While adopting a dog, it is important to consider everything from their personality to their activity level and size. If you are an apartment dweller, a small dog breed may be a good choice for your home because of its petite stature and moderate exercise needs.
These small and fluffy canines are so loving that they desperately wait for you to come home so they can cuddle with you for the rest of the evening. Their small size does not mean they are not capable enough.
Small dog breeds are full of personality and form strong bonds with their owners. They make wonderful family pets. Some small dogs are perceptive of human emotions and make excellent therapy dogs or emotional support animals.
Here are the top adorable small dog breeds you’ll fall in love with.
Adorable Small Dog Breeds You’ll Fall In Love With
1. Pekingese
Pekingese are adorable little dogs having a lion-like mane around their neck. Their affectionate temperament and cute faces will make you fall in love with them. Pekingese are cuddly canines who love spending time with their humans.
These flat-faced pooches make the most loyal companions. Originally bred in China, Pekingese are a bit opinionated and confident. They are quite laid-back at home and don’t need much exercise. Only a walk around the block can provide adequate physical and mental stimulation.
According to PetMD, Pekingese are alert dogs with a strong bark. Exposing your Peke to new people, animals, and situations can help reduce their barking tendencies. Their luxurious coat requires a fair amount of grooming to stay in top-notch condition.
2. Japanese Chin
Japanese Chin is a toy breed that steals hearts with its gentle demeanor, big eyes, and cat-like personality. They like to clean their faces with paws and hide under the most unexpected spots in the house.
These smart and sensitive dogs make wonderful indoor companions. Japanese Chin is a clever dog, full of affection and utterly adorable. They are responsive to the people they love and reserved with new people or in new situations, explains Hill’s Pet.
Japanese Chins are quite compassionate with children, but their interactions with small kids must always be supervised. They are very much people-oriented and can develop separation anxiety if they do not get enough attention.
3. Lhasa Apso
Known for their independent nature, the Lhasa Apso is a non-sporting toy dog from Tibet. Lhasa Apsos are not as clingy as some other toy dog breeds, but you will fall in love with their silky, long coat. They are very loyal to their loved ones and are protective of them.
However, thanks to their independent streak, they are not interested in pleasing their owners, which can make training a bit challenging. These confident yet comical little dogs make adorable lapdogs and are well-suited for apartment living, as they do not require a lot of space to exercise.
Short daily walks within the block and play time within the apartment provide sufficient exercise. To provide adequate mental stimulation, you can engage your Lhasa Apso in interactive games and let it play with puzzle toys.
4. Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terriers are friendly and energetic small dogs known for their tenacious and bossy nature. Their long, silky coat and feisty personality will make you fall in love with them. They have a playful and affectionate nature.
Yorkies are quite intelligent and easy-to-train dogs who make devoted companions. They tend to be yappy, but when their needs are satisfied, Yorkies are happy dogs. However, their tendency to bark makes them excellent watchdogs despite their small size.
These incredibly loyal and protective canines have a strong personality, which can lead to conflict with other dogs. Proper socialization and early exposure to other dogs can help avoid this problem. These active little dogs need regular exercise and mental stimulation to stay fit.
5. Miniature Pinscher
Miniature Pinschers may not be the most popular dog breed in the United States, but they are cute enough to fall in love with. Their smooth coat, large ears, streamlined body, and hackney gait are simply irresistible. They look a lot like a Doberman Pinscher in appearance, only smaller in size.
Miniature Pinscher is a small dog breed with a larger-than-life personality. Min Pins possess a playful energy and are eager to learn and show off new tricks. They tend to be friendly and make great family pets, but can be strong-willed.
Despite their small size, Min Pins are quite protective of their pet owners. They are good for people living in apartments as they do not require lots of exercise. Min Pins enjoy going for walks and playing games of fetch.
6. Norwich Terrier
One of the smallest terriers, the Norwich Terrier is an alert and cheerful dog with a fox-like face. Having an affectionate personality, they require lots of entertainment and activity and thrive on companionship. These friendly and spirited canines are too cute to resist.
Despite their small size, Norwich Terriers have a fearless nature. Their moderately energetic nature means they do not require extensive exercise for physical and mental stimulation. These intelligent and eager-to-please dogs respond well to positive reinforcement methods.
They are not well-suited for homes with smaller pets due to their strong hunting instincts. Norwich Terriers excel at many dog sports such as agility training, obedience, and flyball. They also enjoy playing with interactive toys and games like hide and seek.
7. Havanese
Originally bred in Cuba, Havanese are little fluffy dogs known for their happy disposition. One of the best companion dogs, they like to stay by their owners’ side all the time. These adorable tiny dogs are prone to separation anxiety if left alone for too long.
Havanese are highly intelligent and trainable dogs. Having a friendly and affectionate nature, they are quite adaptable and do well in apartments and homes with small yards. According to Purina, Havanese have an outgoing personality and cheerful nature.
Havanese thrive on human companionship and have a curious and playful personality that will make you fall in love with them. These loving canines never hesitate to entertain you with their goofy antics. Their curly coat requires regular grooming to prevent mats and tangles.
8. Bichon Frise
These cute little fluffy dogs are wrapped in curly white fur that goes perfectly in contrast with their dark nose and eyes. You cannot resist falling in love with this beautiful white dog, blessed with a social and friendly nature.
Bichons are smart dogs who warm up quickly to new people and animals. They are known for their playful and loving nature. Being a gentle and small dog breed, these canines make ideal pets for apartment dwellers.
Bichon Frise loves to play and needs lots of attention and affection to be happy. They are highly trainable and eager to please dogs who learn very quickly. Bichons can easily master simple cues like “sit” and “stay” due to their high intelligence.
9. Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are little dogs full of personality. They love being spoiled and are a good fit for owners who like cuddling their pets and carrying them around. This sassy little ball of energy is playful, loyal, and easy to fall in love with.
Properly trained and well-socialized Chihuahuas are good with kids, but should be avoided around small children due to their fragile build. These dedicated lapdogs require lots of physical exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy.
So take your Chihuahua for daily walks and engage them in indoor playtime. Chihuahuas are smart dogs who are always willing to please their owners. It makes them easy to train, but they can be a little strong-willed. Therefore, it is better to use positive reinforcement methods to train them.
Conclusion
Choosing the right breed highly depends on an individual’s lifestyle. A small dog breed can be a good choice for apartment dwellers and individuals living in small spaces. Many small dogs are known for their loyal and affectionate nature.
They have big personalities compared to many larger breeds. Small dogs are usually very adaptable and do well in different living environments. These pooches will make you fall in love with their playful persona. Their moderate exercise needs enable them to adjust well to different lifestyles.
