Toy Dogs

Dog breeds in bold are not pictured.

Affenpinscher, Brussels Griffon, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, English Toy Spaniel, Italian Greyhound, Japanese Chin, Maltese, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Papillon, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Poodle (toy), Pug, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier.

Affenpinscher (German, "monkey terrier"), small sturdy dog of the toy breed classification. The fur may be black, red, or gray. The coat is short and wiry except in the chest area and on the face, where it becomes shaggy. The dog's facial features mirror its namesake, the monkey, with pointed ears, bushy eyebrows, and a prominent chin tuft and mustache. The affenpinscher stands about 10 inches high at the shoulder and usually weighs about 7 pounds. It is a friendly pet.

A Brussels griffon is a breed of toy dog characterized by a short face, large eyes, and a short nose. The breed has a Belgian lineage and is named after a mythological animal called a griffin. It is a distinctly different breed from the hunting dog known as the wirehaired pointing griffon. The Brussels griffon is a tiny animal, valued as a sturdy, extremely intelligent pet. It seems to have descended from a dog used by 17th-century Belgian peasants to rid their stables of rats; the ancestry of the modern breed includes the Affenpinscher, the smooth-coated pug, and the Ruby spaniel. The small type weighs 7 pounds or less; the large type weighs no more than 11 pounds; the female is slightly larger. One variety of the dog has a wiry, dense, reddish-brown coat; another, called the Brabancon, is smooth-coated. All Brussels griffons have distinctive short, upturned faces; large, round heads; and short noses. They have unusually large and prominent black eyes, and their chins are undershot.

A small, graceful dog, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a popular toy breed in Britain. A gentle disposition makes this dog a good pet, and strong legs and free-flowing gait make it an ideal dog for long walks. Descended from the King Charles spaniel popular in Great Britain under King Charles I and King Charles II in the early 17th century. Attempts in the 1940s to restore the old breed resulted in the development of this toy breed, named for knights of the Middle Ages.
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel has a small, graceful body. The dog stands about 12 to 13 inches high at the shoulders, and weighs about 13 to 18 pounds. The front legs are straight and the back legs are heavily muscled. The chest is moderately deep. Sloped shoulders support the long, slightly arched neck. The skull appears flat, but the dog's head actually has a gentle curve over the top. A full muzzle tapers slightly and is cone-shaped. The face fills out below large, round, dark-brown eyes, which are set wide apart. Long, high-set ears hang straight down, falling forward to frame the face when the dog is alert. The tail is carried level with the back and is usually in motion. The dog moves with a powerful, free-moving walk that adds to its regal appearance.
The long, silky fur of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel is generally straight but may show a slight wave. Long feathery hair grows on the ears, chest, legs, and tail. The feathery fur on the feet distinguishes this breed. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes four color patterns: gold, ruby, black and tan, and tricolor.
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel has a gentle disposition, and enjoys walking with its owner. It is comfortable in both the city and the country. The long coat requires regular combing.
This breed enjoys great popularity in Britain. The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is less known in the United States, but the AKC recognized it in 1996 and its popularity is expected to increase. The national breed club is the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club.

The Chihuahua, named for the Mexican state from which it originates, is one of the more popular toy dogs. In general, the Chihuahua prefers its own kind and disagrees with other breeds. Two principal varieties exist-short- and long-haired. The longhaired variety pictured here is less clannish. Chihuahuas are descended from an ancient breed known to the Toltec people in Mexico in the 9th century. The modern breed was first discovered about 1850 in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, from which it took its name. Two types exist, one with a smooth coat and one with a long-haired coat. The chief characteristics of both types are a well-rounded head, a slightly arched neck, a level back, and a moderately long tail. The ears, which usually are erect and large, tend to flare outward. The Chihuahua weighs 1 to 8 pounds and may be of any color from white to black.

English Toy Spaniel, breed of toy dog, which reputedly originated in Japan in ancient times and apparently then became known in China. From Japan it is believed to have been introduced into Spain in comparatively modern times, and there became the prototype for the breed known today. The dog was also known in England from about the first third of the 16th century. Two principal varieties of the English toy spaniel exist: the King Charles spaniel and the Blenheim spaniel. The King Charles spaniel, which is black and tan, was named after Charles II of England, who kept dogs of this breed as favored pets. The Blenheim, a white and chestnut-red spaniel, is so called after the family seat of John Churchill, 1st duke of Marlborough, who first bred the dog at the beginning of the 18th century and whose family later specialized in developing the breed. Both varieties have a domed head; dark eyes set wide apart; a short nose; unusually long ears; and a coat of long, silky, wavy hair. The English toy spaniel weighs from 9 to 12 pounds.

