Just because you live in a small home or apartment doesn’t mean you can’t have a dog. There are many small and toy breeds that make excellent pets for small homes. But even small dogs like variety and exercise, so it is important that you are prepared to spend time with your dog, take her for walks and ensure that she gets the best care. Once you have made that commitment to yourself, you can choose which breed of dog is most suitable to you and your lifestyle.

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!

Copyright © 2005, Ian White

Author Ian White is founder of Dog-Breeders.biz. This extensive online directory includes listings by private breeders, kennel clubs, and occasional hobby or family breeders. Those seeking dogs can locate and match with appropriate breeders. Dog-Breeders.biz automates the matching of dogs for sale with puppy wanted entries, with daily email notifications to all parties. Find Purebred Breeders in your area. Email notification of available puppies Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_White

One of the most beautiful, loyal and aggressive dogs out there is the German Shepherd. There are many owners out there who want to know about German Shepherd training and how they can make their beautiful dog one that guards the home, but is safe to be around children and other pets.

Start Training As Early As Possible

It is very important you start German Shepherd puppy training early, for many reasons.

1. It will be easier to control them when they are grown up.

2. German Shepherd dog training done early can give you an amazing adult dog.

3. These dogs have a lot of energy, so you are going to need to get things started early for training them to use that energy in a safe and healthy manner.

Socialization Is Key

With your dog training, you need to start early with socialization. This is why training is important because it will get the dog socializing from a young age with other dogs and humans. When a dog is socialized early, they will be more friendly to others in their adult age…and less likely to bite.

Obedience Classes For This Dog Breed

In regards to obedience classes, you will want to get your dog in there early (four months of age) so that they can benefit from the German Shepherd training tips that these trainers know. In fact, German Shepherd training should involve obedience classes because these dogs need to be trained properly from an early age. When this breed of dog is not trained properly, they can be aggressive to others and be a danger. They are wonderful dogs, so be sure to give them the proper training and respect from an early age.

To learn more about how to successfully train your dog, visit YourDogTrainingSystem.com and get your dog trained in no time! Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jon_Herring

Small dog breeds are great pets, but since their personalities are all different, it’s a good idea to look at their individual characteristics to see if they fit with your lifestyle.

Pomeranians:

Pomeranians developed from a much larger dog breed and seem to have retained the mellow character. They are good with children if they have been raised with them from puppyhood. They are playful and active. They tend to bark and require daily grooming.

Chihuahuas:

Chihuahuas are an interesting small breed. I have raised several herds – and that is a good word for a group of chihuahuas – and their temperment is a bit different from other small dogs. They can be very aggressive towards other dog breeds. I adopted one chihuahua who kept attacking a German Shepherd who finally bit her. After she got out of the hospital she went after him again. I ended up with her because she wasn’t going to quit attacking bigger dogs. Some chihuahuas will growl and nip at small children. Good points – chihuahuas are very loyal and affectionate. They don’t require as much exercise as other small breeds so they make ideal pets for apartment dwellers or older people. They are good with cats.

Boston Terrier:

Good with children and other animals, the Boston terrier is a good small dog for families. They are suitable for any lifestyle. They can be aggressive chewers. Their short coat is easy to keep clean.

Jack Russell Terrier:

This dog breed is only for the most active owners. They love to chase balls, can hop onto a table with ease and can be aggressive if not trained properly. Very intelligent and lively, they require a lot of attention and discipline.

Maltese:

This small dog breed can be very protective of its owner. It is not suitable for families with children because they are very fragile.

Shitzu or Shih tzu:

Good natured and non-aggressive, these friendly little dogs make great family pets. They require daily brushing but their hair is non-shedding. Good with other animals.

Bichon Frise:

These little dogs make good family pets. They are good with children as well as other animals. Very intelligent, easy to train and lively. Their coat doesn’t shred.

Dachshund:

Not a hound but a terrier bred to go after vermin, the breed is lively and affectionate. Good with family members but will become aggressive to children outside the family. They make good watchdogs and will bark frequently to alert their owners.

Pekinese:

Very fierce and loyal, these little dogs are not good around children or other animals. These are good dogs for the elderly. Their coats require a good deal of grooming.

Skye Terrier:

Great with children, okay with other dogs but not tolerant of cats. This unique breed makes a fine pet. Distrustful of strangers.

The next step after selecting a breed is to find a reputable breeder. To get more information, visit us at http://www.dog-match.com/small-dog-breeds

Pat Schraier has not only owned chihuahuas but a cocker spaniel, a dachshund, a black lab, a boxer, and a terrier mix. Visit the website http://www.dog-match.com for breed information, health care and other resources. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Pat_Schraier

use Dachshund and Chihuahua as a foundation for starters because my little dog, Hollie, I believe is part Dachshund and part Chihuahua. When I found her at a rescue, the information I received was that she was a four month old miniature Dachshund. But as she grew her legs got very long and her belly area became more concaved like a Chihuahua. I also found her mannerisms to be mixed between the two breeds as well. This included the dilemma of housebreaking.

