Top 25 dog breeds very small in the world

The small size of some dog breeds is an advantage because they can easily fit into tight spaces while the larger ones may require more space to move around comfortably.

Dogs are one of the most popular family pets in the world. Today, there are more than 400 different breeds of dogs in existence.

Dogs have been around for more than 30,000 years and have adapted to their surroundings over time by evolving into smaller versions of themselves to better hunt and survive with the pack.

Dogs have been bred over thousands of years to be small, which means they are not able to defend themselves from predators or hunt efficiently in their natural environments.

Dogs come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with some breeds being very small while others are quite large. There are also many different dog breeds that have been developed over time through cross-breeding and natural selection.

Smaller dogs are better than bigger ones because they don’t require as much exercise and they don’t need as much maintenance. They also tend to be more social with people and other animals, which makes them easier to live with.

Smaller dogs often come in different colors such as black, white, brown, and tan. They also have a smaller frame which can make them more agile and fun-loving than bigger dogs.

Top 25 dog breeds very small

1) Biewer Terrier

The Biewer Terrier is a small, long-haired dog that typically weighs between 7 and 12 pounds and standing between 6-8 inches tall when fully grown. They are popular as a pet in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Don’t let their size fool you. These dogs are very energetic and playful. They are also very intelligent, which makes them the perfect companion for the family.

Biewer Terrier
Biewer Terrier

2) Brussels Griffon

Brussels Griffon is a small dog with a height of around 2-3 inches and weigh between 2 to 4 pounds. They are also known to be friendly and playful, but they have certain health problems that are common in small dogs.

Brussels Griffons are known for their friendly nature and playful personality, but they can also be stubborn at times. They may not be ideal for people who live with children or those who don’t have time.

Brussels Griffon
Small breed Brussels Griffon dog

3) Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is a small breed of dog that was bred in Mexico. It was first bred by the Toltecs, who were the ancient people of Mexico. The breed was named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua.

The Chihuahua is a very intelligent and lively breed, but they can also be stubborn and have a lot of energy. They are often described as being “naughty” or “lively”. 

They are also known for their short legs and long body, which makes them difficult to train because they can’t see what you’re doing from their perspective.

Chihuahua
Chihuahua

4) Miniature Dachshund

The miniature dachshund is a small dog breed of German origin. It has a height and weight of 13 inches to 20 inches and weighs between 4.5 lbs to 6.5 lbs. The dachshund is known for its long body, short legs, and long tail.

The miniature Dachshund is a small dog with a big personality. They are known to be loyal and affectionate towards their owners. They also have a lot of health problems because they are so small.

Miniature Dachshund
Miniature Dachshund

5) Italian Greyhound

The Italian Greyhound is one of the most popular breeds in the world. They are small dogs that typically weigh between 8-14 pounds, with a height of 12-15 inches at the withers. They have a long lifespan of about 15 years, but some can live up to 20 years if properly cared for.

They are known for being very independent and intelligent dogs that need plenty of exercise to keep them happy and healthy.

Italian Greyhound
Italian Greyhound

6) Japanese Chin

The Japanese Chin is a small breed of dog that stands only 12-15 inches tall and weighs only 20-35 pounds. They have a square head, erect ears, and almond shaped eyes. They have a short coat with an undercoat that is soft to touch.

Japanese Chins are very intelligent dogs who are easy to train and are not aggressive at all towards humans or other animals.

Japanese Chin
Japanese Chin

7) Japanese Terrier

The Japanese terrier is a small dog that originated in Japan. It has a height of 9-11 inches and weighs between 10-20 pounds. The Japanese terrier can be recognized by its smooth, short coat with a white or cream color on the chest and legs.

The Japanese Terrier is an intelligent, lively, and energetic dog that can be found in the homes of many families across the world. They are known for their loveable personalities and are excellent family dogs who will keep you company when you’re home alone or just want to take a break from your busy day.

Japanese Terrier
Japanese terrier

8) Affenpinscher

The Affenpinscher is a small breed of dog that originated in Germany in 1879. They can weigh anywhere from 8-12 pounds, with the average being around 10 pounds. They are known for their distinctive appearance, which includes their long ears and bushy tail. They are also very playful and energetic dogs that get along well with children and other pets.

Affenpinschers have been reported to suffer from health problems such as hypoglycemia, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, luxating patellas, heart disease and eye disease.

Affenpinscher
Affenpinschers kid-friendly

9) Biewer Terrier 

Biewers are small dogs that are well-known for their cute appearance and playful personality. They have a height of 10 inches and weigh around 8 pounds.

Biewers have a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. They have health problems like hip dysplasia, eye problems, skin allergies, and seizures. They also tend to be smaller than the average dog breed in size.

Biewer Terrier
Biewer Terrier

10) Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of dog with a long history. It is one of the oldest breeds in existence with its origins dating back to the 16th century.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is not only known for its small size, but also for its friendly and affectionate nature. They are typically very social and love to spend time with people, especially children. They are also known for their intelligence and ability to learn new tricks quickly.

Cute cavalier king charles spaniel names
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

11) Chinese Crested

The Chinese Crested is a small breed of dog with a height range between 6-11 inches and weigh between 8-14 pounds. They have soft, silky hair that comes in many colors such as cream, white, black, brown and cinnamon. The Chinese Crested has been classified as a toy breed because they are not large enough to be considered working dogs or service dogs.

There are some health problems that can affect the Chinese Crested including eye problems such as entropion and ectropion; ear problems such as otitis.

Chinese Crested
Chinese Crested Dog

12) Pembroke Welsh

The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a breed of small herding dogs, originally bred in Wales. The name Pembroke derives from the Welsh town of Pembroke, where the breed was developed.

