Pomeranians are the tiniest of the Spitz. but they have the courage of much bigger dogs. you won’t often find him in a puppy purse. That’s because Pomeranians think big. They know they have four feet and prefer to use them, just as larger dogs would. Everything about the Pomeranian is bright: his eyes, his temperament, and his intelligence. Though he’s very fond of his family and delighted to get some lap time, he’s also a busy little guy. You’re more likely to find him trotting around your house on an important mission than snoozing on the sofa. He’s happiest when he gets to go on long walks, chase leaves, and play with other small dogs.

Shih Tzu is, somewhat inexplicably given his willingness to be spoiled, one of the sweeter of toy breeds and one of the more popular, too. Shih Tzus do not guard, hunt, or tunnel into the earth, although they may retrieve balls for you to throw again. They are bred to do one thing, and they do it well: They are companion dogs who give love to the world and soak it back in. They’re an in-your-lap kind of dog. They’ll bark to alert you that someone is at the door; once whoever it is comes inside, there's a good chance your dog will like the person as long as you do, because they are trusting creatures. Shihtzu’s also needs frequent grooming.

The Lhasa can be a wonderful family companion if children are old enough to treat him with respect. He is not a breed that will put up patiently with having his ears, tail, or hair pulled. While Lhasa Apsos show loyalty to their owners, they will let their masters know when they don't want to do something. They will lie flat without moving, "put on the brakes" and refuse to walk forward, or try to back away.

Don’t let his worried, wrinkled little face fool you: The Pug is laughing inside. He’s laughing at you and with you — and he’s also trying to make you laugh. These dogs live for fun, which is the secret to their enduring popularity. The Pug is never happier than when spending time with his human family, often following someone from room to room. He is welcome wherever he goes, with a handsome, smooth-coated frame in shades of tan, gray, and black, and with a black mask accenting his sweetly wrinkled face. If you’re careful to mind his special needs, the Pug is an easy-care pet. His short coat sheds, but his grooming needs are modest. He doesn’t need a great deal of exercise — nor can he tolerate it — but it’s important to keep him lean, fit, and mentally challenged, especially when he’s young. Because of his great love for people, care should be taken to accustom your Pug to being alone so he doesn’t develop excessive anxiety when left behind.

No breed has a more highly developed sense of humor AND INTELLIGENT than the Poodle. Good thing, too, because no breed has been the butt of more jokes. Humor aside, all the sniping is unfortunate. Many a family overlooks the smart, funny Poodle, thinking him prissy. Still, it is one of the more popular breeds in the world. Poodle lovers know the dogs for their intelligence, ease of training, low-shedding curly coat, and love of family. A Poodle’s coat is both a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing because the breed sheds less, so it may be more easily tolerated by some people with allergies. But the coat — or rather what some people do with it — is why many people cross the Poodle off their lists. Poodles require grooming every 4 to 6 weeks.

The tiny (as small as two pounds) Chihuahua offers feistiness coupled with enduring loyalty to the person he chooses as his own, along with an expressive face, including large, round eyes that show everything the dog is thinking. The Chihuahua is also very yappy and will be noisily vigilant about any intrusion into his territory, real or imagined. He's not particularly fond of strangers of any species, reserving his affection for his chosen person and, sometimes, the rest of the family. Chihuahuas come in two coat types, short and long. The short coat sheds more than the long, but the long does require daily brushing to keep it from tangling and to remove dead hairs. But since there’s not much dog, there’s not much coat, even in the long-haired version.

The Chow Chow has several unique characteristics: a blue-black tongue, the coat of a teddy bear, the scowl of a lion, and a distinctive stilted gait. The Chow Chow has a low activity level and can live happily in any home, including an apartment or condo. One or two brief walks daily will satisfy his exercise needs. Chows don't require extensive trimming but do need a few hours of brushing, bathing and nailcutting to maintain their magnificent appearance. Grooming should begin as soon as you bring your Chow home whether he's 6 weeks or 6 months old.

Yorkshire Terriers have long been labeled as the preferred companions of well-heeled, older women who wouldn’t deign to live in a building without a doorman, and who can’t bear to be late for the local arts fundraiser. The Yorkie is alert, trainable, and insatiably curious, making him a quintessential “big dog in a little dog’s body. Yorkies are the darlings of the purse-dog set, but they also need ample time on the ground. He’ll happily take long walks, and he can be quite a determined — and boisterous — watchdog, as well.

Cheerful, easy to train and eager to please, the Golden Retriever is what you see in the dictionary when you look up “Perfect Family Dog.” Goldens love everyone, especially children, and get along well with new people and strange dogs. They draw admiring looks – and usually loving pats – from almost everyone they meet. The Golden is an active dog who will retrieve a tennis ball until your arm gives out. The breed’s loyalty, intelligence and stable temperament have made them the darlings of the service dog world. He excels at all dog sports, including agility, obedience, flyball, rally, freestyle, dock diving and tracking. They should be thoroughly brushed once every one to two weeks and other grooming should be done on a regular basis.

DIPSY'S LITTER DOB: 4-21-19

DIPSY'S LITTER DOB: 4-21-19