Small But Mighty: Exploring the Working History of Our Favorite Dog Breeds

If you’ve ever jokingly called your dog a “freeloader,” this one’s for you.  

In the first part of this series, we explored three well-known dog breeds—retrievers, Bulldogs, and Dachshunds—through the lens of what they were initially bred for. Digging up these ancestral roots gives us a clearer picture of our modern dogs’ behavior. While many breeds have evolved significantly and no longer “work the jobs” for which they were bred, they still retain the same behavioral quirks and physiological needs laid deep within their DNA. 

Today, we’ll dive back into the gene pool to uncover the non-obvious roles of smaller breeds, including Yorkshire Terriers, Pugs, and Pomeranians. Don’t let their size fool you—these pups are small but mighty. 

Yorkshire Terriers: Unsuspecting War Dogs? 

Colloquially known as “Yorkies,” these dogs fall into the tiny-yet-tenacious camp with Dachshunds and other small dogs initially bred for blue-collar jobs. Yorkshire Terriers specifically hunted rats and other unwanted vermin in mines and textile mills in 19th-Century England. They excelled at this due to their compact size, agility, and courageous nature.  

During World War II, these attributes proved valuable when Allied forces needed to run a communication line underneath an airstrip in the Philippines. This would have taken approximately 70 men and threedays to accomplish with manpower, but thanks to a Yorkie named Smoky who happily dragged the line through an underground pipe, the line was laid in less than five minutes. Later, Smoky and his owner, Veteran Bill Wynne, spent time consoling wounded soldiers in military hospitals as the “first documented therapy dog,” according to various sources, including the National Service Animals Monument. 

All that hard work through the Industrial Revolution and WWII gave this breed a reputation for being not only hard workers, but also luxurious-looking lap dogs. They continued to be bred for show and status into the 20th century, and now live comfortable lives as lap dogs. But this new line of “work” comes with its own set of risks.  

Yorkies have small, crowded mouths, making them prone to dental disease. This is common across many small dog breeds, and regular brushing or cleanings can help keep these dogs comfortable. Additionally, without a way to get out their energy and express their big personalities, Yorkies can cause modern pet owners headaches through excessive barking, digging, and even possessiveness. It’simportant that these dogs get regular exercise and mental stimulation through enrichment activities and physical exertion. 

Pugs: Descended from Royalty 

Did you know Pugs are considered an ancient breed? These guys date back to China in 400 B.C., where they were kept as loving companions in monasteries and even by emperors. It’s even rumored that their famous wrinkles were intentional, with breeders attempting to create a pattern that looked like the Chinese character for “prince.”   

Pugs later became a sought-after breed in Japan, Russia, and eventually in Europe, where according to Dutch lore, Prince William of Holland was allegedly saved by his pet Pug, Pompey, after it warned him of intruders. 

Pugs make wonderful companions because they are affectionate, social, and deeply loyal. With these qualities, it’s easy to see why they’ve been beloved companions for more than 2,000 years. However, this breed is not immune to the health predispositions that face other brachycephalic breeds, meaning those that have been bred to have flattened faces. This selectively bred aesthetic, while cute, predisposes Pugs and their brachycephalic buddies to respiratory issues, heat intolerance, eye injuries, dental crowding, and other health conditions that any Pug owner must keep close tabs on. 

While Pugs are known to be loving, they’re also thought to be a more lethargic breed. This doesn’t mean Pugs are lazy, it just means they require a different type of enrichment through things like gentle play, low-stakes enrichment, and comfortable yet consistent activity. 

Pomeranians: Not So Small After All 

You’d never guess after seeing a modern Pomeranian, but this breed was originally much, much larger. While the average (healthy) Pomeranian today weighs around 7 lbs, their early ancestors were closer to 30 lbs, bred specifically for herding and sled-pulling in the region of Pomerania, which sat on the Baltic coast of northern Poland. Known for their thick, floofy coats, Pomeranians used to be known as German Spitz. These dogs didn’t widely earn the moniker “Pomeranian” until the mid-1970s.  

In the late 1800s, Queen Victoria was gifted a 12-lb Pomeranian named Marco, which skyrocketed the breed’s popularity in England. The Queen quickly realized she loved the breed, and Pomeranians continued to be bred smaller and smaller to get today’s single-digit-weight floof balls. 

These dogs have earned their reputations as bold, high-energy, and confident companions despite their increasingly small stature. Pomeranians and other small breeds (looking at you, Yorkies) can suffer from “small dog syndrome,” being generally unaware of their own size when going up against bigger does, making aggressive behavior a possibility and something to watch among Pom Pom owners. This breed is also known for being highly intelligent and alert, making them great watchdogs, in theory. However, in practice, you may need something with a little more stopping power. 

“This little compact toy dog does not realize that it is such a small dog. Pomeranians are truly large dogs in a small dog body.” — American Pomeranian Club 

Like other small breeds, Pomeranians’ size makes them more susceptible to dental disease, knee issues, and respiratory challenges. When it comes to caring for this energetic breed, it’s important to remember that Pomeranians need mental and physical stimulation just as much as any dog. Regular walks, play, and enrichment can keep Pom Poms engaged, well-behaved, and most importantly, worn out.  

Feed Responsibly, My Friends 

Whether bred for chasing rats, imperial companionship, or just plain hard work, each of these small but mighty dog breeds each carry a story written in their bones. In some cases, these stories were written through centuries of breeding and evolution. Their instincts and anatomy reflect the purpose behind their design, and recognizing those origins helps us care for them with the same thoughtfulness and respect that shaped them. 

Our pets’ physiologies, metabolisms, behaviors, and instincts deserve to be fed through nutrition that does more than assume. Dogs and cats are not small humans, after all. When science guides what’s in the bowl, we honor the designs of each breed and feed them with purpose. 

If you missed the first article in this series, learn about the elusive origins of retrievers, Bulldogs, and Dachshunds here. Which dog breeds do you want to learn about next? Let me know in the comments, andstay tuned for more breed-specific insights! 

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About the Author

Jordan Tyler is the Director of Media at BSM Partners and co-host of the Barking Mad podcast. She has more than five years of experience reporting on trends, best practices and developments in the North American pet nutrition industry. Jordan resides in Bentonville, Arkansas, with her husband and their four furry family members.