BICHON FRISE

Size: 9-12 inches. 7-12 pounds.

Character: Eager to make friends. May bark frequently or tend to nip when playing. Sudden spikes of energy may cause them to run wildly around the house.

Care: Coat requires brushing and combing every other day and trimming every two months. Foot and ear hair should be trimmed occasionally. The hind area should be cleaned with a damp cloth. Hypoallergenic, does not shed, making it a good breed for those with allergies.

Activity: The Bichon Frise is an active dog that needs daily exercise. Despite its small size, it is eager to play vigorous indoor games, romp in the yard, or take short walks on the leash. Bichon Frises can adapt to apartment life fairly easily.

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BOSTON TERRIER

Size: 15-17 inches. 10-25 pounds.

Coat: Black with white markings or black roan.

Character: The Boston Terrier is intelligent, enthusiastic, affectionate and playful. This breed gets along well with other pets, dogs, and children.

Care: Not much grooming is required. Occasional brushing should be sufficient.

Activity: Boston terriers love to play. Their exercise needs are moderate. No long walks are necessary.

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CAIRN TERRIER

Size: 11-12 inches. 13-16 pounds.

Character: The Cairn Terrier is affectionate and eager to learn. It is lively, intelligent, and playful but needs to be socialized early with cats and other household pets. Occasionally it will fight other dogs.

Care: Regular grooming with a brush and comb is required. Dead hair should be plucked by hand biannually.

Activity: This breed is very energetic, so it must have opportunities to run and jump and play. Let it run in the open countryside, but be sure that the dog is trained to return when you call before doing so.

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CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

Size: 12-13 inches. 12-18 pounds.

Character: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel loves to be with its family and craves attention. It is cheerful, playful, and intelligent—an ideal dog to carry with you and share your time with. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do not bark frequently. They are generally well behaved, but can sometimes be timid or stubborn.

Care: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel must be brushed several times a week and bathed only when necessary. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an average shedder.

Activity: The exercise needs can usually be met with indoor play; it will adapt itself to the activity level of your family and is well suited to apartment life. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel should be leashed or watched closely around roads as it tends to give chase to small animals.

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COCKER SPANIEL

Size: 15-16 inches. 18-29 pounds.

Character: Cocker Spaniels are intelligent, cheerful, lively and affectionate. They are very loyal to family, and love to play. The Cocker Spaniel is frequently merry and always ready to please. It makes a terrific pet. The Cocker Spaniel requires plenty of attention, love, and devotion, and if it feels its not getting enough it will come looking.

Care: Cocker Spaniels must be brushed and combed thoroughly on a regular basis, preferably daily. Cocker Spaniels should be taken to a dog grooming professional two to four times a year to have excessive hair plucked by hand. The Cocker Spaniel is susceptible to ear infections, and sometimes eye infections. The ears should be cleaned frequently and regular eye exams are recommended.

Activity: A Cocker Spaniel should be walked three times a day or be given playtime in a yard of sufficient size. When walking, avoid brush that may tangle the coat. This breed also needs to run freely in the countryside on occasion. Most Cocker Spaniels love to swim.

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COTON DE TULEAR

Size: 10-12 inches. 12-15 pounds.

Character: The Coton de Tulear is gentle, affectionate, loyal, and friendly. It grows highly attached to its family, even to the point of developing separation anxiety and some are cautious or shy around strangers. The Coton de Tulear is lively and enthusiastic, making frequent vocalizations. Cotons make good watchdogs.

Care: The Coton de Tulear’s unique coat requires a substantial time investment. It must be brushed thoroughly each day and bathed several times a year. It should not be clipped. The Coton de Tulear sheds little and is a good breed for those with allergies.

Activity: The Coton de Tulear requires only a moderate amount of exercise, though it has a surprising amount of stamina that enables it to come along for very long walks or even horseback rides. The Coton de Tulear can get its exercise from playtime in the yard, but if not given outdoor exercise it will become more active indoors. Most Cotons like to swim. They are well suited to apartment life.

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DACHSHUND

Size: Chest girth smaller than 11.75 inches. 8 pounds.

Character: Dachshunds are energetic, brave, intelligent and independent. They are quite happy, even clownish, and can behave mischievously on occasion. The Dachshund greatly enjoys interacting with humans and is quite friendly and outgoing at home.

Care: The smooth- and long-haired Dachshund should be brushed occasionally to remove dead hairs. Long-haired Dachshunds are prone to tangles, so they should be groomed more often. The coat of the wire-haired Dachshund should be plucked twice a year.

