Toy dog

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Bichon Frisé is an example of a toy dog that requires considerable grooming.
The Bichon Frisé is an example of a toy dog[1] that requires considerable grooming.
The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular of the Toy breeds.
The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular of the Toy breeds.
The Chinese Crested Dog is a hairless toy breed.
The Chinese Crested Dog is a hairless toy breed.
The Papillon .
The Papillon .
The Russian Toy Terrier.
The Russian Toy Terrier.
The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) shows yet another type of toy dog.
The English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) shows yet another type of toy dog.

A toy dog is a type of very small dog kept as a pet, as compared to a very small working dog, although both pet and working dogs can be very small. When an all-breed association or kennel club divides dog breeds into groups for purposes of competition, the Toy Group contains most of the smallest dog breeds in the club's registry. Allthough it is called a "Toy" dog the Chihuahua is the worlds smallest breed of dog.

The use of the word "toy" to describe small dogs that belong to a toy breed is redundant and also incorrect, suggesting that the breed comes in different sizes—there is no such thing, for example, as a "toy Chihuahua"; all Chihuahuas are toy dogs. (However, some breeds do come in different sizes, such as Poodles, which come in standard, miniature, and toy varieties).

Contents

[edit] What makes a toy breed

[edit] Size

The diminutive Yorkshire Terrier is undisputedly a toy. The Australian Terrier is one of the smallest terriers, but is in the Terrier group.

[edit] Form versus function

Another area of contention is the idea that toy dogs are only companion animals, slow moving, with little need for exercise and with low endurance. Papillons give lie to this; although dainty and small they are quite capable of taking long walks with their humans and often excel at the energetic sport of dog agility. Maltese are another example of very robust daintiness. The UKC defines Italian Greyhounds as having been bred exclusively as pets; the AKC states that these dogs were bred as gazehounds, dogs that hunt by sight, and are quite fast and hardy, but they are nevertheless members of the AKC Toy group.

[edit] Teacup/tiny toy

The terms "teacup" ("tea cup") and "tiny toy" are not used officially by any kennel club, but the increasing frequency of their use by laypersons has led some to believe that the terms are official. Since the terms are unofficial, there is no accepted standard of their definition, but they are widely understood as describing particularly small adult toy dogs, usually smaller than the breed standard indicates.

Some breeders have expressed concerns that the terms are used by unscrupulous breeders to fool purchasers into paying inflated prices for dogs that may be unhealthy or need special care due to their extremely small size.

[edit] List of AKC toy breeds

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Bichon Frise", New Zealand Kennel Club.


v • d • e
Toy dogs