JAck Russell Terrier

Part 2 of this article on small dog breeds covers small dogs in the toy, herding, terrier, and non-sporting groups.

Terrier Dogs

Terriers were bred to hunt – rats, foxes, rabbits, and even otters, river rats, and badgers. Rather than the hunters of old, most terriers today are bought as pets. And with their loyal and affectionate temperament, they make lovely pets. However, they are dogs with a strong personality, and they need similarly strong and persistent owners. This is just as true for the small, toy terriers – they don’t see themselves as small dogs. Terriers also have an abundance of energy, so will need their exercise. They have wiry coats, and to keep the characteristic wiriness of their coats you’ll need to learn a special grooming technique called stripping.

There are many small breeds in the terrier grouping. They are: the Irish Terrier, Border Terrier, Australian Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Kerry Blue Terrier, Norwich Terrier and Norfolk Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier, Bedlington Terrier dog breed, Scottish Terrier and Sealyham Terrier.

Toy Dogs

Toy dogs are a very recognizable small dog type, due to their popularity with celebrities and people alike. Because many toy dogs are large breeds bred down to size, you’ll find toy breeds in many of the other groups as well.

Toy dogs are friendly, though they can be angry and fierce as well. But they are great lap dogs, and often a cherished member of the family. Toy dogs include: Yorkshire Terrier, Miniature Poodle, Shih Tzu, Chihuahua, the Papillon, and the Pomeranian dog breed.

Non-Sporting Dogs

Non-sporting dogs is a general term for those breeds the AKC recognizes, that don’t fall into any of the other categories. They have different ancestry, temperaments, coats, sizes, and colors. Small breed dogs in the non-sporting group include: the bichon frise, Tibetan Spaniel, Boston Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Lhasa Apso, French Bulldog, and the Schipperke.

Herding Dogs

Herding dogs are a relatively new classification in the American Kennel Club. The dogs in this category used to be part of the working group. In fact, a number of breed registries globally, they still are a sub-catgory of the working group. The dogs registered by the American Kennel Club are usually kept as pets, although working (and herding) dogs are still used worldwide on cattle stations and farms because of their abilities to herd livestock. They can be trained to respond to specific commands and whistles, and perform a variety of herding related tasks particularly well. In families as pets, herding dogs will often try and good naturedly herd their human family, particularly the children.

Small dog breeds in the herding group are the Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Shetland Sheepdog, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, and the Border Collie. 

Miscellaneous Dogs

The miscellaneous category covers breeds not fully recognized by he AKC. There are no small dogs here.

Your children have probably been begging “When can we get a puppy?” Owning a dog is a big responsibility and it can be a perfect venue in which to teach your children. Before you decide to adopt a dog, there are several things that must be considered. You and your family will need to decide beforehand what your new cuddly pet can and can’t do in your home.

Your home must be dog-proofed before you bring the dog home.  A good way to do this is to bend down and look for hazards like dangling electrical cords that would be perfect for chewing; pick up toys and other small objects off the floor that could be harmful if swallowed; remove chemicals, paper sacks, plastic items and even plants away from the prying jaws of a dog. And if you are planning to house train your new pet, remove area rugs temporarily until he is trained. You don’t want him to accidentally think it is a great elimination spot!

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Purchase a baby gate to stop your dog from entering forbidden areas of your home. This might also be used to separate off an area just for him. This is especially helpful in the house training front. In addition, dogs (and particularly puppies) are curious creatures that love to look around. If you don’t want your clothing and shoes plowed and chewed through, ensure that your pooch does not have access to them. Close your bedroom door or closet door.

Because dogs like to chew, buy some appropriate chew toys and rawhide bones for that gnawing instinct. Giving your puppy something safe to chew on while he is teething will stop him from chewing your possessions. As well, buy lots of toys to keep him amused. A dog that is bored is likely to damage your stuff to keep himself amused! Rubber balls, tug ropes, push dog toys, and even squeaker toys are favorites of many canines. And just like with human children, you want to buy pet toys that are age-appropriate for them. As well, make sure you purchase several different kinds of toys so your dog won’t get bored.

