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Small dog breeds

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Small dog breeds weigh up to 25 pounds and are often called "lap dogs" because they can easily fit on the owner's lap. Each dog breed was developed for a specific purpose. Some small dogs were developed for companionship while others had different purposes such as hunting or even exterminating small pests. Most miniature dogs need constant human companionship as this was the initial goal of developing smaller dog breeds that can spend as much time as possible with the owners. Lap dogs enjoy giving unconditional love and companionship to people of different ages. Small dogs are best for families with older kids as some miniature breeds can be too fragile for young kids that may unintentionally hurt the dog. Lap dogs do really well in households with senior owners. Tiny dogs are popular among the older people as smaller size makes it easier to care for the pet. Oftentimes elderly people have plenty of time to spend with the small companion dog and some seniors enjoy grooming and caring for their miniature dog. Smaller breeds are also easier to walk as they don't have the strength of a large or medium dog to pull on a leash. Miniature dogs are much easier to control during walks and many elderly people find small dogs more suitable for their lifestyle in comparison to larger breeds.

Detailed comparison between the small breeds provides key differences between various small dog breeds.

Maltese compared to Yorkie

Maltese compared to Shih Tzu

Maltese vs Bichon Frise comparison

Maltese and Havanese breeds compared

Pekingese compared to Shih Tzu

Yorkies vs Shih Tzu small breeds compared

Australian Silky Terrier compared to Yorkie

Pug compared to French Bulldog

Pug vs Bulldog

French Bulldog and English Bulldog breeds compared

Boston Terrier vs French Bulldog

Boston Terrier vs Pug

Min Pin and Chihuahua toy breeds comparison

Pomeranian and Chihuahua small breeds compared

Pomeranian and Yorkie small breeds compared

Havanese compared to Shih Tzu

Toy Poodle compared to Miniature Poodle

Miniature Dachshund vs Dachshund

Many small dogs are comfortable living in either an apartment or in a house. While some small breeds are ideal for apartment living, others may be more suitable for a country life for various reasons. Jack Russell Terriers, for example are small dogs, but their original purpose was to be a hunting breed. Despite little size, even mini dogs may have too much energy for living in an apartment and may exhibit dog behavior problems when they are left in an apartment with nothing to do. Jack Russell Terriers do much better in a home with a yard, where the dog has the space to run, explore and play. Small and toy dog types are more popular in cities because of the limited living space.

List of perfect apartment dogs

Exercise needs, temperament and energy levels in small dogs vary from breed to breed. If you are looking for a small apartment dog, look for low energy small dog breeds. High energy small dogs that live in an apartment need to get plenty of daily exercise and long walks to burn off that excessive energy, otherwise behavior problems may start as the dog is trying to find an outlet for his unused energy. Some small dog breeds are completely not fit for living in an apartment due to abundant energy level. For example, Jack Russell Terrier is a high energy small dog that needs a lot of exercise during the day. This active small dog requires a home with a nice yard where this small energetic dog can enjoy some much needed exercise.

Traveling with a little dog is easier due to the compact size of the pet. People that make frequent trips may find smaller breeds more suitable as the small dog doesn't need much space and will fit into most airline approved pet kennels. Lifting a small dog up is also easier with a smaller breed. Note: brachycephalic small breeds are banned by most airlines. Small brachycephalic dogs include Pugs, Boston Terriers, French Bulldogs, Pekingese, Shih Tzu and many other dog breeds with tiny noses.

Smaller breeds have a longer lifespan than medium and large dogs. Life span for small dogs can vary from 10 to 16 years and in some cases even longer. If you are interested in getting a small dog who is already an adult, there's no need to worry about a short lifespan of the dog in many cases because smaller breeds have a longer life expectancy and you will get many happy years together with a small dog even if you get an adult dog rather than a puppy.

