Common Breeds
Dogs in the Toy Group were initially developed to ease the lifestyle and provide pleasure to rich people. These dogs were initially owned by the wealthy and were viewed by others as status symbols - a luxury item with little apparent purpose. Dogs in other groups had specific working roles and played a major part in providing food for the table and therefore justified the cost of their upkeep and care - these were the dogs which were commonly owned by the lower classes. Changes in the economy, lifestyles, living conditions and the environment brought the luxury and pleasure of owning a toy breed dog to everyone.
Chihuahua's
are the smallest dogs in the world, they originated from mexico and south africa. The usual weight of Chihuahua's are anywhere from 2-6 pounds. Chihuahua's also come in a variaty of colors, long, and short hair. The most commen health concerns with chihuahua's are Entropion, the inversion of the eye into the socket, and Patellar Luxation, where the knee cap pops out of place. These kind of dogs are not generally good around small children as they can become very agressive to protect themselves.
Havenese
originate from cuba, bread as performing and lapdogs. They have long hair and require consistant grooming. They vary between 7-13 pounds. Most common concerns with havenese dogs are eye problems such as cataracts and patella luxation. Again these dogs do not do well with young children.
Papillons
originated from france. They weigh between 6 and 11 pounds. They come in a variaty of colors such as lemon and chestnut; their hair is usually long and abundantly flowing. They do not fair well with young children. Common concerns with papillons are patella luxation.
Pomeranians
originated from Germany. They vary between 3 and 12 pounds. Their ancestors were infact strong sledding dogs. They come in a variaty of colors such as brown and white. They usually have long straight hair. Common problems with pomeranians are patella luxation and Entropion.
Pugs
originated from china, they were bred for companions and lap dogs. They have short soft fur. Common issues with pugs are patella luxation, eye problems and epilepsy.
Shih Tzu
Originated in China. They were bred as lapdogs and companions. They have long fur and requires consistant grooming. Common problems with shih tzu's are patella luxation and kidney disorders.
Yorkshire Terriers
originated in England. They were bred for hunting small vermin. Their fur is usually long and silky. Common health concerns of yorkies are patella luxation and Legge-Calve-Perthes (LPC) which is a disease of the leg and hip joints.
