Small dog breeds make the cutest puppies, and one of the cutest small dog puppies around is the Maltese. This popular small dog breed generally grows to no more than six or seven pounds in weight, and has a beautiful white coat. The Maltese is a very ancient dog breed and has a strong constitution, though it should not be kept in very hot areas, due to the thick coat. The Maltese enjoys walks and is very playful. A great companion if you want a lively little pet and will enjoy the grooming chores.

Another delightful long haired small dog breed is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This lovely small dog is as courtly as its name and weighs about twice as much as a Maltese. The King Charles is a friendly and sociable small dog, well known for giving a lifetime of loyal attachment. This is the ideal dog if you prefer to lead a quiet life.

Top of the line in long haired small dog breeds is the Lowchen, as long as you enjoy spending long hours brushing, and don’t mind the hefty price tag. The beautiful `Little Lion’ dog can cost around $1000. A true indoors dog, the Lowchen is no exercise fanatic but owners have reported `separation anxiety’ to be a problem, so don’t get this dog breed if you are away for long hours every day.

If you want a pet with a shorter coat, try the Miniature Fox Terrier. This lively little dog will need lots of exercise, and appreciates having a collection of toys. Fox terriers can be yappy, so your pet may need to go to obedience school if she annoys the neighbors. This is a healthy and low maintenance dog breed, suitable for the owner who just wants to enjoy having a pet without all the grooming fuss.

A more sleek and elegant short haired pet is the Italian greyhound, and if you want a pet that enjoys exercise, this is the dog breed for you. Owners report that the Italian greyhound is a very well behaved dog, but prone to stress, so it is not a suitable pet where there are small children. This dog breed grows to a height of about 15 inches but is very lightweight – around 5 pounds.

The Welsh corgi is one of the classic small dog breeds, and very popular with Queen Elizabeth II of England. They will be popular with you, too, if you want a playful, affectionate pet. The Welsh corgi comes in two breeds, the Cardigan and the Pembrokeshire. The Pembrokeshire is smaller and more popular than the Cardigan, but both make faithful pets for small homes.

Finally, there is the ultimate small dog breed for apartment living – the toy poodle. Naturally popular in Europe, the toy poodle is somewhat high maintenance regarding its fluffy coat, but a surprisingly undemanding pet. Toy poodles love to play and appreciate having their own toys, but they are easy to train and adapt to their owners. Like most pets, the toy poodle prefers company to being left alone, but if you spend a lot of time away from home, perhaps you should think twice about getting a pet anyway!

Types of Sizes- Never pick a puppy due to its cute looks or size as small pups of large breeds look very tiny but grow up very large ion size. For very small sized apartments, toy or miniature dog breeds work best while those in a large apartment or middle sized house can go in for small to medium sized dogs. However, if you have a large yard and big house, large to medium size dogs work well.

Concerns on Health – Knowing all the health concerns related to the dog breed that you are interested in becomes essential. It is best to buy your pet puppy from a reputable pet dealer to make sure that your pet is healthy. However, as all dog breeds have some genetic health issues, check with the dealer before buying.

In case you have a breed of dog which is long haired and which has lots of hairs then you are aware of the problem of mats and the tangles on the skin of your dog. In case the balls of hairs are left unattended, then might lead to complete skinning of the skin coat to resolve the problem. This also leads to skin ulcers, and other skin related problems. In case you want to avoid all this, then plan for a proper grooming of the dogs skin.

Level of Required Exercise – The amount of exercise that each dog breed requires is not based on size alone. It is known that some small and medium dog breeds require heavy exercise while other large breeds are calm dogs that do not require high amounts of exercise.

Experience with dog breeds – Your experience as a dog owner can help you with many breeds as some are naturally stubborn and dominant. You can seek advice from breeders and vets to decide if the breed you are looking for is challenging to work with or not.

Child Friendly Breed- With children at home or if you are planning to have kids, it is best to pick child friendly breeds as some dogs are not good with kids around. Many dog breeds love to have children around, so keep that in mind while picking a new puppy.

You can choose between a purebred dog or a mixed breed dog. The advantages of purebred dogs are consistency of appearance, size, coat type, and color. If you decide on a German Shepherd breed, you can be certain it will grow to a certain size, color, temperament, coat, etc will be similar to other German Shepherds. Purebred dogs generally have more genetic faults and deformities than do mixed breeds.

