s Small Breed (under 20 pounds / 9 kg)
Small breeds often live longer than larger breeds, with many reaching 15-20 years of age. They tend to mature quickly in their first few years but age more slowly in later years.
Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog, and is named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua.
Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is a small spitz-type dog named after the Pomerania region in north-west Poland and north-east Germany.
Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a small dog breed developed in Yorkshire, England, to catch rats in clothing mills.
Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is a toy dog breed originating from Tibet and was bred as a companion dog for Chinese royalty.
Maltese
The Maltese is a small breed of dog in the toy group known for its silky white coat.
Dachshund
The Dachshund, also known as the wiener dog, is a short-legged, long-bodied, hound-type dog breed.
French Bulldog
The French Bulldog is a breed of domestic dog, bred to be companion dogs. They are the result of a cross between Toy Bulldogs imported from England and local ratters in Paris, France.
Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer is a breed of small dog of the Schnauzer type that originated in Germany in the mid-to-late 19th century.
Pug
The Pug is a breed of dog with physically distinctive features of a wrinkly, short-muzzled face, and curled tail.
Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier is a breed of dog originating in the United States of America. This "American Gentleman" was accepted in 1893 by the American Kennel Club as a non-sporting breed.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small spaniel classed as a toy dog by The Kennel Club and the American Kennel Club.
Bichon Frise
The Bichon Frise is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type. The Bichon Frise is a member of the Non-Sporting Group of dog breeds in the US.
Havanese
The Havanese is a breed of Bichon type dog. It is the national dog of Cuba, developed from the now extinct Blanquito de la Habana.
Papillon
The Papillon is a small, friendly, elegant toy dog of fine-boned structure, known for its butterfly-like ears.
Italian Greyhound
The Italian Greyhound is a small breed of dog that is of the sighthound type, sometimes called an "IG" or "Iggy" for short.
Miniature Pinscher
The Miniature Pinscher is a small breed of dog originating from Germany. The breed's earliest ancestors may have included the German Pinscher mixed with Italian greyhounds and dachshunds.
Pekingese
The Pekingese is an ancient breed of toy dog, originating in China. They were the favored imperial pet and were held sacred in ancient China.
Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is a non-sporting dog breed originating in Tibet. It was bred as an interior sentinel in the Buddhist monasteries, to alert the monks to any intruders.
Japanese Chin
The Japanese Chin is a small, aristocratic toy dog with a distinctively Oriental expression. It is believed to have originated in China but was later gifted to Japanese nobility.
Brussels Griffon
The Brussels Griffon is a breed of toy dog, named after their city of origin: Brussels, Belgium. The breed is known for its almost human-like expression.
Affenpinscher
The Affenpinscher is a terrier-like toy breed of dog known for its monkey-like expression and appearance. The name "Affenpinscher" is German for "monkey terrier".
Toy Fox Terrier
The Toy Fox Terrier is a small terrier breed of dog, directly descended from the larger Fox Terrier but considered a separate breed.
Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested Dog is a hairless breed of dog. Like most hairless dog breeds, the Chinese Crested comes in two varieties: with and without fur, which are born in the same litter.
Silky Terrier
The Silky Terrier is a small breed of terrier developed in Australia, although the breed's ancestral types and breeds were from Great Britain.
English Toy Spaniel
The English Toy Spaniel is a small toy dog of the spaniel type. In the United Kingdom, it is called the King Charles Spaniel, while in North America, it is called the English Toy Spaniel.
Norwich Terrier
The Norwich Terrier is a breed of dog originating in the United Kingdom, and was bred to hunt small vermin or rodents. With a friendly personality, Norwich Terriers are today mostly a companion dog breed.
Norfolk Terrier
The Norfolk Terrier is a British breed of dog. Prior to 1960, it was considered to be the same breed as the Norwich Terrier, distinguished from the "prick eared" Norwich Terrier only by its "drop ears".
Scottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier, popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog with a distinctive appearance and personality. It is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland.
West Highland White Terrier
The West Highland White Terrier, commonly known as the Westie, is a breed of dog from Scotland with a distinctive white harsh coat with a somewhat soft white undercoat.
Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is one of the oldest terrier breeds, originating in the Scottish Highlands and recognized as one of Scotland's earliest working dogs.
Jack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell Terrier is a small terrier that has its origins in fox hunting in England. It is principally white-bodied and smooth, rough or broken-coated and can be any color.
Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier is an American dog breed with a background as a farm dog and hunting companion. They are often kept as pets and are known to be intelligent, active, and playful.
Miniature Poodle
The Miniature Poodle is a small but highly intelligent breed of dog. Despite their association with France, Poodles actually originated in Germany as water retrievers.
American Eskimo Dog (Toy/Miniature)
The American Eskimo Dog is a breed of companion dog originating in Germany. The American Eskimo is a member of the Spitz family.
Löwchen
The Löwchen or Little Lion Dog is a small, long-haired breed of dog. The Löwchen once had the dubious distinction of being the rarest dog in the world.
Tibetan Spaniel
The Tibetan Spaniel is a breed of assertive, small, intelligent dogs originating over 2,500 years ago in the Himalayan mountains of Tibet.
Schipperke
The Schipperke is a Belgian breed of small dog. In Flemish, the name means "little captain" or "little shepherd", depending on interpretation.
Manchester Terrier (Toy)
The Manchester Terrier is a breed of dog of the smooth-haired terrier type. It was first bred in Manchester, England, in the 19th century to control vermin.
Coton de Tuléar
The Coton de Tuléar is a breed of small dog named for the city of Tuléar in Madagascar and for its cotton-like coat.
Bolognese
The Bolognese is a small breed of dog of the Bichon type, originating in Italy. The name refers to the northern Italian city of Bologna.