The Yorkshire Terrier is one of America's favorite dog breeds. The United States AKC ranked it sixth favorite dog in 2003.

If you like small dogs with big dog attitudes, you may want to consider a Yorkshire Terrier. These dogs are so sure that they are just as big and bad as the other guy, that they will not hesitate to take on a Great Dane. Of course, this doesn't mean that Yorkshire Terriers aren't lap dogs. The Yorkie can cuddle with the best of them.

The Yorkshire Terrier is a member of the American Kennel Club's Toy Group. In the show ring, a Yorkie seems to glide across the ground, since the dog's long, flowing coat hides its tiny feet.

Although Yorkies can be as small as one pound, most breeders do not recommend trying to breed dogs this tiny, and for good reason. When dogs are bred to be this tiny, health is often sacrificed for size and weight. The AKC calls for the Yorkie to be under seven pounds, but does not have a minimum required weight.

Yorkshire Terriers have long flowing coats of silver, blue or black hair, with tan on their heads and legs. Yorkie puppies are all born with black and tan coloring. This breed has dark, intelligent eyes.

The Yorkshire Terrier is an ideal apartment dog. Of course, your Yorkie would enjoy having a yard to romp in, but he can survive without it.

In fact, some Yorkshire Terriers do not go out at all. These dogs are litter trained, instead. If you do not take your Yorkie for daily walks, you should look for ways to help him get some exercise, such as playing an indoor game of fetch.

If you do have a yard, be sure that there are no gaps under the fence, as Yorkies love to explore. Since these dogs are so small and cute, a Yorkshire Terrier doesn't always have a chance to get back home before a passerby takes the little dog home, thinking it is lost or abandoned.

Yorkshire Terriers are sociable little dogs and enjoy being in the midst of all the activity and bustle of family life. However, these dogs are not a good choice for families with toddlers.

This is not because Yorkies are untrustworthy with children, but because they are delicate little dogs and can be easily injured. A Yorkshire Terrier with a good temperament will allow children to squeeze, poke and pull on him, but it is unfair to subject a little dog to that treatment.

Despite the fact that a Yorkie is small, you should still take your puppy to obedience classes. These little guys have a tendency to become stubborn and set in their ways without proper training. Also, obedience training may save your Yorkshire Terrier's life if you are able to call him back to you if he escapes out the front door.

Yorkshire Terriers have few serious health problems. They do often have dental problems, such as retained baby teeth. Other problems these little guys can have are hernias and hypoglycemia.

Food for your Yorkshire Terrier will probably be your smallest expense. These little dogs don't eat much. However, you will have to be careful that you don't spoil your puppy with soft food or he may refuse to eat dry food, which will help you keep his teeth in better shape.

Most Yorkies should be groomed at least three times a week to keep their hair from matting. Dogs with silkier coats may only need to be groomed once a week. Also, since Yorkies are prone to dental problems, you should brush your dog's teeth several times a week.

If you want a pocket sized dog with plenty of spunk, then a Yorkie may be the perfect breed for you.
Some interesting facts about Yorkshire Terriers:

Energy level - 4 (out of 5)

Ease of training - 2

Watchdog ability - 5

Protection ability - 1

Friendliness towards other pets - 2

Affection level - 3

Playfulness - 4

These dogs must be allowed to live indoors. They cannot tolerate heat or cold. Besides, they are much happier with their family.

Some people take one look at the fluffy, immaculately groomed Standard Poodles in the show ring and discount them as silly, shallow dogs. However, the Standard Poodle is considered by many people to be the most intelligent breed in the world, with the reasoning ability of a three year old child.

These dogs may look like lightweights in the show ring, but they were originally bred to work hard in the water. The Standard Poodle spent hours retrieving water fowl for hunters and the breed's dense coat helped protect it from the cold, damp working conditions.

Because the breed is not commonly used as a working dog today, The American Kennel Club classifies the Standard Poodle as part of the Non-Sporting Group. These dogs weigh 45 to 70 pounds and stand over 15 inches tall.

The Standard Poodle has a muscular body under all of that hair. Its ears are long and fold over close to the head and its eyes are dark brown and filled with intelligence. This dog's tail is docked and stands erect. The tail should not curve over the dog's back.

The Standard Poodle comes in a wide range of colors, including apricot, black, cream, red, blue, gray, silver, brown, parti-color, and white. Overall, the white and cream colored Standard Poodles seem to be a bit more high strung and nervous than other colors, while black Standard Poodles seem calmer.

The Standard Poodle does best in family settings and is extremely devoted to its family's children. This breed also is an excellent choice for families with more than one dog, as the Standard Poodle rarely meets a dog it doesn't like. If you have a cat, be prepared for your dog to rampage through the house as he gives chase, although when he finally catches up to the cat, he will just want to play.

