The Chihuahua is a dainty, compact dog and the smallest of all dog breeds. It’s rapidly becoming one of the most popular and is often depicted as the glamourous companion of celebrities. But, there’s more than meets the eye beyond just cute looks as the Chihuahua is highly intelligent and boasts a long lifespan.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Basic training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking half an hour a day
• Little toy dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• Great with other pets
• Great family dog

The Chinese Crested is a toy breed that comes in two body types and two coat types. 
The ‘Deer type’ should be racy and fine-boned and the ‘Cobby type’ should be heavier in body and bone. Either build however are an athletic, active dog, tall in the leg, lean and fit. 

The coat is either Hairless - a naked body, fluffy socks, fine crest of hair on the head and a plumed tail, or Powder Puff – a fine soft veil of long hair and soft undercoat over the whole body.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Small dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• Great with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

The Chow Chow is a large, compact, bear-like dog with a thick, abundant top coat, a woolly undercoat and a tail curled over its back. This breed is gaining in popularity and with their striking looks they’re sure to leave a lasting impression on everyone who lays eyes on them.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Extra training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Large dog
• Some drool
• Requires grooming daily
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Quiet dog
• Guard dog. Barks, alerts and it's physically protective
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

The Rough Collie is undeniably, a glamorous, eye-catching dog, with their abundant sweeping coat, chiselled head and alert expression of dignity. A medium to large dog, Rough Collie coats should be dense, harsh to touch and with an abundant mane and frill. Ears are expressive and attractively tipped forward when alert.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys active walks
• Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
• Large dog
• Some drool
• Requires grooming daily
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

A medium/large breed, well proportioned and dignified-looking, the Smooth Collie should look as if he's capable of a day's work. Adult males stand at 56-61cm and weigh 20.5-29.5kg, and females are 51-56cm and 18-25kg. The short, flat coat is harsh to the touch, and comes in sable and white, tricolour (black with tan and white markings) and blue merle (silver-blue with black).

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for experienced owners
• Some training required
• Enjoys vigorous walks
• Enjoys walking more than two hours a day
• Large dog
• Some drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Chatty and vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

The Coton De Tulear is an attractive, intelligent little dog with a long white cottony coat. They are slightly longer than they are tall with dark pigmentation, giving them sparkling button nose and eyes and a very appealing expression.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for non-experienced owners
• Basic training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking half an hour a day
• Little toy dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming daily
• Hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• Great with other pets
• Great family dog

The Dachshund (Long-Haired) is a medium breed dog on short legs, standing around 35cm tall and about 9-12kg when fully grown. The coat should be soft, straight or only slightly waved, forming attractive feathering on the backs of legs, ears and tail.

A wide variety of colours occur but not all are accepted for health reasons.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Small dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

Long-backed and short-legged, the Miniature Long Haired Dachshund is possibly the most glamorous of the Mini Dachshund types, with a shining, silky coat that is straight or with a slight wave. The coat forms feathering on the ears, legs, and undercarriage and the tail should sport a silky flag of hair. The coat comes in a variety of colours, see the breed standard for more details. Although small, the Mini Long Haired Dachshund is still a powerful and muscular dog with a deep, broad chest and well-developed forelegs, with adults standing at 12-15cm in height and weighing 4.5-5kg.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking half an hour a day
• Small dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming every other day
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

This is a long-backed, short-legged dog of diminutive height that everybody recognises. While small, the Miniature Smooth-Haired Dachshund breed is still muscular and powerfully built with a deep, broad chest and well-developed forelegs. They have a short, dense, smooth coat that comes in a range of colours.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking half an hour a day
• Little toy dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

This is a long-backed, short-legged dog of diminutive height that everybody recognises. While small, the Miniature Wire Haired Dachshund breed is still muscular and powerfully built with a deep, broad chest and well-developed forelegs. They have a dense, wiry coat that comes in a range of colours.

The need-to-know

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking half an hour a day
• Little toy dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

The standard, Smooth-Haired Dachshund breed is short – but not small! He is a medium-sized hound on short legs, standing at about 35cm and weighing 9-12kg when fully grown. He has an attractive, soft, straight coat that comes in a range of colours

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Small dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids

The Dachshund (Wire-Haired) is a medium breed dog on short legs, standing around 35cm tall and about 9-12kg when fully grown. The coat is hard and wiry, forming an attractive moustache, beard and characterful eyebrows. The ears are kept smooth and neat and the whole coat maintained with regular hand stripping or plucking. A wide variety of colours occur but not all are accepted for health reasons.

The need-to-know
 

• Dog suitable for owners with some experience
• Some training required
• Enjoys gentle walks
• Enjoys walking an hour a day
• Small dog
• Minimum drool
• Requires grooming once a week
• Non hypoallergenic breed
• Very vocal dog
• Guard dog. Barks and alerts
• May require training to live with other pets
• May require training to live with kids