Top 10 Smallest Toy Dog Breeds in the World

Whenever it comes our mind to have any pet animal, the first name that comes to our mind is the dogs. Yes, that’s true. There are many people throughout the world who love to have pet animals and there first preference is surely the dogs. There are various breeds of dogs that are available in the market today. Here we have eased your difficulty by bringing out top ten smallest toy dog breeds in the world.

10. Brussels Griffon

Brussels griffon is a kind of toy dog that is said to be originated in the Belgium. It is also known by the name of Belgium Griffon, named after the country in which this breed of dog got originated. These breed of dogs are generally very small in size and so they are perfect if you want to have a pet animal in your family. These dogs are said to be having huge heart and they generally gets attached to someone very easily and then wants to be with them always. Emotionally Brussels Griffons are very sensitive. They get along with small children very easily. And the best part of this dog is its expressions which are very like humans and is very touching.

9. Toy Fox Terrier

Toy Fox Terrier is a kind of toy breed dog but it can also be used as a working terrier. This breed of animal is quite hardworking. Toy Fox Terrier is originated from Fox Terrier but people consider it as a total different breed of dogs. Toy Fox Terrier got originated in United States. This breed of dog has a muscular body and its appearance is quite athletic. They have large eyes and their ears are of V shaped. Sometimes they are also called as the Tri-Color dogs. Toy Fox Terrier is an intelligent breed of dogs and on proper training they easily to start respond on a number of words. They are also used in circus along with the clowns. The best thing about them is that they are very loyal to their owners.

8. Toy Poodle

Toy Poodle is another breed of toy dog which re extremely popular throughout the world. These dogs are found with many coat colors. It is also said to be a type of water dog. It is reported that Toy Poodle got originated in Germany. The coat which these dogs have is moisture resistance and so it helps them in swimming. Toy Poodle is a very intelligent and sophisticated bred of dogs. Their coat is generally curly and is very dense. Their eyes are oval in shape and are dark in color. The color of their coat is generally varies from brown to black to grey and so on.

7. Chihuahua

Chihuahua is a breed of dog which is quite cocky and confident. It takes time and lots of hard work to train and make them work according to your wish. Chihuahua is said to be the smallest toy dog breed that we have. Mexico is the country in which this breed of dog got originated. The life span of a Chihuahua is between 10 to 18 years. Sometimes Chihuahua is also called as the Pocket Toy. Chihuahua is found in many color combinations. Chihuahua is a breed of dog which craves your affection. This breed of dog stay very alert and often detect the stranger quickly.

6. Pekingese

Pekingese is an ancient toy dog breed. These types of dogs are very alert. They are the excellent watchdogs and on finding any stranger it generally barks at very unusual noise. Pekingese is said to be originated in China. Pekingese cannot be kept in very high temperature because of the shape of their nose. Pekingese are very stubborn and you will be having a very tough time if you are going to train Pekingese. In short Pekingese is an affectionate breed of dog.

5. Maltese

Maltese is another breed of toy dog which were originated in Italy. Maltese are extremely popular among the people as the pet dog. If you are looking for a companion in your pet, then Maltese is the perfect toy dog breed for you. Maltese has a tendency to be around kids as they love them. Life span of Maltese lies between 12 to 15 years. Maltese’s nose is like button shaped and their eyes are chocolate brown in color. There are different colors of Maltese that are available today. Maltese is extremely lively and you will love playing with them.

4. Papillion

The next in our list is Papillion which was originated in France. Papillion is extremely intelligent breed of toy dog and you are not going to find any difficulty if you have to train them for something. They will learn things very easily. Again Papillion are very lively and you are going to have fun if you will play with them. The life span of Papillion is around 16 years. Papillion love to walk so you can get him with you if you go for walks and you will have a company too. Again the best thing about Papillion is their intelligence. They bark too much if they find something unusual.

