Toy Dog Breed |

Toy Dogs

Pomeranian

Toy Dog Breed

When an all-breed association or kennel club divides dog breeds into groups for purposes of a dog show, the Toy Group is the smallest in the club’s registry. Toy dogs were originally bred for a job, such as, a watch dog, hunting dog, or herding. These dogs can make excellent house pets. But, they need to be socialized early as they can be prone to anxiety and wary of strangers and other animals.

Using “toy” to describe small dogs belong to the toy breed is redundant. It suggests that the “toy” dog breed comes in different sizes. However, there is no such thing as a “toy Chihuahua”.

What Exactly Makes a Dog a Toy?
Generally, the smaller dogs are deemed to be toys. However, there are exceptions as a Yorkshire Terrier is a toy. But, the Australian Terrier, which is one of the smallest terriers, is in the Terrier group.
Form versus function
It has been contended that toy dogs are only companion animals. The toy dogs are stereotyped as being slow moving, little need for exercise and low endurance. This stereotype is not valid. For example, Papillons, which are dainty and small, are quite capable of taking long walks with their owners and often excel at dog agility competitions. Maltese are another example of very energetic “Toy Dogs”.

The AKC Lists The Following As Toy Breeds