Because the Dachshund is a strong working dog, they have a very willful personality. This tends to make them stubborn and/or independent. Although the Dachshund is trainable they may not be easy to train. As a matter of fact the Dachshund may attempt to train its trainer. The owner of this breed needs to be comfortable letting the dog know just who the “leader of the pack” really is. The stubborn temperament of this dog makes them resistant and not the easiest to house train. With positive and continual scheduling the Dachshund does learn and with a determined owner the Dachshund will develop the training quickly.

The fact that Chihuahuas are so small makes house training them a little challenging. Chihuahuas can hide under furniture or sneak into corners unnoticed and leave little surprise piles to be found at a later date. Patience will be needed in the house training process of this dog. The Chihuahua will learn quickly with positive reinforcement training. Some owners never get their Chihuahuas fully house trained especially in bad weather. The Chihuahua does not like the cold and tends to shiver. They do not like to get their feet wet so going outside to damp grown or wet grass deter the Chihuahua from going outside to potty.

In either dog breed there are two recommended training methods to house training your dog. The first is to crate train or confinement train your dog. The second is to paper or puppy pad train your dog. In either case, consistency is the essential key. Once a bad habit starts, it is much harder to break and retrain your dog.

Hollie, my Dachshund-Chihuahua has a little of both temperaments which has made house training her quite the challenge. She was originally paper trained when I got her. As she got a little older I put her in a pen during the day with a doggie door access to the outside. Hollie would use the carpet piece just inside the door as her potty. She did not like the grass because she was so small that the grass rubbed her belly. When the grass was watered she did not like getting her feet wet. So, when she did go outside she would use the patio instead of the grass and the carpet piece right outside the door as her potty. When she visited other homes she would go to another room and leave the owner a little surprise in the corners even though they had a doggie door she was able to use. As last winter set in the pen was too cold to keep her in and she was given a little more room to roam so to speak. Now she thinks the throw rugs are her bathroom area.

With this frustration at hand, I set out to find some answers. I never had a dog previously that had these issues. Once introduced to the doggie door the rest was a done deal. Not with Hollie! I found a training for dogs that has helped me to overcome Hollie’s behavior issues.

This training source I found has helped tremendeously in house training Hollie. For more information please visit http://www.smalldogjunction.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bonnie_Holscher

Originating in Germany, the Dachshund dog breed has been around for centuries. They were primarily used for hunting hares and badgers (in German, the word “Dachs” means badger). Also referred to as “wiener dogs” and “sausage dogs, the name of the dog is spelled both as Dachshund and Daschund. Dachshund is the correct name.

Training a Dachshund can be challenging as they are prone to being highly determined and stubborn. This can make them difficult to handle for an inexperienced dog owner.

The Dachshund dog breed is curious, entertaining, stubborn, and energetic, and they can some times be mischievous. They require lots of attention. If they don’t get the amount of attention they require, they will act up.

Although they are usually compatible with children and pets, they can be jealous and, if overly indulged, may become bad-tempered and snappy. For this reason, they are probably better suited to a family with older children. However, Dachshunds can also be very loyal, affectionate, and devoted pets that will heap love on their owner.

If left alone, many Dachshunds will whine until they have companionship. Some Dachshunds are prone to separation anxiety and may chew objects in the house to relieve stress. Going by their attitude and personality, they appear to be totally oblivious of their small size. As with many hunting dogs, Dachshunds are brave and will stand up to bigger dogs.

Dachshunds are happy to play inside which makes them an ideal dog breed for apartment dwellers or for homes with little or no back yard. Even so, they are lively, boisterous and playful dogs. It is important for these dogs to get lots of exercise and fresh air by taking them for walks in the park. Several Dachshund behavior issues are caused by insufficient exercise. If a Dachshund is kept indoors for several days without being able to work off his surplus energy, he is likely to act out.

Dachshunds can become overweight without regular exercise, which can lead to blood sugar, spine or heart health problems. Dachshunds are prone to spinal problems, so care should be taken to avoid exercises that could cause spinal damage. Children must be told that Dachshunds have a weak back and must not be treated roughly.

The first step in your Dachshund training is housetraining which should begin as soon as you bring him home. There are many different ways to house train a dog, including crate training, on command, and paper training. No matter which training method you choose for your Dachshund, you must make sure that you are understanding and patient with your dog. There will be accidents and you should not expect him to get it right immediately.

Once you bring your new puppy home, you should also start obedience training. Dachshund obedience training sessions should be frequent but short – for example, a maximum of fifteen minutes, three to four times per day. The optimal time for puppy training is before meal time. Just like people, dogs don’t feel like exerting themselves right after they’ve eaten.

Don’t expect your dog to be well-behaved immediately. As Dachshunds are so strong-willed, plenty of patience will be required for their training. With love and patience, you will have a playful, fun, and devoted pet to enjoy for many years to come.

If you want to put an end to Dachshund  aggression, barking, whining, or biting, I recommend that you take a look at Dachshund Training

Training Dogs – Information is a free resource for dog owners offering useful tips on dog training and dog behavior problems. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Scott