Are smaller breeds more affordable? That depends on a breed. Smallest breeds have less puppies in a litter and as a result, miniature breed puppies are usually more expensive because of the low number of puppies in litters. Small breeds may require a veterinarian's help when puppies are delivered, and dog breeds such as the French Bulldog even requires a vet to artificially inseminate the female dog as the physiology of the breed does not allow the male French Bulldog to successfully mount the female dog in order to produce puppies. This is another reason why some small breeds can be so expensive. On the other hand, a smaller dog doesn't require large amounts of dog food daily in comparison to large breeds.

Some small dogs have more genetic diseases than others. When you are doing a research on any small dog breed, pay attention to the health issues associated with the small breed you are interested in. Chihuahuas, for example have few genetic diseases associated with the small breed. Brachycephalic breeds such as the Pug or Pekingese, on the other hand may have a set of potentially serious genetic diseases associated with these breeds. As an owner of any small dog breed, it is important to take into consideration the small breed's health to be able to provide the right care for the small breed of your choice.

Keep in mind that some small dog breeds may have high coat maintenance needs and may be more expensive as they need to visit the professional dog groomer once every six weeks or so. Bichon Frise dog breed, for example needs an owner who is ready to spend time every day to care for the fluffy coat by brushing the dog. His luxurious coat needs to be trimmed once every six weeks or so. Many small dog breeds are easier to care for when it comes to coat grooming and may be more appropriate for an owner who is not looking to spend much time on dog's coat maintenance.

Keep on reading to learn about different small dog breeds and you will be more prepared to be a great dog owner who understands the unique grooming, care, training and other needs of the small dog breed of your choice.

List of small dog breeds with pictures


Small dog breeds list with pictures Small, fluffy dogs include Bichon Frise

This small hypoallergenic dog breed is suitable for people who don't mind the extensive grooming needs of this miniature companion dog.

Bichon Frise breed pros and cons

Compare Bichon Frise to other small breeds

Bichon Frise and Maltese - small breeds compared

Images of small dog breeds Small breeds list includes Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier breed pros and cons

Compare Boston Terrier to other small breeds

Boston Terrier compared to French Bulldog

Boston Terrier and Pug compared

Boston Terrier and Boxer compared

List of small dogs with pictures Miniature dog breeds include Chihuahua

This tiny dog breed is known for loyalty to the owners and makes a great small companion dog for seniors and for older adults.

Chihuahua dog breed pros and cons

Compare Chihuahua to other small breeds

Chihuahua and Miniature Pinscher - toy breeds compared

Chihuahua compared to Pomeranian

Chihuahua and Shih Tzu breeds compared

Chihuahua and Pug breeds compared

List of smallest breeds Mini Dachshund

Dachshunds come in two sizes with the Miniature Dachshund being the smaller of the two. Despite the tiny size, this small dog is full of character and may be challenging to train. Mini Dachshunds are more suitable for living in an apartment than larger variety and these small dogs are popular among dog owners who live in a city.

Dachshunds breed pros and cons

Compare Dachshund to other small breeds

Miniature Dachshund compared to Standard Dachshund

Dachshund and Beagle breeds compared

Dachshund and Corgi breeds compared

List of lap dog breeds Small dog breeds list includes French Bulldog

French Bulldogs are low energy small dogs that are also quiet and don't bark much. Frenchies make great apartment dogs and are suitable for families with older kids as well as for older people who are looking for an affectionate pet companion.

French Bulldog breed pros and cons

Compare French Bulldogs to other small breeds

French Bulldog and English Bulldog breeds compared

French Bulldog and Boston Terrier comparison

French Bulldogs compared to Pugs

French Bulldog vs Corgi

List of small companion breeds Small dog breeds in alphabetical order: Havanese

Compare Havanese to other small breeds

Havanese breed compared to Maltese

Havanese breed and Shih Tzu compared

Havanese pros and cons

Small dog breeds list Small, energetic dog breeds: Jack Russell Terrier

Jack Russell Terriers are small in size but full of energy and need active owners who have the time to exercise and train a family pet.

