find a small dogs

Discover 94 small dog breeds! Read the breed profiles, view photos & learn about the personalities and traits of each breed. There are 94 different types of small dogs. Find out which one is right for you!

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Top 10 Small Dog Breeds:

1.	Beagle	2.	Yorkshire Terrier
3.	Poodle	4.	Dachshund
5.	Shih Tzu	6.	Miniature Schnauzer
7.	Chihuahua	8.	Pomeranian
9.	French Bulldog	10.	Shetland Sheepdog

----How to Choose a Small Dog---

You shouldn't pick a dog based solely on the way it looks, or you could end up with a dog that doesn't behave how you expected and does things you don't like!

So here's a quick and helpful guide highlighting the main points you should consider when choosing a small dog:

Size

Generally a small dog is considered to weigh less than 22lbs or be shorter than 16 inches. Some of the small dog breeds on this site are much lighter or shorter than this and some are a little heavier or taller than this--but they are all small dogs nevertheless (even though a few are borderline between small and medium sized).

Some breeds, such as the Chihuahua, are the smallest of the small... weighing in at only 6 to 8 pounds and standing only 6 to 10 inches tall. While the larger of the small breeds like the Staffordshire Bull Terrier weigh 24 to 36 pounds and stand at 14 to 16 inches tall.

So, your first choice is to decide if you want a really small dog like a Chihuahua or if you don't mind a larger small dog like a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. It might not bother you either way. The really small guys are really easier to pick-up, transport, and carry around!

Trainability

Every small breed can be trained to learn commands, however some learn commands a lot faster than others. A fast learning breed is much easier to train and will know more commands in a shorter period of time. While a slower learning breed requires more patience and time to train.

If you want an obedient dog but don't have much patience or time to train him you will want to pick an easier to train breed. (Choose a breed with a trainability rating of 7/10, or more.)

Shedding

Some small dogs shed virtually no hair. These low-shedders shed so little that you'll struggle to find one hair in your home. If you hate dog hair and don't have time for extra vacuuming, then one of these breeds is right for you (choose a breed with a shedding rating of 2/10 or less).

Some other breeds shed a moderate amount of hair: you'll find some stuck to your carpet, clothes and couch. If you don't mind a little hair in your home like this, then you have a wider variety of small dog breeds to choose from (choose a breed with a shedding rating of up to 7/10).

Then there are the shed-like-there's-no-tomorrow breeds! These breeds shed enormous amounts of hair! If you own one, you'll find hair on everything in your home. You'll find lots of hair on your carpet, sofa, and clothes. Probably even on your kitchen table and in the fridge. It gets everywhere! But if hair doesn't bother you, then you can choose a dog with any shedding level and you have the widest selection of small breeds to choose from. (The super-high shedders are the ones rated 8 to 10 stars for shedding. Definitely avoid these if you hate hair.)

Low Maintenance

Small dog maintenance comes down to two things: brushing and vacuuming. Some breeds are almost maintenance-free and only require an occasional brushing and don't drop virtually any hair so you don't have to vacuum.

You need to brush a long-haired dog daily so the dog's coat doesn't become a matted and tangled mess! However, you can avoid this if you keep his coat clipped short (just clip it short every few months--it only takes about 30 minutes to do) and then you only have to brush it occasionally (problem solved!). So you aren't limited to just the short-haired breeds if you don't have time for regular brushing. You still can choose a longhaired breed; you just have to clip his coat short to make it easy to maintain.

If you don't have time to be vacuuming up hair, either, then you will want a low-shedding breed.

Children

Most all small dog breeds are great with children when they grow up with the children as puppies.

The fact is: any child who is excessively rough or unintentionally teases a dog is at risk of being bitten. If your dog is being poked in the eyes, having his ears pulled, and being smothered then his natural instinct is to defend himself and he will probably give a few warning nips and growls and if it continues he may bite.

So, if you have very young children and decide to bring a dog into your home it's your responsibility to supervise your children around the dog and teach them to respect him and be gentle with him. Then the chances of your child being bitten are virtually none.