Lay some ground rules in advance of bringing your puppy home. Can he jump onto the furniture? Will you allow him in your bedroom? Where will he sleep? You will want to determine that beforehand so his bed can be placed there. Are you flexible enough to change your plans as needed? At times, dogs will pick a favorite area in the home and if it is your bedroom, you will either have to train him to sleep somewhere else, or allow him to sleep on his dog bed in there. Just like people, dogs have their own individual personalities. You will need to be adaptable.

As well, you should should have a plan for your dog’s obedience training. A well-behaved dog is a great member of the family.  Plus, you will gain so much more out of the doggie-human relationship if you invest in dog obedience training. You should do your research to determine whether you can do the job yourself or whether you prefer to seek the help of a training school.

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You should also decide what you are going to do with your dog when you are away from home? What about a veterinarian? Would you hire a dog sitter or board him in a kennel if you had to travel? Is your yard large enough for your dog to be able to romp in? How about exercise? Do you intend to walk your dog so he can socialize with other dogs? These are all important issues to be considered before the family dog is adopted.

One of the rewarding parts of having a pet is the ability to travel with them. However, let’s be honest. Sometimes pets can be a hassle, and sometimes it’s relaxing to have some time away from them. Furthermore, think of it from your pet’s perspective. Traveling is stressful for animals. Comfortable travel is usually limited to smaller pets, and even then it can be a terrifying event in a pet’s life.

If you love traveling with your pet, then you need to know how to find pet friendly lodging. Many tourists who wish to bring their pets along for a long holiday may have dilemma in terms of which hotel or vacation rental offers pet-friendly services. Pet friendly hotels do exist. In fact, they are not as hard to find as you may think. Even some of the well-known hotel chains allow guests to bring their pets.

In order to find out whether the hotel you are considering allows dogs, cats or other pets, the simplest thing to do is call and ask. If you travel often, having a list of some of your favorites that you have personally visited will help you plan your travel in the future. As you stay at various hotels with your dog, take note of whether or not you would like to stay there again. Pretty soon, you will know just where to go when you are on the road with your pet.

In many big cities, there are lots of pet-friendly hotels available which offer full services for their guests to make their vacations more pleasurable. Obviously not everyone likes dogs and if the owner of a hotel you book is one of these people then you’re going to be extremely disappointed if they turn you away because they don’t allow pets. All is not lost though as there is a niche hotel market for pet-friendly Bed and Breakfasts. These hotels accommodate pets either in the guest’s rooms or have specific areas for your pet to stay at. Furthermore, there are some holiday rental cottages that will accommodate your pets with the added bonus of having your own living space for your pet to enjoy.

There are some hotels which allow guests with pets under their special terms and conditions. They have a tendency to tack on additional charges to compensate them for daily maintenance and other pet insurance related problems like treatment against fleas, possible destruction, and losses incurred by pets. Loews Hotel limits the number of allowed pets to two per room to guarantee the comfort of all their guests. Loews Hotel is an extremely pet-friendly hotel and has a well- trained staff in terms of pet care. If you find a hotel which will allow pets in your room, you will likely be asked to sign a pet policy. This will tell you exactly what the rules are for keeping your pet at the hotel. Hotels generally require pets to remain attended in the room unless being taken outside on a leash for a walk. Hotels may amend their pet policies at any time, so always call the hotel to make sure they know you will be bringing your pet.

I always make it a point to think of the comfort of my dog wherever we go, bringing things such as organic dog treats. It’s like children – if they are not comfortable they will not be happy; and neither will you. Take a minute the next time you’re watching Entertainment Tonight or Hollywood extra and notice how they treat their pets. It’s almost as if they are little children needing their parents to go with them everywhere.

Are you frustrated with dog chewing problems?  Why do canines engage in destructive dog behavior like this?  How can you stop destructive chewing?  Learn easy ways to stop dogs from chewing by reading this article.

Why Does My Dog Chew On Everything?

The main reason puppies chew on things is that they’re cutting teeth.  If you’ve ever been around a human baby who’s teething, you know how chewing on a teething ring helps soothe those sore gums.  It’s like this for puppies too.  They’re in the process of losing baby teeth while adult teeth are coming in.Chewing on his toys helps to sooth the pain of those sore gums.

An older dog may chew for many reasons.  One of the most common is that it helps to relieve stress and anxiety.  When a dog chews, endorphins are released.  These are chemicals that soothe and calm your dog.  You dog doesn’t know about endorphins, but he does know that chewing on things makes him feel better.

