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Miniature Dog Breeds

Miniature dog breeds are those that are small and stay small throughout their life. 

Are you ready to be owned by a miniature or small breed dog? Most small breed dog owners usually feel that way. 

Let's face it, you are their companion and protector.

You are also their nurse, food server, hair stylist, pedicurist, mother/father, taxi driver, custodian, and anything else that your opposable thumb can do for them.

Sounds like a lot of work without much pay, but most owners will tell you that small dogs are simply the best.

"Why", you ask?  Well,

• They are easy to transport, making them excellent travel companions.
• They don’t eat much, so food costs are reasonable.
• Many were bred for centuries solely to be companions, so they have learned how to do this job very well.
• They are easier to manage overall.
• They make excellent choices for first-time dog owners.
• They thrive in virtually any environment.

Beyond the obvious similarities, miniature dog breeds vary widely according to temperament, activity levels, grooming needs, trainability, friendliness, and affection levels.

So, if you are interested in a pint-sized pooch, a little bit of research before you buy is essential.

Remember, the one thing that all miniature dog breeds have in common is that cuteness factor. It's hard to resist that tiny puffball with such a big personality.

All of these Dogs are 22 pounds (10 kg) or smaller. You may notice that some of these breeds are also listed on our Medium Size Breeds Pages. That is because their weight range falls into both categories.

Miniature Dog Breeds

Affenpinscher

Origin:  Germany

Height:  10-12 in (25-30 cm) 
Weight:  8-13 lb (4-6 kg) 
Ease of Training:  Moderate

Alaskan Klee Kai

Origin:  USA

Height:  Up to 13 in  (33 cm)  (Toy)
              13-15 in   (33-38 cm)  (Miniature)
               15-17   (38-44 cm)  (Standard)

Weight:  Up to 9 lb.  (4 kg)  Toy
               9-15 lb (4-7 kg)  Miniature
                15-22 lb  ( 7-10 kg)  Standard

Ease of Training:  Moderate

American Eskimo Dog

Origin:  USA

Height:  15-19 in  Standard
               12-15 in Miniature
                9-12 in  Toy

Weight: 20-40 lb Standard
              11-20 lb Miniature
                 6-10 lb Toy

Ease of Training: Moderate

American Hairless

Origin:  USA

Height: 10-18 in (25-46 cm)

Weight: 7-13 lb (3-6 kg)

Ease of Training: Moderate

Australian Terrier

Origin:  Australia

Height:  Up to 10 in (Up to 26 cm) 

Weight:  Up to 15 lb (Up to 7 kg) 

Easy of Training:  Easy

Basenji

Origin:  Central Africa

Height:  16-17 in (40-43 cm) 

Weight:  20-24 lb (9-11 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Challenging

Miniature Dog Breeds

Beagle

Origin:  UK

Height:  13-16 in (33-40 cm) 

Weight: 20-24 lb (9-11 kg)

Ease of Training:  Moderate

Bedlington Terrier

Origin:  UK

Height: 16 in (41 cm) 

Weight:  17.5-23 lb (8-10.5 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Easy to Moderate

Bichon Frise

Origin:  France/ Belgium

Height: Up to 12 in ( 30 cm) 

Weight:  6-13 lb  (3-6 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Easy

Miniature Dog Breeds

Biewer Terrier

Origin:  Germany

Height:  Up to 8.5 in (22 cm)

Weight:  Up to 7 lb (3.1 cm)

Ease of Training:  Moderate

Bolognese

Origin:  Italy

Height: 10-12 in  ( 25-30 cm) 

Weight:  5.5 - 8.8 lb  (2.5-4 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Easy

Border Terrier

Origin:  UK

Height: 13 in (33 cm)

Weight: 11-16 lb  (5-7 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Easy to Moderate

Miniature Dog Breeds

Boston Terrier

Origin:  USA

Height:  15-17 in (38-43 cm)

Weight: 11-24 lb (5-11 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Easy to Moderate

