Oct. 9/2024

25 Small Dog Breeds To Fit Any Lifestyle Part 2

By Emily Sanders. Reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM

8/ 6/ 2023

14. Japanese Chin

Weight: 7–11 pounds

Height: 8–11 inches

An ancient dog breed with a noble past, Japanese Chin were once popular among Japanese aristocracy. With a long, silky coat & expressive eyes that give them a look of wonder, Chin are regal & elegant while still being tiny, cute dogs.

15. Bolognese

Weight: 6–10 pounds

Height: 10–12 inches

Hailing from Bologna, Italy, Bolognese are small, fluffy dogs with wild white hair. Another ancient breed, these pups were often given as gifts among European nobility. Today, they’re a good-natured, easygoing lap dog.

16. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Weight: 13–18 pounds

Height: 12–13 inches

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a toy dog bred to keep laps warm. These sweet puppies were especially beloved by King Charles I & his son, Charles II, & were eventually named after them. Clever, friendly, & eager to please, CKC spaniels are the perfect choice for first-time pet parents.

17. Italian Greyhound

Weight: 7–14 pounds

Height: 13–15 inches

Don’t be fooled by their name—unlike Greyhounds that can reach 70 pounds, Italian Greyhounds are a little dog breed. Standing just over 1 foot tall at the shoulders, Italian Greyhounds are sociable & sensitive. They are best suited for families with older children who know how to safely play with these small, slender dogs.

18. Chinese Crested

Weight: 8–12 pounds

Height: 11–13 inches

The Chinese Crested is an ancient breed that comes in 2 varieties: powderpuff (with silky hair all over their little body) & hairless (with hair only on their head, tail, & ankles). With either type you choose, your Crested will need a lot of care to stay in tip-top shape, with powderpuffs requiring attentive grooming & hairless dogs needing special skincare.

19. Havanese

Weight: 7–13 pounds

Height: 8–12 inches

The only dog native to Cuba, Havanese are small, fluffy dogs who bounce through life. They are highly affectionate & get along well with children & other dogs, making them excellent family pets. These happy dogs are very sociable & love the company of people, so pet parents should be ready to give them lots of attention.

20. Lhasa Apso

Weight: 12–18 pounds

Height: 11 inches or less

Lhasa Apso roughly means “bearded lion dog,” & it’s not hard to see why. With their graceful mane-like coat, these elegant toy dogs resemble small lions. Lhasa Apsos originated in Tibet, where they were bred to be watchdogs & are considered sacred & symbols of good fortune. These dogs are affectionate & loyal to their family but may be wary of strangers due to their breeding history.

21. Miniature Schnauzer

Weight: 11–20 pounds

Height: 12–14 inches

Of the 3 types of Schnauzers, the Miniature Schnauzer is the smallest. These intelligent & charming dogs need lots of exercise due to their history as farm dogs. Give them a job, & these bearded puppies will have the time of their life. Mini Schnauzers also don’t shed much, making them good pets for families with allergies.

22. Border Terrier

Weight: 11–16 pounds

Height: 12–15 inches

The scruffy & scrappy Border Terrier is the smallest of the long-legged terriers. These little dogs are bursting with energy & will thrive with at least an hour of exercise every day. Border Terriers have a distinctive “otter head” that pet parents may find irresistibly cute.

23. Miniature Pinscher

Weight: 8–10 pounds

Height: 10–13 inches

Hailed as the “king of toy breeds,” the Miniature Pinscher doesn’t let their small size slow them down. The Min Pin packs a bold personality despite their stature & needs plenty of action to stay happy. This German toy breed sports a short coat that needs minimal maintenance.

24. Toy Fox Terrier

Weight: 4–9 pounds

Height: 8–12 inches

Standing less than 1 foot tall, the Toy Fox Terrier is feisty & playful. Their mischievous antics are typically a great source of entertainment for pet parents. These terriers overflow with energy & will benefit from regular outdoor exercise before coming home & running around your living room.

25. Silky Terrier

Weight: 10 pounds

Height: 9–10 inches

Though they look a lot like Yorkies, the Silky Terrier is a separate breed that is native to Australia. This little dog is surprisingly energetic for their size & loves having a job to do. Pet parents need to provide Silkies with plenty of exercise to keep them happy, & Silkies also have a long, luscious coat that needs to be brushed every day.

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Slava Ukraine!

