Toy Dogs: Pomeranian

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This is a member of the Spitz family. This perky dog's name traces to Pomerania, where, around a century ago, it was bred down in size. Its ancestors were the northern sled dogs of Iceland and Lapland. When first presented to England during the mid-nineteenth century, some breeds weighed as much as 30 pounds. Despite its tiny size today, it has retained its make and shape. The Pom's body is short and dense having a level topline. A foxy head, small upright ears, dark almond-shaped eyes, thick coat, and crested tail laid flat over the back complete the picture.

WEIGHT: 3-7 pounds

HEIGHT: 6-7 inches

COLOR: any solid color, with or without lighter or darker shadings of the same color, or with sable or black shadings; particolor; sable; black and tan.

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Pekingese

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The Pekingese was sacred to Chinese emperors as far back as the Tang dynasty of the 8th century. Thieving of a sacred dog was at one time punishable by death. After the British looted the Imperial Palace at Peking in 1860, one of four dogs smuggled out was gifted to Queen Victoria and a vogue began. Here is a dignified toy with bravery far beyond his size. Its head is broad and massive, muzzle super short, broad, and wrinkled. The eyes are dark and prominent. The body is deep, compact, big-boned, and lionlike—heavier in the front than in back. The short forelegs are strange in that the bones of the forearm are bowed. The feathered tail rests back to either side, and the coarse, thick coat has a lush mane which forms a ruff or frill around the neck.

WEIGHT: under 14 pounds

HEIGHT: 6-9 inches

COLOR: red, fawn, black, black and tan, sable, brindle, white, and parti-colored, frequently with black mask and spectacles.

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Italian Greyhound

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Believed to have originated in the Mediterranean basin around 2,000 years ago, the Italian Greyhound was a darling of European sovereigns, including Francis I of France,  Catherine the Great of Russia, Frederick the Great of Prussia, and Queen Victoria. He is elegant, slender and graceful, a true Greyhound in miniature. The head is long and narrow, the eyes dark and expressive and the muzzle fine. The small ears are tossed back and folded. The body is arching over the loin, the chest is deep, and the tail is long and carried low. The legs are exquisitely boned, having long feet like those of a rabbit. The hair is satiny and soft to the touch, thin and glossy.

WEIGHT: 6-10 pounds

HEIGHT: 13-15 inches

COLOR: any color and markings, sans brindle and tan markings.

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Chihuahua

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The world's smallest breed of dog begets his name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua. His origins are a mystery, although relics from the ancient Toltec civilization inside northern Mexico show small dogs having large ears that closely resemble modern Chihuahuas. He is all dog, alert and active. He bears a well-rounded "apple-dome" skull, with lean cheeks and jaw, and somewhat pointed nose. His ears are huge, typically erect and flaring slightly outward; his eyes are full and shining. The back is short, the bones relatively fine, the tail moderately long and carried away from the body. There are two coat types, smooth and long.

WEIGHT: under 6 pounds

HEIGHT: about 5 inches

COLOR: any color, solid, marked, or splashed. 

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Brussels Griffon

Brussels Griffon

The Brussels Griffon was produced fairly recently from numerous breeds, among them the German Affenpinscher, the Pug, the Belgian street dog and the Ruby Spaniel. He was an efficient ratter in his native Belgium, but here he is generally a pet and companion. He is short-backed and chunky, with a virtually human expression. The domed forehead bulges over large, wide set eyes, and the ears stand semierect. The nose is exceedingly short and tipped up, the muzzle broad. Bushy eyebrows, whiskers, and cheek fringes complete a curious but appealing picture. There are two distinguishable types of coat: rough and smooth.

WEIGHT: 8-10 pounds

HEIGHT: about 8 inches

COLOR: reddish brown, black, or black with reddish-brown markings.

Toy Dogs: Affenpinscher

Affenpinscher

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This pert short fellow is known as the "monkey dog" due to its big bright eyes, prominent chin, bushy eyebrows, and hair tufts about the face. Its shaggy coat is hard and wiry. His tail is docked and sported straight up. The ears stand upright when cropped. The breed was known in Europe since the seventeenth century.

WEIGHT: about 7-8 pounds

HEIGHT: under 10 1/4 inches

COLOR: black, black and tan, red, or gray.

How to groom an Affenpinscher:

Toy Dog Breed: Shih Tzu

Its origins are a bit obscure, but the Shih Tzu (pronounced sheed-zoo) originated centuries ago, probably in Tibet or China. Its semblance is portrayed in paintings and objects d'art of the Tang dynasty, dating approximately A.D. 624. The breed was known as the "chrysanthemum-faced" dog since its facial hair grew in all directions. Its princely, long and flowing coat, heavily plumed tail, long mandarin beard, and clearly arrogant carriage give the Shih Tzu a beguiling appearance.

WEIGHT: 9-18 pounds

HEIGHT. 8-11 inches

COLOR: varied

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Toy Dog Breed: Silky Terrier

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Named after his fine silky coat, this tiny dog from Australia was once called the Sydney Silky, later the Australian Silky. Derived primarily from Australian Terriers interbred with Yorkshire Terriers, he was first shown in his native land in 1907. A fascinating little fellow of marked terrier character and spirit, he is a lightly built, reasonably low-set dog, with strong, straight forelegs, well-muscled thighs, and having a high-set tail that is sported erect or semierect.

WEIGHT 8-10 pounds

HEIGHT: 9-10 inches

COLOR: blue and tan. 

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Toy Dog Breed: Yorkshire Terrier

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Named for the English county of Yorkshire, this terrier was produced by workers about 1860 to control rats in mines and mills. He hails back to Waterside Terriers, rough-coated Black-and-Tans, Paisley and Clydesdale terriers. A popular pet in Victorian times, this is a spunky little dog, covered from top to toe with a wealth of glossy, silky hair that's parted down the back and hangs directly to the floor on each side. The body is short and dense with a level topline. The head is small, relatively flat on top, having a short muzzle, dark and sparkling eyes, and small V-shaped ears that are carried upright.  It is also called the Yorkie and is considered one of the hypoallergenic dog breeds.

WEIGHT: under 7 pounds

HEIGHT. 7-8 inches

COLOR: steel blue and tan. 

By Tip Writer