Watchdog

Virtually all small dog breeds make good little watchdogs--they will all make some sort of commotion (growling or barking)--when a stranger enters their turf. But some breeds are better at this job than others. A few are highly alert and will bark unrelentingly if a stranger is on "their" property. (Choose a breed rated 8 to 10 stars for "Watchdog if you want one the top watchdog breeds.)

Allergies -- Hypoallergenic Small Dogs?

Contrary to popular belief, it's not dog hair that causes allergies (sneezing, itchy eyes, runny nose) it's dog dander (or dead skin flakes) that does. This microscopic dander floats through the air and when inhaled or when it lands in the eyes it triggers the allergic-reaction.

All dogs with skin (which is all of them) produce dander. So there is no such thing as dog, big or small, that doesn't produce it and is therefore totally safe for allergy-sufferers. However, because small dogs have less skin, they produce less dander. It is also thought that breeds who are low hair shedders also shed less dander.

So if you have allergies to dander, first consider a small dog breed (you're at the right web site) and secondly consider a low shedding small breed, like a Poodle or Maltese, or one of the many other low shedding breeds. (Choose a breed who is rated 1 or 2 out of 10 for shedding).

And, to be safe, if you do have allergies arrange to spend some time around some dogs of the breed you are interested in (maybe at a breeders home)--to make certain that they don't trigger your allergies... before you get one.

How to Build a Strong Bond with Your Dog

The fact that you are reading this article shows that you already care for, and love your dog very much. However, to establish a good bond with a dog, we need caring as well as a good dose of rules and structure.

In bonding with a dog, it is important to establish ourselves as the pack leader. We need to teach our dog which are good dog behaviors, and which are bad dog behaviors according to us humans. Our human laws primarily protect people and not dogs, thus it is up to us to protect our dog from situations that may cause him harm. This includes running into traffic, accidentally biting people because of unrestrained playfulness, or dog aggression.

The best way to achieve a strong bond with our dog is to do regular joint activity with him, including dog exercise, dog play, dog obedience training, and dog grooming.

I always try to observe what my dog is trying to tell me, and make sound decisions based on his temperament and level of tolerance, as well as his likes and dislikes.

----Bond with Your Dog Tip 1----

 Redirect our dog's energies into productive pursuits.

Siberian Shania inspecting the bubble machine.

Make our dog work for all of his food through toys, training, handling, or grooming.

Redirect our dog’s energies into productive pursuits.

Most dogs naturally love running, chasing, chewing everything, jumping, smelling,eating poop, eating everything else, and rolling in smelly stuff.

These dog behaviors lead to chewed up expensive shoes, mud on designer clothing, torn upholstery, and a variety of other delights that our dog will devise when left to his own devices. A good way to deal with these bad dog behaviors is to redirect our dog into positive and productive pursuits -

• Play running and chase games with him. Some examples include recall training, hide and seek, and flirt pole. 
• Get good and safe chew toys. I frequently press cheese bits onto my dogs’ chew toys so that they are even more motivated to chew on them. We can also try soaking appropriate chew toys in chicken broth to give them an appealing scent. 
• Make our dog work for all of his food through toys, training, handling, or grooming. 
• Do obedience training or dog sports so that he gets to jump, run, and compete. 
• Walk our dog every day on a loose leash so that he gets to explore and smell interesting environments. 
• I hand-feed my dogs during these activities to further establish trust.

To build a strong human-dog bond, we must not only look to what we desire, but also how we can fulfill our dog’s desires.

In addition, this approach is useful for getting our dog to perform tasks that he may not like, such as taking a bath. Instead of giving my Shiba Inu a regular bath in the shower stall, which he is really afraid of, I play the water hose game with him. Shiba does not usually like getting wet, but he is very happy to get totally soaked for this chasing game. He will even take intermittent breaks for a washcloth scrub-down.

By making bathing into a game, I get to engage in a fun activity with my dog, as well as get a previously unpleasant task done with no stress, no physical force, and lots of laughs.