3. Pomeranian

Pomeranian is the toy breed of dogs which is also called as the Pompom. Pomeranian is extremely shady in nature. This breed of dog is little cocky but very devoted and loving. They have a very small size. Pomeranian got originated in Germany and has a life span of 12 to 16 years. Pomeranian is very common among people who love to have a pet animal. Pomeranian is very friendly in nature and they adapt to the place very quickly. If you are wishing to have a pet Toy dog then go for Pomeranian. You will just enjoy its company and with each passing day you will love him even more.

2. Affenpinscher

Affenpinscher is another toy breed dog which has its origin from Germany. Their coat is generally wired and very harsh. Life span of Affenpinscher is between 11 to 14 years. Affenpinscher has an expression said to be like a monkey. Affenpinscher is very active in nature, very lively and loves to play with people. But you are going to find some difficulty in training this dog as they have somewhat a stubborn nature.

1. Pug

Pug tops our list which shows top ten smallest toy dog breed in the world. Pug has a short muzzled face which makes it look extremely cute. Their origin is said to be in China. Pugs are found in different colors. They have an extremely charming, fun loving attitude. Pugs have been used in many movies and commercials s they look very cute. Pugs are very adaptable. They will just behave a family member and you will be overjoyed to have it in your family. They don’t bark much and are very sensitive. Pugs are very playful with kids and kids will for sure love its company.

teach your dog to love toys

One of the biggest challenges with caring for a dog is providing adequate daily physical and mental exercise. If a dog loves toys, it is often much easier to find games and training strategies to keep him entertained. For those of you out there that have a dog that doesn't like toys, this is for you.

How to Get Your Dog to Love Toys
You can increase the chances that your dog will like toys by following the suggestions found here. You can practice these strategies with any age dog, but an older dog might take some time before he shows any interest. Think of this strategy as an investment in your dog's future.

I adopted Trooper; one of my Collies, when he was two-years-old and it took him a long time before he became interested in toys. He is still not as toy-crazy as my other dogs that played with toys since they were puppies, but his increased interest gives me more ways to keep him interested in training, reward him and exercise him.

Here are some general suggestions for increasing interest in toys:

• Buy a variety of toys and see what your dog gravitates towards. Most dogs show some interest in toys that squeak, but you should experiment with hard rubber, soft rubber, cloth, furry, tennis balls, and the huge variety of styles that can be found at stores or online.
• Feed your dog occasionally out of Kongs or other stuffable toys. I consider these toys "food dispensers" and nothing else. If dogs play with these toys when they are empty, great, but that is just a bonus. If used correctly, these toys provide you a way to keep your dog occupied for hours.
• Put toys away when you are not training or actively using them to keep your dog occupied. Dogs definitely get bored with toys that they have access to all the time. Keep them novel and interesting.
• Keep an "outside only" toy that your dog loves to use for leash walking or other outside training exercises when you are competing against distractions. Reward your dog with the toy from your pocket when your dog walks nicely, looks away from a distraction on cue, or sits before greeting another dog.
• Learn how to safely Play Tug with your dog
• Show a lot of interest when your dog plays with toys. Start petting him, get excited, make all the fun START when he touches the toy!

Exercise: Increase Motivation to Play With Toys
Here is a really fun way for you to teach your dog to like toys more. You can do this exercise with any toy including a Frisbee, tennis ball, Kong or squeaky toy. Make sure you put all the toys away when you are not there to encourage your dog. You don't want him to get bored of it. It should be FUN when toys are around! One very important strategy is to do really short training sessions so your dog does not get bored. You might even just do this exercise for 1-2 minutes a couple times a day and put it away when you are not using it. You know you can increase the length of the sessions when your dog actively shows excitement when you bring it out.

• Have 10-20 pea-sized treats that your dog LOVES
• Hold the toy 1-2 inches away from your dog's nose
• As soon as your dog sniffs the toy, say, "Yes!" and give your dog a treat
• Move the toy to a new location, still only 1-2 inches from your dog's nose and repeat
• As your dog shows more reliability with his behavior, don't reward each touch, but every other or more
• Put the toy away BEFORE your dog gets bored. You want your dog to want to play with the toy because good things happen. If he gets bored, or gets sick of the treats, the motivation is decreased.

