Except in the matter of size, the general appearance and qualifications of the Miniature Black and Tan Terrier should be as nearly like the larger breed as possible, for the standard of points applies to both varieties, excepting that erect, or what are commonly known as tulip ears, of semi-erect carriage, are permissible in the miniatures. The officially recognised weight for the toy variety is given as “under seven pounds,” but none of the most prominent present-day winners reach anything like that weight; some in fact are little more than half of it, and the great majority are between 4 lb. and 5 lb.

Probably the most popular specimens of the miniature Black and Tan at the present time are Mr. Whaley’s Glenartney Sport and Mr. Richmond’s Merry Atom. Merry Atom is only 4-1/2 lb. in weight, and he is beautifully proportioned, with a fine, long head, a small, dark eye, small ears, and the true type of body. His markings of deep black and rich tan are good, and his coat is entirely free from the bare patches which so often mar the appearance of these toys, giving the suggestion of delicacy.

The Miniature Black and Tan is certainly not a robust dog, and he has lost much of the terrier boisterousness of character by reason of being pampered and coddled; but it is a fallacy to suppose that he is necessarily delicate. He requires to be kept warm, but exercise is better for him than eiderdown quilts and silken cushions, and judicious feeding will protect him from the skin diseases to which he is believed to be liable. Under proper treatment he is no more delicate than any other toy dog, and his engaging manners and cleanliness of habit ought to place him among the most favoured of lady’s pets and lapdogs. It is to be hoped that the efforts now being made by the Black and Tan Terrier Club will be beneficial to the increased popularity of this diminutive breed.

For the technical description and scale of points the reader is referred to the chapter on the larger variety of Black and Tan Terrier.

Of late years Toy Bull-terriers have fallen in popularity. This is a pity, as their lilliputian self-assertion is most amusing. As pets they are most affectionate, excellent as watch-dogs, clever at acquiring tricks, and always cheerful and companionable. They have good noses and will hunt diligently; but wet weather or thick undergrowth will deter them, and they are too small to do serious harm to the best stocked game preserve.

The most valuable Toy Bull-terriers are small and very light in weight, and these small dogs usually have “apple-heads.” Pony Queen, the former property of Sir Raymond Tyrwhitt Wilson, weighed under 3 lb., but the breed remains “toy” up to 15 lb. When you get a dog with a long wedge-shaped head, the latter in competition with small “apple-headed” dogs always takes the prize, and a slightly contradictory state of affairs arises from the fact that the small dog with an imperfectly shaped head will sell for more money than a dog with a perfectly shaped head which is larger.

In drawing up a show schedule of classes for this breed it is perhaps better to limit the weight of competitors to 12 lb. The Bull-terrier Club put 15 lb. as the lowest weight allowed for the large breed, and it seems a pity to have an interregnum between the large and miniature variety; still, in the interests of the small valuable specimens, this seems inevitable, and opportunist principles must be applied to doggy matters as to other business in this world.

At present there is a diversity of opinion as to their points, but roughly they are a long flat head, wide between the eyes and tapering to the nose, which should be black. Ears erect and bat-like, straight legs and rather distinctive feet; some people say these are cat-like.

Toy Bull-terriers ought to have an alert, gay appearance, coupled with refinement, which requires a nice whip tail. The best colour is pure white. A brindle spot is not amiss, and even a brindle dog is admissible, but black marks are wrong. The coat ought to be close and stiff to the touch. Toy Bull-terriers are not delicate as a rule. They require warmth and plenty of exercise in all weathers.

The most elegant, graceful, and refined of all dogs are the tiny Italian Greyhounds. Their exquisitely delicate lines, their supple movements and beautiful attitudes, their soft large eyes, their charming colouring, their gentle and loving nature, and their scrupulous cleanliness of habit—all these qualities justify the admiration bestowed upon them as drawing-room pets. They are fragile, it is true—fragile as eggshell china—not to be handled roughly. But their constitution is not necessarily delicate, and many have been known to live to extreme old age.

