Small dog breeds
Small in size, not in personality. Here are the 28 very small (toy) or small breeds in the directory.
The rule
What they have in common
- Size: very small (toy) or small
28 of 78 directory breeds qualify · 50 don't · 0 have no data for a field in the rule (left out, named below)
The numbers come from each breed's page. Sources (in Spanish)
Staying small doesn't mean barking less or needing fewer walks: size is one trait; check the other bars.
With their bars
The 28 breeds that qualify
Chihuahua
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Poodle Caniche (French Poodle)
- Size
- very small (toy), small, medium
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Miniature Schnauzer Schnauzer Miniatura
- Size
- small
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
French Bulldog Bulldog Francés
- Size
- small
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingnearly silent
Pug
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingnearly silent
Dachshund
- Size
- small
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Shih Tzu
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Yorkshire Terrier
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Beagle
- Size
- small
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Cocker Spaniel
- Size
- small
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Maltese Maltés
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Pomeranian Pomerania
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Miniature Pinscher Pinscher Miniatura
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Xoloitzcuintli Xoloitzcuintle
- Size
- very small (toy), small, medium, large
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Pembroke Welsh Corgi Corgi Galés de Pembroke
- Size
- small
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Shiba Inu
- Size
- small
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Bichon Frise Bichón Frisé
- Size
- small
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Russell Terrier Jack Russell Terrier
- Size
- small
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Pekingese Pekinés
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingnearly silent
Boston Terrier
- Size
- small
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingnearly silent
Papillon Papillón
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Wire Fox Terrier Fox Terrier de Pelo Duro
- Size
- small
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
West Highland White Terrier
- Size
- small
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Italian Greyhound Galgo Italiano
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Basenji
- Size
- small
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingnearly silent
Lhasa Apso
- Size
- small
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingmiddle of the road
Shetland Sheepdog Pastor de Shetland
- Size
- small
- Energymarathoner
- Adaptabilitysettles anywhere
- Barkingreports everything
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Size
- small
- Energymiddle of the road
- Adaptabilitymiddle of the road
- Barkingmiddle of the road
What people ask
Frequently asked questions about small dog breeds
Which small dog breed barks the least?
French Bulldog, Pug and Pekingese (and 1 more): 1 out of 5 on “Barking”, the lowest score among the 28 small breeds in the directory with data. On that scale, 1 is “nearly silent” and 5 is “reports everything”.
Which small dog breed is best with kids?
Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer and French Bulldog (and 12 more): 5 out of 5 on “With kids”, the highest score among the 28 small breeds in the directory with data. On that scale, 1 is “better without kids” and 5 is “excellent”. Even with a 5, no dog should be left alone with small children: supervising them is the adult's job.
Which small dog is the calmest?
Miniature Schnauzer, French Bulldog and Pug (and 9 more): 3 out of 5 on “Energy”, the lowest score among the 28 small breeds in the directory with data. On that scale, 1 is “couch potato” and 5 is “marathoner”.
Which small dog is the easiest to train?
Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer and Papillon (and 1 more): 5 out of 5 on “Trainability”, the highest score among the 28 small breeds in the directory with data. On that scale, 1 is “negotiates every command” and 5 is “learns on the fly”.
Which small dog sheds the least?
Poodle, Shih Tzu and Yorkshire Terrier (and 4 more): 1 out of 5 on “Shedding”, the lowest score among the 28 small breeds in the directory with data. On that scale, 1 is “barely sheds” and 5 is “hair everywhere”.
How much does a small dog weigh?
In the directory, small breeds go from 1.4 kg (Pomeranian) to 15 kg (Cocker Spaniel) as adults. It leaves out breeds that come in several sizes (Poodle and Xoloitzcuintli), because their weight range mixes varieties.
And for your life, which one?
A list narrows things down; the recommender crosses your home, your energy, your kids and your neighbors with these same data, in seven questions.
Other collections
More breeds for…
- Medium 18
- Large 35
- Fluffy 19
- Herding 9
- Giant 9
- for kids 39
- Hunting 18
- Calm 27
- Flat-faced (brachycephalic) 10
- Smart 18
- Affectionate 53
- for apartments 12
- that (almost) don't shed 24
- Guard 29
- Large calm 15
- The most common in Mexico 11
- that bark little 18
- Small calm 9
- Easy-to-train 47
- for first-time owners 28
- for older people 7
- for running 16
- that get along with cats 11
- for a house with a yard 31
- for hot climates 28
- All collections →