More Advanced

• As you get more reliable behaviors, then you can increase the expectations between rewards. You know you are ready for this stage when your dog is more motivated to interact with the toy. This might not happen for some time. Don't get frustrated, just focus on keeping your dog REALLY interested in the toy for short sessions. Eventually it will pay off.
• Move the toy around so your dog has to chase it to touch it
• Put it above your dog's head so he has to jump for it
• Wait until he grabs it before rewarding (this might happen sooner than this step, great!)
• Throw the toy and when he touches or mouths the toy, say,"Yes!" and give him a treat

Get more and more touches or grabs between rewards. Eventually your dog will just enjoy playing with the toy without the need to motivate with treats.

What kind of toys should a dog have?

Question: What kind of toys should a dog have?
Answer: Almost every dog loves toys, and the selection of toys for dogs has grown by leaps and bounds in the last few years. Dog toys now rival cat toys in sheer variety and availability. Let's take a look at some of the options:

The KongIndestructibly fun, as a throw toy, a treat toy, or just something the boys like to toss around by themselves. Best of all, dishwasher safe. This is something that dogs with separation anxiety can be safely given in the crate while you're out. Fill it with a frozen peanut butter concoction, and your dog will be happily occupied in your time of absence.

The Buster CubeMy favourite. If only because it actually occupies the furry family members for longer than a half an hour. Ozzy will roll his around all day if I let him ... as long as it has treats in it, that is.

Squeaky ToysThere is no limit to the variety of squeaky toys. Some are soft, some are hard rubber, soft plastic, or fuzzy, and in all shapes and sizes ... but they all have one thing in common. An ear-splitting squeaker inside them.

Dogs tend to have mixed reactions to squeaky toys. Some dogs, like their owners, wish death upon the squeak, and will proceed to disembowel all squeaky toys in their presence. This, while immensely satisfying, is not a safe exercise. If your dog is a squeak-assassin, please supervise him and remove the squeaker before he can choke on it.

Some dogs (especially Raider) just love the squeaking toys. They will treat it like a baby, carrying it around gently in their mouths, cuddling it on the sofa, all the while giving it loving squeezes (squeak squeak squeak). They will not rip, gouge or tear, and the squeaker will last forever.

Then, of course, there are the dogs who have absolutely no interest in squeaking toys at all, until they see their brother with it. I have two of those. It makes for interesting times.

Cheap Toys - Stuffed ToysBy far, my greatest frugal discovery ... buying cheap stuffed animals at yard sales for the dogs. Once they are washed in hot water, and all the detachable bits have been removed (eyes, noses, sometimes beads and whiskers) these make a perfectly acceptable alternative to expensive dog stuffies. As a bonus, you can even find them as large as your dog likes. Perhaps, larger than he is.
One thing you should be careful of though; some stuffed toys have been stuffed using small styrofoam beads. These toys are easily identified by the feel and sound of the beads, and are best avoided. Dogs often rip up their stuffies, and the styrofoam beads could cause problems if your dog swallows or inhales them. Make sure any stuffed toy you buy is filled with fibre-fill, not styrofoam beads.

FloatablesPerfect for retrievers at heart, floating retrievables are a must have if your dog likes water. Easily visible in dark water (unlike sticks), floating rings, balls, and other such goodies make for great summer fun.

Why Do Dogs Like Squeaky Toys

Squeaky toys are a popular gift item for dogs, even if their popularity does not always extend to dog owners. There can be no doubt, however, that most dogs like squeaky toys, especially the ones which resemble real life prey. The idea of capturing and ultimately dispatching a rubberized mouse, complete with squeaks, has an appeal all its own to most dog breeds.

One theory on why dogs like toys that squeak is the nature of the squeak. In the wild, an injured prey animal would emit similar squeaks and cries, thereby revealing its position and condition. Dogs with strong natural hunting instincts recognize the squeaks of a squeaky toy as the last cries of field mice, birds and other small prey. The noise generated by a rubber or plush variation on a prey animal can be just as satisfying to a dog.