Activity: The Dachshund needs a small amount of exercise; medium length walks or a fair amount of play in the yard should be sufficient. Dachshunds may tire easily so exercise should be spaced out throughout the day. Dachshunds can live comfortably in an apartment, but it is best if they get an occasional view of the wild. Frequent jumping and running should not be allowed as it may cause back problems.

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HAVANESE

Size: 8.5 to 11.5 inches. 7-13 pounds.

Character: The Havanese is very intelligent, happy-go-lucky, lively, and playful. They get along well with children and other pets. They do well in almost every social situation.

Care: The non-shedding coat requires brushing often and is not normally clipped.

Activity: This breed's need for exercise is average. Short walks once or twice a day should keep it happy.

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JAPANESE CHIN

Size: 7-10 inches. 4-15 pounds.

Character: The Japanese Chin is affectionate, playful, and cheerful. They like to be the center of attention but do not bark often. They cannot cope with rough handling by larger dogs or children and can exhibit slight stubbornness.

Care: Regular grooming with a brush and comb (twice a week) is required. To keep the coat white, the dog needs to be washed periodically.

Activity: Although this dog enjoys running, romping, and playing, it is well-suited for apartment life.

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LHASA APSO

Size: 10 inches. 13-15 pounds.

Character: Lhasa Apsos are calm, loyal, and lovable. They enjoy company, but are wary of strangers. This dog gets along well with children, other dogs, and any household pets.

Care: The dog must be groomed thoroughly with a brush and comb twice a week. Great care must be taken to avoid breaking the hair. Keep the eyes and ears clean, and trim excess hair from between the pads of the feet.

Activity: This dog has normal exercise needs. It is quite happy indoors and doesn't need to go for long walks.

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MINIATURE SCHNAUZER

Size: 15 inches or less. 13-15 pounds.

Character: The Miniature Schnauzer is even-tempered and an eager, intelligent learner. They get along great with familiar children, dogs, and other pets, but are wary and cautious with people and animals it does not know. They may bark a lot.

Care: The Miniature Schnauzer requires weekly combing and biannual grooming/shaping. Excessive hair around the pads of the feet should be removed and the ears must be kept clean. Miniature Schnauzers with cropped ears should be checked for ear infections. Long facial hair should be combed occasionally.

Activity: The Miniature Schnauzer has energy far exceeding its size and enjoys going for runs or playing games in the yard. It is well suited for apartment life.

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PAPILLON

Size: 11 inches. 7-10 pounds.

Character: Although somewhat reserved around strangers, Papillons are lovable, affectionate, boisterous little dogs that are eager to learn. Some Papillons may be jealous if their owner's attention is diverted elsewhere. They generally get along quite well with children and other household pets.

Care: Regular thorough brushing is required. Any loose hairs in the ear passages should be removed.

Activity: The exercise needs of this dog are uncomplicated. It will adapt itself to the activity level of your family.

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Pekingese

PEKINGESE

Size: 6-9 inches. 7-14 pounds.

Character: The Pekingese is affectionate and noble, but not particularly fond of strangers. Pekingese tend to bond most strongly with one person. If socialized properly, the Pekingese can get along with other dogs and pets, but it is naturally suspicious. The Pekingese does not like to be disturbed and will not tolerate disrespect, so is probably not well-suited for homes with small children.

Care: The Pekingese requires a great deal of maintenance, including daily brushing, particularly on the belly and between the legs, and grooming every few months or when dirty. Powdering or dry shampooing is also required. Excessive hair around the pads of the feet must be trimmed.

Activity: The Pekingese has very little need for exercise, making it especially suited for life in an apartment. The Pekingese enjoys a leisurely stroll outside, but is highly prone to heat exposure and should never be left outside or over exercised in hot weather.

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Pomeranian

POMERANIAN

Size: 7-11 inches. 3-7 pounds.

Character: The Pomeranian is an energetic, intelligent dog which is eager to learn and very loyal to its family. It is active and confident. Pomeranians bark at suspicious activity and can be trained to make excellent watchdogs. They enjoy cuddling up for a nap or running around like crazy, sometimes both in the same minute. The Pomeranian gets along well with other dogs and household pets, especially if socialized at a young age. However, it does not tolerate mistreatment and will not enjoy too much attention from young children, as rough play may cause it to grow frustrated and bite. Pomeranians are suspicious of strangers, but will grow used to them when they understand that no danger is presented.

Care: The Pomeranian should be brushed several times a week and bathed only as necessary. Proper dental hygiene is also important; a weekly tooth brushing is required at a minimum, but daily brushing is optimal. The male Pomeranian sheds once a year and the female sheds when in heat or after giving birth.

