The AKC toy group is comprised exclusively of some of the smallest dogs in the canine world — and also some of the cutest! Many of these cuddly little rascals have been bred purely for companionship, and were never intended for anything other than being a pet. Some of them come from very obscure backgrounds, but make no mistake — these are dogs.

The most amazing thing about little dogs is that they think just like big dogs. They mark territory; they are loving; they are protective; they are great watchdogs; and they will bite, too, if they feel threatened. The best thing about them is they get away with a lot more because of their size and cuteness, and guard their privileges jealously: they are usually welcome on the couch to sleep in your lap; they're usually allowed in public places and on transportation, where their larger cousins are absolutely forbidden; hotels even sometimes turn a blind eye to them. At the very least, they're so small, they're easier to hide!

Some of these dogs are so small, that many centuries ago in Europe they were called sleeve dogs, because ladies of means hid the dogs in their sleeves! Many of these breeds have stories about them regarding royalty. Many is the breed whose vigilant watch over his master included warnings in the middle of the night of shrill barking, announcing approaching assassins.

Bred almost exclusively for companionship, toy breeds like this Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may be small in size, but they're large in personality.

Toy dogs tend to be smart and feisty. They can be trained easily for the most part and many do not require too much exercise. These are all good house and apartment dogs. They love attention and they expect to get it. They also require grooming, and they love that, too.

If toy dogs are small, imagine how small toy puppies are! This is why many breeders discourage households with small children from getting a toy breed puppy. Even well-meaning and well-behaved children can cause serious damage to a tiny toy breed puppy. But because toy breeds don't necessarily think of themselves as “toys,” many of them can handle the youngest members of a family just fine. If a toy breed is for you and you have very young children in the house, talk to other owners and breeders before bringing a puppy home. This is a good time to remember that there are often older dogs that need homes; perhaps a rescue toy is best for your family!

The dogs in the toy group in the American Kennel Club are:

• Affenpinscher

• Brussels Griffon

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

• Chihuahua

• Chinese Crested

• English Toy Spaniel

• Havanese

• Italian Greyhound

• Japanese Chin

• Maltese

• Manchester Terrier (Toy)

• Miniature Pinscher

• Papillon

• Pekingese

• Pomeranian

• Poodle (Toy)

• Pug

• Shih Tzu

• Silky Terrier

• Toy Fox Terrier

• Yorkshire Terrier