These 11 best small dog breeds are the most popular among pet lovers, their weight or size may vary but one thing is common– they are lovable.
11. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the smaller version of the Spaniel breed. A perfect family dog, they love children and are easy to raise.
This small but sturdy dog stands 12 to 13 inches (30 to 33 cm) at the shoulder and weighs 6 to 8 kg (13 to 18 lb).
10. Pug
The Pug is a breed of dog with a wrinkly, short-muzzled face and curled tail. They are courageous, cheerful and affectionate dogs.
Pugs weigh between 6 to 8 kg (13 and 18 lb). Generally, they are 10 to 14 inches (25 to 35 cm).
9. Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzers make a great pet for active families and are an excellent choice for the first-time dog owners. They get along fine with other household pets too.
Measuring 13 to 14 inches (33 to 36 cm) tall and weighing 4.5 to 6.8 kg (10 to 15 lb).
8. Dwarf pinscher
The dwarf pinscher is as the name suggests, the smaller variant of the German Pinscher. They are sturdy, compact little dog. They are actually very tough, especially for their size.
They are 10 to 12 inches (25 – 30 cm) tall and weighs around 3.5 to 4.5 kg (8 to 11 lb).
7. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu is a breed of dog that originated in Tibet. His name means “little lion”, but there’s nothing fierce about this dog breed. It is a friendly dog that can be kept perfectly as a family dog because they are good with kids.
They have a soft and long double coat, about 10 inches (26.7 cm) tall with an ideal weight of 4.5 to 7.3 kg (10 to 16 lb).
6. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian (often known as a Pom or Pom Pom) comes in our list of best small dog breeds. Bouncy, bold and busy, the Pomeranian is a true companion dog.
Its height is around 7 – 12 inches (18 – 30 cm) and weight usually around 1.9–3.5 kilograms (4.2–7.7 lb)
5. Papillon
Papillon is a small, long-legged and long-haired dog with a shoulder height of about 8–11 inches (20–28 cm). Its weight varies between 3.5 to 4.5 kg (8-10 lb).
The Papillon is one of the most intelligent and self-assured dogs that has a very easy time in learning new tricks. This dog can be sociable with children and other dogs.
4. Toy Poodle
The Toy Poodle is the mini version of the Poodle. It is an intelligent dog and get trained easily.
The average height of Toy Poodle reaches up to 10 inches (25 cm). This tiny dog weighs no more than 3-4 kg (6 to 9 lb).
3. Maltese
Another perfect family dog in best small dog breeds is the Maltese. Affable and full of energy. One of the brightest and gentlest of the dogs, the Maltese is exceedingly playful and enjoys clever games.
They weight around 3-4 kg (6-8 lbs) with a height of 8-10 inch (21–25 cm).
2. Yorkshire terrier
Also called the “Yorkie”. Yorkshire Terrier is active, overprotective, curious, and attention seeking dog. They are also easy to train.
An adult of this breed can get a maximum weight of 3.2 kg (7 lb) and height of 6.5 inches (17 cm).
1. Chihuahua
The number one little dog in our list of best small dog breeds is the Chihuahua, they weigh between 1.8 2.7 kg (4–6 lb). They may be small, but never underestimate a Chihuahua, they can be very fierce, and even a very good watchdogs. The Chihuahua is a healthy breed and may live up to 20 years.
Its average height is 6 – 9 inches (15 – 23 cm).