Small breeds of dogs with short legs are a unique and special case. A lot of people have small living spaces, and these little guys can be great for them. However, as many people who own small dogs will attest to, these special little guys come with some unique challenges.
In this article, I’m going to be talking about the types of small dogs that have short legs. All in all, I will provide you with all the necessary information you need to determine which dog would be best for your household.
What Dogs Have Real Short Legs?
The first thing you should know about small dogs with short legs is what it is not. It’s not an inherited condition. For example, sometimes a dog may be born with a shorter leg or shortened leg due to some sort of injury or disease. In other cases, it’s because the dog has had knee surgery (healing improperly and causing the extra short leg), or it could be due to some sort of birth defect like patellar luxation (knees dislocated during delivery). Below are some small dogs breeds with short legs
1. Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie) has the first place spot for the most famous dog breed with short legs. This breed is a toy dog and is one of the oldest breeds in existence. It comes from the UK, where it was bred as an indoor companion animal for humans in Northern England who lived in cold and damp conditions. The Yorkie has been a favorite for centuries due to its adorable and loving personality, which is why it’s such a popular breed today. The first group of Yorkie dogs was bred by J.H.Small, who called them Yorkshire Terrier after the town of York, England, where he kept them as “pets.” Today the Yorkie is one of the most recognizable and best-loved dog breeds in the world.
The Yorkshire Terrier has other names as well, like Yorkie, Yorky, and Yorktrotter, because it was bred to be a very distinct dog that looks slightly different from one another.
2. Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is not just a small dog, it’s an extremely tiny breed. The Chihuahua dog is named after the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, where it was bred. A reason why the Chihuahua is so popular in Mexico is that it was bred specifically to be female, which made breeding easier and more commonplace. Today, the Chihuahua is a very popular dog in the United States.
The Chihuahua is a very small dog breed that stands at 6 to 9 inches tall and weighs 4 to 6 pounds. The Chihuahua is one of the smallest breeds of dogs in the world and is not considered a large dog by any means. They are very energetic, alert, curious, and active little dogs with short legs.
3. Maltese
The Maltese (Malta) is another small dog breed with short legs. The Maltese, or Malta as it is called in America, is named after the place where they were first bred. Malta is situated in the island nation of Malta in the Mediterranean, off the coast of North Africa. They were bred to be tiny dogs with short legs and a curious nature, as well as one of the slowest dog breeds in existence.
4. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian (Pom) is a toy dog breed with short legs. They are one of the oldest breeds originating from Germany. The name Pomeranian comes from the region called Pomerania, which was part of Prussia. This breed is one of the most popular dog breeds in the world and has been for centuries. Even though this breed is very small it can be very energetic and playful, making it a great household pet for people who need a lot of energy around the house.
5. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a dog breed with short legs and is known for its intelligence, loyalty, and clownish behavior. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is named after the city of Pembrokeshire, Wales, where it was originally bred. Its small size makes it ideal for apartment living and apartments in general.
What Dog Looks Like a Collie but Has Short Legs
The Collie breed is one of the most known dog breeds with short legs. This is because they were originally bred to herd cattle and sheep, and they have to be able to run fast and work in rough terrain. Contrary to popular belief, the Collie was not named after its color but instead named after the place it was first bred. The name of this dog comes from the Latin word ‘Columba’ which means ‘dove.
The Shetland Sheepdog looks like Collie but it has short legs. It is a very popular medium-sized dog breed. The Shetland Sheepdog is a herding dog and was first bred in the Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands, and Whalsay, Scotland around 1760. Since they went to work with sheep and they were not allowed to keep any sheepdogs of their own, they had to wait until someone brought one over to them. So, they started crossing the dogs with each other and eventually created a new breed called the Shetland Sheepdog.
See Also: Are Small Dog Breeds Good Pets?
Is a Lhasa Apso the Same as a Tibetan Terrier?
The Lhasa Apso is more than just a cute, fluffy white dog with short legs. Like most breeds of dogs, it has a personality and is loyal to its owners. It is not a small dog breed as this breed stands at 11 to 12 inches tall and weighs 11 to 15 pounds. This breed is known for its thick, long, straight, and double coat. Its coat comes in a variety of colors, but the most common are red, sable, and black. The Lhasa Apso (also called a Lhasa) is one of the oldest dog breeds in existence today. This dog was developed within Tibet but today it’s often mistaken as a Tibetan Terrier even though they are not the same breed of dog at all.
Most dogs, even dogs with short legs, are very energetic and require lots of exercise. Many people who want to own a dog but need a lot of space for exercising still choose to own these short-legged dogs because they are so loving and friendly.
Featured image: Pembroke Welsh Corgi