By combining bathing and the water hose game I get to engage in a fun activity with my dog as well as get a previously unpleasant task done with no stress, no physical force, and lots of laughs.

---Bond with Your Dog Tip 2---

Always be calm, consistent and fair with our dog.

To gain a dog’s respect we must be calm, consistent, and fair with him.Always be calm, consistent and fair with our dog.

Be calm – Do not yell or respond in anger. A dog is more likely to stay calm and listen to us, if we are also calm.

Be consistent - Do not punish him for jumping on the bed one day, and not on another.

Be fair - Do not punish him for not performing a command, if he does not understand what is required of him. By the same token, set and enforce rules within the house so that our dog is not bullying us.

If we always get angry or frustrated, it will be difficult to build a strong and healthy bond that is based on trust and respect.

Do not be fearful of our dog. A dog can easily sense fear, and he will become uncertain and fearful himself because of it. Fear indicates a lack of trust in our dog, and frequently a lack of trust in ourselves. In particular, we fear what the dog may do, and we fear that we will not be able to stop him.

To build a strong and healthy bond 

• Try to always remain calm, consistent, and fair. This will make our dog feel safe because he will always know what to expect from us, and what we expect from him. 
• Establish a consistent set of verbal commands and hand gestures to communicate with him. 
• Establish a consistent set of rules that he must always follow. 
• Establish a consistent routine and schedule for his various dog activities.

To gain our dog’s respect, we must be calm, consistent, and fair with him.

Establish a consistent set of rules that our dog always has to follow.

Some dog trainers suggest that a healthy bond is based on conducting certaindominance rituals, such as always walking ahead of our dog, go through entrances first, and eating before him.

Some of these rules are useful not because they are dominance rules, but simply because they add structure to our human-dog relationship.

In fact, the actual rules do not usually matter much, as long they help to define some boundaries and routine for the dog.

Rules do not magically build a strong bond, and make us into a respected leader. If we try to perform these actions with angry or fearful energy, our dog will only get frustrated, and misbehave or show aggression.

To build a strong bond with our dog we must not only look to what we desire but also how we can fulfill our dog's desires.

---Bond with Your Dog Tip 3---

Bond with Your Dog Tip 3 - Build a bond that is based on mutual respect and not based on pain and fear.

Build a bond that is based on mutual respect, and not based on pain and fear.

Many proponents of aversive dog trainingargue that it is not possible to achieve a healthy bond with our dog if we do not use dominance techniques, and physical force.

According to them, we must show the dog who is boss, and the dog must always follow every single one of our commands. Failure to do so will result in a swift physical correction, which may be a leash jerk, finger poke, muzzle slap, or alpha roll.

They argue that this is especially true for stubborn, strong willed, and dominant dogs. Such dogs, they say, will not respond to a well meaning but soft owner that chooses not to engage in a physical contest with his dog.

This is NOT true.

The best way to build a strong bond with a dog, and to become a good leader, is to stay away from brute force physical techniques.

In a true physical contest, we can be sure that the dog will win – so trying to achieve leadership through physical dominance is misguided at best. If we see a group of stray dogs eating our garbage, do we walk up to them and try to wrestle them to the ground? I think not – and we should not do that to our own dog either.

We can build a bond that is based on pain and fear, but it is much better to build a bond that is based on mutual respect.

We can build a bond that is based on pain and fear, but it is much better to build a bond that is based on mutual respect.

We are already natural leaders to our dogs.

Be a confident and benevolent leader of the pack.

The fact is, we are already natural leaders to our dogs because we have control over their most prized resources, including food, shelter, toys, access to pack members, access to interesting locations, and access to other dogs. To establish ourselves as leader, we simply need to teach our dogs this fact – through the Nothing in Life is Free (NILIF) program.

With NILIF, our dog has to do something for us, before he gets anything in return. Any bullying will be ignored, or will result in the removal of a resource. With this program, our dog quickly learns that the simplest and fastest way to get what he wants, is by following our rules.

