The Most Easily maintainable Small Dog Breeds

A cytophilic will understand that dogs not only bring a sense of joy and satisfaction in one’s daily life; instead, they also bring uplifting hope and resilience from dark times.

A friend in need is a friend indeed. This quote is not just limited to humans, but it stands true for dogs as well. They do not materialise love; all they reflect and offer is affectionate energy for their owners.

Having a dog is a blessing. They shower unconditional love and support in any manner they can. Dogs also keep negativity and mental illnesses like depression and anxiety at bay.

Studies show that it has been scientifically proven that dogs play an integral role in the emotional and mental well-being of humans. Science has proved that dogs sense chemical changes in our body due to negative emotions and respond to them by showering affection for them.

But, living in this advancing era, full of urbanisation and construction, it might be a little laborious to own a dog as dogs require appropriate space and maintenance to live a comfortable and tranquil life.

But, this hurdle can easily be resorted to by owning a much smaller dog in size and thus easier to maintain. So, here we present a list of five such small dog breeds in India:

1. Miniature Pinscher

Commonly referred to as Min Pin, in short, this breed is popularized for its small size and cute appearance. Zwergspinscher or min pin is a breed that originated from Germany. But, it is now also available in India.

History depicts this breed as a very old one, originating (not as a pure breed) 200 years ago. This breed has also been nicknamed The King of Toys for its appearance but dominating nature, especially over larger dogs.

• • Appearance: These are generally short, about 25 to 29 cm, with a short and smooth coat, without an undercoat and a docked tail.
  • Characteristics: These are vigorous, outgoing, active and very alert. Short hair and less hair fall thus, require less attention as only occasional brushing is required.
  • Maintenance: Less maintenance for hair and coat. Regular walks are required to prevent weight gain and obesity.
  • Colour: The colours available are stag red, chocolate stag red, black, grey and chocolate.
  • Lifespan: They can live for an average of about 15 years.

2. Pug

Pugs were initially brought from China to Europe. In the United Kingdom, particularly in the 19^th century, Queen Victoria developed a fondness for this breed and thus, many members of the royal family owned it.

Chinese in origin, pugs were highly valued by the Chinese Emperors. In Tibet, they were even kept as pets by Buddhist monks.

• • Appearance: Pugs are characterized by their wrinkled face, short snout, large and round, black eyes and a short but well-built body.
  • Characteristics: They are playful and rarely aggressive. They spend a lot of time napping. They are always willing to follow and please their owners.
  • Maintenance: Physical exercise and regular exercise with a healthy diet is needed. Owners need to be more careful and protective of their eyes.
  • Colour: Fawn and black are the most common colours, along with apricot and silver fawn of this breed which American Kennel Club has recognized.
  • Lifespan: Estimated lifespan is about 12 to 15 years of age.

3. Dachshund

Commonly known as the wiener dog, badger dog, and sausage dog, this breed is known for its uncommon appearance because of its long body and short legs.

This is a hound-type dog breed. Although this breed is not meant for speed walking, jumping, and swimming, they are lively, courageous and clever.

According to AKC, this breed is ranked 12^th in popularity and was traditionally meant to chase away badgers and smaller animals like rabbits. They still continue to be loyal companies and friendly creatures.

• • Appearance: It has a long, round body with a slightly elongated neck and a convex skull with robust muscular development.
  • Characteristics: They are playful, courageous and tireless yet stubborn and lively. They are also loyal to their owners. Their average weight ranges from 7.5 to14 kg as per the standard size.
  • Maintenance: For maintaining a Dachshund, it is important to brush the fur coat and exercise to prevent obesity.
  • Colour: The colour varies from black to cream, red, chocolate and tan and chocolate and cream.
  • Lifespan: The median lifespan for this breed is about 12 to 16 years on an average.

4. Chihuahua

This breed is originally named after a Mexican state called Chihuahua. They do not have a widely known history because they were not recognized and registered by the kennel clubs till the 1940s.

Now, they are one of the smallest breeds recognized by the Kennel Clubs. They are widely categorized into 2 groups which are: Smooth coat and Long coat. However, unlike other long-haired breeds, long-haired Chihuahuas do not require trimming and grooming. Thus, they are listed as one of the most easily maintainable small dog breeds in India.

On the basis of the structure of their skull also, they have been grouped as apple headed and deer headed. The deer type has a flat-topped head with widely set eyes. In comparison, apple type has a large and highly rounded skull.

• • Appearance: They are short with outward protruding eyes, and their fur may range from short-haired to long-haired. They have a height of 15 to 23 cm, and their mass ranges from 1.5 to 3kg.
  • Characteristics: They are often lively, active and often regarded as a symbol of cuteness.
  • Maintenance: Brushing of hair twice or thrice a week is required, along with chipping of nails regularly.
  • Colour: Any colour except merle is considered appropriate for this breed, and thus, the colours are wide-ranging.
  • Lifespan: Their average lifespan ranges from 12 to 20 years on an average.

5. Lhasa Apso

This breed originally originated from Tibet. Lhasa is actually the capital. Certain characteristics of this breed have evolved as a result of the climatic environment, like the head features and the coat.

The American Kennel Club accepted this breed in 1935 in the terrier group. As they belong to the Himalayas, the Lhasa has a double coat.

• • Appearance: This breed generally has a thicker and heavier coat and dark brown eyes, and a black nose. The females are comparatively smaller, with an average weight of 6.4 to 8.2 kg.
  • Characteristics: These dogs are always willing to be close to their owners and are very loyal and affectionate towards them. However, they take some time to get comfortable with strangers.
  • Maintenance: As they have a dense coat, it is absolutely essential to brush the hair regularly. Shedding is more in this breed as compared to the others, so care has to be taken, especially for hair. They are also prone to certain eye diseases, so special hygiene care must also be taken.
  • Colour: Colour ranges from red to white and also black. So, all the dog colours are included in this breed.
  • Lifespan: According to the kennel club, as per 2004, the median lifespan of this breed is about 14 years and 4 months. Which also depends on the living conditions of the dog.

Thus, it is essential to provide affection and warmth of care to all the dogs. Not only does this impact the wellbeing of a dog, but it also brings a significant increase in their lifespan.