Our current dog is one the few small dogs I've ever taken too. Most of the other small dogs I've known over my lifetime have been horrors. But, I've always presumed that had more to do with the folks who those dogs belonged to – i.e., my sister and my paternal grandmother and a paternal aunt and uncle who had horrible little chihuahas mixes. My mom's sister had a couple of Pekingese dogs over the years that were okay with her but were terrors with anyone else. My sister has had a series of small dumb dogs and purse dogs who were and are annoying little yap dogs. I've known a couple of shitty Shitzus. Papillon, Yorkshire and Silky Terriers, and toy Poms (Pomeranian purse dog), in my experience are all nervous or annoying yap dogs.

I have to admit, though, her current purse Yorkies aren't the dumb things many of her past dogs were. And, while they are ready barkers, their little barks aren't the nerve-jarring, sound-barrier breaking yaps of those previous numbskull dogs.

All small dogs aren't bad, though. My maternal Gran had a Boston Terrier and a great aunt had a Boston Terrier/Chihuahua mix. Gran's dog was strictly an outdoor dog in a fenced yard; he was hyper but otherwise well behaved and only barked at cars or people who actually came into the yard. My great aunt's dog was a nervous little thing, but otherwise a good little companion dog. A great friend and neighbor of my Gran's kept various Poodle breeds over the years – from full sized to purse sized; they were all good companion dogs. But, I did find the purse sized too nervous and yappy.

Our wonderful little dog is a toy Schnoodle. He's the best little companion and a friendly, calm little dog. His personality often reminds me more of our old Collie/Shepherd mix than any of the small dogs I've known.