Popular Small Purebreds
According to the AKC, the most popular small dogs are the dachshund, Yorkie, poodle, shih tzu, Chihuahua, miniature schnauzer, pug, Pomeranian, Boston terrier, and miniature pinscher. But dogs go in and out of fashion, and closely nipping at their heels in popularity are the Maltese, Welsh corgi, bichon frise, and West Highland white.
Also currently surging in demand are the “doodle” or “designer” dogs, mixes of poodles and every breed under the sun. The large breed Labra-doodle (Labrador retriever and poodle mix) and Goldendoodle (golden retriever and poodle) are now in high demand, but smaller doodles have been around for years. Although the practice has always been frowned upon by serious dog people, dog owners have always paired up little dogs of differing pedigrees. These smaller mixes are now riding a wave of popularity on the tails of their bigger doodle counterparts.
Groomers have long been familiar with the popular Cocker-Poo, a small-to medium-size mix of cocker spaniel and poodle that comes in the full spectrum of poodle colors. Then there is the Schnoodle (miniature schnauzer/poodle), Chi-Poo (Chihuahua/poodle), Shi-Poo (shih tzu/poodle), Malti-Poo (Maltese/poodle), Bich-Poo (bichon frise/poodle), Lhasa-Poo (Lhasa apso/ poodle), and Westi-Poo (West Highland white/poodle).
If you decide on the ever-popular Chihuahua, your dog should always be in your care, not allowed to play unsupervised outdoors.
In addition to their unique teddy-bear looks, these dogs are nonshedding a prized legecy from their poodle parent. If you are one of the millions who suffer from allergies and asthma, the idea of owning a hypoallergenic dog could be very appealing.
Because poodle mixes obviously don't come with a pedigree, there is no guarantee they will not shed. Sometimes it takes a few generations of selective breeding to produce a truly hypoallergenic dog. If you want a known quantity, several nonshedding small purebreds are available, including the poodle, bichon frise, and Maltese.
You also now routinely see such canine concoctions as Chia-Pins (Chi-huahua/ miniature pinscher), Buggies (beagle/pug), Bugs (Boston terrier/ pug), Dorgis (dachshund/corgi), Chitzus (Chihuahua/shih tzu), and Shi-Lhas (shih tzu/Lhasas)
While mixing pure breeds is considered indiscriminate by devoted breeders and the AKC, combining different breeds is nothing new. When you research the history of any breed, you will find a diverse cast of ancestors that added size, color, coat type, spirit, and spunk to create the breeds we know today. There is also the factor known as “hybrid vigor.” Because mixes (known less flatteringly as mongrels or mutts) come from different breeds, they are less likely to inherit breed-specific health maladies such as hip dysplasia, problems with their liver, eyesight, heart, or kidneys, or the high incidence of cancer now prevalent in some breeds that share closely bred foundation stock.
Regardless of which dogs are being bred, it's important for the breeder to know their medical histories. Some inexperienced people are jumping on the doodle-dog bandwagon without screening for health problems and temperament issues. Although there are no guarantees that any dog will be free of health problems, you need to consider the unpredictability factor and ask for references about other pups sold by that breeder when considering such a designer pup.
Unlike doodle dogs, most mixed-breed pups are the result of accidental breeding. Sadly, the shelters are full of these dogs, and the small ones are usually adopted first. Mutts are an all-American tradition with an appeal all their own. When you adopt one, you'll be saving a life as well as gaining a wonderful pet.
