Toy Group
Encyclopedia
Toy Group is the name of a breed Group of the smallest kinds of dog
s, used by kennel club
s to classify a defined collection of dog breed
s. Toy Group does not necessarily refer to one particular type
of dog. Most major English-language kennel club
s include a Toy Group although different kennel clubs may not include the same breeds in their Toy Group. The international kennel club association, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale
, includes toy dogs in Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs, which is then further broken down into eleven Sections based on dog type and breed history.
types, and some are small versions of hunting dog
, Spitz
, or terrier
types, bred down in size for a particular kind of work or to create a pet
of convenient size. The very smallest dogs are sometimes called Teacup, although no major dog registry recognizes that term.
The term "toydog" is also criticized, as pets should not be considered being toys. Although there has been attempts to change the term to another, more fitting, there has until now been little luck. However at the beginning of the new century the term powder puffs began to spread in Scandinavia. Originally the term had been used by owners of the giant breeds as a mock name on the smallest breeds claiming that the smaller dogs weren't dogs at all. Often explained by saying "It's small, it's white, you stuff it in your purse, and when you bring it to your face it almost looks like... a powder puff." The owners of the toy dogs themselves then began to use and change the term from a mock name to a nickname for small dogs. Usually by replacing the word "dog" with "powder puff," phrases like "you are a cute little dog" became "you are a cute little powder puff" and "who is a cute little powder puff? Are you a cute powder puff?" Spreading through northern Europe the term is now the most successful replacement for Toy Dog. Originally only meant for the smallest dogs, it expanded to include larger dogs reaching up the point called the barrier, the size of a large Terrier. Dog owners claiming that that is the size when dogs are no longer easy to pick up.
for small and medium-sized dogs kept primarily as pets, and do not recognise a Toy Group. Other kennel clubs group small dogs with large dogs of the same type, or in the Utility Group
or Non-Sporting Group.
The sections are:
The remainder of breeds assigned to the Toy Group by other kennel clubs are placed with larger dog breeds of the same type by the Fédération Cynologique International; for example, the toy size terriers are in Group 3, Section 2, Small-sized terriers or Group 3, Section 4, Toy Terriers.
Not included in the Fédération Cynologique Internationale Group 9, Companion and Toy are these breeds that are listed in the Toy Group of some kennel clubs:
for a comparison.)
Most clubs in non-English speaking countries also list small dogs in either a Toy Group or a Companion Group.
Very small dogs are also included in the listings of the enormous and ever-expanding number of specialty registries, minor kennel clubs, dog sports clubs, breed clubs, rare dog registries, and internet based dog clubs and businesses. Each will have its own definition of what breeds belong in their own Toy Group.
In addition, Toy dogs in particular have been used for crossbreeding to create what are called designer dogs, bred either accidentally or to enhance the marketability of puppies, often with cute portmanteau names created from syllables of each breed name. Although there are clubs willing to "register" such designer dogs, they are not breeds of dog. They may be called toy dogs but they are not part of any Toy Dog Group.
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s, used by kennel club
Kennel club
A kennel club is an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the breeding, showing and promotion of more than one breed of dog...
s to classify a defined collection of dog breed
Dog breed
Dog breeds are groups of closely related and visibly similar domestic dogs, which are all of the subspecies Canis lupus familiaris, having characteristic traits that are selected and maintained by humans, bred from a known foundation stock....
s. Toy Group does not necessarily refer to one particular type
Dog type
Dog types are broad categories of dogs based on function, with dogs identified primarily by specific function or style of work rather than by lineage or appearance....
of dog. Most major English-language kennel club
Kennel club
A kennel club is an organization for canine affairs that concerns itself with the breeding, showing and promotion of more than one breed of dog...
s include a Toy Group although different kennel clubs may not include the same breeds in their Toy Group. The international kennel club association, the Fédération Cynologique Internationale
Fédération Cynologique Internationale
Fédération Cynologique Internationale is an international federation of kennel clubs based in Thuin, Belgium. The English language translation, World Canine Organisation, is not often used.Its goals are described in Article 2 of their regulations:...
, includes toy dogs in Group 9 Companion and Toy Dogs, which is then further broken down into eleven Sections based on dog type and breed history.
