i’ve been thinking about getting my mother a smaller sized dog for christmas.
to keep her company,
since her dog passed away a while back.
i’ve narrowed it down to four possibilities.
a yorkie, a shih tzu, a maltese, or a pomeranian.
i’d definately want a female.
my concerns are which one has the best temperament, is trainable, wouldn’t mind going everywhere with her, doesn’t shed too much (because she has allergies), and stays very small.
i’ve been told to look for “toy” or “teacup” breeds since i want a very tiny dog.
i’m also interested in what the average price would be for these types of dogs, and what their average lifespan is.
please share any info or experiences!
If you are sure your mom is ready for a new pet, maltese, chihuahua and poodles (though not on your list) are the best bets for the allergy situation. The shih tzu and pomeranian will shed everywhere as well as needing endless grooming so you want to scratch that off of your list. The yorkie is a very intelligent little dog that loves being taken everywhere and is loyal to it’s owner almost to a fault. The chihuahua’s are awesome little dogs too and as long as they are always treated gently and taken everywhere with their human “Mommies” they don’t shake all the time. You are looking at about $400.00 to 1,000.00 for either one of them, depending on where you live. In today’s economy you might be able to find one for a little less but probably not much less. You need to be sure and let anyone you contact about one know that you don’t need a show dog you are interested in pet quality so if there is some imperfection like an overbite or something like that you may get it at a better price. You can look at the chihuahua and yorkie rescue sites also to see if there is a rescue dog that may have had puppies that you can adopt a little more inexpensively. Good luck and what a sweet gift!
shih tzu all the way
References :
i have one
Toy yes. Teacup no. Avoid anything called a teacup. Those dogs are bred on purpose to be runts and generally have many health conditions.
Yorkies and Maltese are probably the best for allergies. Pom would probably shed the most while the other 3 need constant grooming. If there are children in the should I would avoid a pom as they are more temperamental. All of those dogs stay very small Yorkie being the smallest and the Maltese being the largest. None will (should) weigh more then 15 lbs and that is on the big size!!
Since you are looking at small dogs, try to make sure they are socialized with children from day one as a puppy. Many small dogs tend to have issues with children if they aren't exposed to them at an early age.
I can't give you any information on training about small breeds as I myself prefer large dogs but I can give you advice on dogs and Christmas.
I am not going to talk you out of getting a dog as a present but I think you need to rethink your timing. Christmas is a crazy busy time and is very stressful on household dogs let alone a brand new puppy.
Can I suggest getting your mother a bunch of puppy items for Christmas and a picture of the dog you are getting her. That way it will be the present but not in the house at one of the busiest times of the year. This is highly reduce the stress on your mother and the puppy. (most GOOD breeders will not send a puppy home on Christmas – usally well before or after it)
Prices will range depending on where you live and the demand of the dog (how many epopel want this breed at that time). I would guess anywhere from 500$ – 1000$. Look into a shelter in your area. Many shelters have purebred small dogs for a fraction of the price (the downfall is there is no paper work to prove it is a purebred)
References :
Shelter worker
Yorkie and Maltese's are alittle higher on the money scale I think. I'm not a fan of pomeranians because of their coat and all the care that has to go into it. Shih tzu is probably your best bet. I'd say they average around $200. I don't think they are horrible shedders. Whatever you do, don't go for a toy or teacup. Usually they are more sickly than there slightly bigger relatives.
Casey Jo — Wow great advise. I work at an animal hospital that takes in strays, gets them healthy and then finds them homes. I think that I will pass along the info that you gave. I never really thought about it that way.
References :
First let me say that buying a pet as a gift for anyone can be a bad idea. If you're sure she wants another, then of the toy breeds, a toy poodle would be the only one who would be good for someone with allergies. Please stay away from anyone who uses size as a selling point. Puppies advertised as 'teacups' rarely end up as small as promised & since these dogs are bred for nothing but size, they are usually very unhealthy & will die much sooner than the average lifespan of a healthy toy, which can be from 15 years and up. Last bit of advice is to buy from a breeder who shows their dogs. They do all breed specific health testing reccomended by their breed's parent group & you will be able to get a pet quality pup from them for less money than a BYB will charge you for a badly bred sickly runt. Prices will vary greatly, so there is no average price. Just be sure that your mother is able to afford all the vet costs associated
References :
Although I’m sure you’d want this to be a surprise, I would talk with your mom first – does she want another dog? Many dogs are given as gifts by very wel meaning people, but the receiver of the gift does not want one and the dog is either moved to another home, moved to a shelter, or stays in the house but is not loved and is not happy.