The height of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is around 8 to 10 inches, while they weigh between 12 and 20 pounds.

The temperament of a Pembroke Welsh Corgi is typically energetic and playful with an independent streak. They are also intelligent, obedient and loyal to their master.

Pembrokes have a lifespan between 12-14 years old

Pembroke Welsh
Pembroke Welsh Corgi dog

13) Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier is one of the most popular breeds in the world. It is one of the smallest breeds and has a height, weight and body length of about 12 inches and 6-7 pounds. They are considered to be intelligent and friendly dogs that are very easy to train.

The Yorkshire Terrier originates from Yorkshire, England in 18th century. Its name comes from its coat which resembles that of a fox terrier.

Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire terrier dog

14) Alaskan Klee Kai

The Alaskan Klee Kai is a medium-sized dog with a height of about 11 inches and weight of about 16 pounds. They have a life expectancy of around 12 years.

This breed has been recognized by the American Kennel Club in the mid-1980s. The Alaskan Klee Kai is named after its distinctive markings that resemble those of the Klee Kai, which are found in Russia and Japan, but not in North America.

Alaskan Klee Kai
Alaskan Klee Kai

15) Bolognese dog

Bolognese dogs are small dogs with a height of from 6 to 12 inches and weigh between 8 to 18 pounds.  Their coat is short but not too short, which makes them look lanky when they stand up straight.

The Bolognese dog was originally bred in Italy but has since spread to other countries as well. The Bolognese dog is said to be one of the most intelligent breeds in the world because they were bred to hunt wild boars in the Italian countryside during feudal times.

Bolognese dog
Bolognese dog

16) Cavoodle

The height of a Cavoodle is usually between 10 and 12 inches. They weigh between 22 and 26 pounds, with a tail length of 2 to 4 inches.

Cavoodles are very loyal and playful, but they can be stubborn at times. They are very loving towards their owners and make great companions.

Cavoodle
Cavoodle

17) Maltese

The Maltese is a small breed of dog that originates from the Mediterranean island of Malta. They are a short-haired breed and have a high intelligence and an outgoing personality. The Maltese is one of the most popular breeds in the United States, ranking at number 8 on the list of top 10 most popular dogs in America in 2016.

Their height ranges from 9 to 16 inches and weighs between 7 and 18 pounds. They have an average lifespan of 10 to 14 years and can live in an apartment with limited space or in a home with no yard.

Maltese
Maltese

18) Cockapoo

Cockapoo is a crossbreed of a Cocker Spaniel and Poodle. It is one of the most popular dogs in the world with more than 1 million Cockapoos registered in the United States.

Cockapoos are small dogs that have a lot of personality and are known for their intelligence. They often have an appearance similar to a Cocker Spaniel but they also come in many colors and sizes.

Cockapoo
Cockapoo

19) Havanese

The Havanese is a small and fluffy dog with a white coat and it originates from Cuba. It has the average height of 13 inches and weighs about 7-8 pounds. It has round ears, almond eyes, and a long tail with a curled tip. The Havanese can be seen as energetic or lazy depending on the environment it lives in.

Havanese
Havanese

20) Coton de Tulear

The height of the Coton de Tulear varies from 12 to 18 inches, with males weighing between 24 to 27 pounds and females weighing between 22 to 25 pounds.

The personality of this breed is described as being loyal, affectionate, intelligent and alert. They are also known for their silky hair which is often used for producing yarns for knitting or crochet projects.

Coton de Tulear
Coton de Tulear

21) Bedlington Terrier

The Bedlington Terrier is one of the smallest breeds of dog in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with its origin dating back to 16th century England. Its height ranges from 13 inches to 17 inches and its weight ranges from 6 to 18 pounds.

The health problems that this breed can face are eye problems, respiratory problems, skin problems, and cancer.

Bedlington Terrier

22) Pug

The Pug is a small dog with a wrinkled face and long tail that also has a black spot on its chest. It has short legs and weighs between 6 to 17 pounds. The pug can live up to 19 years, but most die before they reach 10 years old due to health problems such as obesity and diabetes.

Pugs are usually friendly, playful, curious dogs with an energetic personality. They make good family pets because of their gentle nature and need for companionship.

Pug

23) French Bulldog

French bulldogs are known for their short and stocky stature. They have a height of about 13-14 inches, weigh about 18-25 pounds, and have an appearance of being around 20 inches tall with a weight of around 10 pounds.

French bulldogs are often seen as affectionate and loyal dogs that make good companions. However, they also suffer from health problems like brachycephalic syndrome which causes them to breathe through their mouth instead of nose.

French bulldog is the world’s fourth most popular dog breed after the German shepherd, golden retriever, and poodle.

French Bulldog
French Bulldog

24) Dachshund

Dachshunds also have very distinctive personalities. They are loyal to their family and friends, but they can be aggressive towards unfamiliar people or animals. Dachshunds are slow to warm up to strangers but they make excellent companions once they get used to you.

The height of this breed ranges between nine and 15 inches on the hind legs with the weight ranging from 15-45 pounds on average.

Dachshund
Dachshund dog

25) Papillon

Papillon is a breed of dog that has a height of 2-6 inches and weighs between 5-11 pounds. They have a lifespan of 12-14 years and can be found in many colors.

Papillon is one of the smallest breeds out there. They are very active and energetic, but they also need to be taken care of properly like all other dogs.

Papillon
Papillon

Published by

Henry Mark

Mark is Editor at dognamesbest.com covering Information about breeds, naming dogs. He's a graduate in veterinary medicine at the agricultural academy.