Toy dogs
The use of the term toy to refer to dogs is based on tradition, and is not a precise classification. Dogs traditionally referred to as toy dogs are usually the very smallest dogs. Toy dogs can be one of several dog types. Some are of ancient lap dogLap dog
A lapdog or lap dog is a dog that is small enough to be held in the arms or lie comfortably on a person's lap. Lapdogs are not a specific breed, but is a generic term for a type of dog of small size and friendly disposition....
types, and some are small versions of hunting dog
Hunting dog
A hunting dog refers to any dog who assists humans in hunting. There are several types of hunting dogs developed for various tasks. The major categories of hunting dogs include hounds, terriers, dachshunds, cur type dogs, and gun dogs...
, Spitz
Spitz
Spitz-type dogs are a type of dog, characterized by long, thick, and often white fur, and pointed ears and muzzles...
, or terrier
Terrier
A terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, very active and fearless dogs. Terrier breeds vary greatly in size from just a couple of pounds to over 70 pounds and are usually categorized by size or function...
types, bred down in size for a particular kind of work or to create a pet
Pet
A pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
of convenient size. The very smallest dogs are sometimes called Teacup, although no major dog registry recognizes that term.
The term "toydog" is also criticized, as pets should not be considered being toys. Although there has been attempts to change the term to another, more fitting, there has until now been little luck. However at the beginning of the new century the term powder puffs began to spread in Scandinavia. Originally the term had been used by owners of the giant breeds as a mock name on the smallest breeds claiming that the smaller dogs weren't dogs at all. Often explained by saying "It's small, it's white, you stuff it in your purse, and when you bring it to your face it almost looks like... a powder puff." The owners of the toy dogs themselves then began to use and change the term from a mock name to a nickname for small dogs. Usually by replacing the word "dog" with "powder puff," phrases like "you are a cute little dog" became "you are a cute little powder puff" and "who is a cute little powder puff? Are you a cute powder puff?" Spreading through northern Europe the term is now the most successful replacement for Toy Dog. Originally only meant for the smallest dogs, it expanded to include larger dogs reaching up the point called the barrier, the size of a large Terrier. Dog owners claiming that that is the size when dogs are no longer easy to pick up.
Toy Group breeds
In general, kennel clubs assign small breeds that are primarily kept as companions and pets to their Toy Group. Some kennel clubs prefer to use the category Companion GroupCompanion Group
Companion Group is the name of a breed group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds, and does not necessarily include all dogs kept as companions or pets. In some kennel clubs the Companion Group is called the Companion and Toy Group...
for small and medium-sized dogs kept primarily as pets, and do not recognise a Toy Group. Other kennel clubs group small dogs with large dogs of the same type, or in the Utility Group
Utility Group
Utility Group is the name of a breed group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds. How Utility Group is defined varies among kennel clubs, and different kennel clubs may not include the same breeds in their Utility Group. Some kennel clubs do not use the...
or Non-Sporting Group.
Comparison of Toy Group breeds of major kennel clubs
| The Kennel Club (UK) The Kennel Club The Kennel Club is a kennel club based in London and Aylesbury, United Kingdom.The Kennel Club registration system divides dogs into seven breed groups. The Kennel Club Groups are: Hound, Working, Terrier, Gundog, Pastoral, Utility and Toy... Toy Group |
Canadian Kennel Club Canadian Kennel Club The Canadian Kennel Club is the primary registry body for purebred dog pedigrees in Canada. Beyond maintaining the pedigree registry, the C.K.C... Toy Dogs Group |
American Kennel Club American Kennel Club The American Kennel Club is a registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States. Beyond maintaining its pedigree registry, this kennel club also promotes and sanctions events for purebred dogs, including the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, an annual event which predates the official... Toy Group |
Australian National Kennel Council Australian National Kennel Council The Australian National Kennel Council is the peak body in Australia responsible for promoting breeding, showing, trialling, obedience, and other canine-related activities and the ownership of temperamentally and physically sound purebred dogs by individuals across Australia. It was formed in... Toy Dogs Group |
New Zealand Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club The New Zealand Kennel Club is the primary kennel club responsible for dog pedigree registration services in New Zealand. They also provide training services, judging for dog shows and many other services relating to dog showing. The organisation was introduced in 1886, it is also a full member of... Toy Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Affenpinscher Affenpinscher -History:The breed is German in origin and dates back to the seventeenth century. Its name is derived from the German Affe . The breed predates and is ancestral to the Griffon Bruxellois and Miniature Schnauzer.... |
