Pint-sized pups can be persecuted by other pets or even become prey.
My gentle Maltese mix was constantly roughed up by the family cat, who slightly outweighed him. This poor pooch would get stalked, smacked on the snout and slammed into bookshelves until we finally coaxed kitty up high, where she could have dominion. Some smaller dogs have naturally alpha personalities, but others can experience bullying by more overbearing pets. Comical? Maybe — but it’s no laughing matter if the aggressor starts viewing your vulnerable canine as lunch. Also remember: Petite pups sometimes become the target of dangerous predator/prey behavior at dog parks and are vulnerable to attacks from animals like hawks and coyotes.
Small dogs are mobility challenged.
Smaller dogs with sufficient determination can hurt themselves trying to get into cars or onto couches. Some will miss, bounce off, jump again and fall to the floor repeatedly — until you stop them, or they wind up at the emergency vet. A set of pet steps or a canine-friendly dog ramp can help eliminate this issue.
The Maltese dog is ideal at “five to seven pounds.”
So you can see both breeds are roughly the same size – so should the Morkie, their crossbreed.
While many people think that the “teacup” is a separate breed, it is not a recognized size or breed. These dogs are simply smaller versions of the “regular” Yorkshire Terrier, and sadly are often sickly dogs with health complications that can lead to a shorter life.
Yorkies, Morkies and Maltese are already a very small and fragile breed, but with a dog under 4 pounds, the dangers are magnified. When Yorkies are too small – under four pounds – owners face at least five serious problems including difficulty feeding and house-training and sudden low blood sugar than can lead to shock and even death!
Why Little Dogs Are So Yappy? | Cesar 911
Paris Hilton didn’t popularize small dogs, but she may have influenced the way many people view them. When the ubiquitous hotel diva began walking red carpets with her tiny female Chihuahua Tinkerbell, suddenly everyone had to have one.
Call it the Paris Syndrome: Anything a celebrity does becomes a trend du jour. Not to suggest Hilton didn’t love her pooch, but responsible owners understand pets aren’t accessories — no matter how much we spend on studded collars, frilly dresses, and expensive handbags in which to carry them.
There’s no denying the growing popularity of the small dog. According to the American Kennel Club, three small breeds — the Beagle, Yorkshire Terrier, and Dachshund — rank among the 10 most popular breeds in the country, based on 2013 registration figures. Six others — the Miniature Schnauzer, Shih Tzu, Pomeranian, and French Bulldog — are in the top 20. The Yorkie’s No. 2 ranking behind the Golden Retriever in 2007 and 2008 is the highest for a small dog since the Boston Terrier was No. 1 almost 70 years ago.But small dogs — those weighing 21 pounds or less — often come with special needs. And although they may look cute in your arms or at the end of a sequined leash, they require all the care and attention of any other dog. Sometimes more.
“They’re not like an iPod that you can put away in a drawer, or a toy that you get bored with,” said Darlene Arden, author of Small Dogs, Big Hearts, a guide to caring for small dogs. “That’s not the way it works. It’s a family member that you’re bringing in, and it’s a commitment for the dog’s lifetime.”
Small dogs don’t need a lot of exercise. Wrong. “Small dogs definitely need exercise,” said Adam Goldfarb, an issues specialist in the companion animals department at the Humane Society of America. “Even though there are some breeds who were essentially created to be lap dogs, if a person can’t do a couple of walks a day, I’d say a dog probably might not be the right pet for them.”
Small dogs don’t need obedience training. Not true. Small dogs are smart, and “often train even faster” than large dogs, Arden said. “Some do extremely well in agility and obedience. There are even toy service dogs. Granted, they’re not pulling wheelchairs, but they’re helping to get laundry, picking up and bringing things to their owner. And they often make great therapy dogs.”
Small dogs are friendly and approachable. Not always. In a study of 33 dog breeds published in 2009 in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science, and prepared in part by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, it was determined the three most aggressive dog breeds are the Dachshund, Chihuahua, and Jack Russell Terrier.
Hard to believe, but Goldfarb thinks it may have to do with owners’ failure to socialize their dogs as puppies — and perhaps because small dog owners are more indulgent when it comes to bad behavior.
“Not that it’s an inherent problem,” he said, “but I think it happens because their owners let them get away with it. There’s a lot more fearful behavior because they’re so small. We sometimes forget that they view the world in a different way from us. When you’re a six-pound Chihuahua living in a giant-sized world, it’s understandable that they would be a little more fearful.”
That’s why Goldfarb feels some basic training can be helpful. “Simple things like learning to sit, stay, come and lie down can help build confidence. On their own, they’re not necessarily an antidote for fearful behavior, but they can go a long way.”
Small dogs eat small meals. True, but they may require more calories per pound than larger dogs because they’re often more active. Discuss nutritional requirements with your vet. You also may have to feed your pet two or three times a day. Because they have small stomachs, they can’t handle large amounts of food at one time.
Dachshund owners are aware that the breed is susceptible to chronic back problems, so it’s important to prevent them from jumping down from furniture and to support their hind legs when holding them. Because people frequently tend to pick up and hold small dogs, care should always be taken when handling — like a fragile package.
But they’re sturdy, too. For apartment dwellers or empty nesters, they might be the perfect companion.