Owning a pet boosts your happiness, reduces stress, and eases loneliness. Small dog breeds are adorable little balls of fur with big personalities. They make ideal companions for apartment dwellers and people living in urban settings.
Their affectionate nature and sociable personalities make them a full package. Regardless of their size, many of them possess bundles of energy and protective instincts. Their loyalty and ability to form close bonds with their humans make them the most irresistible pooches out there.
They have uncanny sensitivity to human emotions, making them more than just pets. These toy dogs become an integral part of one’s family. Such dogs offer devotion, companionship, and emotional support to their humans. Their gentle and playful nature instantly lifts your mood.
Here are the top 7 toy dog breeds with the strongest bonds with their owners.
Toy Dog Breeds With The Strongest Bonds With Their Owners
1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are affectionate pooches who thrive on human interaction. These sweet and patient fellows form strong bonds with their owners. They are happy lounging on the couch as well as playing in the garden.
These cuddly companions have a calm demeanor and an adaptable personality. Cavaliers have Velcro dog tendencies, and they seldom like being alone. They see their owners as a constant source of comfort, security, and confidence.
Cavaliers are devoted to their owners, who are the center of their universe. They mimic sibling-like kinship with their humans, trust them, and think of themselves as providers. Cavaliers possess playful energy and are ideal for homes with kids.
2. Shih Tzu
These small and sturdy pooches thrive on human companionship and have a loving disposition. Shih Tzus are affectionate and will shower you with lots of love and attention. They bond with their humans like glue sticks to paper.
Shih Tzus are Velcro dogs who want to stay by your side all the time. With long flowing coats and expressive eyes, Shih Tzus also have a big heart. They make excellent emotional support animals and offer comfort to their owners through thick and thin.
Their attentive and warm-hearted personalities enable them to serve as service dogs for people with psychiatric and intellectual disabilities. These snuggly canines are smart, highly trainable, and match their vibe with their human counterparts.
It means you can teach them to perform several disability related functions, such as diabetes support and seizure alert. However, Shi Tzus do not make ideal pets for individuals with physical disabilities due to their small size.
3. Havanese
The national dog of Cuba, the Havanese, has a cheeky and cheerful personality. They are highly energetic and spirited and have a knack for forming firm attachments with their people. Due to this close bonding, Havanese shine as emotional support animals.
These highly sociable mutts thrive on human interaction. They help ease the loneliness of their handlers and encourage them to socialize. Havanese possess expressive eyes, an outgoing personality, and an adaptable nature. These jolly companions are the best mood boosters you can ever have.
Havanese exhibit unwavering loyalty with you by following you like a shadow from room to room. They are a perfect choice for people looking for devoted companions. Plus, Havanese have a longer lifespan than many other breeds, so they will stay with you for many years to come.
4. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frises are real-life stuffed toys with a personality as bright as a summer day. One of the most popular dog breeds, the Bichons are known for their happy, affectionate, and gentle nature. They love spending time with their pet parents and thrive on social interaction.
With an endearing appearance, Bichons love to be the star of the show. Watch this video of an adorable pair of Bichon Frise being all lovey-dovey with their owner:
These cheerful doggos look like moving clouds and will do all kinds of tricks to get your attention. Despite being a small dog breed, Bichons are spirited and alert. They make excellent watchdogs and best buddies who are highly sensitive to your mood.
From warm snuggles to constant companionship and empathetic responses to your emotions, Bichons clearly signal that you are their favorite person. Playful and funny antics of these furtastic pups will melt your heart. Bichons can adapt to different lifestyles.
5. Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terriers are tiny puffballs with playful spirits and an independent nature. These pawsome fellows are fiercely loyal to their humans and are the happiest when they stay with you. Yorkies are lapdogs who love nothing more than cuddles and constant attention.
Their protective nature, thirst for companionship, and love for activities make them wonderful family pets. Yorkies possess contagious energy, but their bold nature means they need socialization from an early age to prevent territorial behavior or excessive barking, explains Pedigree.
Yorkshire Terriers are naturally curious and require constant physical and mental stimulation to stay healthy and content. They are adaptable to various living environments, and their small size means you can easily carry them wherever you go.
6. Pomeranian
This highly affectionate dog makes an excellent companion and is happy as long as it doesn’t get left behind. Despite being a small dog breed, Pomeranians are not your typical sedate lap dogs. They tend to be a bit independent, but still thrive on emotional and physical contact with their owners.
If you own a Pomeranian, prepare yourself to receive tons of hugs and kisses. Poms are well-suited for individuals looking for an emotional support dog because of the close attachment they develop with their humans.
These Spitz-type dogs possess protective instincts and always seem to be on high alert. According to the American Kennel Club, they can be easily trained to serve as watchdogs. Creative Canine Academy explains in a Quora thread that Poms make good autism assistance dogs.
They can be trained to perform tasks like anxiety alerts and tactile stimulation. However, a downside of their personality is that they are too vocal. Sometimes, your Pom will get a bit too big for its small boots, but that incredibly cute face will make you forget its wrongdoings.
7. Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are pint-sized pooches that make loyal and loving companions for first-time owners. They happily accompany their owners everywhere and are prone to separation anxiety when they stay away from their owners for too long.
Chihuahuas crave attention, and too much alone time can lead to unwanted behaviors like whining, scratching, and chewing. They are wary of strangers and make amazing watchdogs due to their alert and feisty temperament.
These sensitive and eager-to-please canines make ideal candidates for emotional support dogs. Emotionally supportive Chihuahuas offer comfort and companionship to those dealing with anxiety or depression. Petplan recommends weekly grooming for both long and short-haired Chihuahuas.
Conclusion
Many small dog breeds show immense loyalty and affection towards their owners. They form close bonds with their human counterparts and stay by their side through thick and thin. These toy breeds follow their people like a shadow and make true Velcro dogs.
Their small size enables you to take them along with you everywhere. If you are planning to adopt a small dog breed, get ready to receive lots of hugs and kisses. However, be sure to reciprocate their love and affection.
