12 Best Small Dog Breeds — our top picks
Toy Poodle
Toy Poodle: very small-sized and very high adaptability — small enough to travel with and welcome in more homes. Smallest variety of Poodle with intelligence and athleticism in a tiny package. Hypoallergenic and highly trainable. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Toy Poodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Maltese
Maltese: very small-sized, medium energy and high adaptability — small enough to travel with and welcome in more homes. Ancient toy breed with flowing white coat and gentle demeanor. Playful and affectionate companion dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Maltese needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Pomapoo
Pomapoo: very small-sized, medium energy and high adaptability — small enough to travel with and welcome in more homes. Pomeranian and Poodle cross creating tiny companion with big personality and reduced shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Pomapoo needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
French Bulldog
French Bulldog: small-sized, low energy and very high adaptability. Muscular flat-faced breed with bat ears and adaptable personality. Excellent apartment companion.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh Corgi: small-sized, medium energy and very high adaptability. Short-legged herding dog with fox-like face. Intelligent and affectionate companion, royal favorite. Worth knowing before you commit: the Pembroke Welsh Corgi sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: small-sized, medium energy and very high adaptability. Gentle toy spaniel with silky coat and sweet expression. Perfect family companion with sporting dog heritage. Worth knowing before you commit: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel does badly left alone all day.
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu: small-sized, medium energy and very high adaptability. Flowing-coated toy breed bred to be a companion. Friendly and outgoing with all people. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Shih Tzu needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Boston Terrier
Boston Terrier: small-sized, medium energy and very high adaptability. American Gentleman with tuxedo markings and friendly disposition. Intelligent and easy-going companion.
Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier: very small-sized and high adaptability. Small terrier with silky coat and big personality. Brave, determined, and sometimes bossy despite their tiny size. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Yorkshire Terrier needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Havanese
Havanese: small-sized, medium energy and very high adaptability. Cuban toy breed with silky coat and cheerful disposition. Adaptable and social companion dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Havanese needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat): very small-sized, medium energy and high adaptability. World's smallest dog breed with huge personality. Alert, confident, and devoted to their family despite their tiny size. Worth knowing before you commit: the Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) is vocal, which matters if you share walls.
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
Chihuahua (Long Coat): very small-sized, medium energy and high adaptability. Long-haired variety of the Chihuahua with soft, flowing coat. Same bold personality as smooth coat variety. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Chihuahua (Long Coat) needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or see which breed you look like from a single photo.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for small-dog lovers
English Mastiff
The English Mastiff is a popular choice, but giant-sized and low adaptability put it at odds with small-dog lovers. On top of that, the English Mastiff drools enough to notice.
Great Dane
The Great Dane is a popular choice, but giant-sized put it at odds with small-dog lovers. On top of that, the Great Dane does badly left alone all day.
Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a popular choice, but large-sized and very high energy put it at odds with small-dog lovers. On top of that, the Belgian Malinois needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Which dog do you look like?
Take one photo and an AI model tells you which of our 321 breeds you most resemble, and which features gave it away. Free, no account, and your photo is never stored. It is a game rather than advice — but every match links straight into that breed's real guide.
See which dog you look likeFrequently asked questions
- What is the best small dog breed?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Toy Poodle ranks as the top choice for small-dog lovers, followed by the Maltese and Pomapoo.
- How was this list of dogs for small-dog lovers chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for small-dog lovers — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. The same trait ratings are printed on each breed's own guide page, so you can check why a breed placed where it did.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for small-dog lovers?
- The English Mastiff, The Great Dane, The Belgian Malinois all rank near the bottom for small-dog lovers despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.