Affenpinscher | Affenpinscher | Affenpinscher | Affenpinscher |
| Australian Silky Terrier Australian Silky Terrier The Australian Silky Terrier is a small breed of dog of the terrier dog type. The breed was developed in Australia, although the ancestral types and breeds were from Great Britain. It is closely related to the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier... |
Silky Terrier | Australian Silky Terrier | Australian Silky Terrier | |
| Bichon Frise Bichon Frisé A Bichon Frise , is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to, but larger than, the Maltese.-Etymology and History:... |
Bichon Frise | Bichon Frise | Bichon Frise | |
| Bolognese Bolognese (dog) The Bolognese is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type, originating in Italy. The name refers to the northern Italian city of Bologna.-Appearance:... |
not recognized | not recognized | Bolognese | |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cavalier King Charles Spaniel The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of Spaniel-type dog, and is classed as a toy dog by most kennel clubs. It is one of the most popular breeds in the United Kingdom. Since 2000, it has been growing in popularity in the United States. It is a smaller breed of spaniel, and Cavalier... |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | |
| Chihuahua Chihuahua (dog) The ' is the smallest breed of dog and is so named for the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. Chihuahuas come in a wide variety of sizes, head shapes, colors and coat lengths.-History:... (Long Coat) |
Chihuahua (long coat) | Chihuahua (one breed) | Chihuahua (Long Coat) | Chihuahua (Long Coat) |
| Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) | Chihuahua (Short Coat) | Chihuahua (one breed) | Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) | |
| Chinese Crested | Chinese Crested | Chinese Crested | Chinese Crested Dog | |
| Coton De Tulear Coton de Tulear The Coton de Tuléar is a small breed of dog. It is named for the city of Tuléar in Madagascar and for its cotton-like coat.-Appearance:Multiple registries with differing standards describe the Coton de Tuléar, but in general, it has very soft hair, comparable to a cotton ball, a prominent black... |
not recognized | not recognized | ||
| English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan) | Miniature Pinscher | Manchester Terrier | ||
| Griffon Bruxellois Griffon Bruxellois The Griffon Bruxellois or Brussels Griffon is a breed of toy dog, named for their city of origin: Brussels, Belgium. The Griffon Bruxellois may refer to three different breeds, the Griffon Bruxellois, the Griffon Belge and the Petit Brabançon... |
Griffon (Brussels) | Brussels Griffon | ||
| Havanese Havanese The Havanese is a dog breed of the Bichon type, developed from the now extinct Blanquito de la Habana . The Blanquito descended from the also now extinct Bichon Tenerife, which was introduced to the Canary Islands by the Cubans... |
Havanese | Havanese | ||
| Italian Greyhound Italian Greyhound The Italian Greyhound is a small breed of dog of the sight hound type, sometimes called an "I.G.", or "Iggy" for short.-Appearance:The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of the sighthounds, typically weighing about and standing about tall at the withers... |
Italian Greyhound | Italian Greyhound | ||
| Japanese Chin Japanese Chin The Japanese Chin , also known as the Japanese Spaniel) is the dog of Japanese royalty. A lap dog and companion dog, this toy breed has a distinctive heritage.-Appearance:... |
Japanese Spaniel | Japanese Chin | Lowchen (Little Lion Dog) | |
| King Charles Spaniel King Charles Spaniel The King Charles Spaniel is a small dog breed of the spaniel type. In 1903, the Kennel Club combined four separate toy spaniel breeds under this single title... |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | ||
| Lowchen Löwchen The Löwchen is a breed of dog that once had the dubious distinction, like the Portuguese Water Dog and the Havanese, of being the rarest dog in the world. Even today, the breed generally has fewer than a few hundred new registrations each year worldwide.-Appearance:The Lowchen is a breed with a... (Little Lion Dog) |
not recognized | not recognized | ||
| Maltese | Maltese | Maltese | ||
| Miniature Pinscher Miniature Pinscher The Miniature Pinscher is a small breed of dog, originating from Germany. The breed's earliest ancestors were a mix of Italian Greyhounds and Dachshunds... |
Miniature Pinscher | Miniature Pinscher | ||
| Papillon Papillon (dog) The papillon , also called the Continental Toy Spaniel, is a breed of dog of the Spaniel type. One of the oldest of the toy Spaniels, it derives its name from its characteristic butterfly-like look of the long and fringed hair on the ears. A papillon with dropped ears is called a phalène... |
Papillon | Papillon | ||