Chewing also helps to keep your dog’s teeth clean and strong.  Remember, if your dog is chewing, he’s not digging holes or barking, so there is an upside to this.

So chewing isn’t all bad.  But chewing becomes destructive chewing when your dog chews on things other than his toys.  How do you stop dogs from chewing on your toys?

How Do I Train My Dog Not To Chew?

You may be surprised to learn that your dog doesn’t know the difference between your stuff and his.  Even if he has lots of toys to chew on, he’ll still chew on a chair leg because he thinks everything in the house is a toy.  It’s up to you to teach him two things; that everything is not a toy, and that he’s not allowed to chew on things that belong to you.

Start by teaching him which toys are his.  Play with your dog, using one of his toys.  He’ll associate the toy with having fun, both with you, and by playing with the toy.  Another way to teach your dog that his toys are wonderful is to get a toy you can stuff with peanut butter or another treat.  He gets an instant food reward when he licks it out while playing with it.

If your dog picks up something that belongs to you, use the “drop-it” command, or clap your hands and make a noise to startle him into dropping it.  As soon as he does, immediately give him one of his toys.  When he starts playing with it, reward him.  This is how you teach him that it’s good for him to chew on his own toys, but not good when he chews on yours.

Take the time to dog-proof your home; put anything you really don’t want destroyed in a safe place until you know you can trust him.Or you may need to confine him to one room in your home where he can’t destroy anything in your absence.

Shouldn’t I Punish Him For Destructive Dog Behavior?

No.  If you don’t catch your dog in the act, he won’t have a clue why you’re mad at him.If you do, you’ll teach him to wait until you’ve left the scene to start destructive chewing. 

Dogs operate on rewards.  If you reward your dog with attention (good or bad) for doing something, he’ll continue to do it, even if it’s something you don’t want him to do.Do your best to ignore bad dog behavior as much as possible, while praising and rewarding him when he’s a good dog.  A dog won’t continue doing something if he doesn’t get a reward for doing it.

Training your dog is an ongoing process that never really ends.  In conclusion, you’ll find that an investment in a good dog training course will repay itself many times over in building a great relationship with your dog, while avoiding dog chewing problems. 

If you’re dealing with dog chewing problems, visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about a dog training course that will help to solve your problem.

If you don’t have the space for a large dog, there are a lot of smaller breeds that are suited to apartments or smaller backyards. Yet while many love the lap dogs, there are also those that prefer the characteristics of larger dogs. For the latter group, who like the temperament of larger dogs but cannot get one, small terrier dogs are an ideal pet. These little dogs look just like mini-me versions of their cousins, yet they are not submissive like a lap dog.

Small terriers are, actually, the polar opposite of submissive. They are feisty, strong-willed, self-confident dogs that are tenacious and fearless. As a result they need an owner who knows how to be ‘top-dog’, so they always know their place in the ‘pack’. Don’t get a terrier if you can’t be firm and assertive when it’s necessary. And you can’t allow a situation to develop, even in play, when your dog gets to be dominant, even for a moment. Most terriers will challenge their owner at some point anyway, even if you do everything right. But if you don’t, you set up some potentially unruly behaviour in your terrier.

Terriers are fantastic dogs. They’re very happy and affectionate with their humans. As long as they’re socialized properly the household cat should be okay, although all other cats will be prey. Terriers have a high prey drive, a leftover from the ratting days, so if you have young children and you have or want a terrier, you should always supervise them together.

There are a lot of terriers that come in a small size. The breeds are:

•  Welsh Terrier 
•  Irish Terrier
•  Scottish Terrier 
•  Smooth Fox Terrier
•  Border Terrier 
•  Cairn Terrier 
•  West Highland White Terrier 
•  Norwich Terrier and Norfolk Terrier 
•  Yorkshire Terrier 
•  Australian Terrier 
•  Toy Manchester Terrier 
•  Manchester Terrier 
•  Miniature Bull Terrier
•  Sealyham Terrier
   Kerry Blue Terrier 
•  Boston Terrier 
•  Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Of course, even though terriers have the common characteristics described, the various breeds have their own unique traits. And the differences extend beyond how they look, to their personality Some breeds take longer to groom than others, even within the terrier group. That can be an important consideration when choosing a dog.