Even in wolf packs, a strong and confident alpha pair will tolerate a fair amount of misbehavior from subordinates. They save their strength and attention for more direct challenges, which center around resource control, e.g. mating rights or food rights.

A strong leader has no need to alwaysforce compliance, because he is confident that when it counts, he can easily command compliance.

Be a confident and benevolent leader of the pack, not a tyrant.

---Bond with Your Dog Tip 4---

Gain our dog's trust.

Trust is acquired by always looking out for our dog's best interests.

Gain our dog’s trust.

Receiving love from a dog is very different from earning his trust.

Dogs have an immense capacity to love, but it takes a lot more work to earn their trust. Yet, this is an extremely worthwhile endeavor because once we have a dog’s trust, we will be able to achieve a deeper bond, and bring about a happy, well balanced, well behaved, canine friend.

Trust is acquired by always looking out for our dog’s best interests. Being inconsistent with our dog, or using forceful training techniques can destroy that trust.

People usually focus on themselves; their need for love, and their feelings of embarrassment when their dog ‘acts out’. To gain a dog’s trust, just focus on doing what is best for him, without expecting anything in return. If we can do this, the returns will surely come.

I protect my dogs from external threats, or perceived external threats. It does not matter whether the threat is real or not. As long as my dog perceives it to be a threat, and is stressed by it, I step in and protect him.

Sometimes, being a good caretaker also means we must protect our dog from himself, and do things that he may not like or understand.

If our dog is obese and loves to eat, we should put him on a strict diet so he does not develop health problems down the road. If our dog loves to run and chase, make sure to have him on a leash so that he does not run into traffic.

Visit the vet at least once every year, for dog vaccination shots and for teeth cleaning.

Sometimes, we must protect our dog from himself, and do things that he may not like or understand.

---Bonding with Your Dog---

Bonding with our dog is a give and take process.

Our dog is willing to do commands, endure hugs, walk on a leash, and comply with many other human rules and restrictions that he would never do in the wild.

In return, we should try to understand our dog, and fulfill his needs to the best of our abilities.

Why physically punish a dog for being fearful of bathing, when you can make the experience fun, pleasant, and less stressful by turning it into a game?

How to buy a good dog

Are you thinking of getting a dog?

 Choosing to bring a new dog into your life is a major decision. Be sure you are ready for a dogbefore you start the process. It is also essential that you understand the cost of dog ownership. If you have decided that the time is right, congratulations! Now it is time to figure out what type of dog is right for you. There are several factors to consider before choosing a dog. Most importantly, examine your current lifestyle and consider what adjustments you are willing to make for a dog. Look at the needs of your family – especially if you have children or other pets. People with allergies, or those who prefer low-shedding dogs, might want to look into hypoallergenic dog breeds. Next, think about the ideal size, energy level and age of your new dog. Then, determine where to get your new dog. Just remember that getting a dog requires a firm commitment to responsible dog ownership. Here are some tips to help you choose the best dog for you and your family.

Size

You may already know you want a little lap dog that you can carry around. Or, you might have your heart set on a large or giant dog breed. If you cannot decide, then perhaps a medium sized dog is a good choice.

Remember that some small dogs are delicate and vulnerable. Being stepped on or mishandled can cause serious injury. Also, little dogs can be much more sensitive to colder temperatures, so be ready to help keep them warm. Don’t forget that small dogs need obedience training too! Some little dogs can develop “tough dog” attitudes, seemingly to compensate for their small size. Be sure you are prepared for this possibility.

Very large dogs need a bit more space to move around. Big, happy dogs with long, whip-like tails need "wagging space" to avoid tail injury or damage to household objects. Another consideration is expense: the larger the dog, the more expensive things like dog food, dog supplies and medical treatments become. Training is also a key factor here. If you get a large or giant breed puppy that is allowed to act like a lap dog when young, he will grow up to walk all over you – literally!