| Pekingese Pekingese The Pekingese, or "Peke" is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by the Chinese Imperial court, and its name refers to the city of Beijing where the Forbidden City resides... |
Pekingese | Pekingese | Pekingese | Pekingese |
| Pomeranian Pomeranian (dog) The Pomeranian is a breed of dog of the Spitz type, named for the Pomerania region in Central Europe . Classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size, the Pomeranian is descended from the larger Spitz type dogs, specifically the German Spitz... |
Pomeranian | Pomeranian | ||
| Pug Pug The pug is a "toy" breed of dog with a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors, and a compact square body with well-developed muscle. They have been described as multum in parvo , referring to the pug's personality and... |
Pug | Pug | Pug | Pug |
| Yorkshire Terrier Yorkshire Terrier The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog breed of terrier type, developed in the 19th century in the county of Yorkshire, England to catch rats in clothing mills. The defining features of the breed are its size, to , and its silky blue and tan coat... |
Yorkshire Terrier | Yorkshire Terrier |
Fédération Cynologique Internationale Group 9 Sections
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale breaks down their Toy and Companion Group into Sections by general dog type; within the sections the dogs are listed by their country or area of origin. Also included in the Sections are variants and colours that have to do with how they are organised during dog shows. Since this grouping is for more than Toy dogs, not all of the dogs included in Group 9 are small.The sections are:
- Section 1: Bichons and related breeds
 |
Maltese |  |
Bichon Frise Bichon Frisé A Bichon Frise , is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type. They are popular pets, similar in appearance to, but larger than, the Maltese.-Etymology and History:... |
 |
Havanese Havanese The Havanese is a dog breed of the Bichon type, developed from the now extinct Blanquito de la Habana . The Blanquito descended from the also now extinct Bichon Tenerife, which was introduced to the Canary Islands by the Cubans... |
| Bolognese Bolognese (dog) The Bolognese is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type, originating in Italy. The name refers to the northern Italian city of Bologna.-Appearance:... |
 |
Coton de Tuléar Coton de Tulear The Coton de Tuléar is a small breed of dog. It is named for the city of Tuléar in Madagascar and for its cotton-like coat.-Appearance:Multiple registries with differing standards describe the Coton de Tuléar, but in general, it has very soft hair, comparable to a cotton ball, a prominent black... |
 |
Löwchen Löwchen The Löwchen is a breed of dog that once had the dubious distinction, like the Portuguese Water Dog and the Havanese, of being the rarest dog in the world. Even today, the breed generally has fewer than a few hundred new registrations each year worldwide.-Appearance:The Lowchen is a breed with a... |
- Section 2: Poodle
 |
Poodle (Toy) |
- Section 3: Small Belgian Dogs
 |
Belgian Griffon |  |
Griffon Bruxellois Griffon Bruxellois The Griffon Bruxellois or Brussels Griffon is a breed of toy dog, named for their city of origin: Brussels, Belgium. The Griffon Bruxellois may refer to three different breeds, the Griffon Bruxellois, the Griffon Belge and the Petit Brabançon... (Brussels Griffon) |
 |
Petit Brabancon |
- Section 4: Hairless Dogs
 |
Chinese Crested Chinese Crested Dog The Chinese crested dog is a smaller hairless breed of dog. Like most hairless dog breeds, the Chinese crested comes in two varieties, both with and without fur, which are born in the same litter: the Hairless and the Powderpuff.... |
- Section 5: Tibetan breeds
 |
Lhasa Apso Lhasa Apso The Lhasa Apso is a non-sporting dog breed originating in Tibet. It was bred as an interior sentinel in the Buddhist monasteries, who alerted the monks to any intruders who entered... |
 |
Shih Tzu Shih Tzu The Shih Tzu is a breed of dog weighing with long silky hair. The breed originated in China and is among the earliest breeds. Shih Tzu were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969... |
 |
Tibetan Spaniel Tibetan Spaniel The Tibetan Spaniel is a breed of assertive, small, intelligent dogs originating in the Himalayan mountains of Tibet. They share ancestry with the Pekingese, Japanese Chin, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, and Pug... |
 |
Tibetan Terrier Tibetan Terrier The Tibetan Terrier is not a member of the terrier group, the name being given to it by European travelers to Tibet who were reminded of terriers from back home when they first encountered the breed... |
- Section 6: Chihuahueño
 |
Chihuahua (Smooth-haired) Chihuahua (dog) The ' is the smallest breed of dog and is so named for the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. Chihuahuas come in a wide variety of sizes, head shapes, colors and coat lengths.-History:... |
 |
Chihuahua (Long-haired) Chihuahua (dog) The ' is the smallest breed of dog and is so named for the state of Chihuahua in Mexico. Chihuahuas come in a wide variety of sizes, head shapes, colors and coat lengths.-History:... |
- Section 7: English Toy Spaniels
