Things on Tuesday: Owning a Lap Dog Breed

A lap dog is a small breed of dog that can fit comfortably in your lap. Some of the most popular lap dog breeds include the Chihuahua, the Yorkshire Terrier, the Maltese, the Miniature Poodle, the West Highland Terrier among others. If you're looking for a new dog, a small lap dog can be an excellent choice for a variety of reasons, although they do have their disadvantages over a larger dog. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of owning a lap dog:

Disadvantages of owning a lap dog:

• They tend to bark a lot. If you adopt one of these dog breeds, plan on spending some time helping them curb this annoying habit before you alienate your neighbors.
• There's a greater risk for injury. Because of their small size, a lap dog can easily be stepped on or injured by a human. Plus, they don't stand much of a chance in a dog fight with a larger dog. To make matters worse, these little dogs often don't know their limitations and have a “big dog” mentality.
• They may not be a good choice if you lead an active lifestyle. Despite their best efforts, they're probably not going to be able to keep up with you if you run at a fast pace.
• They're less intimidating to burglars and other unsavory types. Although certain lap dogs such as the Yorkshire Terrier can be quite aggressive towards suspicious strangers, they don't have the force to back it up.
• They can be time intensive. A lap dog tends to form a strong bond with its owner and needs lots of stimulation and attention from its family. They are true “people dogs”.
  

• They can go more places. A small lap dog can be easily taken on a trip and are more likely to be allowed in hotels and stores than are larger dogs.
• They tend to form a very strong bond with you. In general, lap dogs spend more time with their owners than larger dogs since they can so easily carried around with you.
• They may be less expensive to take care of. A small lap dog requires smaller quantities of food due to its small size. In addition, if you have to take your lap dog to a kennel or to be groomed, you'll generally be charged less than you would for a larger dog.
• They are less intimidating to children. Smaller dogs tend to be less intimidating to children, although it's important that you teach your children to handle your dog humanely.
• You can make them fashion icons. More clothing and dog accessories are made for small dogs than for larger breeds.
• They don't require much formal exercise. A daily walk may be all you need to keep a small lap dog breed in good shape.