The most popular small dog breeds include French Bulldog, Toy Poodles, Dachshunds, Corgis, Pugs, Pomeranians, Beagles, Yorkshire Terrier and Chihuahuas, but each is loved for their own unique reason. These furry friends are easy to cuddle with on the couch after a long day from work and are little bundles of energy that are always ready for playtime.If your family includes very young children, make sure the dog you’re considering has a space where it can be alone when necessary, or perhaps, research breeds that may better fit your family’s lifestyle. The fact is, some small dogs are too delicate to compete with a boisterous family of young children and need to live in quieter environments.

Like people, small dog breeds come with different personalities, so before you pick up your small-framed dog, it’s a good idea to know exactly what you’re getting. These cute, small dogs can be happy in any space, from a large home to a modest studio apartment, and they tend to live longer than their larger counterparts (from 12 to 20 years). But don't lump them all in one small box. The following small dog breeds have some striking differences between each of their personalities.

Shih Tzu

Weight: Female: 4–7.2 kg, Male: 4–7.2 kg.
Height: Female: 20–28 cm, Male: 20–28 cm.
Coat: Double-Coated Breed.
Color: Black, White, Brindle, Liver, Liver & White, Black & White, Light Brown, Dark Brown, Blue, Gold.
Litter Size: 2 to 9 puppies.
Life expectancy: 10 to 16 years.
Origin: China, Tibet, Asia.
Temperament: Playful, Intelligent, Affectionate, Clever, Friendly, Outgoing, Lively, Loyal, Skunky, Independent, Happy, Alert, Active, Courageous, Gentle.

Weight: Female: 10 to 11 kg, Male: 9 to 10 kg.
Height: Male: 36 to 41 cm, Female: 33 to 38 cm.
Coat: Smooth, Dense Double Coat.
Color: Lemon and White, Tri-color, White and Tan, Chocolate Tri, Red and White, Orange and White, White and Chocolate.
Litter Size: 1 to 10 puppies.
Life expectancy: 10 to 14 years.
Origin: France England.
Temperament: Playful, Affectionate, Easygoing, Sociable, Lively, Keen, Athletic, Patient, Alert, Bright.

Beagle

Weight: Female: 7.5 to 14 kg, Male: 7.5 to 14 kg.
Height: Female: 15 to 25 cm Male: 15 to 25 cm.
Coat: Short-haired (smooth coat) and long-coat.
Color: White, Black, Fawn, Chocolate, Cream, Gold.
Litter Size: 2 to 5 puppies.
Life expectancy: 12 to 20 years.
Origin: Maxico.
Temperament: Aggressive, Devoted, Lively, Quick, Alert, Courageous..

Chihuahua

Weight: Female: 5 to 7 kg, Male: 6 to 8 kg.
Height: Female: 25 to 28 cm, Male: 25 to 28 cm.
Coat: Long, dense Coat.
Color: Black, White, Honey, Golden, Brown, Sandy, Dark Grizzle.
Litter Size: 4 to 6 puppies.
Life expectancy: 12 to 14 years.
Origin: Tibet.
Temperament: Playful, Intelligent, Friendly, Devoted, Energetic, Fearless, Lively, Assertive, Spirited, Alert, Steady, Obedient.

Lhasa Apso

Weight: Female: 20.5–32kg, Male: 20.5–32kg.
Height: Female: 35–45 cm, Male: 35–45 cm.
Coat: Single, Dense Coat.
Color: Black, White, Apricot, Sable, Cream, Black & White, Grey, Blue, Brown, Red, Silver.
Litter Size: 1 to 5 puppies.
Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years.
Origin: France, Germany.
Temperament: Intelligent, Alert, Faithful, Instinctual, Active, Trainable.

Poodle

Weight: Female: 6.3–8.2 kg, Male: 6.3–8.2 kg.
Height: Female: 25–30 cm, Male: 30–36 cm.
Coat: A Double-Coated Breed.
Color: Black, Fawn, Apricot, Silver Fawn.
Litter Size: 4 to 6 puppies.
Life expectancy: 12 to 15 years.
Origin: China.
Temperament: Playful, Affectionate, Charming, Stubborn, Mischievous, Clever, Docile, Sociable, Attentive, Loving, Calm, Quiet.

Pug

Weight: Female: 2.1–3.3 kg, Male: 2.8–5.2 kg.
Height: Female: 18 to 30 cm, Male: 18 to 30 cm.
Coat: Thick Double Coat.
Color: White, Black, Blue, Red, Cream, Grey-shaded, Tan, Orange, Brown.
Litter Size: 1 to 5 puppies.
Life expectancy: 12 to 16 years.
Origin: Germany, Poland.
Temperament: Playful, Intelligent, Friendly, Extroverted, Sociable, Active.

