The Best Small Dog Breeds

Thinking of getting a small dog but new to dog ownership? These 10 breeds are yourbest bets, according to the veterinary professionals we ...

1. Australian Terriers

Thinking that Australian Terriers might be THE breed for you? Well, If you are looking for a smart, fun-loving, adventurous dog with a high energy level, then Australian terriers might be the best breed for you. 

With low grooming requirements, it might be the perfect addition to an active out-and-about type family who wants a dog they can play with, train and take with them where ever they go. 

This breed is best for owners with a little dog experience because they tend to take on a dominate role if allowed, so training and physical exercise is a must. They make wonderful watch dogs because they are alert, and are often wary of strangers. They love their people and will bond closely with one person or a whole family.

2. Bedlington Terrier

If you think the Bedlington Terrier looks like a lamb or even a poodle, you are not alone. 

The fluffy wooly coat, long legs, button eyes, and thin head make them seem lamb-like, but they are very terrier through and through. 

Being bred originally in Northumberland’s Rothbury Forest (in Northern England), to catch rabbits and pursue foxes and badgers, these dogs are highly active and athletic.

They inherited their great speed, agility and keen eyesight from the whippets from which they were descended. 

Today they are not used much for hunting, so these little dogs have moved into our homes as many former hunting dogs have to enjoy a companion status with their humans. 

Even though they make excellent family pets, they are still very rare in the United States and even in their native England. 

They are extremely active, so a good hour of exercise daily is needed to keep them happy. 

Their coat, often referred to as “linty,” needs regular attention. Since they do not shed, they require frequent grooming to keep their hair manageable.

But, their sweet, happy temperament will win you over. They are somewhat calmer than some terriers such as the Jack Russell, but even though they don’t appear like your typical terrier, don’t be fooled by looks. 

They generally do well with other household pets, but their strong prey drive makes it difficult to raise them around other smaller pocket pets such as hamsters, gerbils or mice.

If socialized and trained early to curtail their somewhat stubborn nature, they make excellent pets, good with families, children, singles and couples. 

As long as they get adequate exercise, they will do well in urban, suburban and rural settings.

They do not shed, so they would be a good choice for someone with allergies.

3. The Beagle

Beagles are gentle, sweet and funny but have a tendency to act up often without the special attention and training that they need as puppies.

But, if you love dogs that make you laugh because of their funny personality, but also have a sweet and caring nature, then this breed may be the perfect furry companion for you!

They adore their owners and are very friendly to everyone, especially kids and families willing to spend some time with them. This breed has three famous colors that include brown, black, and white. These dogs are hound dogs, so they were bred for hunting and being on the trails.

They have short legs that keep them close to the ground and an obviously excellent nose. Their noses are wet which helps scent molecules stick to it and help travel in the nose. Ears also help by collecting the scent and helping to travel it to the nose.

Did you know that the Beagle has over 220 million scent receptors?

The most important thing that is breed is famous for is, you guessed it, their vocals! They are extremely vocal and have three main sounds they make. The first one is just the average bark that they use when they are alerted or sense something out of the ordinary, doorbell, phone ringing, etc.

The second sound is the one that they use when they’re out on the trails. This sound is called a “bay” and it is composed of three different pitches that they use to alert either their owner or the other dogs that they found the scent and they are hot on the trail. The last is the famous ‘ole howl that they will use when they are sad, bored, or sometimes even in comradely.

They are extremely vocal dogs and if you live in an apartment, or don’t like the excess barking, this breed may not be for you. If you can look past that and to their sweet and happy interior, then you may have just found the perfect pet!

They can be difficult to house-train, and some are known to even take up to a year to be fully housebroken. People with no time or desire to properly train them should probably consider another breed.

4. The Bolognese

It’s hard to resist the almost stuffed animal look of the Bolognese, with their dark eyes, black button nose, drop ears and plush soft white coat. 

These dogs seem to have the personality that might just be perfect: calm, playful and devoted to their owners. 

But, they are still a very rare breed, and as such are difficult to find and somewhat expensive. What makes people so enamored by them?

The Bolo as they are affectionately called by fanciers is a playful, easy going breed who is totally devoted to his people and willing to please. 

For anyone looking for quiet, low energy dogs that almost never shed, and that are easy to train, then this is the breed for you. 

But, be patient, as you may have to wait awhile to find a puppy or adult from a breeder or rescue organization that meets your needs.

The Bolo belongs to the Bichon family group of dogs, which includes the Bichon Frise, Coton de Tulear, Havanese, Löwchen and Maltese. Even though all of these dogs have some similarities, they are all identified as distinct breeds. 

The Bolognese, pronounced "bowl-oh-knees," is pure white with a thick cottony coat which requires some daily grooming. They have a somewhat square body, with their length equal to their height.

Their coat is fluffy and dense that does not shed, making them ideal for allergy sufferers. They are also calm and quiet making them a great choice for apartment dwellers and seniors.

They are listed in the AKC Foundation Stock Services but are not eligible for AKC registration, though they have been designated in the toy group.

5. Brazilian terriers

Looking for the Brazilian Terrier, a Rare Breed, you can call your own?

If you love that tri-color appearance doubled with the feisty nature and fearlessness of a terrier, this breed may be just the one for you. 

Playful and alert, but a terrier through and through, this dog has energy to spare. They need plenty of space to run. 

They are aerobatic and intense; your Brazilian Terrier will catch every sound, small and large that is out of the ordinary and alert you immediately. For this reason, we give the Brazilian Terrier a 10 when it comes to watching dog abilities. 

He will bark, and bark he will so be prepared for a dog that is as vocal as he is active. If you have a large yard, or want a partner to accompany you on your daily 3 mile walk, this one may be perfect for you. 

