There are dog parents who wish that their cute puppies can stay small forever, but then, they eventually grow into medium or massive hounds with time. Most of them achieve this feat in a matter of months and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it. However, we have numerous small dog breeds that are sure to retain their puppy sizes for as long as they live.
These cute pups may appear miniature in looks, but whatever they lack in size is made up in their personality. Their weight may be lower than or a little above ten pounds, but their intelligence far outweighs their miniature nature. For this piece, we have rounded up some of the cutest toy breed pups that remain little forever.
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15 Small Dog Breeds That Remain Small Forever
These are some of the cutest small dog breeds you can find in the world right now.
1. Chihuahua
Weighing about 2 to 3 kg on average with a height ranging from 6 to 10 inches, the Chihuahuas would always make the list of the cutest small dog breeds in the world right now. Their miniature figure notwithstanding, the breed is quite fierce, exhibiting unflinching loyalty and protection towards their human family. The dog’s interesting name stems from its origin Chihuahua, in Mexico, and it is more popular among the wealthy who often play dress-up with the pint-sized pups.
Though the Chihuahuas are renowned for being among the small dog breeds worldwide, that little body might well be harboring the world’s biggest dog personality inside. This larger-than-life persona of the cute pooch puts them among the most appealing dog breeds to dog fanciers.
2. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise is a French name meaning ‘curly lap dog’ and is considered a perfect breed if you are looking for a lap dog to pet all day. The dog makes an excellent companion for the family, getting along perfectly with both kids and other household pets. They are distinguished from the rest by their puffy and silky white coat, but the coat must be maintained by adhering to the entire necessary grooming requirements.
However, being a small dog breed that weighs about 4.5 to 9 kg, grooming is no stress at all. As cute as a button, people often mistake this breed for a Poodle. Another reason we consider Bischon Frise as one of the best small dog breeds is its hypoallergenic nature which means you don’t need to worry about allergies with this one.
3. Poodle (Toy & Miniature)
The toy and miniature Poodle also belong to the small dog breeds. Though the present-day Poodles appear to be the epitome of a life filled with luxury and leisure, make no mistakes about the pup as this is one real dog breed to do the real tasks. A primped-up Poodle ready to put the show on the road in the show ring will surely mislead you about their origin; the dog was originally reared as water retrievers, hunters train them to fetch waterfowl by jumping right into the water.
Weighing 7 to 9 pounds, the toy Poodle stands at 10 inches in height, on the other hand, the miniature Poodle is a bit taller at 11 to 15 inches height with a body weight of 15 to 17 pounds.
4. Bolognese Dog
The Bolognese is a small dog breed that is naturally curious and comical. It is equally devoted and intelligent and loves to be in the company of people. They tend to follow you everywhere, to go on errands, for walks, or play around with the children.
Their origin is traceable to Bologna, an Italian city that they were named after. The breed belongs to the Bichon family of white and fluffy pups and is also called Bichon Bolognese. They can weigh from nine to112 pounds and stand up to 10 to 12 inches in height.
5. Dachshund
Never let yourself be fooled by the size of a Dachshund, this miniature, drop-eared canine is sturdy enough to take a badger on. In fact, that’s why they are bred, and their name equally emanated from there – ‘Dachs’ means badger, and ‘hund’ means pup. The striking features of the Dachshund include abnormally short legs and a long body. The coat can be smooth or have long hair, wired hair, or short hair.
6. Brussels Griffon
They came from Belgium and are called Griffons as an abridged form of their name. The dog has remarkable hunting skills that farmers leverage in order to keep their stables mice and rat-free. With time, they were turned into household pets and have gained popularity for their curious, affectionate, and cheerful nature. These 7 to 8 inches tall pups with 8 to 12 pounds of body weight will make perfect companions in the right household. Note that, the dog has a mind of its own, and can get manipulative, demanding, high-strung, moody, and sensitive.
