The Italian Greyhound is a delicate looking dog that is like a miniature version of the greyhound. Despite being so small, it has the greyhound’s hunting instincts. Whilst the Italian Greyhound looks delicate, it is actually not as delicate as it looks. Having said that, when a puppy, its’ small, fine bones can be easily broken, especially with rough or careless playing.
The Italian Greyhound can be a timid dog, and is not likely to enjoy traffic, loud noise, other big dogs, strangers or crowds, unless they have been carefully introduced to him as a puppy. Fortunately, he can get all the exercise he needs running around a backyard. Because of his personality, he’s more suited to people without children, such as the elderly. He is easy to care for, and affectionate. He only needs a bath every so often, and must be dried off quickly afterwards as they feel the cold. Like greyhounds proper, they have little body fat.
The Italian Greyhound is a quiet, gentle dog, though he will let you know when someone is at the door. It is believed their name comes from the fact that they were a favorite of the Italian nobility a few centuries ago. They have actually been around much longer than that - in fact, they may have existed in ancient Egypt, 2000 years ago!
Pug dogs were bred to be companion dogs, and this shows in their personality. They love their human family, and will often bond with one person in particular. Despite having quite a muscular, stocky body, this is a playful house dog, and is not at all aggressive. In fact, they should not be kept outside. They don’t like extremes of heat or cold, and humidity can be a problem for pugs. Their cooling system is not very good because of their flat face. When you see a pug panting on a hot day, it’s not because it has breathing problems. Rather, it’s just very hot and trying to cool down.
Prospective pug owners need to have a fair bit of time to spend with their pug. They love human attention, and can be quite attention seeking, in a very funny way. They will follow their owner around the house, and love lying on their laps. They are very tolerant of children, thus making good family dogs.
Pug dogs need some care. Bath them once a week in summer, and clean out the rolls of fat on top of the pug’s nose once a week with some baby oil or similar. You should brush their coat twice a week.
Pugs do like their food, so over-feeding them is something to watch out for!
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has soulful eyes, and a wonderful temperament. They were named after King Charles II, who loved the breed. Whilst these are toy dogs, they are actually quite active. They love to run around with their owner, which makes them great with kids. Combine this with their easy going temperament, friendliness, and adaptability, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel make great family dogs. They are not aggressive by nature.
The Cavalier, being so adaptable, are happy to nap with their owner, or sit inside and have quiet times. As such, they make good companions for the elderly. But they need to have a walk or a play outside every day. And being so friendly, they don’t make very good watch dogs, though they will bark when a stranger enters the property.
These dogs consider their owners as part of their pack, and as such, love human company. They are easy to care for, as their coat only needs brushing three times a week. They shouldn’t be washed too much though, as it dries their coat out.
When looking for a Cavalier, be careful not to mistake the King Charles Spaniel for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Despite the similarity in names, they are actually a different breed! The King Charles Spaniel is actually smaller than the Cavalier, and its’ nose is more pug-shaped.
The lhasa apso looks like a canine princess (or prince!). This is a striking looking breed, small and petite, with the most amazing coat. Looking like their owners have spent hours straightening and styling their hair, the lhasa apso has a long, straight coat that falls to the ground. Because of this, they do need daily grooming, so this is not a dog to get if you don’t have the time to spend brushing their hair. Fortunately, this doesn’t take too long - about 15 minutes per day should be enough. On the other hand, the lhasa apso make great companion dogs. They’re extremely intelligent, and very playful. They love human company, which makes them ideal for the elderly or those living on their own.
The lhasa were nicknamed ‘Lion Dogs’, and you can tell why from these lhasa apso pictures. They’re one of three small dogs that originated in the Tibetan monasteries. They were actually used as little watch dogs, as well as keeping the monks company. They have very acute hearing, so they’ll hear a burglar from a mile. Whilst very comfortable with their owners, they can be cautious of both strangers, and unfamiliar situations. They’re not a dog you’d take traveling with you, in other words.