There are also those who suggest the squeak of a squeaky toy is somewhat incidental. What dogs like about squeaky toys is what they enjoy about all dog toys. They have complete access to an interactive toy which satisfies their natural chewing habit and keeps their minds occupied. Dogs like squeaky toys because they are more interactive than other toys. A dog bites down on a rubberized bone and it immediately squeaks. This sets up a pleasant cause-and-effect relationship with that particular dog toy.

Some pet experts suggest matching the dog with the toy, and some larger breeds do not do particularly well with standard squeaky toys. They may chew and bite the toy more aggressively than smaller breeds, which in turn may dislodge the squeak mechanism completely. While this may not be the worst development for dog owners, the squeak mechanism can present a choking hazard to the dog. Smaller dog breeds with gentler play habits tend to do better with squeaky toys.

Many dogs tend to chew on their toys, especially ones which respond to their efforts, so it is generally a good idea to invest in rubberized dog toys rather than plush toys with squeakers. Many dogs like squeaky toys which can follow them from indoor to outdoor environments, and plush toys tend to get soiled quickly when exposed to the outside world. Rubber squeaky toys can also be cleaned and sanitized more easily, although no dog toy is completely safe from a dog's diligent chewing efforts. Owners should replace damaged rubber squeaky toys once they have been structurally compromised.

WAY TO CREATE A MOTIVATING TOY

Many times in agility training the need will arise to use a toy to motivate your dog to move on without you (example: teaching a "get out" or doing weave poles or any sequence of obstacles for a gamble). People will ofren lament that their dog is not "into" toys. Some dogs will not innately want to play with toys but you can create the desire within them with a little work on your part. If your dog is really motivated by food and has never shown any interest in toys, an option available to you is to take the motivating toy you have chosen to work with and simmer it in a pot of liver, or chicken broth to make it more attractive to your finicky hound. BE LEERY--if you choose to go this route, be very careful your dog is never given an opportunity to be alone with this wonderful smelling toy or THEY MAY EAT IT. 

Surgery to remove this from their gut will be neither pleasant nor cheap. The key to training old Rover to play with you and your toy is that you are SINCERELY interested in playing with your dog. If you are truly not having fun, your dog will quickly realize this and will be even more reluctant to join in. So be sure that you are both enjoying yourselves. Now let's begin!

• Choose a throwable toy--i.e. one that you can toss, but won't roll too much, like a tug rope, or a ball in a sock or a stuffed animal.
• Attach this toy to a light line, string or lead that is about 3 meters long.
• Put the toy in a drawer in the midst of your living area--example, in the kitchen or somewhere else that is easily accessible at all times.
• Before each meal start to act a bit loony. While saying really fun things to your dog (like "oh no", "what is it", "do you want this", "where's your toy", etc.) walk, dance, skip...basically act goofy while you make your way over to the special drawer.
• S-l-o-w-l-y open up the drawer while continuing to say nutty things to your dog.
• Stop talking momentarily (a pause for effect) and then pull the toy out of the drawer, like you just unexpectedly came across a $50 bill and run with it into the next room.
• Swing the toy above the ground while acting nutty to show the dog what a great time you are having with this fun toy.
• Dance around for a few more seconds and then toss the toy out like a lure on the end of a fishing pole.
• Drag it around but BE SURE THE DOG DOES NOT GET HIS MOUTH ON IT.
• This whole process should only take 1-2 minutes the first time you do it.
• End your fun game, which didn't include your poor dog, by running ack to the drawer, yhour toy in tow snatching it up and quickly putting it back in the drawer with a phrase like "oh no, it's gone".
• You may then proceed about your regular routine as if nothing out of the ordinary just happened.
• Re-enact this bizarre performance 2-3 times a day. After the second day, allow the dog to get his mouth on the toy if he is really keen--but only for a few seconds. Pull on the line to try and steal it from him. Once you get it away (be sure you are taking it from him in a very informal, fun way), play with it a little more by yourself before quickly putting the toy away.
• Gradually progress, letting him play with you and the toy (tog of war style) a little more each time until you have a dog who loves to see the toy come out.
• Do not allow him to play with this toy at any other time except during this routine and, when he is ready, at agility class.
• Ideally, you should remove any other toys that are lying around the house during this time. Leave out only things your dog can lie down and chew on by himself, such as his chew bones.
• Be sure during this training/play session that you never give your dog any sort of verbal for anything he might do.
• Before you know it you will have a dog who is as nutty about this toy as you apparently have been!
• This method works particularly well on new puppies.

