My Friend is looking for a Small breed, To show, all though shes not sure which breed she would like, She doesnt want one to common, i.e Yorkie.
Shes looking for an intelligent Breed.
Wants one as Small as possible, but not one with a too fussy coat, like a Poodle, with clipping every six weeks but is okay with brush everyday and a weekly deep groom, like a coat such as a Pomeranian.

What about an Affenpinscher.  I think most of the toy group are intelligent but these seem cheeky little things and I don't think you would be a slave to their grooming.

Tibetan Spaniel?

Lovely little dogs, not particularly common & not too high maintenance...just require regular brushing, no clipping, stripping etc.

Chinese Crested?  They arent common, and they have relatively little grooming.  They are quick to learn as well. 

The only downside to the crested, is in the hairless variety, more money is spent on sweaters and such.  Also, they do tend to have an acne problem, but it cant be hidden as well with no coat. 

Pom's are always good fun!

Just an idea but how about buying a book that has all breed groups and have a look through that, one of the books i have has details on the breed history, temperaments, upkeep deatils, life spans etc. Hope thats of some help. Lois

Just got a pom xchi I would certainly consider a purebred pom, I have never thought of toy dogs before but she is great.

What about 1 of the other small spitz breeds. 

What about a [url=]Miniature schnauzerhttp://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/167[/url]

Pomeranian's are brilliant.  Very intelligent, hardier than they look and great fun.  I used to do obedience with one years ago and he was brilliant.

What about a Miniature Pinscher, they're small don't require much grooming

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/cgi-bin/library.cgi?action=detail&id=224

Japanese Chins even though they have flat faces seem to be a very bright intelligent and healthy active dog.

would she consider a frenchie? not in the toy group and someting of an aquired taste appearence wise but such characters! they think they are a big dog but are actually quite small but very sturdy. smooth coated to. or a dachs? they are also very sweet with three varieties of coat to choose from.

> Just an idea but how about buying a book that has all breed groups and have a look through that, one of the books i have has details on the breed history, temperaments, upkeep deatils, life spans etc. Hope thats of some help. Lois

A breed book is a great idea - ours lives on the bookcase in the downstairs loo and I find my children often planning future dogs.

If the look of a dog is important do a quick run through of physical features such as; ears up or down, tail straight or curly, coat type and colour, nose black or ?; I find I like a definite type!  Check size too, one man's medium dog is anothers small dog - decide by 'above or below' the knee, mid calf etc, then measure!!

Once you've done that, think about personality type; often asleep or always on the go; sprinter or steady eddie; velcro dog or a bit independant etc.    Armed with all this information you'll find choosing a dog much easier, both from reading the breed book but also asking different questions of people who own these dogs.  Eg what does your dog do when the phone rings, the kids come home, someone walks past the front gate.  Obviously some of these responses are condidtioned by environment and training but you will find some common themes that may attract or repel you from certain breeds.

Affenpinscher, Griffon Bruxellois, Italian Greyhound or Papillion? Papillion would probably be at the top end on grooming.

not all yorkies are common;) i have a yorkie and i am 19 years old we found him and we take him training on obiedence and agility and his one of the best dogs at the agility:P

Dachshund (Any of the 6 types), standard are the least common but even the mini smooths (the most popular of the six) only have around 40 - 50 entries total at the biggest of champ shows.  And the long hairs are so small that they only take 5 mins to completely brush.  As for intelligence, they have too much of that.  If there is a way to get something they want they will find it.

Also another breed I have had in the past is the lancashire heeler.  Never shown them but great, lively little dogs.

Emma

What about English Toy Terrier, no grooming other than very basic coat care, small dog with big personality and quite rare...or the mini smooth dachsund as malibu suggest, they are great little dogs, and quite a personality

Poms do have to be trimmed for show and it can take a long time to learn but there are a few people who are always there to help and shows and people who will let you visit and teach you how to trim and so on. Get you frind to email me if she wants to find out more about poms and i'll put her in touch with someone she can go see there poms and see if it is a breed she wants or not.
If i could have other toy breeds it would be a Lowchen, i love them and the breed needs serious new comers.
I used to show TT's and will be getting another one soon. A lot of brushing but no trimming and such a happy breed, they make the best pets.
Zoe xx

Just followed your link what a pretty little dog that is. My Mum had a griffon bruxillious (Dont know if thats right!!) for over 12 years called "Rebel" and he was such a character a rough coated one. Very clever and intelligant dog.

What about a Boston Terrier. Not commom, easy to groom, attractive to look at, charming character. Don't know about health issues. Your friend would have to speak to a breeder.

As small as possible eh? Why not a chihuahua? She can have long or short coated depending on how much grooming she fancies. :-)

I was going to suggest a daxi and malibu has said it all. .Mine hates water so a bath is out of the question grooming wise they are low maintenance.

> Chinese Crested?  They arent common, and they have relatively little grooming.  They are quick to learn as well. 
>
> The only downside to the crested, is in the hairless variety, more money is spent on sweaters and such.  Also, they do tend to have an acne problem, but it cant be hidden as well with no coat. 

The Chinese Crested takes far more grooming than you realise - sorry :(  Also not all have or tend to have an acne problem, some unfortunate ones do.

How about a Chi - smooth coat?

the cresties take a lot more grooming than some people think both the PP or Hl
and they do not all get acne
lovely dogs but not for everyone

Thanks so much everyone, i have showed her this, and she still cannot decide, Papillon, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Doxie, CC, or a min pin.

she should go to some shows and talk to breeders and look at the dogs

and someting of an aquired taste appearence wise

!!!!!!

and someting of an aquired taste appearence wise  

In my previous post, the above should have been highlighted as it was taken from someone's reply. 

> an aquired taste appearence wise
>
> !!!!!!

:-D

My thoughts exactly Henri3402 LOL

But I know Astarte has already aquired the taste and probably means all those who will turn up their noses at our little squished doggie noses :)

just to clarify, acquired taste like pate, smoked salmon, champagne, caviar...

well and truely acquired the taste, they are a tremendous breed :) love em. in the short list for my next breed :) but i think its a good thing that they are an aquired taste,not everyone wants them

> and someting of an aquired taste appearence wise

this was for other people, personally i believe they are numpties, i adore the frenchies, they are the sweetest, cutest and most adorable characters in the world (btw, yours are lovely, have had a look at your site before and they are delightful :))

Well my parents have had Pom's for 29 years.  Great dogs, very intelligent, a lot of fun and more hardy than people give them credit for.

> Papillion would probably be at the top end on grooming.

Got to disagree, brushed once a day, dogs for shows bathed at least once a week when showing, otherwise only when they really need it.
Boys get there undercarriage washed each night to help reduce urine staining and smell.

It takes me less time to do all my Paps than it ever did to do one GSD. LOL

For showing, Papillons average about 100 to 150 entries per champ show so not a numerically small breed though they are brilliant to live with as long as you teach them barking is not a requirement to breathing. LOL

From those choices it has to be a Cavalier King Charles, a blenheim one as they are so gorgeous and cheeky looking and I have never encountered a bad King Charles :)

My personal favourite for a small dog is cockers :)

i am a gundog lover so a cocker would be my fave for a small.. you need to be prepared to exericise them though... and be prepared for a little grooming

Another vote for an English Toy Terrier here!  Wonderful little dogs - around 150 puppies a year born in the UK.  We got ours from a great breeder down in Devon.