The Italian Greyhound is a breed of miniature English greyhound that belongs to the toy-dog class and is more slender in all proportions. The Italian greyhound is believed to have originated in Asia Minor more than 2000 years ago by the inbreeding of small specimens of the full-sized greyhound. From Asia Minor the breed spread into southern Europe and then into England, where it became a favorite of queens and ladies of the nobility. The Italian greyhound was introduced into the U.S. in the late 19th century. The dog has a long and narrow head; large, bright eyes; soft and delicate ears; a deep, narrow chest; a back that curves and droops at the hindquarters; and a rather long tail that is held low. The dog is of various colors, including white, fawn, red, blue, and black, but is usually gold or silver fawn in color. It weighs about 8 pounds.

Japanese Chin a breed of toy dog, which reputedly originated in China many centuries ago and was later introduced into Japan, where it was the pet of royalty and the nobility, and developed its present characteristics. Several specimens were presented to the American commodore Matthew Perry as a sign of esteem when he was negotiating (1853) a trade treaty with Japan. The dog was imported into the U.S. in large numbers at the beginning of the 20th century. Until 1977 it was known as the Japanese spaniel.
The Japanese chin has a broad skull that is round in front; a flat face; prominent, lustrous eyes, set wide apart; small V-shaped ears also set wide apart; a short nose; and a silky coat. The tail is covered with a profusion of long hair; from its base it curves to one side and rises upward over the back to fall on the opposite side. The dog is either black and white or red and white; it weighs about 7 pounds. The Japanese chin is intelligent, loyal, and affectionate.

Maltese a breed of extremely small toy spaniel that originated on the island of Malta reputedly more than 2800 years ago. Numerous pictorial representations of the Maltese occur in Greek ceramic art; the dog is mentioned in the writings of many Roman poets and historians; and it was particularly popular in England during Elizabethan times. The Maltese weighs about 3 to 7 pounds. It has a coat of long, silky hair, pure white in color, which hangs evenly down each side from a parting that extends along the center of the back from the nose to the root of the tail. Other characteristics of the animal are a slightly round skull; a black nose; drooping ears generously covered with long hair; very dark, alert-looking eyes; short, straight legs; and a graceful, well-feathered tail. The dog is intelligent and an extremely affectionate pet.

The Manchester Terrier is a breed of dog, formerly called the black-and-tan terrier or rat terrier. By about 1860 the breeding of this dog, originally a cross between a whippet and a rat-killing terrier, centered in Manchester, England; similar dogs, however, were known in other parts of England. The two varieties are the standard and the toy. Until 1959 the toy was regarded as a separate breed. The only difference between them, besides size, is the shape of the ear. Standard Manchester terriers range between 12 and 22 pounds and stand 14 to 16 inches; the ears are small, erect or button-shaped, or, if cropped, long and erect. The toy variety, standing 6 to 7 inches, weighs 12 pounds or less and has moderate-sized ears, which are erect and not flaring; dog-show regulations forbid cropping. The coat of both varieties is close and glossy, jet black with well-defined tan markings above the eyes, along the lower jaw and throat, and on the legs up to the knees. The long, tapering head with its sparkling black eyes is set on a moderately long neck. The chest is narrow and deep, the tail of medium length and tapered. The dog is notably intelligent and companionable and, with its clean habits and short hair, makes an admirable house pet.

The Miniature Pinscher is a breed of toy dog. Although the miniature pinscher has most of the physical attributes of the Doberman pinscher, on a small scale, it is not a miniature variety of the Doberman as the toy poodle is of the poodle and the miniature schnauzer is of the schnauzer. The miniature pinscher originated in Germany several centuries ago and was particularly popular in that country from about 1905 to 1914. It was not extensively bred outside Germany, except in the Scandinavian countries, until after 1918. The breed was imported into the United States about 1919 and became very popular after 1929. The miniature pinscher has a flat skull tapering toward the muzzle; dark, slightly oval eyes; upstanding ears; a gracefully curved neck; a compact muscular body; and a broad tail, set high. The animal possesses a flat coat of thick, hard, lustrous hair. The color of the coat is either black with tan, red, or yellow markings; solid red; solid brown; or brown with yellow or red markings. White or gray, with yellow, black, or red markings, are considered faults. The dog is 10 to 12.5 inches high at the shoulders, or withers; it weighs about 6 to 10 pounds. The miniature pinscher is greatly valued as a pet, a keen watchdog, and a show dog.

The papillon is a breed of toy dog named after the French word for butterfly because of its fringed, erect ears. This small dog is characterized by a long, silky coat which is white with tan-and- black markings. The breed originated in Spain and Italy and from there was introduced into France. Known by the 16th century as the dwarf spaniel, the dog was extremely popular and was often represented in the paintings of the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens and his French followers, Jean-Antoine Watteau, François Boucher, and Jean Honoré Fragonard. Over the centuries, the ears, originally long and drooping, developed in some strains into an erect shape, fringed and set obliquely on the head. The long, silky coat is abundant and flowing. The coat is predominantly white with patches of other colors. Though finely boned and small-not over 12 inches in height-papillons are hardy dogs.

