Pocket Dragons

I want to adopt a cute pet in your world. What is it and how do I look after one?

You want a pocket dragon. Of course you want one. They're adorable- so tiny, with those big sparkly eyes! You've heard they're incredibly easy to care for and can even be trained to be helpful around the house.
All of it's true, and more. They're insatiable cuddlers, with their cold blood making them crave the warmth of their owners' bodies. They're very hygenic, so teaching them to use a litter box is no trouble- in most cases they're even happy to share one with the family cat. Like cats, they're also self-cleaning, except in those extreme cases. They quite literally eat almost anything and aren't stressed by travel, making them ideal companions for nomads, merchants, and those simply taken by wanderlust.
But which breed should you choose? Do you want one to perch on your shoulder, tucking up against your neck to rest? You may like the Cloak breed, then. Perhaps a Helper, they like to peek out of pockets and climb around if they get bored or something snares their attention. A personal favorite is the Pipe Dragon breed- they coil around your arm or neck like a piece of jewelry, and they're so cute when they have a nap. Oh, don't worry, they don't squeeze much.
Pipes aren't terribly useful, though, what with their lack of limbs. Well, unless you're very specifically trying to sniff out magical items. For a trainable assistant, you'll want a Helper for sure. They're marvelous at fetching small items (think their size and smaller), and are smart and dexterous enough to even dig through a travel pack to find what you need on the road. They can operate simple machines such as firestarters, but don't ask too much of the little things or they may hurt themselves. The especially brilliant ones can understand basic maths and be trusted to double check books and count tills for shopowners.
Or perhaps all that's more than you really want to ask of a pet and you're mostly concerned with the aesthetics. In that case, may I introduce the Cloak. These were especially bred for their aesthetic- every one has a unique set of horns. At some high society events you're not considered fully dressed without one about your shoulders. These can be taught to pose and be still and serene for hours at a time- though be warned when they're let loose they tend to be a bit hyper, getting out all the energy at once. Some gentlemen also teach them to do tricks, such as pouncing from their shoulders to catch a treat or toy in midair, then gliding in a loop or something before returning to their perch.
Whichever you choose, remember: even though pocket dragons are wonderfully adorable, helpful and loving beasties, they are still a big responsibility. Their lives are literally in your hands. They were created by humans to be perfect pets, and that means that they are pretty helpless on their own. Unless you can somehow be positive of their safety you mustn't leave them alone, and make sure you're aware of where they are as you go about your business to prevent them being squished in an accident. When you have a strong bond and wonderful friendship with your dragon, it may not feel like a burden at all, but you are still responsible for them- think you can handle it?

Basic Information

Anatomy

All Pocket Dragons have finely scaled skin, soft to the touch like snakeskin. They vary in color from mottled browns to jewel tones. All have wide, shiny black eyes, almost without exception, and somewhat-prehensile tails. Each foot has four dexterous fingers capped with short blunt claws. Their bones are cartilaginous and unless otherwise noted they are not overly muscular or strong. There are three distinct breeds, which can interbreed with moderate success:
Pipe Dragons have forelimbs and prehensile tails, but no hindlegs. They range from 12 to 18 inches in length and are one color all over. Typically they have small horns which sprout at the base of their skull and lie flat against their bodies when coiled.
Fairy (or Helper) Dragons grow to no more than 5 inches in height (measured as they stand on their hind legs). They resemble ancient, legendary Weastren Dragons, but in extreme miniature. Their wings are ornamental- the strongest of them can glide a bit to slow a fall. Their bellies and spines are generally of a lighter, secondary color, though striking monotone specimens have been bred.
Cloak Dragons are the largest, at 30-36 inches. Their tails are also the most muscular, and adorned with colorful fins. Their bodies are fatter and flatter than their brethren, built for gliding on the membranes that fan out between their limbs. As they were originally engineered to be ostentatiously fashionable, they also boast a crown of horns, no two alike.

Genetics and Reproduction

For all breeds, reproduction takes place sexually. Breeding season is in the early summer, so that the eggs are incubating during the warmest months of the year. Breeding adults are not especially choosy of their mates, though either sex may reject/refuse a particularly sickly or bad-tempered mate. Pairs are not monogamous.
The female lays a clutch of a dozen tiny eggs in as cozy and warm a space as she can find. Most pocket dragons do not build nests for themselves, but they may if their owner is a traveler (or similar) and a steady cozy spot cannot be obtained otherwise. Attentive breeders and owners can ensure up to 9 eggs in a clutch survive. Typically incubation is not needed, as the mother has chosen her spot for it's warmth.
In two weeks, the eggs will hatch into teeny tiny pocket dragons. They are born independent enough to be given to a new owner straightaway, but special care must be taken of them while they grow to their adult size.

Growth Rate & Stages

Though pocket dragons are born incredibly fragile, they are not totally helpless. Like all lizards, they are born with the immediate know-how critical to survive, and do not need to be kept with their parents as mammals do.
Upon birth, all breeds can perch on the end of a pen or stylus without slowing the writer. The membranes of wings (should they be present) are finer than tissue paper and prone to puncture even from too vigorous a test flap. They firm up and can be tested by the dragon in 6 to 8 weeks.
Though there can be awkward growing phases (for example, some pipe foxes' forelimbs outpace the growth of their bodies, giving them a frankenfish-style appearance for a few weeks), there are not distinct growth phases for pocket dragons. Individuals are fully grown and sexually adult one year from hatching.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Pocket dragons are omnivorous, and can happily live on table scraps. The smaller breeds need very little food, and cloak dragons only need to be fed as much as an average-size housecat. Very little is toxic to them- even most poisonous plants are safe for them to eat, if nothing else is available. Sugar, however, makes them very sick and desserts should never be offered to your scaly little friend.
All of this is thanks to the foresight of their engineers, who wanted them to be low-maintenance and easy to care for.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Pocket dragons are not social creatures by default. Individuals have their own personalities and may adore, tolerate, or despise one another. When looking to add another pocket dragon to one's home, it is considered best to bring the dragons you already have to meet the prospective adoptee. After about an hour it will be clear how their relationship would be, and you can either jump for joy that these adorable critters love to cuddle or head off a problematic chemistry before committing.

Average Intelligence

Cat-like. Can solve simple puzzles and understand ways to irritate their owners.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Most senses are on-par or slightly less than a human's capability. Like many lizards, they smell with their tongues and with extreme precision. Some have been trained to sniff out contraband, and all have an especially keen nose for magic and enchanted artifacts, regardless of training.

Scientific Name

Draco Humanamare

Origin/Ancestry

Genetically Engineered

Lifespan

15 years

Conservation Status

This species is only extant in captivity. As they were created explicitly to be pets, they have almost no chance in the wild. There are a few exceptional individuals which have been known to fend for themselves after abandonment, but these are anomalies.
As pocket dragons are adored by wide swaths of the population, conservation efforts are unneeded to ensure their continued survival. Ongoing breeding for sale is more than sufficient.