20 Small Dog Breeds That Stay Puppy-Sized for Life
They fit on a lap, travel easily and keep that puppy face well into their teens. Here is what each one is really like to live with, from grooming and health to how much company it needs.
Small dogs suit a lot of lives: apartments, quieter households, owners who no longer want to be pulled down the street. They eat less, cost less to medicate and board, fit under an airline seat and can be lifted into the car when they are old. They also tend to live longer than big dogs, commonly 13 to 16 years.
Small does not mean simple, though. Each of these twenty has its own character. Some were bred purely as lap companions, some were ratters and watchdogs, and a few are shrunken hunting dogs that still think they have a job to do.
A few things are true of nearly all of them. Small mouths crowd the teeth, so dental disease is the most common health problem in toy breeds and daily brushing is worth the effort. Kneecaps that slip out of place are common. A collar can injure a delicate windpipe, so a harness is the better choice for walks.
The weights below are typical adult ranges. Be wary of anyone selling "teacup" versions of these breeds. That is a sales term for undersized dogs, and they come with more health problems, not fewer.
Read all the way to the end. The last one is nicknamed the monkey dog.
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2 to 6 lb
1. Chihuahua
Photo: David Vives / Unsplash Would you choose this one?The smallest breed of all, with a big personality and fierce loyalty to one person. Chihuahuas come in smooth and long coats and are among the longest-lived dogs, often reaching 16 years or more.
They are bold, alert and quick to sound the alarm. Without early socializing they become snappy with strangers, so treat a Chihuahua puppy like a real dog and let it walk, meet people and learn manners.
AdvertisementTheir size makes them fragile. A fall from your arms or a sat-upon sofa cushion can break a bone, which is why they are a poor match for toddlers.
Good to knowThey feel the cold. A sweater in winter is practical, not silly. -
3 to 7 lb
2. Pomeranian
Photo: stefanus fandhy / Unsplash Would you choose this one?A ball of fluff with the confidence of a much larger dog. Poms are alert, clever and fond of the sound of their own voice.
AdvertisementThey descend from larger spitz dogs and have the same thick double coat, which sheds steadily and heavily twice a year. They are lively indoors and get much of their exercise trotting around the house.
The breed is prone to a weak windpipe that causes a honking cough, and to slipping kneecaps.
Good to knowBrush two or three times a week to prevent mats, and use a harness instead of a collar.Advertisement -
About 7 lb
3. Yorkshire Terrier
Photo: Katherine McCormack / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Silky coat, terrier courage. Yorkies were bred to catch rats in the mills of northern England and still have a bold, busy streak. They will chase squirrels and challenge dogs ten times their size.
The coat is fine and more like human hair than fur. It grows continuously, sheds little and tangles easily if kept long.
Yorkies have notoriously crowded teeth. Many lose teeth by middle age without regular dental care.
Small does not mean simple.
Good to knowA short "puppy cut" every six to eight weeks makes grooming far easier.Advertisement -
Under 7 lb
4. Maltese
Photo: Joe Caione / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Gentle, playful and bred purely as a companion for more than two thousand years. The Maltese has no hunting or guarding history, and it shows. This is a dog that wants to be on a lap.
The long white coat has no undercoat and sheds very little, which suits tidy households. It does mat, so it needs daily combing or a short trim.
Maltese stay playful into old age and adapt well to apartment life. They are not fond of being left alone.
AdvertisementGood to knowWipe under the eyes daily with a damp cloth to prevent tear stains. -
9 to 16 lb
5. Shih Tzu
Photo: Luis Olmos / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Sturdy for a small dog, friendly with everyone and content with short walks. The Shih Tzu was a palace companion in China, and its whole purpose is to be pleasant company. It is a good choice for a calmer home.
The short muzzle means it snores and tolerates heat poorly, though usually less severely than a Pug or Bulldog. The large eyes are easily irritated by hair or dust.
AdvertisementThe coat grows constantly and needs daily brushing if kept long. Most pet owners opt for a short clip.
Good to knowKeep the hair trimmed away from the eyes, or tie it up in a topknot. -
5 to 10 lb
6. Papillon
Photo: Anna King / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Named for its butterfly ears, the Papillon is the brightest of the toy breeds and loves to learn tricks. It regularly wins at the top level of small-dog agility.