If you live in an apartment, your dog will need to take a long walk or go for a romp in the park every day. These dogs can live in apartments, but do much better in a home with a fenced yard.

Because of its high intelligence, this breed enjoys learning and should attend puppy obedience classes. In addition, Standard Poodles need to be socialized as puppies, or their natural aloofness with strangers can turn to fear.

Your puppy will work hard during classes, because he will want to please you. If he can't figure out what you want him to do, he will wrinkle his brow and try again. If he still can't figure it out, he may start to get depressed and frustrated.

If this happens, give him a command that he already knows and after he joyously obeys he will be ready to try to learn the new command again. Many Standard Poodles and their owners go on to take advanced classes so that they can compete in obedience and agility trials.

The Standard Poodle breed has several common health problems. Addison's disease, hip dysplasia, and epilepsy problems are prevalent enough that many breeders actually screen their parent dogs to be sure they don't carry these genetic faults. Your dog could also suffer from renal disease, bloat, and skin problems.

Standard Poodles are big dogs and have big appetites. If you've never had a big dog before, be prepared for a noticeable increase in the grocery budget.

These dogs also should receive a daily vitamin. In addition, ask your veterinarian about giving your poodle a daily vitamin C tablet, which many veterinarians say can help decrease the chance of hip dysplasia.

If you do not want to spend time grooming a dog, don't buy a Standard Poodle. These dogs need to be brushed daily, and, with their large size, it can take an hour or more to thoroughly brush out a Standard Poodle's coat. Also, you will have to learn to cut your poodle's hair or you will need to take him to a professional groomer every six weeks.

The Standard Poodle is a fun loving, intelligent dog. If you don't mind brushing your dog instead of watching the news, this may be the breed for you.

Some more facts about the Standard Poodle:

Energy level - 3 (out of 5)

Exercise requirements - 4

Playfullness - 4

Friendliness towards other pets - 4

Ease of training - 5

Watchdog ability - 5

Protection ability - 4

Miniature and Standard Poodles need a lot of interaction with people. Like herding dogs, they also need mental challenges. They really enjoy a daily walk and a daily brief, but challenging, obedience or play session.

Poodles, both miniature and standard, are ranked 8th favorite dog breed in the United States (as of 2003), and are good with children.

We have a Rottweiler that lives across the street. He is huge, but we have never feared him as he is well trained and very gentle. He wanders around his front yard much of the time. He gets along great with all the neighborhood dogs and with his owners' grandkids.

I've never had any fear that he would attack any child. He doesn't even attack the mail carrier.

This dog can be trusted because he was consistently trained and socialized as a puppy. That's the only way you can have a Rottweiler in the family. If you do not have the time or the temperment to train a large dog, this is not the dog for you.

The Rottweiler is by nature a watchdog and protector of his family. They guard their homes and families, excel in agility training, and think that they are tiny lapdogs when they are with their owners.

In the 1800s they were a popular breed with cattlemen who used them to drove and guard the cattle. Around the middle of the 19th century, however, cattle driving was outlawed and by the end of the century Rottweilers were close to extinction.

Just in time, some dog fanciers got together and worked to resurrect the breed. Happily, they succeeded and today the Rottweiler is among the top 20 favorite dog breeds in the United States.

The Rottweiler is fairly large and very muscular. These powerful dogs weigh between 85 to 130 pounds and stand 22 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder. A Rottweiler has a sleek black and brown coat and deep, soulful brown eyes.

The Rottweiler is a part of the American Kennel Club's Working Group. These powerful dogs are often used as guard dogs.

Unfortunately, some Rottweiler owners have mistreated their dogs in an attempt to make them more aggressive. These abused Rottweilers have given the breed an undeserved reputation as a dangerous breed.

Rottweilers that are bred and raised properly actually make a good family dog. They can be extremely loving family pets.

Rottweilers are not the best breed for an apartment. These dogs are big and powerful and they need room to run. Ideally, Rottweiler owners should own a home with a fenced yard. If you do not have a fenced yard, you should be prepared to take your dog for frequent runs in the park to burn off excess energy.

The Rottweiler is an extremely intelligent dog and this breed does best when it has something to do. Give your Rottweiler a job, such as keeping pests out of the garden, and you will have a happy dog.

It is important to begin training a Rottweiler puppy at a young age, as these dogs quickly grow into large, powerful animals. Also, puppy obedience classes are a wonderful opportunity for you to provide your Rottweiler with plenty of socialization at a young age.

Luckily, this breed enjoys learning, as long as the trainer uses love and patience. These dogs respond eagerly to new challenges, which is why the Rottweiler does well in agility trials.

