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Breeds of Dogs that Stay Small

Dhanya Joy
Small dog breeds can make great pets, but you should acquaint yourself with their personalities and temperaments before you bring one home as your pet. This post tells you more.
Small dogs may appear extremely cute and adorable, but as they say, looks may be deceptive! Contrary to their looks, most of the small dog breeds have an aggressive temperament, but enjoy human company to a large extent. There is a large variety of breeds of small dogs to choose from and there are various advantages of having them as pets.
They need very little maintenance and can be comfortably kept in apartments or moved around. Most of the small dog breeds can be trained easily, and learn to follow commands within a few days of them being trained. There are just a few of them that shed heavily, the rest shed moderately or do not shed at all, which is another one of their advantages.

List of Small Dog Breeds

All small dogs weigh around 22lbs and do not grow taller than 16 inches. These also include miniature and toy versions of some larger breeds. Here is a list of all the breeds in alphabetical order.
  • Affenpinscher
  • American Cocker Spaniel
  • American Eskimo Dog
  • American Hairless Terrier
  • Australian Terrier
  • Basenji
  • Beagle
  • Bedlington Terrier
  • Bichon Frise
  • Bolognese
  • Border Terrier
  • Boston Terrier
  • Brazilian Terrier
  • Brussels Griffon
  • Cairn Terrier
  • Cardigan Welsh Corgi
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Cesky Terrier
  • Chihuahua
  • Chinese Crested
  • Coton De Tulear
  • Dachshund
  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier
  • English Cocker Spaniel
  • English Toy Spaniel
  • Fox Terrier
  • French Bulldog
  • German Hunting Terrier
  • Havanese
  • Italian Greyhound
  • Jack Russel Terrier
  • Japanese Chin
  • Japanese Spitz
  • Japanese Terrier
  • Klein German Spitz
  • Kyi-Leo
  • Lakeland Terrier
  • Lancashire Heeler
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Lowchen
  • Maltese
  • Manchester Terrier
  • Miniature Bull Terrier
  • Miniature Pinscher
  • Miniature Schnauzer
  • Mittel German Spitz
  • Norfolk Terrier
  • Norwegian Lundehund
  • Norwich Terrier
  • Papillon
  • Parson Russel Terrier
  • Patterdale Terrier
  • Pekingese
  • Pembroke Welsh Corgi
  • Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
  • Phalene
  • Pomeranian
  • Poodle
  • Prazsky Krysarik
  • Pug
  • Puli
  • Rat Terrier
  • Schipperke
  • Scottish Terrier
  • Sealyham Terrier
  • Shetland Sheepdog
  • Shiba Inu
  • Shih Tzu
  • Silky Terrier
  • Skye Terrier
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • Swedish Terrier
  • Tibetan Spaniel
  • Tibetan Terrier
  • Toy Fox Terrier
  • Volpino
  • Welsh Terrier
  • Yorkshire Terrier

Most Popular Small Breeds of Dogs

Dachshund: This small dog breed is quite popular as a pet. It has an aggressive temperament and proves its mettle as a good watch dog. It is extremely loving and affectionate towards the owner, however may not be very tolerant with children, other than the ones it has grown up with. It needs a lot of pampering and affection, and owners must make it a point to keep its weight under control or else it might develop health problems.
Chihuahua: Another small breed dog that makes a very good pet, the chihuahua may develop a bit of an attitude problem. Its temperament can get quite aggressive with children and other dogs, but it is quite affectionate and loyal towards its owner.
Pomeranian: The Pomeranian makes an excellent family pet and is extremely good with children, too. It may get a little noisy and snappy with strangers around, and also sheds its fur heavily. Easy to maintain and prone to just a few illnesses, this small breed dog may be a good choice as a pet dog.
Pug: The popularity of the pug as a family dog is on the rise, with many families adopting this cute, cuddly little dog. It is extremely sociable, hyperactive and playful, friendly and loyal, and is really easy to train as it is always willing to please.
It will be a good idea to bring home one of the small dogs mentioned above that suits your living space. Also, consider the shedding factor before you decide to bring one home. Large breeds or small breeds, all dogs need a lot of love, care and affection to prove themselves as good pets.