Activity Level

You probably already know that some dogs have more energy than others. A dog’s activity level is often determined by breed, but it does not mean you can rely on breed alone to determine how energetic your dog could become. Every dog needs routine exercise, regardless of breed or size, so make sure you can to provide this. If you know you can not commit to more than one or two casual walks per day, then you will probably be better off with a lower energy dog, such as a Basset Hound. If you are looking for a dog that can be a jogging partner, agility competitor or “disc dog,” consider a breed like the Border Collie.

Be willing to adjust the amount of exercise and attention you give your dog if necessary. A dog that is barking constantly, digging up your yard, destroying your home, or acting out in some other way is most likely in need of extra activities. Many behavior problems are the result of excess energy. Unfortunately, many dogs are given up or even euthanized because of a behavior problem that could have easily been avoided with the proper amount of exercise and attention.

Physical Maintenance

Your dog’s appearance has a lot to do with his maintenance needs. All dogs need basic grooming, but certain types need more based on the type of hair coat. If you get a dog with hair that keeps growing, then advanced routine grooming is essential. Most short haired, smooth-coated dogs are major shedders, so be prepared to do some extra cleaning up. Some grooming tools can help reduce shedding. Be aware that dogs with long, floppy ears are more prone to ear infections and require frequent thorough ear cleanings. In addition, certain types of dogs can do a lot of drooling. Many owners of Mastiffs, Bloodhounds and similar dogs actually carry a “slobber cloth” with them to wipe the drool. If they shake their heads – watch out!

Age

Puppies require the greatest amount of training and attention, especially over the first six months. Be prepared to dedicate much of your time to housebreaking and raising your new puppy. You dog will likely have plenty of accidents in the house and will probably chew your furniture and personal belongings. These problems will gradually resolve with dedicated training, but patience is a must. You should also be aware that your puppy might grow up to be different then you expected, especially if you adopt a mixed-breed dog. This is not necessarily a bad thing, just something to keep in mind.

Adult dogs can be an excellent choice. An adult might be a better choice if you want to have a good idea of the true energy level, attitude, and temperament of your new dog. However, just because the dog is an adult does not mean he is trained, so you should still expect some degree of dedicated training at first. Fortunately, many adult dogs have been trained and socialized to some degree and can easily adjust to their new lives in their forever homes.

Senior dogs should not be forgotten! Welcoming a senior dog into your home can be a wonderful way to bring joy to the golden years of a dog. Unfortunately, senior dogs are less likely to be adopted and often end up living out their lives in shelters or being euthanized. A senior dog can make a wonderful companion if you are looking for a lower energy dog. However, it is important to know that your senior dog needs special attention, more frequent veterinary check-ups and is more likely to develop heath problems that cost time and money to address. Unlike a puppy or adult dog, you must know that you will not have as many years with your senior dog. If you are willing to accept the responsibilities, consider adopting a senior dog. It can be one of the most compassionate things you can do for these precious creatures.

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HOW TO SELECT A GOOD PUPPY

When choosing the puppy, it is so important that all family members agree. You want to select the puppy you all like best, and you want to select a puppy that likes all of you. Sit down quietly as a family and see which puppies make contact first and which ones stay around the longest.

You want to select a puppy that likes you and enjoys being hugged and handled (restrained and examined). You want to select a puppy who is socialized, confident,housetrained, chewtoy-trained, and obedience trained.

Social Attraction

For years it was dogmatically stated that puppies that approached quickly, jumped-up, and bit your hands were totally unsuitable as pets, since they were aggressive and difficult to train. On the contrary, these are normal, well-socialized, eight-week-old puppies, which are simply saying hello in true puppy fashion without the benefit of manners. With some very basic training to redirect the pup's delightful exuberance, you'll have the fastest recalls and the quickest sits in puppy class. Also, puppy biting is both normal and absolutely necessary. In fact the more dogs bite as puppies, the softer and safer their jaws in adulthood.

