Within this group of dogs, you´ll find the typical family pet: friendly, tempered, and typically small. This article introduces the common companion dog and then it describes what you can expect from such an affable breed.

Why They Are Called Companion Dogs

Today's companion dog is called a “companion’ because its size makes it an excellent travel escort or house mate. It also needs no more than a daily walk and minimal amount of food. But size and appetite don´t exclusively define this breed. It's also called a companion because of a re-defined role.

In Early European culture for example, the tiny Poodle and Yorkshire Terrier fulfilled the role of the retriever. Whether their masters gamed duck or rabbits, these dutiful canines performed specific jobs during the hunting season, and they performed them well.

Only a small segment of today´s culture continues to hunt and an even smaller number hunts alongside dogs. The gradual yet historical move towards industrial food production consequently displaced the function of this type of dog to one of accompaniment more than retrieval.

What´s left is an impressive spectrum of dogs ranging from toys to miniature or medium sized canines.

Types of Companion Dogs

Affenpinscher
Welcomed Behaviors: alertness, loyalty, affection, quiet disposition
Behavioral Warnings: aggressiveness when provoked, obstinacy, curiosity

Bichon Frise
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness, affection, playfulness

Bolognese
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, eagerness to please, sociableness, intelligence

Boston Terrier
Welcomed Behaviors: energy, intelligence, and sociableness

Brussels Griffon
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, confidence
Behavioral Warnings: not as sociable as others, can be difficult to train

Bulldog
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness, affection, sociableness
Behavioral Warnings: snorting, drooling, flatulence, aggressiveness with other dogs

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness, friendliness, affection

Chihuahua
Welcomed Behaviors: alertness
Behavioral Warnings: sensitivity, doesn´t get along with other breeds, doesn´t care for strangers

Chinese Crested
Welcomed Behaviors: playfulness, friendliness
Behavioral Warnings: must be socialized

Coton de Tulear
Welcomed Behaviors: sociableness and playfulness

Dalmatian
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness, affection, protectiveness
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness, likes to run after almost anything

English Toy Spaniel
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness, affection, intelligence

French Bulldog
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: stubbornness

Havanese
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, quiet disposition, playfulness

Japanese Chin
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence
Behavioral Warnings: sensitivity

Lhasa Apso
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, watchfulness, affection
Behavioral Warnings: uncomfortable around children

Lowchen
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, affection, sociableness
Behavioral Warnings: prone to fight other same-sex dogs

Maltese
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, playfulness
Behavioral Warnings: fearlessness, anxiousness

Miniature Pinscher
Welcomed Behaviors: self-confidence
Behavioral Warnings: fearlessness, aggressiveness with other dogs, aggressiveness when provoked

Papillon
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness, sociableness

Pekingese
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness and playfulness with those known
Behavioral Warnings: independence, stubbornness, hard to train, not amicable with other dogs or children

Peruvian Inca Orchid
Welcomed Behaviors: gentleness, quietness, intelligence, sociableness

Pomeranian
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligent, cleanliness, protectiveness
Behavioral Warnings: unfriendliness

Miniature and Toy Poodle
Welcomed Behaviors: intelligence, affection (with owners)
Behavioral Warnings: sensitivity, wariness (with strangers)

Pug
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, intelligence, sociableness
Behavioral Warnings: snoring

Schipperke
Welcomed Behaviors: watchfulness, adaptability
Behavioral Warnings: curiosity, wariness

Shih Tzu
Welcomed Behaviors: friendliness, affection, sociableness

Tibetan Spaniel
Welcomed Behaviors: affection, watchfulness, loyalty, sociableness

Tibetan Terrier
Welcomed Behaviors: loyalty and affection (with owners), intelligence, sociableness
Behavioral Warnings: wariness (with strangers)

Yorkshire Terrier
Welcomed Behaviors: sociableness (with sufficient training)
Behavioral Warnings: assertiveness

What To Expect

Although the role of these dogs changed over time, their transition isn´t 100% complete. This means that some companion dogs still exhibit the hunting/retrieval behavior that they were originally bred for. The Yorkie is a prime example. This particular dog is still prone to chase after smaller animals. And both the Yorkie and the Dalmatian continue to exhibit aggressively protective behavior when threatened (whether the threat is justified or not).

On the whole however, most of them share defining characteristics. Examples include alertness, loyalty, and affection toward owners. Provocation will bring out aggressive reactions and a few can be notoriously stubborn. But consistent training will help curb some of their more hostile instincts.