What the Heck is a Small Dog?

Posted on Oct 17 in Define Your Termsby Jeff K.Print

What the heck is a small dog? The nickel answer is: “It depends on who you ask.” I know, I know, that’s a painfully cheap answer. A nickel does not buy much anymore. The truth is, if you limit the discussion to pure bred dogs, the American Kennel Club has the definitive answer. The problem is, pure breds make up less than half the world’s population of dogs. There are hundreds of varieties of mixed breed dogs that could be classified as “small” if there was some sort of official governing body for mixed breed dogs willing to create those classifications. Unfortunately there is not. But read on. I will try to whittle away at the question until you have a good answer.

This is, without question, a small dog.

The American Kennel Club does have the question nailed for purebreds. They judge dog size by standing height at the shoulder. Take the Poodle for example. There is a Standard Poodle which is any Poodle more than 15 inches high measured, from the floor to the top of the dog’s shoulder, when the dog is standing (on the floor, not your stomach while you are watching T.V.) A Miniature Poodle has a standing height of more than 10 inches but no more than 15 inches.

Baa Baa the Toy Poodle.

A Toy Poodle stands less than 10 inches at the shoulder. The AKC does not officially recognize the term “teacup,” so tell your grandmother she really does not own a Teacup Poodle, she owns a Toy Poodle that happens to be very small. Go ahead, you tell her. I’m not doing it. It will break her heart.

As I said, there are more dogs of mixed descent than purebreds. Yes, that’s the politically correct term. Perhaps you prefer “designer dog,” or “intentional cross,” or “happy accident,” or plain old “mutt.” Call it what you will, the American Kennel Club has never ventured into the fuzzy world of non-papered dogs. (I’m talking about dogs that lack AKC papers, not dogs that refuse to be paper trained.)

Bella the Puggle. A Pug-Beagle mix.

How do we classify old Otto, who’s mother was a Chihuahua-Scottish Deerhound mix, and who’s father was a Dachshund-Great Dane mix? By my way of thinking, if Otto weighs 25 pounds or less he is a small dog. This assumes Otto’s weight is proportionate to his frame, or as the late great Goldilocks once wisely stated, “This one’s just right.” On the other hand, if Otto stands 48 inches high but weighs in at 15 pounds, making a vegan marathon runner look obese by comparison, then Otto is not a small dog. He’s what we call in the biz “a picky eater.” Or, if Otto stands 8 inches at the shoulder but could inhale everything on the steam tables at an all-you-can-eat cafeteria without any help from the seniors piling off the church bus, then Otto is not a small dog. You get the idea.

This is our realm. We will be focusing on any dog the AKC calls a “Miniature” or a “Toy.” We will also cover any dog that tilts the scales at 25 pounds or less. But don’t point your finger and shout if I occasionally mention the words “Labrador” or “Giant.” I really do love all dogs and there is a lot to learn from big dogs as well.

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