Tiny Tyrants with Extraordinary Appeal

Tiny Tyrants with Extraordinary Appeal

For every Toy dog that thinks it has what it takes to run the world, there’s a giant dog somewhere with no concept of the limitations of a queen size bed. In either case, the dog’s devoted master or mistress has no choice but to accept the reality of the situation and make any and all accommodations necessary for peaceful cohabitation. For the Great Dane and Irish Wolfhound aficionado, this means nights of fitful sleep clinging to the edge of a mattress. However, for those who have chosen a life of servitude to a Papillon, Pekingese, or Pomeranian, the demands of living with a pint-sized pooch can far outweigh the little darlings themselves. Fourteen pounds of Pug, after all, can be a lot of dog for an overindulgent pushover.

The oversized personalities of the smallest recognized purebreds are, of course, a big part of their appeal. Unlike breeds that hunt, haul, and herd in bodies that match their determined spirit, Toy dogs have no need to do the heavy lifting. In fact, they’re the dog world’s bossiest of bosses, with the stature of an executive who likes to remind everyone that the brain is the body’s strongest muscle. And who needs brawn when you can command the able-bodied to carry you around on demand?

Size, of course, matters in purebred dogs. For the Toy breeds, sitting on a lap (or fitting inside a sleeve) is simply part of their raison d’être. Let the mastiffs plunder the bedding. The comforter spaniels need only wait for an obliging hand to lift them up and onto their pillowed thrones. Oh, they could retrieve a finch or a wren if they wanted to, but who’s going to ask them to do it? You’d have better luck getting a Saint Bernard to ski—or make the bed.

Through the articles and interviews assembled in this edition, SHOWSIGHT has endeavored to celebrate the tiny tyrants of the Toy Group through the words of the breeders, judges, and exhibitors who best understand their extraordinary appeal. We hope you enjoy!!