7. Pug
The looks of a pug would be best described as one-of-a-kind, what with that short but wrinkly muzzle! This 14 to 18 pounds pup stands 12 to 14 inches in height, and in spite of their minute size, their appearance reflects that tough-guy attitude, making them a delight to have in the home. The only downside to having a pug is that they wheeze and snore a lot because of their short muzzle.
8. Pomeranian
This furry and feisty pup is rather cute with its body weight of 3 to 7 pounds and 8 to 11 inches in height. Their loyalty to family is admirable and the dog is intelligent as well. Never let your guard down for these cuties as they are quite bold, independent, and love to follow their own mind. Don’t be surprised to find a Pomeranian harassing a much bigger pup. Among the small dog breeds, this little furball is one of the bold ones.
9. Affenpinscher
In German, “affen” means monkey or ape while “pinscher” means terrier; thus, Affenpinscher is also called the Monkey Dog. Despite its small size, the pup is feisty with loads of energy and spunk. They are mustachioed little canines that originated from the various miniature terriers that populated both the 17th and 18th centuries shops and stables in all of Europe, keeping them mice and rat-free.
10. Lowchen
The name Lowchen means lion dog, but contrary to their name, the breed is not fierce at all, they are gentle, and playful, and make perfect companions for kids and adults. Their name is only reflected in their appearance, which is best described as lion-like. The dog’s 8 to 18 pounds weight is complemented by its 10 to14 inches height. The Little Lion Dog is among the small dog breeds with a long life expectancy of about 12 to 14 years. They come in a variety of colors, including chocolate, blue, black, and cream.
11. Shih Tzu
This small dog breed is rated among the best dogs for families. The trait becomes more obvious when you consider their compatibility with other household pets and friendly approach to kids. The Shih Tzu is double-coated with dense fur; thus, daily grooming is compulsory. However, this can be easily accomplished considering the dog’s 9 to 16 pounds weight and 8 to 11 inches height.
12. Chinese Crested
Though it is called Chinese Crested, this exotic cutie did not originate from China. They come in a couple of variants; there is the full coated Powderpuff that is considered genetically recessive and the hairless variety with a crested head, feet (socks), and tail (plume). The two types can occur in the same litter and can grow as high as 11 to 13 inches and five to 12 pounds in weight. In all, the Chinese Crested dog breed is one of the cutest small dog breeds, especially for the aesthetically arranged hair on the coat.
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13. Havanese
The Havanese doesn’t discriminate at all; it shines its warm and friendly personality on everybody, including visitors, strangers, other household pets, and kids. However, the lion’s share of their affection goes to their human family. These dogs tend to stick to their parent’s side given a choice. Weighing 7 to 13 pounds and standing at 8 to 11 inches in height, the Havanese is prone to separation anxiety and shouldn’t be left alone for long. Thus, if you stay long hours away from home, this toy breed might not be the best pick for you.
14. Maltese
Throughout the long history of the Maltese, the small breed dog earned several names, including “Ye Ancient Dogge of Malta,” the “Melitae Dog,” “The Comforter,” the “Roman Ladies Dog,” the “Bichon,” the “Spaniel Gentle,” the “Maltese Terrier,” and the “Maltese Lion Dog.” All the names indicate how much the breed is loved and we couldn’t agree more. Currently, they are simply called the Maltese and weigh 4 to 7 pounds with 8 to 10 inches in height.
15. Maltese Shih Tzu
The breeders of the Maltese Shih Tzu originally bred them to be totally non-shedding, which is considered a misnomer, as it is not a physical possibility. As low-shedding furry companions, we can say that the Maltese succeeded to an extent, but the Maltese Shih Tzu went way above that. They are considered to be loyal, loving, and affectionate, as well as confirmed members of the cutest small dog breed community.
Summary Of Small Dog Breeds
- Chihuahua
- Bichon Frise
- Poodle (Toy & Miniature)
- Poodle (Toy & Miniature)
- Dachshund
- Brussels Griffon
- Pug
- Pomeranian
- Affenpinscher
- Lowchen
- Shih Tzu
- Chinese Crested
- Havanese
- Maltese
- Maltese Shih Tzu