Activity: Indoor games, short walks, and playtime in the yard are sufficient activity to keep a Pomeranian happy. It is well suited to apartment life.

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POODLE

Size: 10 inches. 6-9 pounds.

Character: The Toy Poodle is sensitive, intelligent, lively, playful, proud, and elegant. It bonds closely with family and makes a great companion. The Toy Poodle gets along well with other animals, other dogs, and children. It is best to socialize it as a puppy. Toy Poodles will announce the arrival of visitors, but are generally friendly toward them. Poodles are highly adaptable and make good watchdogs. They may find their way into some mischief! Small children should be watched around Toy Poodles to prevent snapping or rough play.

Care: Poodles should be trimmed every 5-6 weeks. They require frequent human companionship and should not be left to live outdoors. Toy Poodles do not shed, making them a good match for allergy sufferers.

Activity: The Toy Poodle requires less exercise then the Standard Poodle, but should be walked or allowed to play outdoors. It should do fine with apartment life.

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SHETLAND SHEEPDOG

Size: 14-14.5 inches. 14-27 pounds.

Character: The Shetland Sheepdog is loyal, obedient, sharp, and happy. Although watchful around strangers, this dog is extremely sociable with children, other dogs, and household pets.

Care: Regular grooming with a brush and comb is required. The long outer hair can get tangled.

Activity: While the Shetland Sheepdog will adapt to life with a more sedentary family, it needs to get out, work, and learn. It enjoys taking part in outdoor activities, and performs well in many areas of dog sports.

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SCOTTISH TERRIER

Size: 9-11 inches. 18-23 pounds.

Character: Scotties become very attached to their family, are watchful, noble, and sporty, and think for themselves. They are naturally inclined to get along with other pets. Scotties are good with children, provided that the children treat them with kindness

Care: The coat needs to be professionally hand-plucked biannually. The chest, legs, and head are normally clipped. Regular grooming with a brush and comb is required.

Activity: The exercise needs of this dog are uncomplicated. It will adapt itself to the activity level of your family. Remember that it loves to dig.

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Shih Tzu

SHIH TZU

Size: 10 inches. 9-16 pounds.

Character: The Shih Tzu is an independent dog which is intelligent, dignified, lovable, affectionate, sociable, and cheerful. It is not as outgoing as most breeds. Shih Tzu seldom bark.  The Shih Tzu gets along well with other household pets and children.

Care: Shih Tzu with a long show coat require a lot of grooming; to prevent tangles, the coat must be combed every day and professionally groomed every few months. A hair bow or clip is required to keep the hair out of the Shih Tzu’s eyes. Shih Tzu with a shorter ‘puppy coat’ can be trimmed much less frequently. Special eye drops should be applied to keep the eyes clean, ear passages should be cleaned regularly, nails should be clipped monthly, and the face should be wiped after eating. Water can enter the Shih Tzu’s snout easily, for which reason some Shih Tzu are taught to drink from a ‘licker’ like a hamster.

Activity: Shih Tzu require an ample amount of exercise for their small stature. They are happy with daily walks or romps in the yard. Shih Tzu cannot regulate their body temperature easily, which makes them highly prone to heat exposure; they should never be over exercised or left outside in hot weather. The Shih Tzu is well suited to apartment life.

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SILKY TERRIER

Size: 9 inches. 8-11 pounds.

Character: The Silky Terrier is upbeat, lively, intelligent, loyal, and surprisingly protective. Silky Terriers need to get used to cats when young to avoid chasing them later on. Normally they are very affectionate with children. They will bark when visitors arrive.

Care: Regular grooming (for 15 minutes a day) with a brush and comb is required. Occasional baths are acceptable. The teeth must be checked for tartar. This breed is not known for shedding.

Activity: The exercise needs of this dog are uncomplicated. It will adapt itself to the activity level of your family.

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WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIER

Size: 11 inches. 16.5 pounds.

Character: The West Highland White Terrier is a boisterous, playful, alert, and independent breed. It is very extroverted and can be stubborn. The West Highland White Terrier needs to be trained at a young age not to try to dominate other dogs or chase cats. If you have children, it makes a good playmate because it can handle rough play.

Care: The coat must stay hard so it is not recommended that it be washed too frequently. If the dog gets dirty, the hair should be allowed to dry and then be brushed out. The coat needs to be hand-plucked twice a year.

Activity: This dog loves to run around, play with balls, and just have a good time. In spite of its diminutive size, it does need a lot of exercise. It will try to wander off, so a well-fenced yard is required.

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