Miss Mackenzie’s Jack, one of the most beautiful of the breed ever known, lived to see his seventeenth birthday, and even then was strong and healthy. Their fragility is more apparent than real, and if they are not exposed to cold or damp, they require less pampering than they usually receive. This cause has been a frequent source of constitutional weakness, and it was deplorably a fault in the Italian Greyhounds of half a century ago.

One cannot be quite certain as to the derivation of the Italian Greyhound. Its physical appearance naturally suggests a descent from the Gazehound of the ancients, with the added conjecture that it was purposely dwarfed for the convenience of being nursed in the lap. 

Greek art presents many examples of a very small dog of Greyhound type, and there is a probability that the diminutive breed was a familiar ornament in the atrium of most Roman villas. In Pompeii a dwarfed Greyhound was certainly kept as a domestic pet, and there is therefore some justification for the belief that the Italian prefix is not misplaced.

In very early times the Italian Greyhound was appreciated. Vandyck, Kneller, and Watteau frequently introduced the graceful figures of these dogs as accessories in their portraits of the Court beauties of their times, and many such portraits may be noticed in the galleries of Windsor Castle and Hampton Court. Mary, Queen of Scots is supposed to have been fond of the breed, as more surely were Charles I. and Queen Anne. Some of the best of their kind were in the possession of Queen Victoria at Windsor and Balmoral, where Sir Edwin Landseer transferred their graceful forms to canvas.

The Affenpinscher is a delightful little breed with an almost attractive monkey-like look. In fact, the prefix ‘Affen’ is a German word for monkey. In his country of origin he is often called Zwergaffenpinscher (‘Zwerg’ meaning dwarf.) The French have dubbed it the “mustached devil.” In any case, he is an appealing comical little dog, the smallest of the Schnauzers and Pinschers breed. He is alert, gentle, intelligent, and affectionate. He is wary of strangers and is always prepared to defend his home which makes him a good watchdog.

Miniature Pinschers and Affenpinschers were, until 1896, classified as a single breed. However, in that year at the Berlin show, it was decided that the long-coated variety should be known as the Affenpinscher. The Affenpinscher is a very old German breed that was depicted by Jan van Eyck (1395-1441) and Albrecht Durer (1471-1528). However, there are some controversies as to where his origin began, although his nationality was never been in doubt. Some people believe it to be related to the Brussels Griffon while others attribute the Brussels Griffon to the Affenpinscher. Another theory is that the Affenpinscher is a toy version of the German coarse-haired terrier, the Zwergschnauzer. In any case, this wonderful dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936. He was introduced into the United Kingdom in 1975 and was first shown at Crufts Dog Show in 1980.

The average height for this breed is about 91/2-11in. His average weight should be about 61/2-9lb and recommended feeding for this breed would be 1/3-1/2 can of quality meat product (13.3oz size), with biscuit added in equal part by volume; or 1-11/2 cupfuls of high quality dry food. When feeding this dog dry food, make sure that he has an ample supply of water.

Just like most toy dogs, he will be satisfied with a short walk around the park, but will gladly walk you off your feet if that is to your pleasure. Regular brushing will keep his coat in great condition, as well as all normal grooming habits of most dogs.

For more information on training your Affenpinscher dog.

We have already discussed that puppy training methodology, objectives and goals are dependant on many variables. You are already familiar with the importance of the puppy’s temperament and characteristic traits for selecting a training module. The breed that you have selected is another important factor that determines the training module.

Tips for Selecting a Puppy
You should select a puppy depending upon the purpose for which you would like to have one. The subject matter of this book is not to provide insights for selecting a puppy. However, this information is pertinent and it is better to have an overview of the factors that you must consider before selecting a puppy for your home. 