Dog Toys Ideas

Dog toys are best companions for your furry friends. They help them pass their time while alone and thus are quite instrumental in their physical and mental fitness. Unlike cats, dogs are more compromising when it comes to dog toys and are always ready to explore everything given to them for 'playing'. Toys for dogs must be safe for them and should be chosen according to their size, activity level, preferences and the environment around the dog. Their enthusiasm can be a key to how much they liked a particular toy. Be alert enough to keep your dog away from anything that might be ingested and keep things like string, ribbon, rubber bands, children's toys and pantyhose away from their reach and out of their sight.

Toy size is determined by the size of the dog. Too small toys and balls that can easily be swallowed may become a choking hazard for your dog. Toys that are not dog-proof and have removing ribbons; strings or parts that could be chewed upon are dangerous. Toys that are worn and torn or are about to break should be discarded. Toys made of rawhide should be checked by vet for their safety. Only allow dogs to play with toys consisting of hooves, pig's ears and rawhides under your supervision. Toys made of very hard rubber are safer and last longer. Similarly, squeaking toys may motivate you dog to ingest them and thus should only be played with, under your guidance.

The cause dogs need toys?

Dogs just like the majority of animals that are living on this planet need some form of play in their lives, its important because constant unhappiness can lead to an unhealthy and unhappy life for the dog. This is fairly obvious but it is extremely important that you are informed as to why dogs need toys, and this article will be explaining why dogs need toys and what it achieves if they have toys to play with.

So the main question is, why do dogs need toys? Well, they don’t need toys in the sense that they are a necessity. But it is a luxury to dogs and it can really improve their overall lifestyle, after all, if your making a dog happy it will most likely benefit the dog overall. Humans are just the same, if we are treated nicely enough we will feel good about ourselves. Dogs are very similar to us, because if you are not nice to a fellow human you will find that they will often become sad or even stressed when they experience no happiness. With a dog it is different, for a start a dog can easily become more stressed because if you are isolating it in your house as a domestic pet you are technically not allowing it any contact with other dogs. This means that dogs can be very alone in terms of their own species, you have to enable the dog to have as much fun as it can, so toys are a very good way to improve their overall well being. Of course it will not improve the dogs physical health by allowing it to play with toys, of course it may help in terms of exercise but it will help them get a happy, healthy life which is exactly what a dog should get.

As a child I am sure that you had much fun with your toys. Well the same applies for a dog, except the dog will have much fun with toys up till the day it dies. Since there is so little understanding between us and dogs we cannot explain anything to them verbally, when we introduce something new to them they often get excited and inspect it. If they like it they will attach themselves to it like it is something that they see as safe. We see this amongst humans also, we will sometimes find a personal belonging or item which makes us feel safe and it also offers comfort.

So what exactly is it about toys that make a dog tick? Well, many toys that you can buy for dogs are often colourful and when a dog see’s such toys it can get attracted by the colours and be drawn to it. And if the dog finds something that they can associate as safe then they will feel happy by staying close to it and having fun with it.

Another reason as to why dogs need toys so much is because it can have certain health benefits. For example, if a dog has a toy in which you can throw and for it to fetch, you are enabling the dog to get some exercise, this is very good for a dog and it can also introduce a lot of play into the dog’s life. Toys can bring fun and happiness into a dog’s life and when you apply them properly you can even give a dog something to exercise over.

Toys can also have other health benefits when it comes to the dogs well being. If a dog had a squishy toy in which it could chew on it would help keep the dogs teeth healthy, of course it is not a cleaning agent and gets rid of any dirt in the dog’s mouth, but by chewing a toy repeatedly it can really benefit the dog’s health.

