's worth speaking to a rescue? They may find you something that you had never thought of.

I've had Yorkies and my Mum still has 3. They are yappy, hate exercise and smell if not groomed regularly. But they are true characters and proper lap dogs!

I’ve always had spaniels and said I’d never have a small one, acquired a small dog now I’m converted, as is my boyfriend who regularly gets laughed while carrying a Boston terrier around . Wouldn’t recommend the breed but small dogs are easier in every way. They take up hardly any space on the sofa/bed, don’t smell much, easier to bath/groom, easier to travel with, lots of places/people are more tolerant of small dogs. They also don’t need the hours of exercise and generally don’t bark as much/as loudly.

This little one looks perfect. At this rescue.

We are on our second Yorkshire Terrier. He’s nearly two. He is a dear little soul. He doesn’t bark constantly, he doesn’t smell of fish and he isn’t smelly.

He’s a lovely boy actually. I would never have another breed. I love his little black nose.

Another one for the dachshund! Big dog in a small body. Mine will run for hours, I tire out long before she does. Loves a cuddle in the evening too. They are energetic, adorable little clowns - bloody loud though! Lots of research being done into their backs at the moment, google IVDD in dachshunds and you should get some good info.

If I had another small dog it would be a jack Russel without a doubt .
Over the years I’ve had 4, 2 jack Russell and 2 jack Russel x’s , all were lovely natured family dogs , intelligent big dogs in a little body with brave attitudes and very loving nature
The two full Jr’s were mum and daughter ( daughter lived to the grand age of 21) who we had as pups and were obedient ( I did ring craft classes with mum dog when I was 11 years old and because we took things seriously we were one of the better ones in the class ! ) and the two x jack Russel x’s were also very obedient to recall etc,
With all dogs they need time training them but that’s a great way to bond as well .

I’m sorry to read you lost your girl on Monday , it’s always an awful time , take your time to research what suits your needs and look at a few homing centres , if you can hang on long enough there’s always a glut of unwanted puppies of all types after Christmas looking for new homes

We have a Chi x jrt. She’s lovely. She’ll walk for miles on a bright dry day, but refuses to walk in the rain, hates mud and puddles. She gets cold so needs a good coat in winter or she won’t leave the house.

She’s mainly a lap dog and is my little shadow, although she’s also happy to be left for a good few hours, she just sleeps.

Loves people, isn’t so keen on some other dogs. She’s fine off the lead as she won’t go far from me.

Very fussy with food and not food oriented at all so was a bugger to train but has a few commands now.

She’s a dream, really and suits me perfectly.