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.

By Tip Writer

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.

By TipWriter

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. 

By TipWriter