Selection of a puppy should never be on the grounds of the popularity of a particular breed or fashion. Puppies are living beings and require proper care, training and grooming. Moreover, puppies are very friendly and soon acquire the status of a family member and a friend. A faulty selection is harmful not only for the puppy’s health and wellness but can cause an emotionally shattering event for you as well.

When you select a puppy that is not appropriate for your personality, home and environment, she may develop undesirable behavior patterns. Discrepancies in expectations and reality are a major reason why many puppies and dogs end up in dog shelters.

You should analyze why you want a puppy. Some of the possible reasons for owning a puppy are companionship, a playmate for your children, guarding your house or property, hunting, participation in dog shows or simple love for dogs. Certain dog breeds like Boxers and Dachshunds are excellent companions.

However, if you are selecting a puppy as playmate for your children you can choose from small breeds like Maltese, Pekingese, or Papillion. Great Danes and German Shepherds are good for hunting and guarding purposes.

Health and temperament of the puppy is another important selection criteria. Before adopting the puppy, ensure that you have selected an ethical and scrupulous puppy breeder. Many of the puppies from pet shops are from “Puppy Mills”. These puppy mills have little or no consideration for the puppy’s health and betterment of the breed. They are just interested in their profits and they indulge in breeding practices that are not safe for puppy and the parent dog’s health.  

It is always better to select a puppy after examining the puppy as part of the litter and as an individual puppy. When you observe the puppy as a part of the litter you are able to find out whether the litter suffers from some genetically inherited traits like shyness, fear or aggression.

The puppy that has inherent shyness or fear has very rare chances of overcoming these traits. Therefore, careful examination before selection can make your job of puppy training much simpler.

What you want Your Dog to be
Purpose of adoption helps not only in selection but also for deciding the appropriate training program for a puppy. For example, training requirements for a puppy that will be a companion for older people at home will be entirely different from that of a hunting or guarding dog.

The puppy that will be a companion for older people and is more useful for indoor purposes will require training in retrieving and handing over objects and commands like long stay. However, the dogs for hunting and guarding purposes require agility and aggressiveness training. Similarly, the training goals and objectives for show dogs are different from those who will be the playmates of small children.

Show dogs require acrobatic and tricks training whereas the primary training objective for play dogs is biting control and playful tricks like begging, retrieving the ball and shaking hands.  

Importance of Puppy’s Environment
Other factors that determine the selection and training are size of your home, personality, age and physical condition of the caregiver, grooming requirements, activity level and age of pet owner, time that u can be spared for training, and where you would like to house the puppy or dog. Some other factors that are vital for selecting a puppy are the sex of puppy and how particular you are about selecting a pure breed.

High energy and active dogs tend to get bored if you confine them in small apartments. If you live in small apartment and have little or no open space, you should avoid adopting breeds like Boxer because they are very active and high-energy dogs. High-energy breeds require agility and active training programs. These puppies are not suitable for owners that are older and lead a sedentary lifestyle.

Training and playing are necessary requirements for providing a vent for abundant energies of these active puppies. Training requirements for puppies’ that will live in kennels outside the house are different from the training program for puppies that will live in apartments.

Importance of your Puppy’s Gender
Training program of your puppy also depends upon her gender. There are no conclusive studies to prove that a male or female puppy has particular advantages or disadvantages regarding training. However, there are puppy lovers who would swear by the advantages of having a female or a male puppy.

Puppy training experts believe that female puppies are easy to train because of their sweet and amiable nature and they are less prone to distractions. However, some puppy trainers believe that training male puppies is fun because of their sharp intellect and better grasping power.

Based on the previously mentioned factors and your purpose for adopting a puppy, you can finalize your training goals and objectives. You must establish long-term as well as short-term puppy training goals. The long-term training goal can be to make your puppy a well-behaved and loving companion.

A short-term training goal can be training your puppy to sit on command or come when called. Here again, the long-term training goal for a play puppy is making her friendly and sociable and the training goal for a hunting or guarding puppy is to make her aggressive and agile.