So you are looking for a dog, but not just any dog. You want one of those types of small dogs that can fit in your pocket or can be carried around on your lap. To be sure, there are far too many types of small dogs to make the selection process any easier.

But with a little help and some tips on what you should know about certain small breed types, then you should have little trouble choosing from the types of small dogs that fit your taste and lifestyle.

The first thing you should learn about the different types of small dogs is that they are often referred to as toy breeds. It is important to take note of this to avoid any confusion when the pet shop owner suddenly launches on an impassioned discussion of the positive traits of toy breeds, only to find out later that he is actually talking about the same thing.

Some marketing hypes may even refer to types of small dogs as “pocket-size” or “saucer types.” Keep in mind that they’re all the same; they all refer to the general category of small breed dogs.

That said, here are some common types of small dogs that you might be interested in:

Toy Breeds

These types of small dogs are known for their intelligence and entertaining natures. They like to play but also prove as great companions and lap warmers.

The American Kennel Club lists 21 types of small dogs in the toy family, including Affenpinscher, Brussels Griffon, English Toy Spaniel, Chihuahua, Shih Tzu, Pug, and Yorkshire Terrier. Other popular breeds are Maltese, Papillon, Poodle, Manchester Terrier, Pomeranian, and Miniature Pinscher.

Toy breeds are great pets for senior citizens or people who have reduced mobility. Toy breed dogs do not feel restless around limited space.

Small Pure Breed Dogs

There are eight breed groups under this particular category of small breed dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club. These are:

* Sporting

* Hound

* Working

* Terrier

* Toy

* Non-sporting

* Herding

* And Miscellaneous

These types of small dogs weigh less than 25 pounds. There might some confusion identifying this breed since these dogs are often sprinkled throughout the other groups. The list of small pure breed dogs listed below are not in the Toy Group:

* Australian Terrier

* Basenji

* Beagle

* Bichon Frise

* Bedlington Terrier

* Border Terrier

* Boston Terrier

* Cairn Terrier

* Dandie Dinmont Terrier

* Lakeland Terrier

* Lhasa Apso

* Lowchen

* Miniature Schnauzer

* Norfolk Terrier

* Norwich Terrier

* Parson (Jack) Russel Terrier

* Puli

* Schipperke

* Scottish Terrier

* Sealyham Terrier

* Shiba Inu

* Skye Terrier

* Smooth Fox Terrier

* Tibetan Spaniel

* Tibetan Terrier

* Welsh Terrier

* West Highland White Terrier

* Wire Fox Terrier

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There are many ways to adopt a small dog. You can find a sweet little dog at shelters. All you need to do is to pay some money for adoption and some dog owner fees. It is very important to know what kind of owner the dog had in the past.

Commonly aggressive dogs have bad, indifferent and careless owners. They don’t take care of their pet and this makes the dog become unfriendly. It is recommended to get to know the dog before adoption. If you have kids, you need to bring them along for the first meeting.

Many small dog breeds do have certain medical conditions. For example Dachshunds of usual or small diversity have back and hip problems. The Dachshund’s stretched out body causes them to have back issues. Another genetic element is their discs outer layer is thinner than normal. This medical problem is called “Intervertebral Disc Disease”.

Another method for adopting small dogs can be rescues. The most popular breeds are such as: Papillion, Bichon frise, Dachshunds, Boston terrier, Miniature Pinscher and so on. There are other types of breeds that are mixed race. It all depends on you and your investigation about what kind of dog is suitable for you to have. It is suggested that some small dogs such as: Pugs and Miniature Boxers should not be adopted if you have small children at home. The small dogs are easy to injure if you have small kids. They might fall or step on them.

There are also some small dogs that like to bite. These kinds of dogs can be adopted where there are older children.

Generally small dogs need more attention and space to run. They tend to be more energetic and hyper than the bigger dogs. You also need to dedicate more time, love and money. Small dogs love to play and if you don’t play with them, they get depressed and aggressive. You also need to pay more attention to them in order to maintain their health situation. They require vaccinations and regular checkups. If you have enough money to take care of their medical needs and their obligatory maintenance, then you will not have a problem with having a pet.

If you feel that you do not have time to maintain your dog, you may do a disservice to yourself and your pet. A bored pet may cause some problems at home. If you have an apartment, it is better to adopt a small dog, especially if you are a senior citizen. They make a great companion. It is also easier to control the small dogs than the larger ones.

You need to consider both the advantages and disadvantages of small dog adoption. You need to know whether having a small pet at home is right for you. You do also need to make sure that your landlord agrees with your decision regarding having a small pet at home. Some people might have an allergy to dogs. It is better to talk to someone who has small pets. They usually give you great tips of what to do if you decide to have a dog at home.

Pat has been writing articles for blogs and article directories for several years now and specializes in diet, fitness, finance, home decor and pet care. Come visit his latest website that discusses coffee tables with storage, including adjustable height coffee table that will enhance your home decor. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Morgan