Toys can also be given to dogs as reward. If a dog has achieved something that you believe is impressive you can always reward the dog, this gives the dog something to play with as well as a sense of achievement, this is good for the dogs overall confidence also.

Many toys though can be seen as comforting to dogs and if you get a toy which really makes the dog feel safe and at ease then you will find that it will quickly become a comfort toy. But this is good because it can always comfort a dog if it is scared or lonely; it is a great thing for the dog to turn to just in case something does happen.

But what you need to realise is that dogs need to be treated nicely and in a way with respect. You need to be kind to them and treat them nicely so that they can live a happier life. You have to be able to understand a dog and its needs before attending to its needs. Always remember, a dog with a happy life is much better than a dog with an unhappy life, toys can bring happiness and playfulness into a dogs life.

So always remember, dogs too have to have some fun in their lives, don’t deprive them of play time. Buying toys are a great way of satisfying their play time and helping them get exercise also. Toys are fun and can give the dog something to play with for hours on end. So now that you understand why a dog needs toys you can hopefully understand why they need play time also.

Discussion

My dog thinks her toy is her baby

“She’s so cute, she carries that toy around like it’s her puppy.”

“I know, she even growls when I try to take it. So cute!”

“Aww … she’s protecting it. If I try to put it away, she sits and cries for her baby. Haha!”

Have you ever caught yourself saying something like this? I made up the above conversation, but I hear similar comments all the time. I’ve even encouraged my own dog to carry a stuffed toy around because I think it’s cute. But that’s the problem. We think it’s cute when really it’s unhealthy for a dog to obsess over a toy.

Dogs know their toys are not real.

When a dog carries her toy around all day, it is because she is obsessive or possessive about the toy. She does not think it is real. She knows it’s not her puppy. It’s us humans who create emotional attachments to stuffed animals. Dogs know better.

A dog with pent-up energy easily takes that frustration and fixates on a toy or several toys. If the dog is not given exercise, mental challenges or rules on a daily basis, the obsession on the toy grows because she has no other outlet for her energy.

We humans think it’s cute to see our dogs obsess over a toy so we even encourage the behavior. We say things over and over in an excited voice like, “Where’s your puppy?” Or, “Where’s your ball?” And then we overdo the praise and attention. We reward the obsessive behavior without even realizing it.

Obsessing over a toy can lead to aggression.

If your dog growls when you try to take her toy away, it’s not cute. I see owners of small breeds like Chihuahuas encouraging their dogs to growl because they think it’s funny. Encouraging aggressive behavior in a dog is never funny. A five-pound dog can bite someone pretty badly, especially a child who has her face up to the dog.

We think it’s cute if a rottweiler carries a stuffed puppy around all day. We like to nurture small, cute things, so we like it when our dogs do the same. We like the idea that our dog has her own “baby.” Many of us carried around stuffed animals as a kid, so it’s heartwarming to us when our dogs do the same.

Even when a rottweiler growls as someone tries to take her toy, it’s easy to overlook the behavior if the dog is gentle in all other situations. The only time my old golden retriever growled at me was when I tried to take her rawhide bone away. Since I knew she would never hurt anyone, I didn’t take her growling too seriously. But even she would snap if I tried to take her bone. This was a behavior I should not have put up with, but I didn’t know better at the time.

Of course, just because a dog loves a certain toy doesn’t mean she has issues. Just learn what the difference is between a normal dog playing and a dog that is starting to become possessive of the toy.

Signs of possessiveness to watch for:

- The dog growls, bites, barks or snaps when someone tries to take the toy.

- She refuses to give up a toy.

- The dog cries or searches for a toy once it is put away.

- The dog is fixated on the toy.

- She starts fights with other dogs when the toy is in the room.

- The dog intentionally or accidentally snaps at hands to grab the toy before it’s been given to her.

- She takes the toy and hides in a corner.

- The dog is very submissive and the toy is the one thing she “controls.”

- The dog is dominant and aggressive around other objects such as food or bones.

