(E.B.W.) Critter Corner
Every animal has a story.
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Oct. 2/2024
25 Small Dog Breeds To Fit Any Lifestyle Part 1
By Emily Sanders. Reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM
8/ 6/ 2023
Cute & compact, there’s a lot to love about small dog breeds. But there are also lots of different types of small dogs, & no 2 are exactly alike. Here are some of the best toy & small dog breeds that can fit into your family.
1. Chihuahua
Weight: 6 pounds or less
Height: 5–8 inches
Chihuahuas are charming little dogs who make adorable companions thanks to their sassy personalities & spunky nature. One of the longest-living dog breeds, Chis are full of energy & liven up any room they’re in—which is usually whatever room their beloved pet parents are in.
2. Pomeranian
Weight: 3–7 pounds
Height: 6–7 inches
With their cute strut & beautiful coat, Pomeranians are a popular lap dog. But they weren’t always the little dog breed we know today—Pomeranians are actually descended from sled dogs, & their predecessors weighed around 30 pounds. But once they captivated Queen Victoria & became more popular, Poms were selectively bred to be the tiny, cute dogs we know today.
3. Yorkshire Terrier
Weight: 7 pounds
Height: 7–8 inches
The Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie, is a playful, energetic, & affectionate dog. Like other small dog breeds, Yorkies don’t handle the cold well & may be prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
4. Shih Tzu
Weight: 9–16 pounds
Height: 9–10 inches
Small but mighty, the Shih Tzu was bred by Buddhist monks in Tibet to look like a little lion. These tiny, cute dogs are very attached to their pet parents & their long & luxurious coats need lots of attention to stay tangle-free. This breed does best with an attentive family who will brush them a few times throughout the week.
5. Papillon
Weight: 5–10 pounds
Height: 8–11 inches
Elegant & stylish, Papillons are named after their wispy ears that resemble butterfly wings (papillon means “butterfly” in French). This small dog is also highly intelligent & needs ample activity & mental stimulation to ward off boredom. Some of the Papillon’s favorite pastimes are taking long walks, running an agility course, & playing with their favorite people.
6. Toy Poodle
Weight: 4–6 pounds
Height: 10 inches or less
Toy Poodles are the smallest of the Poodle breeds (the other 2 being the Standard & the Miniature). Like their larger cousins, Toy Poodles are smart & playful, & they probably don’t mind bath night (which should be every 2 to 4 weeks).
7. Affenpinscher
Weight: 7–10 pounds
Height: 9–12 inches
German for “monkey terrier,” it’s easy to see how the Affenpinscher got their name: Their distinctive flat, bearded face makes this small dog breed look more like a monkey than a pup. Like other little dogs, Affenpinschers have a long lifespan that can reach 15 years or more.
8. Maltese
Weight: 7 pounds or less
Height: 7–9 inches
The Maltese is a small white dog known for their straight, sweeping curtain of fur. Despite their long coat, this toy breed isn’t a heavy shedder & is often labeled as “hypoallergenic” (although there’s no truly hypoallergenic dog). Still, Maltese can be a good choice for people with allergies.
9. Bichon Frise
Weight: 12–18 pounds
Height: 9–12 inches
Another small white dog is the Bichon Frise. But what these dogs lack in size, they make up for in heart. Bichons are known for being curious, friendly, & eager-to-please, which makes them easy to train in both basic commands & fun tricks.
10. Biewer Terrier
Weight: 4–8 pounds
Height: 7–11 inches
Pronounced “beaver,” Biewer Terriers are cute dogs that are small & love their family, making them ideal lap dogs. Originating from Germany, they are descendants of Yorkies, but with a unique genetic twist: they carry the rare piebald gene, resulting in white fur with patches of color.
11. Brussels Griffon
Weight: 8–10 pounds
Height: 7–10 inches
Brussels Griffons are adorable & sociable companions. Their wide-set eyes give them a childlike, expressive face that adds to their endearing “Velcro dog” personality. These small dogs are equally happy to exercise & be a little couch tater tot. Here’s a fun fact: Griffons were the inspiration for Ewoks in Star Wars.
12. Alaskan Klee Kai
Weight: 6–25 pounds
Height: 12–17 inches
The Alaskan Klee Kai is a small dog breed that comes in 3 variations: Toy, Miniature, & Standard. They are a new & rare breed that began with one small Siberian Husky in the 1970s. Like Huskies, Alaskan Klee Kai dogs have an independent, talkative, & determined spirit.
13. Cairn Terrier
Weight: 13–14 pounds
Height: 9–10 inches
Cairn Terriers are shaggy, athletic dogs bred in Scotland to hunt foxes & other small mammals. The breed saw a boost in popularity after 1939, when a Cairn Terrier named Terry starred as Toto in The Wizard of Oz.