Sorry, couch potatoes, this is not the breed for you. 

Terrier tendencies come out in this breed so be prepared for digging, and chasing. They have a high prey drive. Intelligent and curious, he will want to be challenged. 

He gets along well with other dogs but should not be left alone for extended periods of time unless you want to discover his creativity at work. 

As a medium shedder, you will find dog hair in your house, but brushing will reduce this to manageable levels.

Developed in Brazil by crossing a Jack Russel Terrier with a Miniature Pincher and a large Chihuahua. The have been in existence for over a hundred years but are still very rare in the U.S. 

The ideal living situation for this breed is with a high energy family with a large backyard. Encourage a rigorous romp in the yard to consume some of that extra energy. Games of fetch are also very popular for breeds that have high prey drives. 

A daily walk is also critical to keeping this terrier in shape and mentally stimulated. 

For these reasons, we do not recommend this breed as suitable for apartment living unless the owners are willing to spend considerable time exercising and training to reduce the barking tendency. 

On the bright side, you will never need to worry about having a rat infestation. This is their raison d'être and they are experts in this area.

Keep them happy by giving them a job to do or at least something to occupy their time. 

Without human intervention, most will become bored, and a bored dog always finds something to do, usually not something that most humans are like to approve.

6. Cardigan Welsh Corgi

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a loving, loyal and even-tempered dog that does well with families, singles, and couples. 

Equally at home on the farm, in a suburban household, or in the city, these dogs excel in obedience, tracking, agility, rally, herding, or just being someone’s companion. 

They are alert and make excellent watch dogs. They tend to be wary of strangers and offer their affection only to those they love.

These Corgis are on the large end of our definition of small dogs, but we have included them here because their low height makes them seem smaller than they really are. 

Their personality is similar to small dogs in so much as they think of themselves as a bigger dog than they really are.

Not known as having high energy, these dogs are still quite active and need daily walks, romps in the yard and active play sessions. 

Beyond physical exercise, this breed needs to have a job to do, and they need mental exercise to keep them happy.

Cardigans are one of the two Corgi breeds that originated in Wales thousands of years ago. The other is the Pembrooke Welsh Corgi. 

People often mistake one for the other but there are obvious differences. One of the most obvious differences is the tail. Cardigans have long bushy tails and the tail on the Pembrooke is docked. Cardigan ears are also different—they are larger and slightly more rounded at the tips. 

Pembrooke Welsh Corgi ears resemble triangles. The Cardigan has a bigger, longer body and is a little taller at the shoulders. I will discuss more about differences under the History heading.

7. Chinese Crested

Some people not familiar with the Chinese Crested call it ugly and can hardly stand to look at this hairless breed. 

Those that know and love it have an entirely different opinion. They describe the breed as expressive, happy, energetic and very attached to their caregiver. 

Some even go so far as to call them a “velcro” dog because they like to physically attach themselves to their person and will hug with their paws. 

They enjoy getting outdoors for daily exercise, but they are not a high energy breed. They are very social, but not your outgoing gregarious type and once they decide to own you, you’ll have a shadow by your side wherever you go. These dogs might be athletic and very agile, but when it comes right down to it, this breed is fiercely loyal, bond easily to their owners and will spend the entire day in bed with you if you are sick.

There are two varieties found in this breed: the Hairless, with silky hair on the head (the crest), tail (plume), and feet (socks); and the genetically recessive Powderpuff, who has a full coat.

Both variants can be found in a single litter. They are slender and elegant, but beauty seems to be in the eyes of the beholder. 

They tend to win lots of “ugly dog contests.” Beyond their looks, they make very stable companions and keep their owners laughing and entertained, 

8. Dachshund

Curious, loving, intelligent, and comical are adjectives to describe the Dachshund. Still true to his nature, these dogs were bred to be excellent hunters, above and below ground and these traits are evident in their strong prey drive, their propensity to dig and their fierce devotion to the task at hand.

They are fun-loving and will keep you amused with their comical antics. While being a very sturdy breed, they are prone to problems with their long backs so precautions should be taken when carrying and holding them. 

A typical dachshund has a long body and short muscular legs. Being low to the ground allows them to burrow and maneuver through tunnels.Jumping off the furniture can cause serious injury, so be prepared to install ramps or doggie steps.

They come in two sizes, three coat types and a rainbow of colors, providing something for anyone who would love to share their home with these exceptional dogs. Their name comes from the German where they were first developed.

10. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

The Pembroke Corgi, though they look remarkably like their distant cousin, is a separate breed from the Cardigan Corgi, being considered an intelligent, friendly breed that is very responsive to training. 

Once one breed, both types of Corgis are now separate breeds with the most noticeable difference being that of the tail. The Cardigan has a long thick tail, where the Pembroke has a stub or no tail at all.

Other than that, the Pembroke has a shorter body, straighter legs and his ears point to a tip and stand erect. 

The Cardigan tends to be a little longer in body than the Pembroke and slightly heavier boned. Their ears are rounded. Both are intelligent, friendly, good with children and easy to train. 

Having been originally developed to be a herder of cattle, they are now often a loving, loyal family pet. 

They still retain their herding instincts so if you have small children, they are likely to be herded. The breed has plenty of energy which means they need regular daily exercise to keep them happy and they need a job to do.

Both males and females of this breed are great with children and easy to housebreak. 

Neither is more aggressive than the other. They differ individually, as all breeds do in their energy levels, so if this is the breed of dog you are considering, it would be advisable to let the breeder know what your needs are and allow him or her to advise you about a suitable puppy. 

Breeders generally like to match energetic puppies with families with children and those that are more laid back and quiet with older couples.