Ways to prevent possessiveness:

- Set time limits on when the dog can have the toy, maybe 10 minutes at a time.

- Make sure the dog understands that the toy is yours and you can take it whenever you want.

- Teach your dog the “leave it” command.

- Keep the toy out in the dog’s sight, but don’t let her have it until you say so.

- Don’t encourage obsessive, possessive or aggressive behavior.

- Make sure your dog gets enough exercise.

- Set rules for your dog and follow through.

Is your dog possessive about anything? My dog is obsessed with tennis balls, and he will growl at certain dogs if they try to take a bone from him.

Why your dog really DOES love you (and it's not just because of all the treats you give it!)

Some years ago I wrote an article for this newspaper about my feelings on having to put down my golden retriever, Macy. 

Your response was overwhelming, with many letters and emails expressing gratitude that an old vet like me, and a man at that, had talked openly about the personal pain I felt when my pet’s life ended.

One of those who had clearly read my musings was my client Michael, the owner of Molly, a collie-cross who suffered irreversible kidney failure last autumn.

‘You know how I feel, Bruce,’ he said when I arrived at the family home to give Molly a lethal injection. His wife Tricia stayed in the next room and Michael stayed with me — the opposite of what usually happens when I end an animal’s life. In my experience, men find it more unbearable to see their pets die.

As Michael bent over his old girl and I injected the overdose of barbiturate, his tears dropped like tiny pearls on her still face and he said something which got me thinking. ‘You know Bruce, she loved us as much as we loved her.’

Scientists find this idea hard to handle. They say only animals with ‘higher emotions’ — humans — are capable of love.

But Michael’s words came back to me this week when I read newspaper reports claiming the dog has been man’s best friend for far longer than anyone imagined. They described how archaeologists digging in Siberia and Belgium found two canine skulls dating back 33,000 years.

Unlike their wolf ancestors, who had long narrow jaws and large teeth, perfectly suited for grabbing their prey and tearing its meat off the bone, these creatures had far more blunted features with smaller teeth.

This indicated they were domesticated long before the archaeologists’ previous estimate of 15,000 years ago. The researchers suggest that, apart from using these early dogs as an emergency food source or to follow animal scent trails, our ancestors also valued them as companions — just as we do today.

And I believe the bond between our two species has been so enduring because dogs are as capable of loving us as we are of loving them.

This is not the wishful thinking of a sentimental old dog-lover. Studies have shown that when dogs are in physical contact with their owners, their brains release the ‘pleasure chemical’ dopamine in exactly the same way as our human brains do when we feel happy and relaxed.

Of course, scientists argue that dogs learn to use all their ‘cute’ emotional displays — including wagging tails, dropped ears and lips drawn back in a ‘smile’ — simply to get rewards such as attention, treats and access to the great outdoors.

The proof, they say, is that if our dogs were handed over to new owners they’d use exactly the same techniques on them. I find this argument rather silly.

Like all dog owners, I have been subjected to the big brown eyes routine. But the fact that dogs exhibit cupboard love in the hunt for a biscuit, doesn’t mean that they are not capable of purer forms of that emotion, too.

After all, scientists are happy to recognise different types of aggression in dogs: sex-related, territorial, pain-induced and so on. 

So why shouldn’t they recognise dogs also feel different kinds of love — such as love of games, love of possessions, love of family, love of us?

'Studies have shown that when dogs are in physical contact with their owners, their brains release the chemical dopamine'

One emotion which dogs certainly demonstrate is that inner calm and contentment we humans experience in the company of our loved ones, regardless of what they can provide for us in material terms.

This is something I have seen in all the golden retrievers I have been lucky enough to share homes with over the years, starting with Honey, a wonderful companion who belonged to my wife Julia before we married 40 years ago.

It was Honey who brought us together. I was working at a veterinary practice in Central London when Julia brought her in for treatment for an upset stomach.

Even after Honey had recovered, Julia kept popping into the surgery and I eventually twigged she was interested in me when she invited me out!

Oddly enough my son, the TV presenter Ben Fogle, also met his wife Marina through their shared love of animals. 

