Poodle…

Elegant. Proud. Clever. The Poodle is an impressive dog, as the many best-in-show winners from this dog breed can attest. But behind the blue ribbons, impressive hairdos, and regal attitude, you’ll find an affectionate family dog with an ancient history and many talents.

Poodles are regarded as one of the most intelligent breeds in the world. They’re highly trainable and well suited for just about any task you put them to and you will want to give them tasks to do. Bored Poodles can get destructive if they aren’t physically and mentally stimulated. But active owners who can meet their dog’s needs will find a loving, smart, trainable, and loyal family companion.

Although today’s Poodles seem to epitomize a life of leisure and luxury, make no mistake: These are real dogs bred to do real jobs. Although it hardly seems possible when you look at a primped-up Poodle in the show ring, the breed was originally a water retriever, a job that requires jumping in the water to fetch waterfowl for hunters.

The English name poodle is derived from the German word pudel, or pudelin, which means to splash in the water. In France, Poodles are called Caniche, a name derived from chien canard, meaning duck dog.

Even the elaborate coat styling that the breed is known for once had a practical purpose: trimmed areas lightened the weight of the dog’s coat and wouldn’t snag on underwater debris, while long hair around the joints and vital organs protected the dog from the cold water.

There are three sizes of Poodle, all considered part of the same breed: going from smallest to largest, these are the Toy, the Miniature, and the Standard. The Standard is probably the oldest of the three varieties, and some still carry on the Poodle tradition of working as a water retriever.

No matter the size, Poodles are renowned for a playful but dignified personality and keen intelligence. When it comes to training, this is an “A” student, and the Poodle excels at performance sports such as obedience, agility, and hunt tests.

Despite his regal air, the Poodle is no snob. These are people-friendly dogs who want to stay close to their families — they get lonely when left by themselves for long periods — and are always up for a good game.

Poodle Size

There are three sizes of Poodle: toy, miniature, and standard. These aren’t different breeds, just different sizes of the same dog. The Toy Poodle stands up to 10 inches tall and weighs about six to nine pounds. The Miniature Poodle stands 11 to 15 inches tall and weighs 15 to 17 pounds. The Standard Poodle stands 15 inches and taller (usually 22 inches); males weigh 45 to 70 pounds and females weigh 45 to 60 pounds.

Pomeranian…

Chihuahua…

The Pomeranian is a small dog breed from the Pomerania region in Europe, known for its compact size, fluffy double coat, alert expression, and spirited nature. This Spitz type of breed is highly energetic, and intelligent, and often exhibits a confident and curious demeanor, making them popular as companion dogs. Pomeranians come in a variety of colors and patterns and require regular grooming to maintain their luxurious coat. While they make loving and loyal pets, their small size and fragile build require careful handling and supervision, however, especially around children and larger animals.

They are often described as fearless, lively, and full of spunk. These little dogs have a natural curiosity about the world. They are always eager to explore and interact with their surroundings. Their alert expression, bright eyes, and perky ears give them an endearing and inquisitive appearance.

Although the Pomeranian (also called Zwergspitz, Dwarf Spitz, Loulou, or, affectionately Pom) only weighs from three to seven pounds, this lively little dog has a personality the size of Texas! The Pomeranian is the smallest member of the Spitz family of dogs, which includes the Samoyed, Alaskan Malamute, and Norwegian Elkhound, among others. Poms take their name from the province of Pomerania, in Germany.

They became especially popular when Queen Victoria allowed some of her Pomeranians to be shown in a conformation show, the first Pomeranians ever to be shown. Cute, feisty, and furry, Poms are intelligent and loyal to their families. Don’t let their cuteness fool you, however. These independent, bold dogs have minds of their own. They are alert and curious about the world around them. Unfortunately, in their minds, they are much larger than they are, which can sometimes lead them to harass and even attack much larger dogs.

Luckily, if they are properly socialized with other dogs and animals, they generally get along quite well with them. Pomeranians have wedge-shaped heads with erect ears. Some people describe their faces as foxlike, while others think that “baby-doll” or “pansy” is a better description. Their dark, almond-shaped eyes sparkle with intelligence and curiosity. Their noses can be dark or the same color as their coats. Their distinctive plumed tail fans out over their backs. Pomeranians come in a wide variety of solid colors, with red, orange, white, or cream, blue, brown, or black being the most common.

