12 Best Toy Dog Breeds — our top picks
Toy Poodle
Toy Poodle: very small-sized and high friendliness — genuinely tiny — a lap dog by build, not just by habit. 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 friendliness — genuinely tiny — a lap dog by build, not just by habit. 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 friendliness — genuinely tiny — a lap dog by build, not just by habit. 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.
Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier: very small-sized and medium friendliness. 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.
Pomeranian
Pomeranian: very small-sized and medium friendliness. Fluffy spitz toy with fox-like face and confident attitude. Alert and lively despite their small size. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Pomeranian needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: small-sized, medium energy and very high friendliness. 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.
Havanese
Havanese: small-sized, medium energy and very high friendliness. 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 medium friendliness. 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 friendliness. 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.
Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise: small-sized, medium energy and very high friendliness. Cheerful white powder-puff with hypoallergenic coat. Playful and adaptable companion with minimal shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Bichon Frise needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Pug
Pug: small-sized, medium energy and very high friendliness. Charming flat-faced toy breed with wrinkled face and cheerful personality. "Multum in parvo" - much in little. Worth knowing before you commit: the Pug sheds heavily enough that cleaning becomes a daily routine.
Cavapoo
Cavapoo: small-sized, medium energy and very high friendliness. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle cross. Gentle and friendly with reduced shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Cavapoo 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 take the free quiz for a ranking based on your own answers.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for tiny-companion lovers
English Mastiff
The English Mastiff is a popular choice, but giant-sized put it at odds with tiny-companion 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 tiny-companion lovers. On top of that, the Great Dane does badly left alone all day.
Cane Corso
The Cane Corso is a popular choice, but large-sized put it at odds with tiny-companion lovers.
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Find your perfect matchFrequently asked questions
- What is the best toy dog breed?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Toy Poodle ranks as the top choice for tiny-companion lovers, followed by the Maltese and Pomapoo.
- How was this list of dogs for tiny-companion lovers chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for tiny-companion lovers — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. For a recommendation tailored to your exact situation, take the free quiz.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for tiny-companion lovers?
- The English Mastiff, The Great Dane, The Cane Corso all rank near the bottom for tiny-companion lovers despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.