It is finer-boned than it looks under the coat, and more active than most lap dogs. A Papillon wants a proper walk and something to think about.
AdvertisementThe silky single coat has no undercoat and is easier to keep than it appears. Brushing twice a week is enough.
Good to knowGreat for owners who want a small dog that enjoys training. -
4 to 6 lb
7. Toy Poodle
Photo: Arjan Stalpers / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Very clever, eager to please and almost non-shedding. The Toy is a true Poodle in every respect but size, standing no more than ten inches at the shoulder. Toy Poodles often live to 15 or older.
They learn quickly and are sensitive to tone, so gentle training works best. They bond closely and dislike long hours alone.
AdvertisementThe tight curls trap loose hair instead of dropping it on the floor, which helps many people with allergies. The catch is that the trapped hair mats.
Good to knowThe coat keeps growing and needs clipping every six weeks or so. Budget for a groomer. -
7 to 13 lb
8. Havanese
Photo: Lindsey Duncan / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Cuba's national dog is cheerful, sociable and happiest when it is with its people all day. Fanciers call it a "Velcro dog" for good reason.
AdvertisementHavanese are sturdier than many toy breeds and friendly with children, visitors and other pets. They are quick learners and were once popular circus dogs.
The long, soft coat sheds little but needs brushing several times a week unless it is clipped short.
Good to knowNot a breed to leave alone for long hours. Separation anxiety is the most common complaint. -
12 to 18 lb
9. Bichon Frise
Photo: Benoît Deschasaux / Unsplash Would you choose this one?A happy, cotton-ball dog that gets along with children, visitors and other pets. The Bichon is playful without being frantic and is one of the most reliably good-natured small breeds.
AdvertisementThe curly white coat sheds very little. Like the Poodle's, it holds onto loose hair and mats if it is not brushed several times a week.
Bichons are prone to skin allergies and to bladder stones. Watch for constant scratching or straining to urinate.
Good to knowRegular professional grooming, every four to six weeks, is part of the deal. -
13 to 18 lb
10. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Photo: Geoff Oliver / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Soft, affectionate and easy-going. The Cavalier is a small spaniel that will walk for miles or doze on the sofa all afternoon, whichever you prefer. It is gentle with everyone.
AdvertisementThe silky coat needs brushing a few times a week and the long ears need regular checks.
Cavaliers are wonderful companions, though heart disease is common in the breed. Most develop a leaking heart valve as they age, and many do so by middle age.
Good to knowAsk breeders about heart screening by a cardiologist before you buy, and have the heart checked yearly. -
Under 11 lb
11. Miniature Dachshund
Photo: Christopher Cassidy / Unsplash Would you choose this one?All the character of a standard Dachshund in a smaller package. Brave, funny and a little stubborn, it comes in smooth, long and wire coats.
AdvertisementMiniatures were bred to hunt rabbits underground. They still love to dig, burrow under blankets and bark at anything that moves outside the window.
The long spine is the weak point. Disc problems affect roughly one Dachshund in four or five, and extra weight raises the risk.
Good to knowUse ramps to protect that long back, and keep your dog lean. -
14 to 18 lb
12. Pug
Photo: Karsten Winegeart / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Pugs live to make people laugh. They need little exercise and a lot of company, and they follow their owners from room to room.
AdvertisementThey are solid, heavy little dogs, not delicate ones. The short coat sheds far more than newcomers expect.
The flat face brings noisy breathing and poor heat tolerance, and the prominent eyes are easily injured. Weight control makes a big difference to how well a Pug breathes.
Good to knowKeep walks short in warm weather, since they overheat easily. Air conditioning in summer is a necessity. -
7 to 11 lb
13. Japanese Chin
Photo: Marcelo Harassen do Ó / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Quiet, graceful and almost catlike. Chins like to perch on the back of the sofa and watch the room, and they wash their faces with their paws.
AdvertisementThey were bred for centuries as companions to Japanese nobility. They are sensitive to the mood of the house and rarely bark.
The silky coat is easier to keep than it looks and needs brushing twice a week. The short face means care in hot weather.
Good to knowA good match for a peaceful household without rough play. -
8 to 10 lb
14. Brussels Griffon
Photo: Abbie Love / Unsplash Would you choose this one?An expressive, almost human face and a strong attachment to its owner. Griffons follow you everywhere and usually choose one favorite person.