Rarely, you might see a white Pom with colored markings (called parti-colored), or a black and tan one, or even an orange and sable one. The Pom’s profuse double coat stands out from his body, and he has a luxurious ruff around his neck and chest. The coat looks as though it would be difficult to care for, but in reality, regular brushing is typically all it needs. Despite their small size, Pomeranians bark loudly and make excellent watchdogs.

They sometimes don’t know when to stop barking, however, so it’s a good idea to train them to stop barking on command. Pomeranians make excellent pets for older people and those who are busy, because they aren’t an overly dependent breed. They are also good for apartment dwellers or homes that don’t have a backyard. Because of their small size, they aren’t recommended for families with small children who might injure them accidentally.

Poms generally are good at learning tricks, but you must be consistent and firm when training them. If you don’t establish yourself as the top dog in your household, your Pom will be more than glad to take over and may even become snappish. Poms have a lot of energy and enjoy going for walks. They trot along, proudly holding their head up, meeting new people, and exploring new sights and smells. More and more Poms are being trained in obedience, agility, tracking, and flyball. Some also have been trained as hearing assistance dogs. They make excellent therapy dogs and bring delight and comfort to the sick and elderly in hospitals and nursing homes. If you’d like a pint-size companion with personality plus, the Pomeranian may be the choice for you.

The Chihuahua dog breed’s charms include their small size, big personality, and variety in coat types and colors. They’re all dogs, fully capable of competing in dog sports such as agility and obedience, and are among the top ten watchdogs recommended by experts.

This breed loves nothing more than being with their people — even novice pet parents — and requires a minimum of grooming and exercise. They make excellent apartment dogs who’ll get along with the whole family. Just make sure any children who approach know how to play gently with a small dog.

Chihuahuas have feisty and independent personalities. They are also very loyal and affectionate towards their owners. This breed is typically good with children, but they may be too small and fragile for rough play.

The Chihuahua is a saucy little hot tamale and not just because of his association with a certain fast-food Mexican restaurant. He’s renowned for being the world’s smallest dog, but he may well have the world’s biggest personality stashed inside that tiny body. That larger-than-life persona makes him appealing to men and women alike. Fun-loving and busy, Chihuahuas like nothing better than to be close to their people.

They follow them everywhere in the house and ride along in tote bags when their people run errands or go shopping. It’s not unusual for Chihuahuas to form a close bond with a single person, and they can become very demanding if they’re overindulged. Besides being affectionate housemates, Chihuahuas are intelligent and fast learners.

They can compete in agility and obedience trials with just as much enthusiasm and success as larger dogs. That said, they’re willful little dogs. You’ll be most successful if you can persuade them that competing — or simply doing as you ask — is fun. Use positive reinforcement in the form of praise and food rewards when training your Chihuahua. He won’t respond to harsh treatment. It’s important when considering the Chihuahua to consider its small size. Chihuahuas are curious and bold explorers.

They’ve escaped from yards through small gaps in the fence and can squeeze into places that other puppies and dogs wouldn’t be able to fit. And even though they tend to rule the roost, they can be accidentally injured by rambunctious larger dogs. Chihuahuas are not recommended for homes with children under the age of eight, simply because of the chance of injury by a young child.

Regardless of your family situation, it’s important to remember to socialize your Chihuahua with children, adults, and other animals. Chihuahuas are mistrustful of strangers, which makes them good watchdogs, but they need to learn to meet people in a friendly manner. It’s also important to remember that Chihuahuas tend to forget they are small and will stand up to a larger aggressive dog; as a result, the Chihuahua needs vigilant supervision in new situations, while they’re on walks, and when they’re in the yard. The Chihuahua’s personality and unique size make him a wonderful go-everywhere companion. People who live with Chihuahuas become devoted to them, and many say that once you share your life with one, there will be no other dog breed for you.

A typical Chihuahua weighs 3 to 6 pounds. There are smaller Chihuahuas, but they tend not to be very healthy. Chihuahuas can also be oversized, with some reaching 12 or more pounds. These can be good choices for families with children.