12 Best Small Dogs That Can Be Left Alone — our top picks
Basenji
Basenji: small-sized, high energy and low trainability — a strong fit for small-dog owners who work away from home. Barkless African hunting dog with cat-like cleanliness. Independent, intelligent, and unique. Worth knowing before you commit: the Basenji needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Pekingese
Pekingese: small-sized, low energy and low trainability — a strong fit for small-dog owners who work away from home. Ancient Chinese breed with lion-like mane and dignified bearing. Independent and somewhat aloof companion. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Pekingese needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
French Bulldog
French Bulldog: small-sized, low energy and medium trainability — a strong fit for small-dog owners who work away from home. Muscular flat-faced breed with bat ears and adaptable personality. Excellent apartment companion.
Shiba Inu
Shiba Inu: small-sized, medium energy and low trainability. Smallest Japanese spitz breed with fox-like appearance. Independent, clean, and alert with strong personality. Worth knowing before you commit: the Shiba Inu sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Boston Terrier
Boston Terrier: small-sized, medium energy and high trainability. American Gentleman with tuxedo markings and friendly disposition. Intelligent and easy-going companion.
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat): very small-sized, medium energy and medium trainability. 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 medium trainability. 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.
Lhasa Apso
Lhasa Apso: small-sized, medium energy and medium trainability. Tibetan breed with floor-length coat and watchful nature. Independent and somewhat aloof but devoted. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Lhasa Apso needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu: small-sized, medium energy and medium trainability. 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.
Shar Pei
Shar Pei: medium-sized, low energy and medium trainability. Chinese breed with distinctive wrinkles and blue-black tongue. Independent and loyal but can be aloof.
Pomapoo
Pomapoo: very small-sized, medium energy and medium trainability. 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.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pembroke Welsh Corgi: small-sized, medium energy and high trainability. 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.
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 owners who work away from home
Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against small-dog owners who work away from home. On top of that, the Belgian Malinois needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Great Dane
The Great Dane is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against small-dog owners who work away from home. On top of that, the Great Dane does badly left alone all day.
Doberman Pinscher
The Doberman Pinscher is a popular choice, but its trait profile pulls against small-dog owners who work away from home. On top of that, the Doberman Pinscher 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
- Which small dog can be left alone during the day?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Basenji ranks as the top choice for small-dog owners who work away from home, followed by the Pekingese and French Bulldog.
- How was this list of dogs for small-dog owners who work away from home chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for small-dog owners who work away from home — 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 owners who work away from home?
- The Belgian Malinois, The Great Dane, The Doberman Pinscher all rank near the bottom for small-dog owners who work away from home despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.