AdvertisementThey began as stable ratters in Belgium and have a terrier's alertness. They come in a rough, wiry coat and a smooth one.
Griffons are sensitive. They do poorly with harsh correction or boisterous children and can be slow to house-train.
Good to knowThey do best with someone who is home most of the day. -
7 to 14 lb
15. Italian Greyhound
Photo: Brian Taylor / Unsplash Would you choose this one?A greyhound in miniature: elegant, gentle and surprisingly fast. They love warmth and soft blankets and will burrow under the covers.
AdvertisementThe short coat needs almost no grooming and has little odor. With so little body fat and fur, they shiver in cold or wet weather and often refuse to go out in rain.
House-training is the breed's known difficulty, for that reason. Dental disease is common, so brush the teeth daily.
Good to knowTheir legs are fine-boned and break easily, especially in the first two years, so discourage leaps from furniture. -
8 to 10 lb
16. Miniature Pinscher
Photo: Claudio Schwarz / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Not a small Doberman but a much older German breed, developed as a ratter. Min Pins are fearless and busy, with a distinctive high-stepping trot.
AdvertisementThey are expert escape artists. A Min Pin will slip through a gap in a fence, dart out an open door or squeeze out of a loose collar.
The short coat is nearly maintenance free. They need more exercise and training than most toy breeds.
A Min Pin does not know it weighs nine pounds.
Good to knowCheck your fence for gaps before bringing one home. -
Up to 14 lb
17. Pekingese
Photo: Judy Beth Morris / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Once kept only in the Chinese imperial palace, and it has not forgotten. The Pekingese is calm, dignified and independent, with a rolling walk.
AdvertisementIt is devoted to its owner without being needy and is content with a short stroll. It is heavier than it looks.
The flat face and thick coat make it very vulnerable to heat. Peke owners plan summer around air conditioning.
Good to knowDaily brushing keeps the heavy coat comfortable. Check the face fold and the eyes each day. -
12 to 18 lb
18. Lhasa Apso
Photo: Edson Torres / Unsplash Would you choose this one?Bred as a watchdog inside Tibetan monasteries, where it alerted the monks to anyone who got past the mastiffs outside. Lhasas are loyal to family and reserved with strangers.
AdvertisementThey have sharp hearing and a bigger bark than you expect. They are independent and can be stubborn in training.
The breed is hardy and long-lived, often reaching the mid-teens. The floor-length coat needs daily care unless clipped.
Good to knowEarly socializing helps them relax around visitors. -
8 to 15 lb
19. Coton de Tulear
Would you choose this one?A soft, white, clownish companion from Madagascar that is known for walking on its hind legs to get attention. The name refers to the cotton-like coat.
AdvertisementCotons are easygoing, quick to learn and gentle with children and other pets. They are less yappy than many small breeds.
They attach strongly to their people and do not like being left alone all day.
Good to knowLow shedding, but the cottony coat tangles without brushing three or four times a week. -
7 to 10 lb
20. Affenpinscher
Photo: Shrey Khurana / Unsplash Would you choose this one?The "monkey dog" has a scruffy face, a comic manner and plenty of terrier spirit. It was bred in Germany to keep kitchens and stables free of mice.
Affens are confident and curious, and funny without trying. They are loyal to their household but will not tolerate being squeezed or teased.
AdvertisementThey are uncommon in the United States, so expect to wait for a puppy from a good breeder.
Good to knowTheir rough coat sheds little and needs only a comb through once or twice a week.
The short version
Pick for temperament first and looks second. A quiet home suits a Chin, a Pekingese or a Shih Tzu. If you want a little dog that loves training, look at the Papillon or Toy Poodle. If you are home all day and want a shadow, the Havanese, Maltese and Brussels Griffon were made for it.
Be honest about grooming. Low-shedding coats such as the Poodle's, Bichon's and Maltese's keep growing and need a professional every month or two, which is a real cost over fifteen years. Short coats such as the Pug's and Chihuahua's need little care but shed.
Whatever you choose, small dogs still need walks, manners and a dentist. Carry them less, train them more, and brush those teeth. A well-raised small dog is a confident, healthy companion for a very long time.
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