Small or miniature dog breeds have colorful story of their own. Toy dog breeds are an unrelated, much loved, assortment with nothing more in common than their small size and characteristic role as companions and show dogs. Many are miniature versions of dog type breeds belonging to other groups. They have become lap dogs and small house pets while full sized cousins carry on with the original work of hunting, guarding or herding.
The breeding of miniatures is a long established European tradition. The Flemish painter Jan Van Eyck (1390-1441) immortalized an early Belgian variety of the Affenpinscher in his portrait of wealthy domestic life. Arnolfini and his wife Albrech Diirer (1471-1528) engraved the German variety. The King Charles Spaniel gets its name from appearing in a painting of Charles by Vandyke (1599-1641) and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is associated with Charles II. Spaniels are not the only members of the Gundog group to be miniaturized.