Graceful, alert and highly intelligent, the Chihuahua is an excellent pet for families with gentle, patient children. An ancient breed from Central America, the Chihuahua can be longhaired or shorthaired. Both coat varieties are easy to maintain. An ideal city dog, the Chihuahua requires little exercise but can be sensitive to cold temperatures.

DID YOU KNOW? In the hit film “Legally Blonde,” a Chihuahua starred as “Bruiser,” the pampered pet of Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon.

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

A slender, fine-boned toy breed, the Chinese Crested is believed to have descended from African hairless dogs. For centuries, the breed accompanied Chinese sailors on the high seas, and sailors frequently traded puppies with local merchants at port cities around the world. Elegant and graceful, the Chinese Crested is a lively dog that makes a playful, loving companion. The breed comes in two coat varieties — hairless and powderpuff — both which shed little to no hair.

DID YOU KNOW? Chinese Crested dogs have made appearances in several popular films and television shows. They include: “Krull” from “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days,” “Fluffy,” who was Cruella DeVille's dog in “102 Dalmatians,” and “Halston” from the sitcom “Ugly Betty.”

ALSO KNOWN AS: Powder Puff, The Hairless

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

A regal breed with strong muscles and heavy bone, the Chow Chow is an ancient breed from northern China. Though affectionate and devoted to his family, the Chow Chow is somewhat independent and stubborn. An excellent guard dog, the Chow Chow requires early socialisation, training and daily exercise. The breed’s thick double coat requires regular grooming and bathing.

DID YOU KNOW? Television personality Martha Stewart owns a number of Chow Chows, which often are featured on her morning show.

ALSO KNOWN AS: Chow, Chowdren

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

Graceful, swift and strong, the Collie has been a favourite of shepherds in Scotland and England for centuries. A highly intelligent and protective breed, the Collie is particularly affectionate with children, making him a loving family dog. There are two varieties: The Rough-Coated Collie has a beautiful, long coat, and the Smooth-Coated Collie has a short, dense coat. Both types need moderate exercise.

DID YOU KNOW? The earliest illustrations of Collies are found in The History of Quadrupeds by Thomas Beswick dated around 1800. Queen Victoria kept Collies at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, sparking interest in the breed among the wealthy elite. The Collie was made famous in the 1950s on the television show “Lassie.”

ALSO KNOWN AS: Rough Collie, Smooth Collie, Border Collie

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 – check the breed standard for further details.

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.

Kennel Club group – Hound

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. He has a dense, wiry coat that comes in a range of colours. The adult Miniature Wire Haired Dachshund weighs 4.5-5kg and is approximately 12-15cm in height.

Kennel Club group: Hound

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

DID YOU KNOW? Dachshund means “Badger Dog” in German.

ALSO KNOWN AS: Teckel, Dackel, Tekkel Doxie, Weenie Dog, Wiener Dog/Hotdog, Sausage Dog, Worshond

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 – check the breed standard for further details.

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