Hi! I have a Shih Tzu that is 1yr. and I'm considering getting
another puppy. I have always loved the look of Poms.& Yorkies.
What do you think? Should I get another Tzu or get her a playmate
of a different breed?
If you have a toy could you please give me the pros & cons of your breed.
Thank You.

Sorry about my foot.LOL This is Jouet...I love her dearly.

I know I do not post here on a regular basis...but doesn't
anyone have an opinion on this subject...I'm sure people on this site have
toy dogs.

[Lara's mom]

I have a shorty jack russell. She weighs 14 pounds. I'm not sure if she would be considered a toy breed. She is smaller than my friends Pomeranian.

Anyway, to answer your question, this is not a breed for everybody. They are notoriously stubborn, difficult to train and "every inch a terrier." They have endless energy. On the other hand, they are very intelligent, make wonderful loyal companions, and once their energy has been expended, love to cuddle. This is a breed that requires a fair amount of time. They become very bonded to "their human" and want to be with you all the time. They are so much fun to be with!

Thank you for replying. Spending a lot of time is not a problem.
I have C.D....so I'm home a lot...but my energy levels fluctuate.
I want a dog that's fine with more inside exercise than long walks.
Also a breed that will not pass 10-13#...under 10# would also be
great.

[Lara's mom]

I have a friend who has two little teacup yorkies. They are absolutely adorable. They can pretty well get most of their exercise just running around the house playing with their toys. The problem though is that they're so small, I'm always terrified I'll step on one of them. Whenever I'm over at her place, I shuffle my feet and try not to pick them off the ground, just in case!!!

In looking for a toy breed make sure you do not buy from a breeder who sells "teacup" dogs. There is no such thing as a teacup yorkie, maltese, poodles or any other breed. Often these teacups are the result of breeding undersize runts to undersize runts and produce tiny puppies that are rittled with health problems and have very short life spans. All the "teacup" dogs I groom are extremely unhealthy! I used to groom a 2.5 lb. "teacup" Yorkie. She was 3 years old had arthritis, cataracts and skin problems and looked like she was about 14! Just a word fo warning.

I would recommend visiting a local dog show where you can see all the breeds and talk to breeders and owners about the pros, cons and care requirements.

Make sure the breeder you buy from is a member of their breed's parent club (ie: Yorkshire Terrier Club of America), many good breeders are also members of area breed clubs.

FYI: a breeder who says they are a member of the AKC is a red flag... individuals cannot become AKC members, only clubs. Individuals can register dogs with AKC.

[Lara's mom]

Yikes!!! I didn't know that! Those tiny little dogs have gotten very popular due to certain celebrities who carry them around like fashion accessories. How awful to think that people would breed in a way that they know will produce unhealthy dogs. Some people will do anything for the almighty dollar! Thank you for the information.

That is why it is so important to get a dog from a quality breeder and not a pet shop, puppy mill or backyard breeder.

Thank you for the info...I live on an Island in The Bahamas...
dogs shows/dog rescues are not possible...not for a toy dog.
I have 3 mutts that I rescued but they need a little more exercise
than I am capable of..although I do try.
My property is 1/2 an acre and they seem happy..along with trips to the beach.
This is the reason for another toy...I will have to buy it from S.Florida
..so if you know of a good breeder in that area you can let me know.
Does anyone know about Poms or Maltese.etc...I think they are all
under 10#?

I raise chihuahuas but they are not for everyone. They are wonderful, snuggly, lap dogs, but if you don't train them, they can become yappy, snappy and dominating. It is all up to the new owners. Any breed can be a bad dog if they are not trained right. Chihuahuas are not good for homes with small kids or the elderly unless they want to go through the woes of housetraining, injuries and dealing with the 'big dog' syndrome. However, as far as having a dog for a companion to another, or as a nice lap dog that is unbelievably loyal, I think they are fabulous when trained right.