A Pekingese is a breed of toy dog characterized by a flat, black nose; a long-haired coat; short, bowed forelegs; and a tail that curls over its back. The breed was once a popular pet with Chinese royalty and was considered sacred. Pekingese originated in China about the 8th century AD. The Pekingese has a broad, massive skull, flat between the ears; a short, flat, black nose; a short, wrinkled muzzle; large, lustrous, dark eyes; heart-shaped ears; a long, soft coat; a thick mane that forms a ruff about the neck; bowed forelegs; and a tail that is set high. It can be found in a variety of colors; the most frequent are fawn, black, red, and parti-colored. The weight varies from about 6 to 14 pounds. In general the animal is characterized by courage, dignified bearing, good temper, and considerable stamina. The Pekingese was the pet of the Chinese aristocracy, particularly in the imperial household, and for a time was regarded as a sacred animal in China. The dog was first introduced in the West in the 1860s when British military officers took to England four specimens they found during the looting of the Imperial Palace, Beijing. The animal is a popular pet in the United States.

The Pomeranian is a breed of toy dog originally bred in Pomerania, Germany from a type of large white spitz dog that itself is descended from the sledge dogs of Iceland and Saamiland. This small dog is characterized by a short body; long, fluffy hair; and a curled tail. It became popular in England in the late 19th century and in the United States in the early 20th century. The Pomeranian has a foxlike head; medium-sized, slightly oblique dark eyes; small ears that are carried erect; and a short neck with a profuse mane. It has a short, compact body and a tail, covered with long hair, that turns up over the back and is carried flat along the top of the body. The dog weighs about 5 to 7 pounds. It has two coats: a soft, fluffy undercoat, and an outer coat of long, lustrous hair. The animal may be any of a variety of colors: black, white, brown, red, orange, or blue; or it may be parti-colored. The Pomeranian is noted for its docility, vivacity, and alertness; it is valued as a pet and as a show dog, and makes a good watchdog.

A pug is a breed of toy dog characterized by a wrinkled forehead and flat, black nose. Its short hair can be solid black or light- colored with black markings on the face and ears. Believed to have originated in China, from which it may have been imported into England in the 16th century. The modern pug is descended from dogs subsequently developed by English breeders. The dog has a short, compact body; a large, round, and massive head with profuse wrinkles; a short, square, and blunt muzzle; large, bold, dark eyes; straight legs; and a tightly curled tail. The coat is close-haired, soft, and glossy. The color of the pug is silver or apricot-fawn with a black mask, in either case with a black trace from the middle of the skull to the tail; or it is solid black. The animal is about 12 inches high at the shoulder and weighs about 14 to 18 pounds. Because of its alertness, tractability, and friendliness, the pug is a popular pet.

Shih Tzu have been bred in Asia since the 17th century, when they became popular with the Chinese court. Originally bred solely as a companion dog, Shih Tzu exhibit an affectionate, friendly, trusting temperament. Shih Tzu is probably native to Tibet, and bred extensively in China since the 17th century. The name means "lion dog," but because the hair around the face grows in all directions, they are also called the "chrysanthemum-faced dog." Much favored in court circles, the dogs were frequently represented in Chinese art. In 1930 a few remaining specimens were introduced into England, and from there the breed became popular throughout the world. The Shih Tzu was officially recognized in the United States in 1969. An alert, lively dog, and very intelligent and gentle, it carries itself with a distinctively proud bearing. Its heavily plumed tail curls over the back; body hair-of various colors-is long and luxurious. The height of the Shih Tzu is 8 to 11 inches, the weight 9 to 16 pounds.

The Silky Terrier is a toy breed of dog developed in Australia in the early 20th century from the Yorkshire terrier and the Australian terrier, which was in turn derived from the Skye terrier. Standing up to 10 inches at the shoulder, it has erect ears; its long, flat, silky coat is tan and blue. The breed was first shown in 1907.

Yorkshire terriers are small dogs characterized by long, silky hair. A toy breed, the Yorkshire terrier was originally bred in Lancashire and Yorkshire, England, from a number of other terriers, principally the Skye and the Manchester terriers and was favored by the aristocracy in the 19th century. It was first exhibited at a dog show in England in 1861, and the first definite use of its present name was in 1870. The dog was a favorite pet of the English aristocracy in the last quarter of the 19th century; it was first known in the United States in 1872. It has a small, flat head; small, V-shaped ears; medium-size dark eyes; a compact body; and straight legs covered with tan or golden-tan hair. The Yorkshire terrier has a coat of long, glossy hair of silky texture, dark steel blue from the back of the skull to the root of the tail. The head is a golden tan and the chest is a bright tan. The Yorkshire terrier weighs up to about 7 pounds.

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