Wanting to bring a dog into your home?
Some small dog breeds are easier to take care of than others, especially for novice doggy
parents.
Let’s check out some amazing small dogs that are easy to care for.
Coton de Tulear
Like all the other Bichon breeds, including the Maltese, Bichon Frise, Bolognese, and
Havanese, The Coton de Tulear is a great companion dog.
They’re not a highly active dog but are flexible in that they can adjust their activity
level to match yours.
IF you’re a couch potato, more than likely your Coton will be as well.
But, please do get some exercise for the both of you.
Cotons are typically friendly dogs and great for people who don't have a lot of canine
experience.
The main caveat is like the other Bichon breeds, the Coton does require regular brushing and
should see a groomer every three to four weeks.
Maltese
Much like the Coton de Tulear, the Maltese is a people-oriented companion dog.
Both were bred to be in the company of people, mostly as lap warmers for the elite.
Today, they exist as loving family companions.
The Maltese is a playful companion who is also quite easy to train, especially when
it comes to tricks.
Remember to reward them with treats, praise, and play, and you'll have a companion for
life!
A nice fact about the Bichon breeds is that they don’t shed or have a doggy smell and
tend to be hypoallergenic, making them also easy on your allergies.
Norfolk Terrier
Many consider the Norfolk Terrier to be a big dog in a small package.
This is especially true when it comes to personality.
Alert, gregarious, and nimble, they'll make for a loyal companion with the heart of a
working terrier.
You won’t be spending a lot of time at the groomers.
The shaggy, unkempt look of the Norfolk is part of its appeal.
Your Terrier does require some grooming, though.
Its coat should be brushed once or twice a week with a bristle brush, toenails trimmed
regularly, and ears cleaned or checked weekly.
Otherwise, it’s easy peasy.
Papillon
The Papillon is happy, alert, and friendly.
And, it is rarely shy or aggressive.
This is a "take charge" little companion dog with a moderate to intense activity level.
Luckily that intensity doesn’t require a bunch of room to work off.
A case of the zoomies around your apartment will be plenty of exercises.
Although your little buddy will love it if you join in with toys and games.
They're smart and highly trainable, and they're best described as a doer, not a cuddler.
Your Papillon will be happiest if you keep it busy.
The Papillon's small size makes it easy to handle, and its coat, while profuse, is easy
to care for and doesn't shed excessively.
Boston Terrier
Ahh, one of the most featured and not coincidentally searched for dogs on this channel is the Boston
Terrier.
This dog is popular and its popularity is in no small part attributed to the easy-to-care-for
nature of the dapper Bostonian.
With their short coats and minimal shedding, Boston Terriers don't have high grooming demands.
They do great with weekly brushing, using a firm bristle brush.
They also don’t require a lot of exercise.
In fact, your Boston would prefer not to get a lot of exercise due to the brachycephalic
nature of the dog.
They overheat if over-exercised.
Your biggest concern with this sweet little tuxedoed companion breed is not overfeeding
your four-legged pal.
They are prone to overeating and obesity, which can cause a host of health concerns.
Don’t let your dog get fat.
Chihuahua
Most people don’t know that not only is the Chihuahua one of the longest-lived dog
breeds, but it is also the overall healthiest.
Chis rarely have major health problems.
Also because of its small size and moderate exercise needs, the Chi can get all the exercise
he or she needs in the comfort of your living room.
In fact with a doggy bathroom matt (link in the description) and appropriate training,
your Chihuahua could happily live its entire existence without ever stepping foot outside.
This can be ideal for those living in crowded cities.
Especially with the short-haired varieties, Chis are easy to groom and require only regular
brushing to keep their coat looking fresh.
The longer-haired varieties just require more brushing.
Regular trips to the groomer aren’t necessary.
A caveat with the Chi is that it can be difficult to potty train outdoors, which makes the doggy
pad idea a bit more enticing.
Mutt
I’m a big fan of mutts.
Take my little Poogle Jack Chug here, Maisy.
Her Embark DNA test not only showed me that her makeup of 5 different breeds make her
look more like a Terrier than a dog that is mostly Poodle and Beagle, but it also showed
that she carries no markers for genetic illnesses.
In fact, Maisy has never been to the vet for an illness, only checkups and vaccines.
She is a poster child of mix-breed health.
And that’s not uncommon with mixed-breed dogs.
In fact, the mutt you find at your local shelter is much less likely to have genetically passed
down illnesses than purebred dogs.
Mutts also tend to be more mellow than purebred dogs, just kinda chill with life in general.
The nice thing is you can often spend time with the dog (as much as you like really)
before deciding to adopt or you may even be able to foster the dog to see if he/she fits
into your life.
How easy is that?
So, if you’re looking for a small companion, your local shelter might be the best place
to start.
It certainly won’t hurt to go look.
Speaking of looking.
Check out these videos.
I’m sure you’ll enjoy them.
Might as well smash that subscribe button too for future videos.
And as always, catch ya next time.