Despite their smaller size, toy breeds have tremendous stamina and energy – just think how many more steps they must take to keep up with us.
Toy breeds require different types of care and parenting than their large breed brothers.
Frequent Handling
One of the best gifts you can give your toy breed is a comfort level with regular handling. Begin with daily grooming sessions including teeth brushing. This frequent handling helps your dog experience less anxiety when others including your veterinarian handle them. If your dog is a breed, which requires professional grooming, carefully select a groomer you can trust.
Home Safety
We recommend against allowing your toy breed to jump off furniture despite how effortless it may appear. Over time this jump damages and harms joints and increases risk of injuries. If you welcome your pet on the couch or bed, consider using small ramps to allow safe access. Dog hide their pain. If unusual behaviors such as aggression occur, it may be a sign of injury.
Housetraining
Toy breeds are often more challenging to housebreak and require attention in the early stages. Metabollically, it’s difficult for toy breeds to maintain an adequate body temperature. As a result they look to eat more frequently. This can also worsen the challenge with housebreaking. Be patient and consistent with your puppy during this time.
Destructive Chewing
Puppies are known for getting into just about everything. Like human babies they are naturally curious, but instead of using their hands to explore, they use their mouths. Puppy teeth begin very sharp and as permanent teeth come in, they are less sharp. New puppy parents might be surprised to learn that the real chewing beings after the permanent teeth emerge. Adult dog teeth require setting in the jaw. Hard chewing stabilizes the teeth for lifelong dental health. This hard chewing is completely normal and necessary. We recommend providing your dog with good quality chew toys, which are small enough for your smaller dog’s mouth.