Small dogs have charm and personality. Over the course of time more and more new breeds have been created by selectively breeding dogs with a certain external appearance and certain character traits. Small dog breeds came into our existence for various reasons. Some small dogs, like the dachshunds and Yorkshire terriers performed specific tasks by hunters. Other small dogs like the Pekingese, Shih Tzu and Maltese were created especially as companions for the well-to-do and the noble. Every land in the world has produced its own breed of small dogs. These small dogs as a result of trade became known in countries all over the world.

The Chihuahua comes from Mexico. The Pekingese and Shih Tzu originated in Tibet and China. Many types of terriers were bred in the Scottish Highlands. It is possible that the ancestors of the petit chien lion and of the poodle were from ancient Greece. The Chinese crested hairless dog is a descendant of the Aztec kingdom and China.

In earlier times to own an expensive purebred dog such as the Pekingese or the Shih Tzu was reserved only for the wealthy and privileged individuals. The situation changed, however, with the French Revolution when privilege based on social class was called into question. The middle class began to own expensive pedigreed dogs that were easily distinguished from a mutt. The popularity of the purebred dogs began to soar.

Breed standards in every breed describe from head to toe, height, weight, general appearance and character traits. A breed standard specifies how the ideal representative of each breed should look. Nature does not permit complete uniformity to these breed standards set by