I had a Shih Tzu that was 13lbs for many years. When I decided to get another dog after he passed I wanted one a bit smaller just because I have a back injury and I hoped a dog around 7 to 9 pounds would be a little easier to bathe and take care of. Gracie was supposed to be in that size range. She didn't grow as fast as I thought she would and I blamed it on the fact that she was not a good eater. She slowly grew until she was 5lbs and that was it. A dog will grow until a little past the first year. They may fill out a little more even after that. Since she was tiny for most of the first year it was a new experience for me. She has always had less of a bone structure than my Shih Tzu did and I worry about what a fall would do to her. She loves to climb just like a cat. I catch her sitting on the back of the rocker recliner often. Having her outside around bigger dogs terrifies me. But I went through an attack with my other dog so I guess that has stuck with me. She is so full of life and enjoys new things and situations so I try not to deprive her of her fun but I feel I always have to be on the look out for things that could be a threat to her. Someone with a busy family just can't be that watchful of a tiny dog. |