Mixed breed puppies may mature to look like their dam, their sire or neither. Their coats may be rough, smooth, or wiry. Adult mixed breeds are difficult to ascertain, as are their expressions. These variations are multiplied when either or both parents are from mixed backgrounds. Mixed breeds usually have a certain amount of heterosis, which, under some circumstances, result in stronger and more disease-resistant dogs. A mixed breed puppy is likely to have a very individual personality, seemingly unrelated to either of its parents.

The temperament of mixed breeds are often quieter and more stable than those of purebreds, although this characteristic is not consistent. Temperament is partially genetic and partly the result of experience and training. Many purebreds have a notably quiet temperament, and an occasional mixed breed is unpredictable. Before you select a purebred or a mixed breed, decide what you expect of the dog. If you have a desire to exhibit it in conformation shows, obedience trials, field trials, herding tests, or other American Kennel Club sponsored events, you must start out with a purebred.

If you want a companion, a family pet, or a child’s dog and have no aspirations of winning blue ribbons, a mixed breed should fill your need nicely. Mixed breed puppies and adult dogs are plentiful, both from shelters and private homes. They cost less to buy, and may be easier to handle. Mixed breed dogs can compete in Frisbee contests, 4-H obedience, and non-AKC agility trials, and are included in the AKC-sponsored Canine Good Citizen program.

There is no such thing as a “no shed dog breed” if you are looking for a dog that absolutely does not have some amount of fur or hair coming off it at certain periods. All dogs shed, but some not as much. Well, that’s the good news. There are some breeds of dogs that shed less than others and to some extent this means these dog breeds have less allergens that may be the cause of your allergies. Most allergies are casued by animal dander, urine or feces. With a dog that sheds less, that means less dander. And the other allergens can be alleviated by regular bathing and household cleaning. On the otherhand less hair falling from your pet means less requirement for cleaning up and vacuuming.

Don’t buy from rare dog breeders that do the following: Dog breeders selling puppies that are under 7 weeks old are causing harm to the dogs because early separation from the litter can damage them psychologically and socially. A rare dog breed that is damaged in such a way is more of a crime than a not so rare breed. At least it should be a crime. And besides, you don’t want a dog with personality problems. Ask the breeder how old the puppy is and do some research on the internet to find out roughly what size the rare dog breed should be. (Height and weight) Dog breeders that let you handle very young puppies are heightening the chances that the dogs will transmit diseases and pass them on to the other dogs. An experienced rare dog breeder knows these risks and many other rare little packs of trouble. Buy from a breeder who seems FAR too cautious rather than lax and permitting. Dog breeders that show you no proof that the rare dog breeds, usually pedigree dogs, have been tested for genetic and other diseases. If they aren’t up front about something then that usually means there’s something to hide. Buy from a breeder who does the following: (Generally look for the opposites of what’s listed above. Below are examples of integrity.) They belong to a rare dog breeders club and encourage you to speak with other members. Experienced rare dog breeders are usually very passionate about breeds and especially rare breeds. A good dog breeder will ask you lots of questions to make sure the dog is going into safe hands. As the breed becomes more rare, the breeder will use more caution because he has integrity. Looking for rare dog breeds should direct a lot of questions your way. The rare dog breeder will spend time making sure you understand his suggestions regarding examinations, health, diet info, etc. The breeder will be very serious about this because the dog’s safety is most important to him. Look for the rare dog breeder’s values before you look at the breeds. If he is out looking for a sale then he might lie to you, and he might endanger the dogs. Use these tips to objectively judge how likely it is that the breeder is being up front with you. Sincerely, Rusty .S Permission to the reprint rights of the article, free of charge, provided that the article remains unchanged and the authors resource box is included in the reprint.

The Airedale terrier is a large terrier with a rough coat that sheds very little. These dogs can be good with children, but such socialization needs to start early in the dog’s life. They may play too roughly for small children. These are loyal and trainable dogs, but are also very naturally curious and not easily coaxed away from something that catches their interest. The Airedale usually grows to about 22-24 inches in height and a weight of 50-65 pounds.