That being said, don’t get anything called a “teacup”. Teacup dogs are typically the runt of the litter and have serious health issues.
Pomeranians, while great dogs, do have a lot of fur and need grooming and do shed more than the others do. All of these dogs are trainable as long as the owner is willing to put in the time to do it.
Price can vary greatly between breeders and the part of the country you live in. http://www.akc.org can put you in touch with a breed rescue organization, which are looking for good homes for dogs that were given up by previous owners. They also have a lot of information regarding the specific breeds.
As for life span, this also varies, but most toy breeds live 15-20 years.
References :
the most important thing is to be sure she wants a dog. Many people get dogs for gifts and the person really doesn't want one or is not ready and the pup pays the price. Once you've established she is ready for a new dog, then try to find out what she is interested in. You can do this just as conversation so if this is to be a surprise it still will be. Then when you've established the dogs she is interested in, contact the national or regional breed clubs to locate breeders in your area or better yet, save a life and adopt a dog. There are young dogs and pups available all the time for adoption if you are set on a young one. Good Luck
References :
If you are sure your mom is ready for a new pet, maltese, chihuahua and poodles (though not on your list) are the best bets for the allergy situation. The shih tzu and pomeranian will shed everywhere as well as needing endless grooming so you want to scratch that off of your list. The yorkie is a very intelligent little dog that loves being taken everywhere and is loyal to it’s owner almost to a fault. The chihuahua’s are awesome little dogs too and as long as they are always treated gently and taken everywhere with their human “Mommies” they don’t shake all the time. You are looking at about $400.00 to 1,000.00 for either one of them, depending on where you live. In today’s economy you might be able to find one for a little less but probably not much less. You need to be sure and let anyone you contact about one know that you don’t need a show dog you are interested in pet quality so if there is some imperfection like an overbite or something like that you may get it at a better price. You can look at the chihuahua and yorkie rescue sites also to see if there is a rescue dog that may have had puppies that you can adopt a little more inexpensively. Good luck and what a sweet gift!
References :
Those breeds you listed are *all* toy breeds.
Toy breeds tend to have longer lifespans, being smaller, but you’ll want a responsible breeder (go through the breed club to look for one) or a shelter dog. Backyard breeders are a waste of time and money, and you’ll get a messed up dog (through health or temprament) for sure.
“Teacup” breeds do NOT exist. They are bred to be tiny runts, and will have a lifespan of about 2 years–most of which will be sickly. Toy breeds are already incredibly tiny, make them unnaturally smaller and you’re in for trouble. Besides, no responsible breeder would breed a “teacup” or advertise their runt as one–so it’s a lose/lose situation.
Pomeranians shed quite a bit, and I’m not sure how great a Yorkie would be. Your best bet would be either a Shih Tzu or a Maltese, but since she has allergies, you’ll want to expose her to both breeds, as well as the puppy, to make sure there’s no problem there.
Check out the links on my profile to read about how to find a reputable, responsible breeder. And much luck in your search!
References :
I would definitely not get the pom if your mom is allergic. How about a Miniature Italian Greyhound? I have one and I love her. I’m allergic and shes a great dog to help that problem. An IG may still be too big tho if you are looking for a really small dog. A Boston Terrier is good for allergic people but again it might be bigger than you are looking for.
References :
Teacup dogs are poorly bred unhealthy runts that will set you back thousands of dollars in vet bills and will die early. Breeders who breed them do it for the smallest possible dog without any worry about what the health of the dog will be.
That being said of your list I think a Pomeranian would be best suited. They’re calm, they always want to be with you but they do shed a lot. I do have a suggestion for you though.
Italian greyhounds, loving, clingy, always need to be with their person, want to go everywhere with them, and they barely shed at all.