Brazilian Terrier

Origin:  Brazil

Height:  13-16 in (33-40 cm)  Males are larger

Weight:  Up to 22 lb (10 kg)

Ease of Training:  Moderate

Brussels Griffon

Also Known As Griffon Bruxellois

Origin:  Belgium

Height: 10 in (25 cm) 

Weight:  About 9 lb ( 4 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Easy to Moderate

Miniature Dog Breeds

Cairn Terrier

Origin:  UK

Height: 11-12 in (28-31 cm)

Weight:  13-18 lb (6-8 kg)

Ease of Training:  Easy to Moderate

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Origin:  UK

Height: 10 -13 in ( 25-43 cm) 

Weight:  10-19 lb (4-9 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Easy

Miniature Dog Breeds

Cesky Terrier

Origin:  Czech Republic

Height:  10-13 in (25-32 cm) 

Weight:  13-22 lb(6-10 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Moderate

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Chihuahua

Origin:  Mexico

Height: 5 in (13 cm) 

Weight:  1-6 lb  (0.5-2.5 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Easy

Chinese Crested Powder Puff

Origin:  China

Height: 9-13 in  (23-33 cm) 

Weight:  Up to 12 lb  (5.5 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Easy

Coton de Tuléar

Origin:  Madagascar

Height: 10-11 in (25-28 cm) 

Weight:  12-15 lb  (5-7 kg) 

Ease of Training:  Easy

Dachshund

Height: (Toy) Up to 12 in (30 cm)
             (Dwarf) 12-13.7 in (30-35 cm)
             (Standard) 13.75 in  (35 cm)

Weight:  (Toy) Up to 9 lb  (4kg)
              (Dwarf) 14.4 lb (7 kg)
              (Standard) Over 14.4 lb (Over 7 kg)

Origin: Germany

Ease of Training:  Medium

Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Height:  8-10 in

Weight:  16.6 lb  (8 kg.)

Origin:  Great Britain

Ease of Training:  Easy

Dutch Smoushond

Height:  14-17 in (35-42 cm) 

Weight:  20-22 lb (9-10 kg) 

Origin:  The Netherlands

Ease of Training: moderate

English Toy Spaniel
aka.  King Charles Spaniel

Height:  8-12 in (22-30 cm)

Weight:  7.7014.3 lb  (3.5-6.5 kg)

Origin:  Great Britain

Ease of Training:  Easy

Miniature Dog Breeds

French Bull Dog

Height:  12 in  (30 cm)

Weight:  13-26.5 lb  (6-12 kg)

Origin:  France

Ease of Training:  Very Easy

Fox Terrier (Smooth  & Wire)

Height:  15 in (39 cm)

Weight:  17.5 lb  (8 kg)

Origin:  Great Britain

Ease of Training:  Medium

German Hunting Terrier
(Jagdterrier)

Height:  13-16 in (33-40 cm) 

Weight:  18-22 lb (8-10 kg) 

Origin:  Germany

Ease of Training: Challenging

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Havanese

Height:  8-11 in  (20-28 cm)

Weight:  13 lb  (6 kg)

Origin:  Western Mediterranean

Training:  Easy

Italian Greyhound

Height:  13-15 in  (32-38 cm)

Weight:  11 lb  (5 kg)

Origin:  Italy

Ease of Training:  Easy

Jack Russell Terrier

Height:  10-12 in (25-30 cm) 

Weight:  11-13lb (5-6kg) 

Origin:  UK

Ease of Training:  Challenging

Japanese Chin

Height:  11 in  (28 cm)

Weight:  6.6 lb  (3 kg)

Origins:  Japan

Ease of Training:  Easy

Japanese Spitz

Height:  12-15 in  (30-38 cm)

Weight:  11 lb  (5 kg)

Origin:  Japan

Ease of Training:  Easy

Japanese Terrier

Height:  15-16 in  (38-42 cm)

Weight: 17-18 lb  (7.6-8 kg)

Origin:  Japan

Ease of Training:  Medium

Miniature Dog Breeds

Kyi Leo

Height:  9-11 in  (23-28 cm)

