15 Smallest Dog Breeds in Existence

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Small dogs aren’t just incredibly cute, they are also great for families with young children and they are perfect for smaller living spaces and apartments. In addition to this, small dogs are generally easier and less expensive to care for than big dogs.

Below we’ve rounded up 15 of the smallest dog breeds in the world:

1. Chihuahua

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Description: The Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed in the world. They are extremely dainty and cute with short snouts and upright ears. This breed can have two distinctive coats, the first incredibly smooth and the second much longer.

Height: 12-20cm
Weight: >3kg
Personality: Chihuahuas are known for being feisty, energetic, and loyal. These small dogs have big characters, they are outgoing, affectionate, and want to be with their owners all the time.

2. Pomeranian

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Description: Pomeranians are small, fluffy dogs with fox-like features. These dogs often look like they are smiling, they have erect ears and a furry tail that curls up over their back.
Height: 13-28cm
Weight: 1-3kg
Personality: The Pomeranian is an extremely loyal toy breed dog that forms a strong bond with one person and hates to be left alone. These dogs are intelligent, eager to please and love to be the centre of attention.

3. Miniature Dachshund

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Description: Miniature Dachshunds are unique-looking dogs with short legs and long bodies. They also have long heads that look cone-shaped from above. Miniature Dachshunds can have short, long, or wiry coats and come in a variety of colours.
Height: 13 - 18cm
Weight: 4 - 6.5kg
Personality: The Miniature Dachshund is an intelligent, courageous, and loyal little dog. They have playful natures, lots of energy and love to be kept busy. Miniature Dachshunds are wonderful family dogs but can be stubborn so are best suited to experienced owners.

4. Japanese Chin

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Description: The Japanese Chin is a unique-looking delicate dog that has a long, silky coat. These dogs have broad heads, large black noses, and furry V-shaped ears. Chins also have large, dark eyes, a wide chest and compact square bodies.

Height: 18-28cm
Weight: 1-3kg
Personality: The Japanese Chin is a dainty dog that is often likened to a cat. These dogs are entertainers and fast learners. Japanese Chins are known for being quiet and they aren’t very demanding when it comes to exercise so a couple of shorter walks each day is often enough.

5. Griffon Bruxellois

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Description: The Griffon Bruxellois sports a characteristic beard, a short muzzle and a black nose. They have an alert expression and they carry themselves with an air of self-importance with it often looking as though they are puffing their chest out.

Height:18-20cm
Weight: 3-4kg
Personality: Although small in size, the Griffon Bruxellois has a huge amount of attitude and character. This confident dog is cheeky, intelligent, and loves to entertain so you won’t have a dull moment with a Griffon around.

6. Papillon

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Description: The Papillon is a dainty dog that is most recognisable by its large furry ears which resemble the wings of a butterfly. They also have a fluffy tail and a long, silky coat that add to their elegant appearance.
Height: 20 - 28cm
Weight: 3-4kg
Personality: Papillons may be small in size but they are very outgoing and energetic. These confident dogs love to be busy and always want to be with their family. Although Papillons may enjoy being a lapdog sometimes, they are also active dogs that enjoy being busy.

7. Shih Tzu

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Description: Shih Tzus are small dogs with long ears and broad heads. They are compact with a dense coat that is long and silky.

Height: 20-28cm
Weight: 4-7kg
Personality: Shih Tzus are confident, people-oriented, and easy to train. They are charming dogs and make wonderful companions. Shih Tzus are very sociable and don’t like to be left alone.

8. Maltese

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Description: Maltese dogs are prized for their long white coats and their puppy-like looks. Their long hair doesn’t shed but needs regular grooming to prevent knots.

Height: 20 - 25cm
Weight: 1-3kg
Personality: Maltese are friendly, charming, and playful, they are great small dogs for first-time owners. This breed is very puppy-like well into their older years so they love to play and be around their owners.

9. Bichon Frise

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Description: Bichons are small dogs with a curly white coat that is soft to touch. These cute, compact dogs have an alert, endearing expression that is helped by their black shiny noses and dark eyes.
Height: 23-28cm
Weight: 3-5kg
Personality: The Bichon Frise is one of the most popular small dog breeds in the world. They are laid-back, people-orientated and social dogs that remain playful way past their puppy years. Bichons are excellent with children, they are affectionate and they are fun to be around.

10. Affenpinscher

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Description: The Affenpinscher has the nickname “Monkey Dog” because of their appearance. They have small heads with short muzzles and open nostrils. The Affenpinscher has a short, dense coat and their hair is quite shaggy on their head and neck which adds to their monkey-like look.

Height: 23-30cm
Weight: 2-6kg
Personality: Affenpinschers are adaptable, loving, and loyal. They are quick learners and are quite laid back making them great companions for older or less active people. Affenpinschers are entertainers and they thrive on attention.

11. Toy Poodle

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Description: The smallest of the poodles, the Toy Poodle is a charming dog with thick curly hair, low ears that hang down and a well-defined face. The coat of the Toy Poodle can be cut in a variety of ways giving this dog a number of different styles.

Height: 24-28cm
Weight: 3-6kg
Personality: Toy Poodles are intelligent, easy to train, and highly adaptable. These hypoallergenic dogs love water and thrive on being with their family.

12. Yorkshire Terrier

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Description: These compact dogs are well balanced with a long silky coat and V-shaped upright ears. Yorkies have long, straight hair that is glossy and needs daily brushing to prevent knots. It’s not unusual to see a Yorkie sporting a bow as many owners tie their hair back to keep it out of their eyes.

Height: 25 - 28cm
Weight: 6 - 9kg
Personality: Great for first-time owners, Yorkshire Terriers are affectionate, adaptable, and easy to train. These tiny dogs make great watchdogs as they are always alert and are quick to let you know about nearby strangers. Yorkies are excellent companions.

13. Pug

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Description: The Pug is a small, sturdy dog that has a large round head with a snubbed black nose. Their small ears are velvety, and their coat is short and glossy, Pugs also have slightly undershot mouths

Height: 25-35cm
Weight: 6-8kg
Personality: Pugs are incredibly popular dogs and are perfect for first-time owners as they are friendly, affectionate, and adaptable. Pugs are confident dogs with big personalities. Unlike many of the other small dog breeds on this list, Pugs are a lower-energy dog that enjoys being a lap dog.

14. French Bulldog

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Description: French Bulldogs are small and muscular, they have a powerful appearance thanks to their compact build. These dogs have large, square heads, short muzzles and wrinkly faces. French Bulldogs have short, smooth hair that doesn’t shed much.
Height: 27 - 31cm
Weight: 7 - 12kg
Personality: French Bulldogs love to be around people, they are excellent dogs for smaller homes and love to entertain. These small dogs are playful, good-natured, and are often known for being mischievous too. French Bulldogs are easy-going dogs to have around and they are well-suited to a quieter life.

15. Italian Greyhound

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Description: The Italian Greyhound is slender, elegant and easy-to-recognise. They have long, narrow heads and very short fur. Italian Greyhounds are one of the larger of the smallest dog breeds but are the smallest of the sighthounds and are the smaller versions of their Greyhound cousins.

Height: 30-38cm
Weight: 4 - 8kg
Personality: Italian Greyhounds are excellent companions, they love to be with people and are known to be placid. These small greyhounds prefer to be in quiet environments and they like to relax just as much as they like to run around and play.