Also
Xoloitzcuintli. They come in 3 sizes, standard, miniature, and toy, (just like a poodle) so you should get a toy size. They have no hair so that won’t be a problem, and with the other breed they are clingy and never want to leave your side.
Italian Greyhounds and Xolos live to be easily 15 years of age and the cost will depend on where you get it from. Pet stores are terrible places to get puppies and they will often cost more than a properly bred dog from a breeder. So do some research and try to find an excellent breeder.
References :
i have 2 yorkies and they are the most sweetest dogs i have ever met thy are easy to train and stay very small i love them both they cuddle withme and dont shed the sound perfect for your mom
References :
I would definately make sure she wants another one before getting one! She may not be ready for another. Also, find out if she wants a puppy ( dealing with chewing, biting, house training) or an older dog that is past most of that.
Rescues are a great place to start. Look on petfinder. You can get fully vetted pure breds that needs homes there.
I have a yorkie and they are wonderful! Yorkies are pricey, so rescue is your best bet. That would be my top pick out of the breeds you have listed.
Run from any breeder who advertises tea cups! These dogs often have many health problems, and often grow much larger than promised!
Keep in mind that these (the breeds you mentioned) tend to be on the barkier side. They make great watch dogs! They can be trained to do fun tricks, and are lots of fun and great company!
References :
http//www.libertydogtraining.com
Totally:
Toy yes. Teacup no. Avoid anything called a teacup. Those dogs are bred on purpose to be runts and generally have many health conditions.
Yorkies and Maltese are probably the best for allergies. Pom would probably shed the most while the other 3 need constant grooming. If there are children in the should I would avoid a pom as they are more temperamental. All of those dogs stay very small Yorkie being the smallest and the Maltese being the largest. None will (should) weigh more then 15 lbs and that is on the big size!!
Since you are looking at small dogs, try to make sure they are socialized with children from day one as a puppy. Many small dogs tend to have issues with children if they aren’t exposed to them at an early age.
I can’t give you any information on training about small breeds as I myself prefer large dogs but I can give you advice on dogs and Christmas.
I am not going to talk you out of getting a dog as a present but I think you need to rethink your timing. Christmas is a crazy busy time and is very stressful on household dogs let alone a brand new puppy.
Can I suggest getting your mother a bunch of puppy items for Christmas and a picture of the dog you are getting her. That way it will be the present but not in the house at one of the busiest times of the year. This is highly reduce the stress on your mother and the puppy. (most GOOD breeders will not send a puppy home on Christmas – usally well before or after it)
Prices will range depending on where you live and the demand of the dog (how many epopel want this breed at that time). I would guess anywhere from 500$ – 1000$. Look into a shelter in your area. Many shelters have purebred small dogs for a fraction of the price (the downfall is there is no paper work to prove it is a purebred)
References :
Pomeranians are good dogs, but they are very fragile. I think a Chihuahua would be a GREAT choice, because they love to just be your snuggle buddy. They are cute, small, not TO fragile, and have little health concerns. And you barely have to exercise them, and come in a variety of coats, and colors.
Now remember each dog is different so make sure if you are getting it from a breeder hang out with it for a while and see its parents before you make your choice. They live about 15-20 years so a long life will be ensured.
Little walking, little mess, amazing life partner.
References :
my papillon goes every where with me. very smart. $350 – $1200
10 -15 years.
References :
Good rule of thumb: THe smaller the breed, the longer the lifespan.
Question…Does your mother really want another dog?
The breeds you mention require alot of grooming…Toys and teacups are fragile….
I suggest a Pug. Great little companions animals, fearless, intelligent wonderful personalities, sturdy.
Buy from a CERTIFIED breeder and expect to pay 4-$500+ for a pup.