Toy Pom

Weight: Female: 4.5 to 7.3 kg, Male: 4.5 to 7.3 kg.
Height: Female: 23 to 27 cm, Male: 23 to 27 cm.
Coat: Very soft double coat.
Color: White, Black, Fawn, Tobacco, Mahogany, Havana Brown.
Litter Size: 1 to 9 puppies.
Life expectancy: 13 to 15 years.
Origin: Cuba.
Temperament: Playful, Affectionate, Intelligent, Gentle, Responsive, Companionable.

Havanese

Weight: Female: 2.8–4.3 kg, Male: 3.1–4.6 kg.
Height: Female: 27–33 cm, Male: 27–33 cm.
Coat: Silk, Soft and Wiry Coated.
Color: Blue, Tan, Black, Tan, Black, Gold, Blue and Gold.
Litter Size: 2 to 5 puppies.
Life expectancy: 13 to 16 years.
Origin: England.
Temperament: Intelligent, Bold, Independent, Confident, Courageous.

Yorkshire Terrier

Weight: Female: 3.5 to 5 kg, Male: 4 to 5 kg.
Height: Male: 25 to 30 cm, Female: 25 to 28 cm.
Coat: Short and Smooth, with no Undercoat.
Color: Black & Rust, Black & Tan, Stag Red, Chocolate & Tan, Chocolate & Rust, Red.
Litter Size: 2 to 5 puppies.
Life expectancy: 12 to 14 years.
Origin: Germany.
Temperament: Playful, Clever, Friendly, Energetic, Outgoing, Responsive

Miniature Pinscher

Weight: Female: 6.4 to 8.2 kg, Male: 6.4 to 8.2 kg.
Height: Female: 25 to 30 cm, Male: 25 to 30 cm.
Coat: Smooth, Broken and Rough.
Color: White, Piebald, Black & White, White & Tan.
Litter Size: 5 puppies.
Life expectancy: 13 to 16 years.
Origin: England.
Temperament: Intelligent, Stubborn, Energetic, Fearless, Lively, Bold, Keen, Athletic, Alert, Active, Vocal.

Jack Russell Terrier

Weight: Female: 7.5 to 14 kg, Male: 7.5 to 14 kg.
Height: Female: 20 to 23 cm, Male: 20 to 23 cm.
Coat: Smooth Coat (Short Hair), Long-Haired, and Wire-Haired.
Color: Black, Chocolate and Tan, Black and Tan, Chocolate and Cream, Blue and Tan, Cream, Tan, Red.
Life expectancy: 12 to 16 years.
Origin: Germany.
Temperament: Playful, Clever, Stubborn, Devoted, Lively, Courageous.

Dachshund

Weight: Female: 22 to 38 kg, Male: 22 to 38 kg.
Height: Female: 45 to 55 cm, Male: 45 to 55 cm.
Coat: Bull Terrier's coat.
Color: White, Tri-color, Brindle & White, Fawn & White, Red & White, White & Black Brindle.
Litter Size: 1 to 9 puppies.
Life expectancy: 10 to 14 years.
Origin: England.
Temperament: Sweet-Tempered, Stubborn, Keen, Active, Trainable, Protective.

Bull Terrier

Weight: Female: 25 to 32 kg, Male: 20 to 27 kg.
Height: Female: 46 to 51 cm, Male: 48–56 cm.
Coat: Hard, Dense, Smooth Outer Coat.
Color: Black, Blue, Fawn, Cream, Red.
Litter Size: 4 to 6 puppies.
Life expectancy: 9 to 15 years.
Origin: China.
Temperament: Aloof, Loyal, Independent, Quiet.

Chow Chow

Weight: Female: 5.9 to 8.2 kg, Male: 5.9 to 8.2 kg.
Height: Female: 30 to 33 cm, Male: 30 to 33 cm.
Coat: Medium - Length Coats.
Color: Tri-color, Black & Tan, Blenheim, Ruby.
Litter Size: 5 puppies.
Life expectancy: 9 to 14 years.
Origin: United Kingdom.
Temperament: Playful, Affectionate, Gentle, Sociable, Fearless, Patient, Adaptable, Graceful.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Weight: Male - 1.81kg - 3.62 kg, Female - 1.81kg - 3.62 kg
Height: Male- 18cm - 28cm, Female- 17.78cm - 27.94 cm
Coat: Have black and tan coloring
Color: White, Black, Black & White, Blue, Blue & White
Litter Size: 2 - 5 puppies
Life expectancy: 16 years
Origin: Hunstruck, Germany
Temperament: Affectionate, Clever, Energetic, Loyal, Adventurous, Brave

Biewer Terrier

Weight: Male - 7 kg -12 kg, Female - 7 kg - 12 kg
Height: Male: 32–39 cm, Female: 30–37 cm
Coat: A short, smooth coat
Color: Tri-color, Black & White, White & Chocolate
Litter Size: 3 - 5 puppies
Life expectancy: 10 - 15 year
Origin: Denmark, Sweden
Temperament: Intelligent, Lively, Alert

