Temperament
Affectionate, Gentle, Sensitive, Playful.
Health problems to know about
- Periodontal disease
- Epilepsy
- Patellar luxation
- Progressive retinal atrophy
Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.
Daily care
About an hour of exercise a day, off-lead only in fenced areas since they chase and recall is unreliable. Brush the teeth daily. A coat in cold, wet weather. The short coat needs only a weekly wipe.
A good fit for
Quiet adult homes and flats, owners who are home a lot, and people wanting a gentle lap dog that can still sprint.
Probably not ideal for
Homes with young children or boisterous dogs (the legs are fragile), owners wanting easy obedience, and cold houses.
Sources
Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.