I would be more concerned about puppies that were slow to approach or remained in hiding. It is completely, utterly, and absolutely abnormal for a well-socialized six- to eight-week-old puppy to be shy when approaching people. If the puppy acts shy or scared, then without a doubt he has not been sufficiently socialized. Look elsewhere. If, however, you really have your heart set on taking a shy puppy, only do so if each family member can coax the pup to approach and take a food treat. A shy puppy represents a substantial time commitment, since he will need to be hand-fed kibble every day from a variety of strangers. To rehabilitate this pup, you'll certainly have your work cut out for you during the next four weeks.

Make sure the puppy quickly and happily approaches all family members.

Handling and Gentling

Your prospective puppy should feel thoroughly at ease being handled by strangers — you and your family. Handle each puppyto see how he enjoys being cuddled (gently restrained) and stroked and massaged (examined) around his neck, muzzle, ears, paws, belly, and rear end. Your puppy should relax like a rag doll. If the puppy struggles, see how long it takes for the pup to calm down.

Make sure all family members handle the puppy.

Sound Sensitivity

Exposure to a variety of sounds should commence well before the eyes and ears are fully opened, especially with sound-sensitive dogs, such as herding and obedience breeds. It is quite normal for puppies to react to noises. What you are trying to evaluate is the extent of each pup's reaction and the pup’s bounce-back time. For example, we expect a puppy to react to a sudden and unexpected loud noise, but we do not expect him to go to pieces. Judge whether the puppy reacts or overreacts to sounds, and time how long it takes for the puppy to approach and take a food treat (the bounce-back time). Expect immeasurably short bounce-back times from bull breeds, and short bounce-backs from working dogs and terriers, but be prepared for longer bounce-back times from toys and herding breeds. Regardless of a dog's breed or type, however, excessive overreaction, panic, or extremely lengthy bounce-back times are all proof of insufficient socialization. Unless successfully rehabilitated, such pups may become extremely reactive when they grow up.

Evaluate the puppies' response to a variety of noises: people talking, laughing, crying, and shouting, a whistle, a hiss, or a single hand clap.

Household Etiquette

If the puppies have no available toilet and the entire puppy area has been covered with sheets of newspaper, the puppies will have developed a strong preference for going on paper and will need specialized housetraining in their new home. Moreover, if there is no toilet and the entire area has been littered with straw or shredded paper, the puppies will have learned they may eliminate anywhere and everywhere, which is what they will do in your home. The longer the puppy has been raised in these conditions, the more difficult she will be to housetrain.

Try to observe the litter for at least two hours and pay attention to where each puppy eliminates and what each puppy chews.

Basic Manners

Evaluate each puppy's response to your lure/reward training attempts using pieces of kibble or chewtoys as lures and rewards. Make sure each family member trains the puppy to come, sit, lie down, stand and rollover.

Singleton Puppies

Most pups have adequate opportunity to play with their littermates during their first eight weeks. Singleton and hand-reared pups have had insufficient opportunity to play (play-fight and play-bite) and therefore teaching bite inhibition is a top priority. If you select a singleton puppy, make sure you enroll in a puppy classes as soon as your puppy reaches three months of age. Play and socialization are essential for puppies to develop and maintain a soft mouth.

Dachshund Dogs

Dachshunds may look cute and cuddly, but they are tirelessly energetic, clever and curious—some might even say “intense.” Always up for a walk, run or a game in the park, they can easily get bored when left to their own devices for too long. Sometimes, that can involve chewing things.

weight: 16 - 32 pounds
height: 7 - 8 inches

Ideal Human CompanionsSingles
City dwellers
Families with older children
Hunters and outdoorsy types

Trademark TraitsLong and short
Vigorous and muscular
Tenacious and high-spirited
Bold and clever
Loveable
Loyal
Hard workers
Great players


WhatThey Are Like to Live With
Though very loyal to their owners, Dachshunds can take time to warm up to other people. The benefit, however, is that their (sometimes) relentless barking at the sign of strangers makes them an extremely handy—and compact—guard dog.

Dachshunds, true to their hunting lineage, love the outdoors. With a decent-sized yard to run around, they will frolic: chasing small animals, fervently barking and possibly digging a few holes. They will also be happy in an apartment (they are among the most popular city dogs), but require lots of play, interaction and regular walks to stay in physical and mental shape.

