Dog breed lists
Best Small Dog Breeds
Small dogs fit small spaces, travel easily and often live long lives. They're also more varied than people expect: some are calm lap dogs, others are feisty and energetic. Here are the small breeds in our guides, most popular first.
-
1
Toy
Yorkshire Terrier
A fearless terrier in a silk coat.
- 4–7 lbs
- 7–8 in
- 11–15 yrs
-
2
Toy
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Royal lapdog, spaniel to the core.
- 13–18 lbs
- 12–13 in
- 9–14 yrs
-
3
Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
A bearded farm ratter with big-dog confidence.
- 11–20 lbs
- 12–14 in
- 12–15 yrs
- 4
-
5
Toy
Pomeranian
A pocket-size dog with sled-dog swagger.
- 3–7 lbs
- 6–7 in
- 12–16 yrs
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
-
10
Non-Sporting
Bichon Frise
A cotton ball with a social calendar.
- 12–18 lbs
- 9–12 in
- 14–15 yrs
-
11
Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
Small, white and absolutely sure of itself.
- 15–20 lbs
- 10–11 in
- 13–15 yrs
-
12
Toy
Papillon
A butterfly-eared athlete in a toy body.
- 5–10 lbs
- 8–11 in
- 14–16 yrs
- 13
-
14
Toy
Miniature Pinscher
King of Toys, fearless by nature.
- 8–10 lbs
- 10–12.5 in
- 12–16 yrs
-
15
Toy
Italian Greyhound
The tiny, elegant Velcro greyhound.
- 7–14 lbs
- 13–15 in
- 13–15 yrs
-
16
Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier
A fox hunter on a pogo stick.
- 11–17 lbs
- 10–15 in
- 12–15 yrs
-
17
Terrier
Norwich Terrier
Small dog, tall ears, plenty of nerve.
- 11–12 lbs
- 9–10 in
- 12–15 yrs
-
18
Terrier
Norfolk Terrier
Field demon by day, lap warmer by night.
- 11–12 lbs
- 9–10 in
- 12–15 yrs
How we picked
A breed makes this list if adult dogs reach 20 lbs or less. We rank by popularity. Size is only part of the picture, so check each breed's energy, trainability and grooming needs in its guide.
Questions people ask
What is the best small dog breed?
It depends on your life. Some small breeds are calm and cuddly, others are bold and busy. Use the energy, trainability and grooming details in each guide, or take the Dog Twin quiz.
Do small dogs need less exercise?
Usually less than large dogs, but not none. Many small breeds still need 30 to 60 minutes a day of walks and play, and some terriers need more.
Are small dogs fragile?
Some are, especially toy breeds, which can be injured by rough handling or jumping from furniture. Kids should be taught to handle them gently.