Because of their size and strength, Rottweilers may not be the best choice for a family with a toddler. A six month old puppy may not realize his own strength and could accidentally injure small children while he is romping around. If your heart is set on a Rottweiler puppy, you may want to wait until your children are old enough to walk well.

Of course, a dog with the size and energy of a Rottweiler can burn up quite a few calories. You should be prepared to buy quite a lot of food for your puppy. Also, it is important to make sure that your puppy's nutritional needs are being met, since Rottweilers can develop joint problems when they are older.

Since a Rottweiler has such a short coat, grooming one of these dogs is not very time consuming. Brush your dog once a week with a slicker brush to keep his coat looking shiny and glossy. Also, be sure you take the time to check his nails to be sure they become not too long. When your dog is a puppy, you may also want to accustom him to having his teeth brushed.

If the thought of having a hundred pound dog attempt to crawl into your lap as though he weighs ten pounds horrifies you, then a Rottweiler may not be the breed for you. After all, not everyone wants a dog who has the appearance of a killer and the heart of a marshmallow.

Some more facts about Rottweilers:

Energy level - 3

Exercise requirements - 3

Affection level - 2

Friendliness towards other pets - 2

Friendliness towards strangers - 1

Watchdog ability - 5

Protection ability - 5

Heat tolerance - 2

These dogs do not do too good in hot weather. They can become overheated quit easily. It is better to have them indoors with their family, anyways, for correct socialization with the family. Rottweilers need three things to do well in society: socialization, consistent training, and daily exercise.
They enjoy cold weather, but you must provide them with a shelter.

In the 1990s the Rottweiler was the second most popular dog in the United States. It has since dropped in favor and in 2003 was the 15th most favorite dog. Pretty good for a dog that almost became extinct at the end of the 19th century.

If you suffer from allergies, but want to have a dog, you may want to take a look at the Bichon Frise. This charming little dog's sole function is to provide companionship and it does its job extremely well.

The Bichon Frise is classified as a part of the Non-Sporting Group by the American Kennel Club. The Bichon is a seven to thirteen pound dog that stands only nine to eleven inches tall.

These fluffy little dogs are known for their thick white coats and alert, cheerful eyes. The Bichon's tail is carried proudly over its back.

Bichons are a perfect choice for a family dog, as long as the children are old enough to know how to handle a dog without hurting it. Although your Bichon may tolerate rough treatment, he can easily be injured. These dogs get along well with older children, as well as dogs and other pets.

Since the Bichon Frise loves to spend time with people, this breed is quite content with life in apartments or town homes. Of course, your dog won't object to a home with a fenced yard. If you don't have a fenced yard, you should be prepared to take your dog for a daily stroll around the block so he stays healthy and strong.

Although Bichon Frises are small dogs and do not have stubborn tendencies, it is still a good idea to teach your puppy some basic obedience commands. If your Bichon ever runs out the front door and heads for the street, you will want to be sure that you can call him back to your side.

Of course, you can teach him a few simple commands yourself, but puppy obedience classes can make training easier. In addition, these classes are a good way for you to teach your puppy socialization skills.

Once you begin obedience classes, your little guy's aptitude for obedience may just convince you to keep on learning. These dogs have a reputation for being incredibly intelligent. In fact, Bichons often perform as highly trained circus dogs.

Bichon Frises are not expensive to feed. Since small dogs often have dental problems, you may want to make sure that you use a dry food diet. If you decide to feed your puppy soft food, be sure you brush his teeth frequently.

The one drawback of the Bichon Frise breed is that these dogs need extensive grooming. You will need to brush out your Bichon's fluffy coat frequently or he will look like a ratty mop head instead of a beautiful, elegant little dog. You will also need to have his coat cut and shaped at least once a month. If you can't groom your dog yourself, this can become a major expense.

The good news is that Bichon Frises are a very healthy breed. This breed actually has no common health problems.

If you want a sweet and affectionate pet who doesn't cause you to break out in hives, then a Bichon Frise may just be the perfect dog breed for you and your family.
A few more facts about the Bichon Frise:

Energy level - 4

Exercise requirements - 2

Playfulness - 5

Affection level - 5

Grooming requirements - 5

Friendliness towards other pets - 4

Friendliness towards strangers - 5

The Bichon Frise is not a guard dog, he likes everyone. They are very affectionate, and get along fine with other pets in the household and even with strange dogs. They are also very good with children, which is important if you ever have children in your house.

They make an excellent dog for anyone who wants a lap dog who will be happy to sit and cuddle, and who isn't gone from home very much. They hate to be left alone.

This is really a very fun dog for any family. They deserve the high ranking they get in the 2003 AKC book at spot 26.

Because you can never know too much about your little Bichon Frise, here's an e-book you can download and be reading in a couple of minutes. Click here on the link: Bichon Frise Complete Dog Manual