Danish-Swedish Farm

Weight: Male: 5.9–8.2 kg, Female: 5.9–8.2 kg
Height: Male: 25–31 cm, Female: 25–31 cm
Coat: Coarse, Shiny Coat
Color: Liver & Tan, Black & Tan
Litter Size: 2 to 5 puppies.
Life expectancy: 12 – 15 years
Origin: England
Temperament: Intelligent, Friendly, Clever, Alert

Lancshire Heeler

Weight: Male: 25–30 kg, Female: 25–30 kg
Height: Female: 30–40 cm, Male: 30–40 cm cm
Coat: Double coat, long strait outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat
Color: White, Black, Black & Tan, Cream, Orange, Brown
Litter Size: 2-4 puppies.
Life expectancy: 13 – 15 years
Origin: Germany
Temperament: Attentive, Trainable, Devoted, Lively, Robust

German Spitz

Weight: Male: 3.6-4.5 kg, Female: 3.2-4.1 kg
Height: Male: 20 – 28 cm, Female: 20 – 28 cm
Coat: Straight, fine, and silky, with no undercoat
Color: White, Sable, Black & White, Fawn & White, Red & White, White & Chocolate
Litter Size: 3 puppies
Life expectancy: 13 – 15 years
Origin: France, Belgium, Spain
Temperament: Intelligent, Friendly, Energetic, Happy, Alert

Papillion

Weight: Male: 8 - 11 kg, Female: 8 - 11 kg kg
Height: Male: 35 – 43 cm, Female: 33 – 41 cm
Coat: Thick double coat
Color: Red Sesame, Sesame, Black Sesame, Black & Tan, Cream, Red
Litter Size: 3 puppies
Life expectancy: 2 – 15 years
Origin: Australia
Temperament: Charming, Fearless, Keen, Alert, Confident, Faithful

Shiba Inu

Weight: Male: 5.9–8.2 kg, Female: 5.9–8.2 kg
Height: Male: 25–31 cm, Female: 25–31 cm
Coat: Coarse, Shiny Coat
Color: Liver & Tan, Black & Tan
Litter Size: 2 to 5 puppies.
Life expectancy: 12 – 15 years
Origin: England
Temperament: Intelligent, Friendly, Clever, Alert

Lancshire Heeler

Weight: Male: 25–30 kg, Female: 25–30 kg
Height: Female: 30–40 cm, Male: 30–40 cm cm
Coat: Double coat, long strait outer and thick cotton-wool like undercoat
Color: White, Black, Black & Tan, Cream, Orange, Brown
Litter Size: 2-4 puppies.
Life expectancy: 13 – 15 years
Origin: Germany
Temperament: Attentive, Trainable, Devoted, Lively, Robust

German Spitz

Weight: Male: 3.6-4.5 kg, Female: 3.2-4.1 kg
Height: Male: 20 – 28 cm, Female: 20 – 28 cm
Coat: Straight, fine, and silky, with no undercoat
Color: White, Sable, Black & White, Fawn & White, Red & White, White & Chocolate
Litter Size: 3 puppies
Life expectancy: 13 – 15 years
Origin: France, Belgium, Spain
Temperament: Intelligent, Friendly, Energetic, Happy, Alert

Papillion

Weight: Male: 2 - 16 kg, Female: 2 - 16 kg
Height: Female: 25–46 cm, Male: 25–46 cm
Coat: Single, smooth
Color: White, Tri-color, Black & White, Fawn & White, White & Chocolate, Blue & White
Litter Size: 5 - 7 puppies
Life expectancy: 5 – 18 years
Origin: United States
Temperament: Intelligent, Affectionate, Inquisitive, Lively, Alert, Loving

Rat Terrier

Weight: Male: 3.2 kg - 6.4 kg, Female: 3.2 kg - 6.4 kg kg
Height: Male: 5 – 23 cm, Female: 5 – 23 cm
Coat: long, coarse, and straight
Color: White, Black, Fawn, Black & Tan, Cream, Fawn Brindle, Grey
Litter Size: 2 - 4 puppies
Life expectancy: 12 – 15 years
Origin: China
Temperament: Intelligent, Affectionate, Opinionated, Stubborn, Aggressive, Good-natured

Pekingese

Weight: Male: 2.5 - 4.5 kg, Female: 2.5 - 4.5 kg
Height: Male: 27 - 30 cm, Female: 25 - 28 cm
Coat: All-white coat
Color: White
Litter Size: Up to 7 puppies
Life expectancy: 12 – 14 years
Origin: Italy
Temperament: Docile, Loyal, Enterprising, Reserved, Serious

Bolognese

Pomeranian

Australian Terrier