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Thursday, September 26, 2024
Sept. 25/2024
8 Pets That May Keep You up at Night
By Sandra C. Mitchell, DVM, DABVP
Published 12/15/2023
Some pets do most of their activities at night—when most people are asleep. It’s important to keep a pet’s natural wake/sleep schedule in mind when choosing one for your family. While most pets can adapt to a pet parent’s attention during the day, their instinct is to do most of their more active behaviors, like exploring & playing, at odd hours.
Nocturnal Pets vs. Crepuscular Pets
Many animals that are active at night fall into one of 2 groups: nocturnal or crepuscular.
Nocturnal animals become active when the sun goes down & are generally more or less awake for the entire night, unless they decide to grab a nap.
Crepuscular animals have 2 main periods of activity: near dawn & dusk. These critters are typically up a little before the sun sets in the evening & are active until a few hours after it sets. They then go to bed & catch a long nap until shortly before dawn. At this point, they get up again, are active for a few hours after dawn, then sleep during the day.
Nocturnal Pets
1. Hamster
Hamsters are nocturnal & best suited to households that are active after dark, without any early risers. This is because hamsters are one of the louder nocturnal pets—they like to run on their wheels for long hours & chew noisily at anything they can.
Do not place hamster cages where people sleep. A place that’s also quieter during the day (when the hamster wants to sleep) is ideal. Hamsters are often very grumpy when awakened, so if it’s necessary to wake up your pet (for example, for a trip to the vet), it’s best to do so slowly. When possible, it’s best to leave a sleeping hamster asleep.
2. Rat
Overnight, rats love to play in groups. They enjoy climbing, & ladder toys made for birds are some of their favorite objects to scale. Rats will also use running wheels, so keeping their cage outside of your bedroom is a good idea.
3. Hedgehog
Hedgehogs are largely solitary creatures that tend to do most of their exploring & foraging in the evening. Although some will make noise while they run on wheels or play, many quietly explore their environment, looking for tasty snacks that might be hiding in the nooks & crannies of their homes.
In addition to being primarily nocturnal, hedgehogs also need an area to retreat to that’s always warm. A night heat lamp (like one used for reptiles) or a chew-safe heating pad is an essential part of their cage. Don’t surprised if your hedgie basks in that area all day long, even if it seems warm to you!
4. Sugar Glider
Sugar gliders are strictly nocturnal & spend much of their night actively gliding, foraging, & playing. Like hedgehogs, they also need at least one part of their cage to be warmer than the environmental temperature. Sugar gliders can be entertained by hiding components of their diet throughout the environment to allow for hunting.
Luckily, most sugar gliders are not noisy household companions. However, they do have a fairly strong & distinct smell, which not all people will appreciate. As such, it may be best to plan to place their cage in a non-central, quieter part of the house.
5. Mouse
Mice are active creatures at night, often up running on wheels, chewing, & scratching at corners in their cage. Although they are small, mice can make some mighty noises that can bother sleeping humans. They’re best kept in small, same-sex groups (although males may fight), which can elevate the noise as they play & squeak at one another. For sound sleep, keep them outside of your bedroom.
Crepuscular Pets
1. Cat
Cats do great with families that have hectic schedules, as they can meld around the chaos well. However, despite their tendency to sleep 12–16 hours a day, they are also good at waking us up sometimes for attention or food.
As a crepuscular species, your cat may choose to get up at night to grab a snack, play with some toys, or just sit & stare at you, hoping you’ll get up & play. They may accompany you on trips to the bathroom overnight or try their best at the crack of dawn to get you to fill the food bowl. These are all very normal behaviors.
2. Chinchilla
Chinchillas are petite rodents with adorable large eyes & ears. Much like cats, chinchillas are crepuscular; although they may be up at night, they prefer to be active in the early evening & early morning. You can spend time with them before you go to bed & when you first get up, & they will be happy to see you.
Chinchillas also tend to spend some time being active overnight & can be noisy. They like to climb, jump, run, & chew, so they also need very large areas to be active over the nighttime hours.
3. Leopard Gecko
Leopard geckos are small, compact crepuscular reptiles. Most leopard geckos will get up during the evening hours & be most active both during the evening & early mornings, although they will also spend some time awake overnight & occasionally during the day as well.
Leopard geckos will spend their awake time burrowing & hunting. Most of their nighttime activity is quiet, so a leopard gecko enclosure can often be left in or near human sleeping areas. Keep in mind their lighting requirements (heat is generally needed 24 hours per day) may bother some people at night.
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