Cross Breeds

what were the purposes of small dogs back in the day?

Small dogs like chiuahuahas came from mexico. What were their purpose really? Because I couldn't imagine them running in a pack across a field. I guess it would also appy to other in home small dogs.

Public Comments

1. Rodent control.
2. food
3. Most were used in rodent hunting.
4. they chose small dogs because they were more loyal
5. pest control or a lap pets.
6. many small dogs were bred for upper-class ladies and ladies of the court as companions, but also served well as alert (rather than "guard") dogs, because they bark easily at anything that happens
7. small dogs were bread specifically as companions to people. in the east, they bread dogs to have flat faces, because it resembled humans more.
8. rat control for most, a companion for the rich
9. well my lil pup would be good for a fisherman because he digs for worms
10. The very small dogs were bred as a way to impress the wealthy and to accommodate royalty's desires for dogs that would fit on a king or queen's lap. They were bred down from large dogs using mutations and in-breeding until they came out to the desired sizes and shapes that we have today. This in-breeding is still being practised in some cases to bring out qualities that are popular in show dogs and cats, sometimes with detrimental effects and unhealthy animals.
11. Same as now...to be spoiled rotten,nasty little lapsitters.Oh..& small snacks. and...people HOPED their fleas would go to the dogs & as hand warmers. Now terriers,while "small" were ( & STILL DO)go-to-ground after vermin.
12. They were bred to help keep the fleas off humans. They were bred as companion animals. At some point people realized that it ws nice to have dogs around and they bred them down in size to keep in the house and sit in the lap.
13. dogs like chihuahuas and most terriors were used as ratting dogs for barns and ships. But dogs like pomeranians, and japanese chins, were pets to royalty. some small dogs may surprise you though. Corgi dogs are small but are, and were used as herding dogs
14. Go to www.akc.org and you can look up the original purpose of all of the breeds. Most Toy dogs were companions and watchdogs. The small spaniels were hunting dogs that flushed birds for hunters to shoot them. The small terriers killed rodents in barns and fields and dragged other small animals like foxes from their hiding places so that the hunters could club their "trophy" in the head.