Best SMALL Dog Breeds

Great dogs, great against rodents. much energy

These little champs have strong but friendly personalities, and though they’re a member of the terrier group (though the AKC considers them to be in the Sporting Group), they’re often gentle and well-mannered. While a great companion dog, unlike the Companion Group they enjoy having other Bostons for companionship. They generally bark only when necessary and truly enjoy being around people, as well as getting along well with children (when properly introduced), other canines, and non-canine pets. Some Boston Terriers are in fact very cuddly. Due to the shortened muzzle, Bostons cannot tolerate heat, and though they commonly have dietary sensitivities, with proper care they can live up to 15 years or more, rounding off a solid list of A+ traits.

These are the short-squished-up faced dogs with a smooth, short coat and a cute little curly tail at the Caboose. Because of their short snouts, which prevent evaporative cooling that dogs use in even 80 degree weather, they need to be indoor dogs – which works out well because you’ll want them around you all the time. They are highly sociable especially patient with children, and though their intelligence tends to make them a little more stubborn about some things, they make up for it with their awesome playful and charming personalities and are often referred to as the comedians of the dog world. Though they usually get along well with other dogs and pets, they tend to prefer the company of their humans and actually need a great deal of human attention, even becoming slightly anxious if their human family tends to ignore them.

As if that he was Charlie Brown’s beloved Snoopy isn’t enough, Beagles rock! A small hound, these little ones are among the most friendly, intelligent, sensitive, and to top it all off, they commonly suffer from very few health issues – a boast not claimed by very many breeds, indeed. They like company, and they are neither aggressive nor timid. In fact, because they so easily make friends with new people—they make bad watchdogs, but who would want a pint-sized pup for such serious duty. They’ll bark to let you know something new is around though. Hands down, these dogs are awesome with kinds – not yappy like many smaller dogs, and they lack the size to accidentally knock smaller kids down as an enthusiastic Retriever does. Being extraordinarily affectionate and pack animals, they can be prone to separation anxiety. They don’t require intensive exercise, but they love to play. Just watch their weight in their golden years and as with any dog with such long, floppy ears, they are prone to trapping moisture, causing ear infections – but the rest of the time, they make awesome snugglies.

These short-legged, looooong bodied (yes, these are the “wiener” dogs) dogs pack a lot in a small package. In fact, Daschound literally means "badger dog" in German terrier group of dogs. There are 3 classifications of Daschounds, separated only by their mature weight, which for the miniature class should be less than 11 pounds, making them a great dog for apartment-sized living. These little ones behave a lot like terriers, though tend to be more affectionate than most terriers and they require much less exercise than terriers as well. They usually have no idea how small they are. In fact, I ounce saw a older mini-Daschounds chase a pack of very excited and rambunctious large dogs (2 Golden Retrievers and 1 Boxer-Pug mix) back to “their” part of the house with – let’s face it – nothing but attitude. This little beast was also the same dog who would bark at you rabidly until you came over to her to say “hello” when first appearing in the room. Best of both worlds.

“Frenchies” are distinguished by a flat face, snub nose, smooth coat with a compact, muscular frame – and just in case you ever wonder if you're dealing with a Pug or a Frenchie, Frenchies don’t have the curly tails that Pugs do. They’re a very gentle companion breed, usually preferring human company. They tend to be calm and have intelligent attitude towards barking–speaking up when only truly startled by something strange to them. Like all flat faced breeds, they cannot live outdoors, as they can't regulate their temperature. They’re also top heavy and therefore have a difficult time swimming – pool owners beware.

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