PRO: Toy breeds can be great lapdogs.

Not that I don't enjoy Luna and Argos crushing me with their 100-pound fluffy butts, but there is something exceedingly nice about Tinkerbell snoozing on my legs and not breaking them. Toy breeds are often bought for this very trait, marketed as docile puppies who will curl up in your lap and sleep the day away. However, I can tell you that this is not always the case. Tinkerbell, in her old age, has become the epitome of a perfect lapdog. She follows me everywhere I go and unobtrusively (usually) snuggles up against or on me to sleep for most of the day. But when she was younger—in fact, until the past two years—she hated being held and was very independent. Now that she has grown into this trait, I can confirm that it is all it's cracked up to be.

CON: They can be needy.

This can depend on the individual dog, but in my experience, toy breeds are more likely to carry the puppy-like trait of crying until given attention into adulthood. While my Pyrs will stop begging for cuddles and go sleep in the other room if I'm busy, Tinkerbell will yelp at my door until I let her inside and onto the bed to nap. Tinkerbell has been known to cry and bark and howl for hours (and yes, I mean hours) on end because of a change in sleeping situation or if she knows you're in the other room and she can't get to you.

PRO: Toy breeds make good alert dogs.

Now, a toy breed is not going to be able to scare off intruders like a Great Pyrenees can, but they can let you know that someone is there. Toy breeds tend to be the ones to bark whenever anyone gets home, including the people who live there and see your dog every single day. If a person walks through that door, your toy dog will be sure to let you know.

CON: They are yappy.

This stereotype is 100% true. Toy dogs have higher pitched barks that tend to repeat and repeat and repeat and repeat. . .You get the idea. They bark frequently, and sometimes it's difficult to get them to stop. (However, Tinkerbell is way better to listen to bark than Luna and Argos, just saying.)