References :
i agree with everyone in talking with ur mom first to c if she is ready. it really depends on the person on if they r ready or not to get another dog. some takes weeks while other take months or years.
if she is y dont u c if she want a shelter dog or a dog from a breeder. maybe ur mom last dog was a shelter dog and she wants to save her next dog at a shelter too.
try petfinder.com to find some dogs in the local area near ur mom and they will have pics of dogs too.
here are some good breeds that dont shed. if u do talk to ur mom ask her what she looks for in a dog. maybe she wants one that are small but not to hyper or small ones that are hyper.
poodle/poodle mixes,shih tzu, Yorkshire Terrier,Maltese, West Highland White Terrier,Bichon Frise,Miniature Poodle. Italian Greyhound,Border Terrier, Cairn Terrier,Havanese, Miniature Schnauzer,Norfolk Terrier, Silky Terrier
if u do get a shelter dog they are cheaper then getting on at a pet store. shelter prices run from 20-300 dollars and this includes up to date shots and being spayed. if u buy one at the stoe they are over 350 dollars. and the ones at the store are just up to date in shots and depending on if this store is a good one or not the puppies are usually sick and die at a younger age.
the average life span for the dogs i list can live up to 13 years or even longer.
References :
First you need to find out if your mom really wants a dog. Then you need to have her help pick it out. Adopting a dog is the same as adopting a child. you need to find one that suits you.
All of the breeds that you mentioned are in the “toy group”. If anyone mentions that they have a toy or teacup anything (except for toy poodle) then run. these are poorly bred dogs from back yard breeders. Also, perhaps your mom would rather have an adult dog instead of a puppy, They are a lot easier and you can get some lovely ones from rescues or shelters.
Maltese and Shih tzus and yorkies have very high maint coats. they tangle easily and/need constant grooming or clipping. Pomeranians even though they have a thick fluffy coat only need brushing a few times a week except when they are shedding. And a bath every 6 to 12 weeks depending upon the dog. They do shed a lot though.
All 4 breeds can be kept clipped although I don’t recommend it for the pom as sometimes if clipped it won’t grow back properly. Toy poodles are also a great dogs.
regular sized well bred Maltese, Yorkies and Pomeranians should be under 7 lbs
Shih tzus are 9 to 16 lbs
Another breed to consider, that I think is really cute and is lower maintenance than all the breeds you mentions are the Brussles Griffon. they are 8 to 10 lbs.
Temperament depends upon breeding and upbringing. There are good and bad in all of these breeds mentioned. They would all like to go places with your mom. This is another good thing about an adult dog, you can see what the temperament is
The most important thing is to get a dog that your mother chooses. Also, Christmas is the worst time to get a dog. Wait until after to bring it home.
References :
Don’t buy anything that has “teacup” written all over it. Teacup is basically the runt of the litter and can cause the dog to have multiple problems. In the end, it will most likely be the biggest nightmare for your mother. I personally like dachshunds. I have allergies, but dachshunds seem to be ok. They shed a lot but they are fine. Anyways, if I had to pick out of your list I would say pomeranian. I think they are adorable and fluffy. =)
References :
I love the shih-tzu breed! They are just the best!
One thing that stood out in your post is the allergy concern and shih-tzus are great because they don’t shed and leave hair everywhere. Another option is a shih-poo, which is 1/2 shih-tzu and 1/2 poodle. They breed these two dogs together to get the look of a shih-tzu and the brains of a poodle. So if you want a really smart and cute dog this would be a great option. And as you may know poodles don’t shed either and are excellent for people with allergies.
Yorkies and Pomeranians are going to be yappy and hyper. I don’t know much about Maltese, however I do have an aunt that shows them and she has about 4.
Shih-tzus love to play and they are great lap dogs. They love to follow you around and stay at your feet. They also like to sleep with you at night.
I think they are pretty easy to train – of course all dogs require some work to housebreak.
My shih-poo loves to go bye-bye! She will run out and get in the car! My other shih-tzus don’t travel much in the car except to the vet occasionally. My shih-poo started riding in the car when she was a puppy when we used to go to obedience school. I think if you take a shih-tzu with you they would learn to enjoy it. I have a friend that got a puppy from me about a year ago and it goes with her in the a lot.
The standard size for a shih-tzu is 9 – 16 pounds. My largest is about 13 lbs. Some people breed the smaller dogs to get the size down. They list them as “teacup” or “imperial” shih-tzus.
The smaller puppies are generally more money. There is a breeder in our area that sells them for $450.00 to $750.00 – the females being the most expensive. This is for the smaller size – under 9 lbs. I believe the reason they are more money is because more people seem to want the smaller dogs and they don’t have big litters.
Shay
References :
Mommy to 1 shih-poo and 6 shih-tzus!