The Sages prohibited raising a dog that barks at people and scares them (only for security purposes is it allowed, and then it must be tied during the day and freed only at night. If it might bite, it must always be kept securely tied). There is no prohibition regarding small dogs that do not scare people.
However, educationally, Jews generally refrained from raising non-kosher pets. The Lubavitcher Rebbe advised avoiding giving children books and toys with images of non-kosher animals, as everything one sees leaves a strong impression on the mind and greatly influences the soul, especially in the formative years of Jewish children.
Of course, when studying kosher animals, or the qualities of animals we can learn from, such as, “Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, fleeting as a deer and mighty as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven,” (Ethics of the Fathers 5:20) or when learning about the nature of various animals or visiting a zoo – there is no reason to avoid them.
Translated and Adapted from Sichat HaShevua
