Paris Hilton's Chihuahua, Tinkerbell, is as famous as she is. And Britney Spears's dates to last month's Billboard Music Awards? Her hubby -- and her pup, Bitbit. Teeny dogs, known as "toys" in the breeding world, are everywhere: The American Kennel Club recognizes 21 breeds, from four-pound Chihuahuas to 14-pound pugs. Craving your own pocket-size pup? Keep these tips in mind.
1 Get a vet to weigh in
Ain't that the most nauseatingly cutsie-pootsie thing you ever did see?
(Jen Lowery -- London Features)
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_____Previous Columns_____
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The 411 for Your Jet-Set Pet (The Washington Post, Dec 19, 2004)
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Musts for the First Aid Kit (The Washington Post, Dec 12, 2004)
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Are You Two Dog-Worthy? (The Washington Post, Dec 5, 2004)
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Finch 411 (The Washington Post, Nov 28, 2004)
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Puppy Maladies to Watch (The Washington Post, Nov 21, 2004)
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More Columns
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Small dogs are prone to conditions such as portosystemic shunt (a liver disease) and dislocated kneecaps.While both are treatable with surgery, costs can be high. The best advice: Always ask your breeder for a health guarantee and, says Alexandra Powe Allred, a dog trainer and author of "Dogs Most Wanted" ($12.95, Brassey's Inc.), "be sure the dog is checked out by a vet before you buy." Every breed has its own genetic ticks (poodles can have hyperactive tear ducts; for Yorkies, it's pancreatitis), which your vet can alert you to. As Darlene Arden, author of "The Irrepressible Toy Dog" ($17.95, Wiley), notes, some health problems don't show up in the first two years. You might want to consider an older dog, up to age 3.
2 Don't carry them everywhere
While those Louis Vuitton totes look cute, you're actually doing your pooch a disservice by coddling him all the time, says Allred. It's okay to cart him around occasionally, but you should also teach him to walk on a leash. And though a collar is a good idea, a choke chain is not -- there's the possibility of strangulation, but many toys are also predisposed to collapsing tracheas, a condition that can be triggered by pressure from a choke.
3 Feed and exercise them (almost) like big dogs
Teeny pups can -- and should -- chew dry food, just like their larger counterparts, says Dan Rice, author of "Small Dog Breeds" ($16.95, Barron's Educational Series). They often have weak teeth, so gnawing on kibble helps get blood circulating in their gums. Feed your dog at least twice a day. Toys burn energy quickly, and they risk becoming hypoglycemic. When it comes to workouts, don't take the term "lap dog" literally: Though they don't require a Great Dane's rigorous romps, toys do need daily activity, such as a walk or a game of fetch.
4 Pet-proof your pad
Because of their size, toys can wiggle their way under or behind furniture all too easily -- and then get stuck there. When he finds he can't escape, your dog may panic and even dislocate his back trying to wiggle free. Barricade these crawl zones: Allred suggests using wire gates sold in garden-supply stores. Also put up a pet gate to block off kitchens and bathrooms; when toys fall from high surfaces onto hard floors, they risk breaking their necks.
5 Introduce other pets (and kids) slowly -- if at all
Tougher toys, like Jack Russell terriers, can hold their own against big dogs and children, but that's not the case for every breed. Shih Tzus, for example, don't take well to kiddies. "Small dogs rarely belong in families with small children," Rice says. "The child thinks the dog is a toy, and the animal has very little defense." How to make it work? Be sure your kids know Fifi isn't a stuffed animal. Then present your toy to his new pals (human or canine) gradually, starting at an hour at a time and building from there.
Michelle Hainer
