Toy dog breeds have become one of the most sought after dog breeds nowadays. A toy dog enables a person or a family to own and enjoy the company of a pet even when living in the city or in limited space. Many celebrities have also been blazing fashion statements with their Toy Poodles and Chihuahuas on their arms and making a fashion statement as well.

Compared to working dogs, toy dogs are petite with smaller body frames. Aside from being bundles of pure joy, toy dog breeds are still very much hunters and pest eliminators, qualities for which they were originally bred for. Thus they make excellent house guardians. The dog’s small body frame belies an alert guardian that can become as tough as large dog breeds.

Toy dog breeds such as the Pekingese, Shih Tzu, Poodle, Chihuahua and Pug excel in obedience training. Their hunter instincts make them alert to every body movement and verbal command.

Among the different toy dogs, it is the long-haired ones which need the most attention and regular grooming. These include the Pomeranian, Terrier, and Shih Tzu. When planning to buy a toy dog, time and willingness to attend to a dog’s grooming and exercise needs must be taken into consideration in order to select the best one.

Toy dog breeds are the most common dogs which are produced in puppy mills and sold in pet shops. However, it is not advisable to acquire pets from these sources because of the increased possibility of getting dogs which are ill-tempered and possess specific behavior problems which can be hard to get rid of.