Continental Toy Spaniel

The Papillon, the butterfly-eared type of Continental Toy Spaniel, is the small dog here that actually enjoys training. It is alert, quick to learn and a regular in obedience and agility, yet a garden and a park walk cover its exercise. Its single-layered coat brushes out in minutes and tangles far less than a Bichon's. It is livelier than the other toys on this list, so plan short daily games, and watch it around young children: those fine legs break more easily than they look.