 |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cavalier King Charles Spaniel The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of Spaniel-type dog, and is classed as a toy dog by most kennel clubs. It is one of the most popular breeds in the United Kingdom. Since 2000, it has been growing in popularity in the United States. It is a smaller breed of spaniel, and Cavalier... |
 |
King Charles Spaniel King Charles Spaniel The King Charles Spaniel is a small dog breed of the spaniel type. In 1903, the Kennel Club combined four separate toy spaniel breeds under this single title... (English Toy Spaniel) |
- Section 8: Japan Chin and Pekingese
 |
Pekingese Pekingese The Pekingese, or "Peke" is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. The breed was favored by the Chinese Imperial court, and its name refers to the city of Beijing where the Forbidden City resides... |
 |
Japanese Chin Japanese Chin The Japanese Chin , also known as the Japanese Spaniel) is the dog of Japanese royalty. A lap dog and companion dog, this toy breed has a distinctive heritage.-Appearance:... |
- Section 9: Continental Toy Spaniel
 |
Papillon Papillon (dog) The papillon , also called the Continental Toy Spaniel, is a breed of dog of the Spaniel type. One of the oldest of the toy Spaniels, it derives its name from its characteristic butterfly-like look of the long and fringed hair on the ears. A papillon with dropped ears is called a phalène... (with erect ears) |
 |
Phalène Phalène The Phalène is the drop-eared version of the Papillon, a toy breed also known as the Butterfly Dog or the Continental Toy Spaniel .-History:... (with drooping ears) |
- Section 10: Kromfohrländer
 |
Kromfohrlander Kromfohrlander The Kromfohrländer is a breed of dog that originated in Germany. It is used as a companion dog.-Appearance:The Kromfohrländer is sometime said to look like a cross between a retriever and a beagle, and comes in a variety of coat thicknesses: short-haired, long haired and wire-haired. The... |
- Section 11: Small Molossian type Dogs
 |
French Bulldog French Bulldog The French bulldog is a small breed of domestic dog, related to the English bulldog and American bulldog.-History:The origin of the modern French Bulldog breed descends directly from the dogs of the Molossians, an ancient Greek tribe. The dogs were spread throughout the ancient world by Phoenician... |
 |
Pug Pug The pug is a "toy" breed of dog with a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail. The breed has a fine, glossy coat that comes in a variety of colors, and a compact square body with well-developed muscle. They have been described as multum in parvo , referring to the pug's personality and... |
 |
Boston Terrier Boston Terrier The Boston Terrier is a breed of dog originating in the United States of America. This "American Gentleman" was accepted in 1893 by the American Kennel Club as a non-sporting breed. Color and markings are important when distinguishing this breed to the AKC standard. They should be either black,... |
The remainder of breeds assigned to the Toy Group by other kennel clubs are placed with larger dog breeds of the same type by the Fédération Cynologique International; for example, the toy size terriers are in Group 3, Section 2, Small-sized terriers or Group 3, Section 4, Toy Terriers.
Not included in the Fédération Cynologique Internationale Group 9, Companion and Toy are these breeds that are listed in the Toy Group of some kennel clubs:
- TerrierTerrierA terrier is a dog of any one of many breeds or landraces of terrier type, which are typically small, wiry, very active and fearless dogs. Terrier breeds vary greatly in size from just a couple of pounds to over 70 pounds and are usually categorized by size or function...
-type breeds included in the Toy Group of some kennel clubs:
 |
Australian Silky Terrier Australian Silky Terrier The Australian Silky Terrier is a small breed of dog of the terrier dog type. The breed was developed in Australia, although the ancestral types and breeds were from Great Britain. It is closely related to the Australian Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier... |
 |
English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan) The English Toy Terrier is a small breed of terrier in the toy dog group.-Appearance:According to the Kennel Club, the English Toy Terrier should be in height and in weight. The only permitted color is black with defined tan markings on the legs, chest and face... |
 |
Manchester Terrier Manchester Terrier The Manchester Terrier is a breed of dog of the smooth-haired terrier type.-Appearance:Manchester Terriers are considered by most to be the oldest of all identifiable terrier breeds, finding mention in works dating from as early as the 16th century. In 1570 Dr... |
 |
Toy Fox Terrier Toy Fox Terrier The Toy Fox Terrier is a small terrier breed of dog, directly descended from the larger Fox Terrier but considered a separate breed.-Appearance:... |
 |
Yorkshire Terrier Yorkshire Terrier The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog breed of terrier type, developed in the 19th century in the county of Yorkshire, England to catch rats in clothing mills. The defining features of the breed are its size, to , and its silky blue and tan coat... |
||
- SpitzSpitzSpitz-type dogs are a type of dog, characterized by long, thick, and often white fur, and pointed ears and muzzles...
