I grew up in Connecticut with two Golden Retrievers and a Husky. The other dogs in our neighborhood included German Shepherds, Irish Setters, Great Danes and Labs of all colors. Among my friends and the friends of my parents we knew only one small dog, a white Poodle names Shem.

Over the years I made the following observations about small dog owners.

- They address their dogs using baby talk
- They are generally elderly or wear a lot of makeup
- They mingle with other small dog people
- They spend money on things like dog sweaters and strollers

This opinion persisted for years supported by dogs I observed in pop culture. Television's "The Nanny" and her Pomeranian, Paris Hilton and her Chihuahua, and hotelier Leona Helmsley and her Maltese only convinced me further about the nature of small dog people. That was until my husband called me one day about Cooper.

Cooper is a Shih Tzu. His owner passed away suddenly leaving him with nowhere to go. I have a problem saying no to any dog in need so when my husband brought him home I took one look at that sad face and said, "Oh, this one is staying."

Cooper looks like an Ewok and wears a perpetually worried expression. As a guard dog he is useless but as a dog that will make a bad day much better he's an expert. He is always excited to see me and unlike our Heeler, Jagger and Cairn Terrier mix Duncan, he cannot jump high enough to knock you over or get into the garbage. His teeth also lack the size and power to destroy my favorite shoes. He can go anywhere because he is small and friendly to everyone and only barks when necessary. Then there's this thing he does when he's begging for a treat where he stands on his hind legs and paws furiously into the air. It's kind of adorable. I suddenly understand why people get so worked up about their small dogs and I've even joined a Facebook rescue group called Shih Tzu and Furbaby Rescue. (Don't judge me)

Now I get the whole small dog thing. It's like having a push mower for years and suddenly getting the riding version with a fan and a cup holder. Cooper is low maintenance and with the exception of a haircut every three months he requires little else except maybe a new sweater every now and then.