Things You Should Know
Dachshunds are proud and bold. With proper attention, positive reinforcement and training, they will surprise you with a lovable and dependable temperament. They thrive with single people or families with older children. Very young children could lack the necessary patience and maturity required with Dachshunds.

Dachshunds are prone to back problems, due to their long spine and short rib cage. If allowed to jump down from a bed or couch, they can easily slip a disk. For this reason, it is also important to hold them properly, supporting their full frame. (Warning: You’ll find most Dachshunds will resist being picked up).

Also, be sure to ration their food appropriately: Dachshunds can gain weight quickly, causing more back problems and other issues.

A healthy Dachshund can live as long as 16 years, providing years of fun and companionships.

Dachshund History
A breed dating back to at least the Middle Ages, Dachshunds—coming from the German dach, which means “badger,” and hund, which means “dog”—were used widely in 17th century Germany as hunting dogs. Their short, sleek frames and an incredible sense of smell allowed them to hunt above ground, below ground and track animals for days at a time. Various sizes were developed over the years—i.e., smaller Dachshunds for hunting foxes and larger Dachshunds for hunting boar—and in 1895 the Dachshund Club of America began to promote the breed in the U.S.

The Look of a Dachshund
The Dachshund “look” is hard to miss: low, long and short with a vigorous and muscular body that somehow stays solid and balanced in spite of its squat frame. Its elongated, convex head is erect and alert with ears that hang low and a pair of friendly oval eyes. The base of the neck slopes down to a protruding chest and a tighter abdomen, and the tail follows the line of the back. Dachshunds come in three varieties— smooth, longhaired and wire-haired—and colors can vary from solids of red, tan or yellow or combinations of chocolate, black and gray (among others).

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

The personality of the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, or any wolf dog, is a combination of dog and wolf traits. This breed tends to be somewhat timid, except around its owner, and nervous in new situations.

weight: 44 to 54 pounds

height: 24 to 26 inches

Ideal Human Companions

Those who want a one-person dog

Very experienced dog owners who are willing to learn about this dog/wolf breed

Adults and possibly families with older children

Those who want an unusual dog

Trademark Traits

Similar appearance to the wolf

Docile, often timid nature

Undying loyalty to its owner

Incredible speed

Lifespan: 12 to 16 years

What They Are Like to Live With

This breed is part-wolf minus the fear of man, but rarely shows the connection most dogs share with humans (except for its owner). If you want a quiet yet lively, majestic, fearless, loyal dog, this breed may be for you. 

Make sure you give this dog sufficient exercise. Grooming is infrequent except for twice a year, when you can expect large tufts of hair around the house, even with the most diligent brushing.

Things You Should Know

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog will become restless if not exercised enough. This is often expressed in pacing back and forth inside the home. 

Because this dog is closely related to the wolf, it is extremely quick and agile, so you must be cautious around possible prey, including other dogs. Though, as with all dogs, they will not attack unless provoked, you must be on guard and know your dog's body language and signals. Expect a dog with wolflike traits who is unlikely to cuddle on the sofa and who needs to be outside a lot of the time. 

This breed is prone to hip dysplasia.

Czechoslovakian Wolfdog History

The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, also known as the Slovak Wolfdog, is a new breed, developed in 1958 as the offspring of an experimental crossing of a German Shepherd with a Carpathian Wolf to establish that wolf and dog genes could be combined to create a healthy specimen. It was recognized as a separate breed in 1982. 

Today, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog is no longer used as the military pack dog it was once famous for, and can be found in homes as companion animals and guard dogs.

The Look of a Czechoslovakian Wolfdog

As the name implies, the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog looks like a wolf. It has the long legs and agile body of the wolf as well as the straight, thick, coarse silver-gray or yellow-gray coat. It has the white mask, amber eyes, flat chest, and upright ears of the wolf. This dog is rectangular in shape, with a defined waist, sinewy build, and a tail that sits high. When in motion, this dog is agile and graceful.