-type dogs included in the Toy Group of some kennel clubs:
 |
Pomeranian Pomeranian (dog) The Pomeranian is a breed of dog of the Spitz type, named for the Pomerania region in Central Europe . Classed as a toy dog breed because of its small size, the Pomeranian is descended from the larger Spitz type dogs, specifically the German Spitz... |
Schipperke Schipperke A Schipperke is a small Belgian breed of dog that originated in the early 16th century. There has been a long informal debate over whether this type of dog is a spitz or miniature sheepdog.- Description :... |
|
- PinscherPinscherPinscher is a type of dog developed originally as ratters on farms and for fighting or guarding, although today they are most often kept as pets.-Etymology:...
-type dogs included in the Toy Group of some kennel clubs:
 |
Affenpinscher Affenpinscher -History:The breed is German in origin and dates back to the seventeenth century. Its name is derived from the German Affe . The breed predates and is ancestral to the Griffon Bruxellois and Miniature Schnauzer.... |
Miniature Pinscher Miniature Pinscher The Miniature Pinscher is a small breed of dog, originating from Germany. The breed's earliest ancestors were a mix of Italian Greyhounds and Dachshunds... |
|
- SighthoundSighthoundSighthounds, also called gazehounds, are hounds that primarily hunt by speed and sight, instead of by scent and endurance as scent hounds do.-Appearance:...
-type dogs included in the Toy Group of some kennel clubs:
| Italian Greyhound Italian Greyhound The Italian Greyhound is a small breed of dog of the sight hound type, sometimes called an "I.G.", or "Iggy" for short.-Appearance:The Italian Greyhound is the smallest of the sighthounds, typically weighing about and standing about tall at the withers... |
|
Other clubs
The United Kennel Club (US) is often considered among the major kennel clubs; it does not recognise a Toy Group (see Companion GroupCompanion Group
Companion Group is the name of a breed group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds, and does not necessarily include all dogs kept as companions or pets. In some kennel clubs the Companion Group is called the Companion and Toy Group...
for a comparison.)
Most clubs in non-English speaking countries also list small dogs in either a Toy Group or a Companion Group.
Very small dogs are also included in the listings of the enormous and ever-expanding number of specialty registries, minor kennel clubs, dog sports clubs, breed clubs, rare dog registries, and internet based dog clubs and businesses. Each will have its own definition of what breeds belong in their own Toy Group.
In addition, Toy dogs in particular have been used for crossbreeding to create what are called designer dogs, bred either accidentally or to enhance the marketability of puppies, often with cute portmanteau names created from syllables of each breed name. Although there are clubs willing to "register" such designer dogs, they are not breeds of dog. They may be called toy dogs but they are not part of any Toy Dog Group.
See also
- Breed Groups (dog)
- Toy dogToy dogToy dog traditionally refers to a very small dog or a grouping of small and very small breeds of dog. A toy dog may be of any of various dog types. Types of dogs referred to as toy dogs may include Spaniels, Pinschers and Terriers that have been bred down in size. Not all toy dogs are lapdogs,...
- PetPetA pet is a household animal kept for companionship and a person's enjoyment, as opposed to wild animals or to livestock, laboratory animals, working animals or sport animals, which are kept for economic or productive reasons. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful...
- Lap dogLap dogA lapdog or lap dog is a dog that is small enough to be held in the arms or lie comfortably on a person's lap. Lapdogs are not a specific breed, but is a generic term for a type of dog of small size and friendly disposition....
- Companion dogCompanion dogCompanion dog usually describes a dog that does not work, providing only companionship as a pet, rather than usefulness by doing specific tasks. Many of the toy dog breeds are used only for the pleasure of their company, not as workers...
- Companion GroupCompanion GroupCompanion Group is the name of a breed group of dogs, used by kennel clubs to classify a defined collection of dog breeds, and does not necessarily include all dogs kept as companions or pets. In some kennel clubs the Companion Group is called the Companion and Toy Group...