15 Most Popular Small Dog Breeds

Are you looking to welcome a small dog into your home? Choosing the right breed can make all the difference for your family. 

At Mawoo Pets, we've helped thousands of families find puppies from ethical, responsible breeders. Based on firsthand customer experiences, we've compiled the ultimate guide on the top 15 small dog breeds that families love—and why.

French Bulldog

Weight: 16-28 lbs

The French Bulldog has quickly become America's favorite dog breed—surpassing the Labrador Retriever after its 31-year reign. Our customers consistently highlight their affectionate nature, playful and gentle personalities, and adaptability to apartment living.

These puppies have risen consistently in popularity given their adorable characters and kind temperament, and make excellent companions for urban families.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Low maintenance grooming

• Quiet, apartment-friendly temperament

• Excellent with kids

Toy Poodle

Weight: 6-15 lbs

Toy Poodles are known for their exceptional intelligence, healthy genetics, low-shedding fur, and vibrant energy. Our new puppy parents frequently note how easily trainable these pups are, making them great for active families who enjoy interactive playtime.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Highly intelligent and trainable

• Hypoallergenic (great for allergy-sensitive families)

• Friendly with kids and other pets

For more Poodle-like breeds, take a look at our guide comparing comparing mini Doodle breeds, or our available Doodle puppies.

Shih Tzu

Weight: 9-16 lbs

The Shih Tzu originates in Tibet, where its name means “Little Lion”. What a great matching name, given their puffy paws and courageous personalities! This adorable small dog breed will melt your heart. Shih Tzus come in a variety of colors and sport wavy low-shedding fur, making them an excellent fit for families with allergic or asthmatic members.

Our customers love their gentle, friendly demeanor, making them perfect companions for both children and seniors.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Gentle and affectionate nature

• Low-shedding, hypoallergenic coat

• Great with children

Check out our available Shih Tzu puppies here.

Yorkshire Terrier

Weight: 4-6 lbs

The Yorkshire Terrier is one of the smallest dog breeds. These adorable pups are filled with attitude and personality, and are low-shedding, too. They are a favorite for the elderly or single individuals seeking a lap companion. Customers frequently tell us they appreciate their lively attitude and fierce loyalty.

When grown out, the silky hair of a Yorkie gives it a majestic look – but remember, their hair is low-shedding. 

Family Favorite Traits:

• Fierce loyalty to owners

• Low-shedding coat

• Perfect size for small homes and apartments

Cavapoo

Weight: 9-25 lbs

Cavapoos, a cross between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle, have risen in popularity due to their affectionate, gentle temperament and low-shedding coats. Our customers often choose Cavapoos for their adaptability and ease in multi-pet households.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Loving, gentle temperament

• Hypoallergenic coats

• Great with children and other pets

Maltipoo

Weight: 5-20 lbs

Maltipoos, a blend of Maltese and Toy Poodle breeds, are celebrated for their friendly, playful personalities and hypoallergenic fur. Customers highlight their gentle interactions with children and ease of training as top reasons they choose this breed.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Excellent with young children

• Low-shedding, allergy-friendly fur

• Easy-going nature

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Weight: 13-18 lbs

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are consistently praised by families for their graceful, sociable, and loving temperament. Our customers appreciate how easily they adapt to various lifestyles, whether active or calm, making them versatile companions.

Fun fact: This breed’s name is derived from King Charles II of the United Kingdom, whose father’s followers were called the Cavaliers.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Friendly with everyone (kids, strangers, pets)

• Gentle and affectionate

• Easy to train

Pomeranian

Weight: 3-7 lbs

Pomeranians are puffy little dogs, filled with personality and devotion to their owners. Some pet owners groom their Pomeranians to have a round look, garnering them the name “Teddy Bear Pomeranians”. Pomeranians are popular among apartment dwellers and families seeking an energetic, compact companion.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Big personality in a small package

• Ideal for apartments and urban living

• Strong bond with their owners

Boston Terrier

Weight: 10-25 lbs

Originating in Massachusetts, Boston Terriers have charmed families with their playful, gentle demeanor. Our new puppy parents describe them as ideal family pets due to their affectionate nature and compatibility with children.

Fun fact: This dog breed became popular in Boston in the early 1900s, where its well-built look and black-and-white coat garnered the nickname the “American Gentleman”.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Friendly and gentle with kids

• Playful yet manageable energy levels

• Easy to train

Chihuahua

Weight: 3-6 lbs

The Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), and is renowned for its bold personality and fierce loyalty. Families often appreciate their manageable size, suitability for small spaces, and deep attachment to their primary caregiver.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Strong bond with owner

• Low maintenance grooming

• Suitable for apartment living

Miniature Schnauzer

Weight: 11-20 lbs

Miniature Schnauzers have a dedicated following given their loving personalities and strong attachment to their families. This breed is both intelligent and fearless, willing to stand up to dogs multiple times its size to guard your family. Mini Schnauzers also hardly ever shed, making them a great fit for allergy-sensitive families.

Families value their protective nature and ease of training, making them beloved companions for families with children.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Highly intelligent and easy to train

• Hypoallergenic coat

• Excellent watchdog

Looking for a low-shedding dog breed? Check out our available hypoallergenic puppies.

Maltese

Weight: 6-7lb

The Maltese is beloved for its affectionate, lively nature and hypoallergenic, silky coat. These dogs are closely related to Bichon Frises and Bolognese dogs, but originate from Malta, their namesake region. Malteses pack a big personality in a small body, and are extremely kind and companionable. They bring liveliness and affection to those around them. 

Our customers frequently highlight their suitability as lap dogs, especially for older adults or calmer households.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Affectionate and gentle

• Low-shedding, allergy-friendly fur

• Ideal lap dog

Dachshund

Weight: 16-32lb

Given their elongated bodies, Dachshunds are also known as Sausage Dogs, Badger Dogs, and Weiner Dogs. These pups are stubborn, devoted, and have a drive to play – as their history dates back to being bred for finding and hunting badgers from small burrows. Dachshunds are family favorites for their entertaining and stubborn personalities.

They're also one of the longest-living dog breeds!

Family Favorite Traits:

• Friendly and affectionate with everyone

• Great for small living spaces

• Low grooming needs

Pug

Weight: 14-18lb

Pugs are charming flat-faced dogs with easy-going personalities. This toy dog breed is a family favorite as it has a friendly and playful disposition, and gets along with strangers, kids, and other pets. Pugs are also a great fit for small living spaces, given their smaller stature and lower energy levels. 

Families frequently choose Pugs for their affectionate nature, excellent compatibility with kids, and manageable energy levels.

Family Favorite Traits:

• Friendly and affectionate with everyone

• Great for small living spaces

• Low grooming needs

Havanese

Weight: 7-13lb

The Havanese is the national dog of Cuba. This toy dog breed makes the perfect companion given its happy and affectionate nature. Havanese dogs are deeply companionable – making them a common choice for our customers looking for emotional support dogs. 

If you’re bringing a Havanese home, keep in mind that these dogs are incredibly social, and so require lots of socialization and can be easily prone to separation anxiety. 

Family Favorite Traits:

• Highly affectionate and social

• Ideal emotional support pets

• Excellent with families, kids, and other pets

Conclusion

As you saw on this list, there’s tremendous variety in small dog breeds – in not only looks, but temperament, energy levels, shedding levels, and more. So … what breed is best for your lifestyle? Are you looking for a highly trainable dog, an apartment-friendly breed, or something else? 

Still unsure? Take our Dog Breed Quiz to find your ideal match — or explore small-breed puppies for sale.