Jack Russell Terrier breed pros and cons

Compare Jack Russell Terrier to other dog breeds

Jack Russell Terrier compared to Beagle small breeds compared

Miniature dog breeds with pictures Toy breeds: Maltese

Maltese are among the smallest dog breeds, known for their pure white coat that doesn't shed much.

Maltese breed pros and cons

Maltese grooming tutorials

Compare the Maltese to other small breeds

Maltese and Yorkie small breeds compared

Maltese compared to Shih Tzu

Maltese compared to Bichon Frise

Maltese and Havanese comparison

Difference betweeen Maltese and Lhasa Apso

Difference between Maltese and Coton De Tulear

Toy dog breeds with pictures Miniature Pinscher

Miniature Pinscher breed pros and cons

Compare Miniature Pinscher to other small breeds

Min Pin and Chihuahua smallest breeds compared

List of smallest dogs Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzer breed pros and cons

Compare Mini Schnauzer to other small breeds

Miniature Schnauzer and Standard Schnauzer comparison

Schnauzers compared to Poodles

Smallest dog breeds with pictures Small dogs Papillon

Papillon breed pros and cons

Compare Papillon to other small breeds

Papillon and Pomeranian small breeds comparison

Papillon compared to Chihuahua

List of small dog breeds with photos Small, fluffy dog breeds include Pekingese

Pekingese dog breed pros and cons

Compare Pekingese to other small breeds

Shih Tzu and Pekingese small breeds compared

Small dog breeds with pictures Small, fluffy dog breeds include Pomeranian

Pomeranian breed pros and cons

Compare Pomeranian to other small breeds

Pomeranian and Chihuahua miniature breeds compared

Pomeranian and Yorkie toy breeds compared

Pomeranian compared to Papillon

Pomeranian versus Shih Tzu

List of small dog breeds with pictures Small dogs list includes Pug

Pugs are conveniently sized dogs with a lot of personality. These small companion dogs are known for abundant shedding and need owners who have the time to groom and give a lot of attention to this tiny pet.

Pug breed pros and cons

Compare Pugs to other small breeds

Pug and French Bulldog small dogs compared in detail

Pug vs Bulldog breeds compared

Pug versus Boxer comparison

Pug vs Beagle

Pug compared to Yorkie

Pug vs Corgi

Pug vs Chihuahua

List of small dog breeds Small hypoallergenic dog breeds include Shih Tzu

Shih Tzus are popular lap dogs that are low shedding. Shih Tzus need owners who don't mind intense grooming needs and can appreciate a small dog with a mind of his or her own.

Shih Tzu dog breed pros and cons

Compare Shih Tzu to other small breeds

Havanese compared to Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu and Maltese compared

Shih Tzu and Yorkies small breeds compared

Shih Tzu versus Chihuahua

Shih Tzu versus Pomeranian

Shih Tzu breed compared to Poodle

List of small dog breeds - Yorkshire Terrier Tiny dog breeds that stay small include Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie)

Yorkies are among the smallest dog breeds. These tiny dogs are active and enjoy mental and physical exercise during the day. This small breed is suitable for owners with pet allergies as Yorkies are low shedding and produce lower of allergens in comparison to many other dog breeds. Spend some time with the dog before final commitment to be confident that the breed doesn't aggravate your allergies if you have asthma or pet related allergies.

Yorkshire Terrier breed pros and cons

Compare Yorkies to other small breeds

Yorkie and Pomeranian small breeds compared

Yorkies vs Shih Tzu small breeds compared

Yorkshire Terrier compared to Australian Silky Terrier

Yorkie versus Poodle

Yorkies and Pugs compared

Best hypoallergenic dogs

Best dogs for elderly

Top most intelligent dog breeds

Best dogs for apartments

Destructive dog breeds

Best dog food for dogs of all ages

How to care for a dog

Dog crates

Dog potty

Dog health problems

Traveling with dogs

Large dog breeds

Medium dog breeds

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