Toy Dog - Breeds

Breeds

Most major dog clubs in the English-speaking world have a Toy Group in which they place breeds of dog that the kennel club categorises as toy, based on size and tradition. The Kennel Club (UK), the Canadian Kennel Club, the American Kennel Club, the Australian National Kennel Council, and the New Zealand Kennel Club all have a Toy Group, all though they may not all categorise the same breeds as toy. The United States has a second major kennel club, the United Kennel Club, originally formed to offer a centralized stud book service for breeders of hunting dogs. Today the United Kennel Club registers all breeds and sponsors dog shows. It does not recognize a Toy Group. Small dogs are placed with larger dogs of their type, or in the Companion Dog Group. In 2008, the American Kennel Club begin investigating whether or not to change the name of the Toy Group to Companion Group in order to emphasise that dogs are not playthings, but the name change is resisted by traditionalists.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale has established common nomenclature to ensure that pedigrees are mutually recognized in all 84 member countries. The following breed groupings (Sections) are recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale in Group 9, Toy and Companion dogs.

• Section 1: Bichons and related breeds
• Section 2: Poodle
• Section 3: Small Belgian Dogs
• Section 4: Hairless Dogs
• Section 5: Tibetan breeds
• Section 6: Chihuahua
• Section 7: English Toy Spaniels
• Section 8: Japanese Chin and Pekingese
• Section 9: Continental Toy Spaniel
• Section 10: Kromfohrländer
• Section 11: Small Molossian type Dogs

Not including the colour and size varieties, breeds categorized by Fédération Cynologique Internationale members as Companion and Toy are listed here. Those with flags are also recognized by the non-member countries indicated by the flag.

• Maltese
• Bichon Havanais (Havanese)
• Bichon à poil frisé (Bichon Frise)
• Bolognese (Bolognese)
• Coton de Tuléar
• Petit chien lion (Löwchen, Little Lion Dog)
• Caniche (Poodle—all three sizes are in the Fédération Cynologique Internationale Companion and Toy Group)
• Griffon belge (Belgian Griffon)
• Griffon bruxellois (Brussels Griffon)
• Petit Brabançon (Small Brabant Griffon)
• Chinese Crested Dog
• Lhasa Apso
• Shih Tzu
• Tibetan Spaniel
• Tibetan Terrier
• Chihuahua
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
• King Charles Spaniel
• Pekingese
• Japanese Chin (Chin)
• Epagneul nain Continental (Phalène, Continental Toy Spaniel)
• Papillon
• Kromfohrländer
• Bouledogue français (French Bulldog)
• Pug
• Boston Terrier
• Russkiy Toy

Registries within individual Fédération Cynologique Internationale members, such as the Australian National Kennel Council, may use a slightly different nomenclature, depending on the country. Non-member countries use other terminology, but the term Toy is only used to group dogs for show purposes.

The Kennel Club (UK) places breeds marked in the Toy Group:

The Australian National Kennel Council recognizes breeds marked in Group 1 (Toys):

The New Zealand Kennel Club places breeds marked in the Toy Group:

The Canadian Kennel Club recognizes breeds marked in Group 5, Toys:

The American Kennel Club places breeds marked in the Toy Group:

In addition, these national organizations also recognize the following breeds in their Toy Group:

• Affenpinscher
• Australian Silky Terrier
• Chihuahua (Long Coat)
• Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
• Chihuahua (Short Coat)
• English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan)
• English Toy Spaniel
• Italian Greyhound
• Japanese Spaniel
• King Charles Spaniel
• Lowchen (Little Lion Dog)
• Manchester Terrier
• Miniature Pinscher
• Pomeranian
• Poodle (Toy)
• Silky Terrier
• Toy Fox Terrier
• Toy Manchester Terrier
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Xoloitzcuintli

The major national kennel club for each country will have its own list of breeds that it recognizes as Toy. In addition, some new or newly documented rare breeds may be awaiting approval by a given kennel club. Some new breeds may currently be recognized only by their breed clubs. Some rare new breeds have been given breed names, but may only be available from the breeder or breeders who are developing the breed, and may not yet be recognized by any kennel club.

In addition to the major registries, there are a nearly infinite number of sporting clubs, breed clubs, and internet-based breed registries and businesses in which dogs may be registered in whatever way the owner or seller wishes.