They were walking their respective dogs in a local park when their labradors, Inca and Maggi, introduced themselves to each other.

Before long their owners were talking, too, which leads me to wonder whether dogs cannot only feel love themselves, but sense where it might blossom in their human counterparts!

I digress. When I first began spending time with Honey, I became aware of the strong feeling of affiliation and attachment she felt towards Julia and then me, something I later saw in her successors Liberty, Lexington and Macy, and our latest golden retriever, Bean.

When I return from work, Bean wags her tail, drops her ears, nuzzles against me and brings me her favourite toy.

'Love is an important emotion in a sociable species, helping us to live and work well together'

She’s honest with her emotions; overjoyed to see me as one of the people she has developed an affectionate attachment to, whether I have food for her or not.

If I sit on a chair, she comes to make physical contact with my legs. If I am on the sofa, she hops up and nestles beside me (as I get older I seem to let my dogs get away with more than I used to).

This intimacy is reserved for Julia and me, the two humans she allows to share her home. And her love for us is just as obvious when I walk her in Hyde Park near our London home.

Like her predecessor Macy, she takes it upon herself to enforce a park regulation, unfamiliar to humans. This stipulates that: ‘All squirrels must return to their trees before 7am and remain in their trees until dusk.’

She disappears for ages in her pursuit of these poor creatures, now and then bounding back to me to lift her head and touch my hand before running off again. It’s as if this brief contact reassures her.

And although my wife won’t thank me for making the comparison, she does something very similar. Even after all these years of marriage, we will casually be walking along and then I’ll feel Julia’s hand in mine. It stays until Julia is distracted, by something in a shop or seeing someone she knows, and then it will be gone again.

I’ve never asked her why she does this but I suspect her behaviour, her emotional feeling, is a version of that experienced by Bean. ‘I’ve made contact with my human and I feel better. Now I’ll go off again.’

When you think about it, this makes sense in evolutionary terms. Like humans, dogs are gregarious animals, and love is an important emotion in a sociable species, helping us to live and work well together.

Not that all dogs are equally affectionate. Golden retrievers like Bean are working animals, specially bred over the centuries to help humans retrieve prey.

'It seems that we have also unwittingly encouraged in them a capacity for love'

In developing these and similar breeds, including spaniels and German shepherds, to work with people, we have selectively bred into them traits such as vulnerability and dependence.

And, in doing so, it seems that we have also unwittingly encouraged in them a capacity for love.

Interestingly, the DNA of breeds whose behaviour is the least dependent and vulnerable — including the chow chow, shar pei and Afghans — much more closely resembles that of the original and more independent Asian wolves from which all dogs are believed to be descended.

As with cats, which have evolved as solitary creatures, it’s perfectly possible for the dependency of such breeds to be increased through early learning.

But it’s not already there, perfectly formed, as it is in dogs like my much-loved golden retrievers, or Molly the collie-cross whose story I mentioned earlier.

Her passing, and the words of her owner, had quite an effect on me. At the time I was updating my clinic’s website, and I wanted to have a memory of Molly tucked away somewhere within it.

I decided to include a section called ‘In Memory Of’ where clients can leave pictures of dogs that loved their humans as much as they were loved by us

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Why does my dog act like she doesn't like me sometimes?

Answer

I've got a white Bishon Frise that pulls that off on me too. She's spoiled and snotty! She will not do this until my husband comes home from work, but as soon as he does I'm not even in the room and she'll even try to refuse to listen to commands from me, but I won't let her get away with it. If I were to leave in the car and go out with my girlfriends then she'd really miss me and my husband says all she does is lay on the carpet facing the door waiting for me to come home. Go figure! LOL

Spending quality time with your dog for as often as you can and taking them for a brisk walk or letting them run in a field is a great way to bond. Don't be too upset with your dog because they play mind games too. LOL They are smarter than you think.

Sometimes when I deal with humans all day all I have to say is I love just having fun with my two dogs and my cat Molly. They're uncomplicated and are loyal and plain fun to be with. They give us peace and settle our stress level down.