Weight:  9-13 lb  (4-6 kg)

Origin:  United States

Ease of Training:  Medium

Lakeland Terrier

Height:  14 in  (36 cm)

Weight:  Up to 17 lb  ( Up to 7.7 kg)

Origin:  Great Britain

Ease of Training:  Easy to Medium

Lancashire Heeler

Height:  10-12 in(25-31 cm)

Weight:  7-13 lb  (3-6 kg)

Origin: Great Britain

Ease of Training:  Challenging

Lhasa Apso

Height:  Approx. 10 in ( 25 cm)

Weight:  Approx. 13-22 lb (6-10 kg)

Origin:  Tibet

Ease of Training: Medium

Löwchen 
(aka. Petit chien lion,
Little Lion Dog)

Height:  12.5 in  (32 cm)

Weight:  11 lb  (5 kg)

Origin:  France

Ease of Training:  Easy to Medium

Lundehund (Norwegian)

Height:  12.5 - 15 in (32-38 cm)

Weight: 13.2-17.6 lb ( 6-8 kg)

Origin:  Norway

Ease of Training:  Easy to Medium

Maltese

Height:  8-10 in  (20-25 cm)

Weight:  4-6.6 lb  (2-3 kg)

Origin:  Italy

Ease of Training:  Medium

Manchester Terrier (Toy)
English Toy Terrier
Blue and Tan Toy Terrier

Height:  15-16 in (38-41 cm)

Weight:  11-22 lb  (5-10 kg)

Origin:  Great Britain

Ease of Training:  Easy to Medium

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Miniature Pinscher

Height:  10-12 in  (25-30 cm)

Weight:  8.8 lb (4 kg)

Origin:  Germany

Ease of Training:  Easy to Medium

Miniature Poodle

Miniature Schnauzer

Height:  12-14 in  (30-36 cm)

Weight: 13-15 lb  6-8 kg)

Origin:  Germany

Ease of Training:  Easy to Medium

Norfolk Terrier

Height:  9-10in (22-25 cm) 

Weight:  11-13 lb ( 5-6 kg)

Origin:  UK

Ease of Training:  Average

Norwich Terrier

Height:  10 in (25-26 cm)

Weight:  10-12lb (5-6kg) 

Origin:  UK

Ease of Training:  Average

Papillon
(aka. Continental Toy Spaniel)

Height: 8-11 in (20-28 cm)

Weight: 9-10 lb (4-6 kg)

Origins: France

    Ease of Training:  Easy

Parson Russell Terrier

Height:  13-14 in (33-36 cm) 

Weight:  13-18 lb (6-8 kg) 

Origin:  UK

Ease of Training: Challenging

Pekingese

Height: 6-9 in (15-23 cm)

Weight:  7-12 lb. (3-5.5kg)

Origins: China

Ease of Training: Challenging

Phalène
Same as Papillon except for ears

Height:  8-11.5 in  (20-29 cm)

Weight:  8.8-10 lb  (4-4.5 kg)

Origin:  France/Belgium

Ease of Training:  Easy

Pomeranian

Height: 9-11 in (22-28 cm)

Weight:4-6 lb ( 2-2.5 kg)

Origins: Germany

Ease of Training: Easy

Portuguese Podengo

Height: 8-12 in (20-31 cm)

Weight: 9-13 lb (4-6 kg)

Origins: Portugal

Ease of Training: Medium

Pražský Krysařík
(AKA (Prague Ratter)

Height:  6-9 in (16-22 cm)

Weight: 2-6 lb (1-3 kg)

Origins: Czech Republic

Ease of Training:  Medium

Pug

Height: 10-12 in (25-30 cm)

Weight: 14-18lb (6.3-8 kg)

Origins: China

Ease of Training: Easy

Rat Terrier

Height: 8-14 in (20-36 cm) smaller
             14-22 in (36-56 cm) Standard

Weight: 7-9 lb (3-4 kg)
              11-35 lb (5-16 kg)

Origins: U.S.A.

