The phrase “toy dog” refers to a very tiny dog, selectively bred to be small through several generations. However, they compensate for their small size with their big personalities. These little dogs have unique behavioral and physical characteristics that make them stand out.
Many of them make adorable companions who can spend hours resting in their owner’s lap. Toy dogs are loving and gentle to their loved ones and establish unbreakable bonds with them. Having an eagerness to please their owners and sharp minds, they are quite obedient.
Despite their compact stature, they have big brains. Their cognitive abilities enable them to excel at obedience and agility training. They also possess exceptional problem-solving skills and learn best with positive reinforcement techniques.
Here are some gentle, obedient toy dog breeds.
Gentle Obedient Toy Dog Breeds
1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are sweet and gentle dogs with expressive eyes. They are quite adaptable and make well-mannered companions for both active owners as well as laid-back homebodies.
This small dog breed has an affectionate nature, and they are very eager to please their humans. These traits make them learn new commands easily. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have high social intelligence, so they get along nicely with everyone, including kids, strangers, and other pets.
These smart dogs are easy to train and excel in several canine sports like agility, obedience, and rally. Due to their friendly nature, they make excellent therapy dogs. Cavaliers were bred to be lap dogs, so they have moderate exercise needs.
They enjoy going on walks with their owners, but should not be allowed off-leash due to their scenting and hunting instincts, explains the AKC.
2. Havanese
Hailing from Cuba, the Havanese is considered one of the most intelligent dog breeds. Despite being a small dog breed, these pooches have a sturdy build. They have high adaptive intelligence, which means they adjust well in a variety of new environments.
Havanese dogs are blessed with exceptional social skills. They get along nicely with everyone, including kids, strangers, and other pets. Ideal as city dogs, Havanese are smart and highly trainable extroverts. Despite their compact size, they make good watchdogs.
Thanks to their eagerness to please, you can easily teach them new tricks and commands. Their gentle and obedient personalities make them great candidates for therapy work. This intelligent small dog breed has moderate exercise needs.
Havanese dogs benefit from a brisk daily walk or fun playtime with their owners. According to PetMD, they make great companions but tend to bark excessively if not trained properly.
3. Pug
Pugs are charming and mischievous little fellows, having a laid-back personality. These playful dogs love entertaining their humans with their goofy antics. Pugs are eager to make new friends, including children.
These wrinkly dogs were originally bred to be companions, so they love pleasing their owners. Pug is a gentle and obedient small dog breed that can be trained easily. They excel in various dog sports like agility, obedience, and rally.
Apart from being very smart, Pugs are sensitive dogs and can easily get hurt. Therefore, you should not use harsh training methods while training them. Pugs want to spend lots of time with their owners and have a loving disposition.
They form strong bonds with their humans and do not like being left alone for extended periods. However, Pugs are brachycephalic, so make sure you do not over-exercise them or take them out in hot weather.
4. Papillon
Easily recognized by their butterfly ears, Papillons are alert and friendly dogs. They are very energetic and athletic, so a fair bit of exercise is needed to keep them healthy. Paps are no couch potatoes and require at least half an hour of daily exercise for stimulation.
Exercise can be split into at least two daily walks, along with playtime. Papillons are quite gentle and obedient dogs who respond well to training. According to Purina, they make loving companions and like taking part in family activities.
Papillons are quite agile and active dogs who love being the center of attention. They learn quickly and happily discover new tricks that they can show to their audience. Start training your Papillon at an early age, and it should be done using positive reinforcement methods.
Thanks to their compact size and adaptable nature, Papillons are comfortable living in most environments. Their long and silky coat requires grooming at least two to three times a week.
5. Brussels Griffon
Having big human-like eyes, the Brussels Griffon is an intelligent dog breed. They are super adorable and highly social dogs who quickly win over fans with larger-than-life personalities. These sensitive dogs do not respond well to harsh training sessions.
Brussels Griffons are small dogs who enjoy learning new tricks and do well in agility courses. This gentle, fun-loving, and obedient breed never fails to keep its loved ones entertained. Having medium energy levels, they require moderate physical activity and mental stimulation to stay happy.
Brussels Griffons love spending time with their owners and are true “Velcro dogs.” They can develop separation anxiety if left alone for too long. Due to their high emotional intelligence and affectionate nature, they are well-suited for therapy work.
Brussels Griffons love to romp and play, and are happiest when doing activities with people. Thanks to their high intelligence and trainability, they excel in obedience, agility, and tracking.
6. Yorkshire Terrier
Their little bodies are packed with big personalities. Originally bred to hunt rats, they are energetic, determined, and brave. Yorkies love their owners and are eager to please them. That is why these intelligent dogs learn new commands quickly.
Despite their small size, Yorkies can participate and excel in various dog sports like rally, agility, and obedience. Yorkies have gentle and loving personalities, so they make good candidates for therapy work. These pooches benefit from moderate exercise.
Yorkshire Terriers enjoy daily walks with their owners at a steady pace. They also like short bursts of activity, such as chasing after a tennis ball in the yard. Always up for a snuggling session, Yorkies need proper training and early socialization.
7. Poodle
All three Poodle varieties, including Toy Poodles, are highly intelligent. They have an eager-to-please nature and learn new commands in no time. Despite their small size, Toy Poodles are fairly energetic and excel in agility and obedience training.
Poodles are hypoallergenic dogs who do not shed much, making them perfect for allergy sufferers. Their high adaptive intelligence enables them to thrive in different environments. Having webbed feet and thick double coats, Poodles also make excellent swimmers.
These athletic and smart canines are known for their versatility. Poodles love engaging in active playtime and exercise with their humans. They also have high social intelligence, which means they get along nicely with children and other pets.
8. Maltese
Maltese is an affectionate and small dog breed having a long, silky coat. They make alert and fearless watchdogs who can be a bit stubborn at times. Maltese dogs are full of energy, but require only moderate exercise to stay healthy and content.
They are intelligent dogs who make loving and playful companions. They are athletic and very talented. Malteses make a fun choice for competitive sports like obedience and agility. These determined dogs respond well to positive reinforcement-based training methods.
Maltese dogs are quite loving to their family, but they are quite delicate. That is why they are not well-suited for homes with small children. However, they can be great family dogs for households with older kids who know how to interact with small dog breeds.
FAQs
Can toy dogs be both obedient and affectionate at the same time?
Yes, toy dogs with an affectionate temperament have a natural inclination to make their owners happy. If a loving dog is intelligent as well, it can make the most obedient pet. Obedient and affectionate dogs can easily learn basic commands like sit and down.
How do gentle toy dogs behave around children and seniors?
Gentle toy dogs tend to have a calm and loving disposition. They make wonderful playmates for your children and get along nicely with seniors. However, toy dogs need to be supervised around little rambunctious kids.
Can gentle toy breeds adjust well to apartment living?
Toy dog breeds that have a gentle temperament are well-suited for various living situations, including apartment living. Due to their small size and moderate energy levels, they make wonderful pets for apartment dwellers.
Conclusion
Several toy dog breeds are known for their gentle and sweet disposition. Gentle and obedient toy dogs love their owners and do things to please them. Their eager-to-please nature and high intelligence enable them to learn new tricks and commands.
Despite their small size, they excel at different canine sports like agility and obedience competitions. These best small dog breeds that respond well to training sessions. Their moderate exercise needs and adaptable personalities make them well-suited for living in most environments.
