Size matters when picking a small dog

Paris Hilton may have started the trend with purse and toy dogs, however, there are some things to consider.

Small dogs are much easier to house and handle, especially for apartment city folks, however, please take note of the following.

Will a small dog fit with your family? A small fragile dog like a Chihuahua may not be suitable for children unless they're old enough to take care and play with the dog gently. Because smaller dogs have smaller skeletal frames, they're more likely to break bones and or have fractures, especially as puppies. For this reason, children must be very gentle.

Grooming for smaller dogs is greater than larger breed as their skin and hair require frequent grooming. In other words, budgeting wisely needs to be taken into consideration. It will cost anywhere between $50 - $150 for professional grooming every 5 - 6 weeks.

Long haired toy togs will require daily brushing either by a groomer or with a good quality brush that will cost anywhere between $20 - $30.

Small dogs require more frequent nail trimming than larger dogs.

Anal glad issues are more frequent in smaller than larger dogs.

Long back breeds such as Dachshunds are more likely to slip a disk in their backbone.

Luxating Patella is a condition in which the kneecap slides in and out of normal position causing intermittent lameness. Your vet may recommend surgery, a huge cost to consider and factor when selecting a small dog.

Small dogs have a longer life span and or more likely to develop genetic and or environment health issues.