Oct. 2/2024

 

25 Small Dog Breeds To Fit Any Lifestyle Part 1

By Emily Sanders. Reviewed by Barri J. Morrison, DVM

8/ 6/ 2023

Cute & compact, there’s a lot to love about small dog breeds. But there are also lots of different types of small dogs, & no 2 are exactly alike. Here are some of the best toy & small dog breeds that can fit into your family.

1. Chihuahua

Weight: 6 pounds or less

Height: 5–8 inches

Chihuahuas are charming little dogs who make adorable companions thanks to their sassy personalities & spunky nature. One of the longest-living dog breeds, Chis are full of energy & liven up any room they’re in—which is usually whatever room their beloved pet parents are in.

2. Pomeranian

Weight: 3–7 pounds

Height: 6–7 inches

With their cute strut & beautiful coat, Pomeranians are a popular lap dog. But they weren’t always the little dog breed we know today—Pomeranians are actually descended from sled dogs, & their predecessors weighed around 30 pounds. But once they captivated Queen Victoria & became more popular, Poms were selectively bred to be the tiny, cute dogs we know today.

3. Yorkshire Terrier

Weight: 7 pounds

Height: 7–8 inches

The Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie, is a playful, energetic, & affectionate dog. Like other small dog breeds, Yorkies don’t handle the cold well & may be prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

4. Shih Tzu

Weight: 9–16 pounds

Height: 9–10 inches

Small but mighty, the Shih Tzu was bred by Buddhist monks in Tibet to look like a little lion. These tiny, cute dogs are very attached to their pet parents & their long & luxurious coats need lots of attention to stay tangle-free. This breed does best with an attentive family who will brush them a few times throughout the week.

5. Papillon

Weight: 5–10 pounds

Height: 8–11 inches

Elegant & stylish, Papillons are named after their wispy ears that resemble butterfly wings (papillon means “butterfly” in French). This small dog is also highly intelligent & needs ample activity & mental stimulation to ward off boredom. Some of the Papillon’s favorite pastimes are taking long walks, running an agility course, & playing with their favorite people.

6. Toy Poodle

Weight: 4–6 pounds

Height: 10 inches or less

Toy Poodles are the smallest of the Poodle breeds (the other 2 being the Standard & the Miniature). Like their larger cousins, Toy Poodles are smart & playful, & they probably don’t mind bath night (which should be every 2 to 4 weeks).

7. Affenpinscher

Weight: 7–10 pounds

Height: 9–12 inches

German for “monkey terrier,” it’s easy to see how the Affenpinscher got their name: Their distinctive flat, bearded face makes this small dog breed look more like a monkey than a pup. Like other little dogs, Affenpinschers have a long lifespan that can reach 15 years or more.

8. Maltese

Weight: 7 pounds or less

Height: 7–9 inches

The Maltese is a small white dog known for their straight, sweeping curtain of fur. Despite their long coat, this toy breed isn’t a heavy shedder & is often labeled as “hypoallergenic” (although there’s no truly hypoallergenic dog).  Still, Maltese can be a good choice for people with allergies.

9. Bichon Frise

Weight: 12–18 pounds

Height: 9–12 inches

Another small white dog is the Bichon Frise. But what these dogs lack in size, they make up for in heart. Bichons are known for being curious, friendly, & eager-to-please, which makes them easy to train in both basic commands & fun tricks.

10. Biewer Terrier

Weight: 4–8 pounds

Height: 7–11 inches

Pronounced “beaver,” Biewer Terriers are cute dogs that are small & love their family, making them ideal lap dogs. Originating from Germany, they are descendants of Yorkies, but with a unique genetic twist: they carry the rare piebald gene, resulting in white fur with patches of color.

11. Brussels Griffon

Weight: 8–10 pounds

Height: 7–10 inches

Brussels Griffons are adorable & sociable companions. Their wide-set eyes give them a childlike, expressive face that adds to their endearing “Velcro dog” personality. These small dogs are equally happy to exercise & be a little couch tater tot. Here’s a fun fact: Griffons were the inspiration for Ewoks in Star Wars.

12. Alaskan Klee Kai

Weight: 6–25 pounds

Height: 12–17 inches

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a small dog breed that comes in 3 variations: Toy, Miniature, & Standard. They are a new & rare breed that began with one small Siberian Husky in the 1970s. Like Huskies, Alaskan Klee Kai dogs have an independent, talkative, & determined spirit.

13. Cairn Terrier

Weight: 13–14 pounds

Height: 9–10 inches

Cairn Terriers are shaggy, athletic dogs bred in Scotland to hunt foxes & other small mammals. The breed saw a boost in popularity after 1939, when a Cairn Terrier named Terry starred as Toto in The Wizard of Oz.

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