Small dog breeds
Small in size, not in personality. Here are the 13 breeds in the directory the standard classifies as very small (toy) or small.
How this list was built
The rule, out in the open
- Size: very small (toy) or small
13 of 30 directory breeds qualify · 17 don't · 0 have no data for a field in the rule (left out, named below)
The numbers come from the Lord Chucho deck: the scale published by the AKC and the books in our library, with a citation on every bar. Where there's no data, there's no breed: we'd rather leave the gap than make it up.
Staying small doesn't mean barking less or needing fewer walks: size is one trait; check the other bars.
With their bars and their citations
The 13 breeds that qualify
Chihuahua
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Adaptability4/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking5/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Poodle Caniche (French Poodle)
- Size
- very small (toy), small, medium
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Adaptability4/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: Wikipedia (2006 compilation, secondary source) · confidence medium
- Barking4/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Miniature Schnauzer Schnauzer Miniatura
- Size
- small
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Adaptability5/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Barking5/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
French Bulldog Bulldog Francés
- Size
- small
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Adaptability5/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Barking1/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Pug
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Adaptability5/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Barking1/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Dachshund
- Size
- small
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Adaptability4/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking5/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Shih Tzu
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Adaptability5/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Barking3/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Yorkshire Terrier
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Adaptability5/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Barking4/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
Beagle
- Size
- small
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Adaptability4/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking4/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
Cocker Spaniel
- Size
- small
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Adaptability4/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking3/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Maltese Maltés
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Adaptability4/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking3/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
Pomeranian Pomerania
- Size
- very small (toy)
- Energy3/5couch potatomarathonerSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Adaptability4/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Barking4/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
Xoloitzcuintli Xoloitzcuintle
- Size
- very small (toy), small, medium, large
- Energy4/5couch potatomarathonerSource: The New Complete Dog Book, 23rd edition (American Kennel Club) · confidence high
- Adaptability4/5needs its space and routinesettles anywhereSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
- Barking3/5nearly silentreports everythingSource: akc.org, official breed trait scores · confidence high
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
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- The most common in Mexico 11
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