Ease of Training: Easy to Medium

Russian Toy (A.K.A. Russkiy Toy)

Height: 8-11 in (20-28 cm)

Weight: Up to 7 lb (Up to 3 kg)

Origins: Russia

Ease of Training: Medium

Schipperke

Height:  9-13 in (22-33 cm

Weight:  7-18 lb (3-8 kg)

Origins: Belgium

Ease of Training: Medium

Scottish Terrier

Height:  10-11 in (25-28 cm) 

Weight: 20-24 lb (9-11 kg) 

Origin:  UK (Scotland)

Ease of Training:  Challenging

Sealyham Terrier

Height:  10-12 in (25-30 cm) 

Weight:  18-20 lb (8-9 kg) 

Origin:  UK

Ease of Training:  Challenging

Shetland Sheepdog

Height:  12-15 in (35-37 cm)

Weight:  13-15 lb (6-7 kg)

Origins:  Scotland

Ease of Training: Easy

Shiba Inu

Height: 14-16 in (35-40 cm)

Weight: 18-22 lb (8-10kg)

Origins: Japan

Ease of Training: Challenging

Shih Tzu

Height: 10-11 in  (25-27 cm)

Weight: 9-16 lb (4-7.5 kg)

Origins: China

Ease of Training: Medium

Silky Terrier
(AKA Australian Silky Terrier)

Height:  Up to 9 in (Up to 23 cm) 

Weight:  Up to 9 lb (Up to 4 kg)

Origin:  Australia

Ease of Training:Challenging:

Skye Terrier

Height: 9-10 in (23-25 cm)

Weight:  19-23 lb (8.5-10.5 kg)

Origins: UK (Great Britain)

Ease of Training: Challenging

Swedish Vallhund

Height: 12-14 in  (31-35 cm)

Weight: 25-35 lb (12-16 cm)

Origins:  Sweden

Ease of Training: Medium

Tibetan Spaniel

Height: 10 in (25 cm)

Weight: 9-13 lb (4-7 kg)

Origins: Tibet or China

Ease of Training: Challenging

Tibetan Terrier

Height: 14-16 in (35-41 cm)

Weight: 17-31 lb (8-14kg)

Origins: Tibet

Ease of Training: Medium

Toy Fox Terrier

Height: 9-12 in (23-30 cm)

Weight: 3.5-7 lb   (2-3 kg)

Origins: U.S.A.

Ease of Training: Medium

Toy Mexican Hairless

Height: 11-12 in (28-30 cm)

Weight: 9-18 lb (4-8 kg)

Origins:  Mexico

Ease of Training:  Challenging

Toy Poodle

Height: 10-11 in (25-28 cm)

Weight: 6-9 lb (2.5-4 kg)

Origins:  France

Ease of Training:  Easy

Tsvetnaya Bolonka

Height: 7-10 in (17-25 cm)

Weight: Not Specified

Origins: Russia

Ease of Training: Average

Volpino
(AKA Cane de Quirinale

Height: 11-12 in (27-30 cm)

Weight: 9-11 lb (4-5 kg)

Origins: Italy

Ease of Training: Easy

Welsh Terrier

Height:  Up to 15 in (Up to 39 cm) 

Weight:  20-22 lb (9-10 kg) 

Origin:  UK (Wales)

Ease of Training:  Medium

West Highland White Terrier

Height:  10-11 in (25-28 cm) 

Weight:  15-22 lb (7-10 kg)

Origins:  UK

Ease of Training: Medium

Yorkshire Terrier

Height:  8-9 in (20-23 cm) 

Weight:  7 lb  (Up to 3 kg) 

Origins:  UK

Ease of Training: Medium

We hope you enjoy our guide to miniature dog breeds!

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Dog of the Month!

Sonny the 10 week old Shar Pei from Swansea, Wales, UK is the winner of our September photo competition with a 'Puppy Love' theme! Thank you to Tina his mum for sending in this great photo!  Sonny certainly is the cutest little pup with his wrinkles!

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