small dog breeds: 8 Honest Trade-Offs Before You Choose A new owner once assumed a tiny, low-shedding dog would mean less work than a larger breed, only to discover that “low shedding” meant weekly professional grooming and a coat that matted without daily brushing. That gap between expectation and reality is the real story behind small dog breeds: every appealing trait comes with a corresponding cost, and the smartest shortlist is built by weighing both sides honestly. Size tells you almost nothing about exercise needs, noise, trainability, or grooming demands. A dog can be small enough to fit in a bag and still need daily structured activity, consistent training, and…