Why small dogs are great pets? They are so adorable, charming, playful, easy to care and can take anywhere you ago. The small dogs can be your great companion. They can add lots of fun and happiness to your life. The followings are 10 smallest dog breeds in the world.
1. Chihuahua
- Height: 5 – 8 inches
- Weight: Not exceeding 6 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 14 – 16 years
The Chihuahua is a tiny dog with a huge personality. Weighing no more than 6 pounds. The rounded “apple” head is a breed hallmark. The erect ears and full, luminous eyes are acutely expressive. Coats come in many colors and patterns, and can be long or short. Chihuahuas possess loyalty, charm, and big-dog attitude. Compact and confident, Chihuahuas are ideal city pets. They are too small for roughhousing with kids, and special care must be taken in cold weather, but Chihuahuas are adaptable’¿as long as they get lots of quality time in their preferred lap.
2. Toy Poodle
- Height: No more than 10 inches
- Weight: 4 – 6 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 10 – 18 years
Despite his diminutive size, the Toy Poodle stands proudly among dogdom¿s true aristocrats. Beneath the curly, low-allergen coat is an elegant athlete and companion for all reasons and seasons.
3. Maltese
- Height: 7 – 9 inches
- Weight: Under 7 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 12 – 15 years
Famous for their show-stopping, floor-length coat, Maltese are playful, charming, and adaptable toy companions. Maltese are affectionate toy dogs weighing less than seven pounds, covered by a long, straight, silky coat. Beneath the all-white mantle is a compact body moving with a smooth and effortless gait. The overall picture depicts free-flowing elegance and balance. The irresistible Maltese face’ with its big, dark eyes and black gumdrop nose’ can conquer the most jaded sensibility.
4. Pomeranian
- Height: 6 – 7 inches
- Weight: 3 – 7 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 12 – 16 years
The glorious coat, smiling, foxy face, and vivacious personality have helped make the Pom one of the world’s most popular toy breeds. The Pomeranian combines a tiny body (no more than seven pounds) and a commanding big-dog demeanor. The abundant double coat, with its frill extending over the chest and shoulders, comes in almost two dozen colors, and various patterns and markings, but is most commonly seen in orange or red.
5. Toy Fox Terrier
- Height: 8.5 – 11.5 inches
- Weight: 4 – 9 lbs
- Life Expectancy: 13 – 15 years
Top with large, erect ears and dark eyes that sparkle with eager intelligence. This is the Toy Fox Terrier, a lithe but sturdy little comedian standing under a foot tall but packed with enough charisma for a whole kennel of ordinary dogs. The breed’s admirers like to say, ‘TFTs are truly a toy and a terrier.
6. Yorkshire Terrier
- Height: 7 – 8 inches
- Weight: 7 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 11 – 15 years
The Yorkshire Terrier is a compact, toy-size terrier of no more than seven pounds whose crowning glory is a floor-length, silky coat of steel blue and a rich golden tan. Don’t let the Yorkie’s daintiness fool you. Tenacious, feisty, brave, and sometimes bossy, the Yorkie exhibits all the traits of a true terrier.
7. Papillon
- Height: 8 – 11 inches
- Weight: 5 – 10 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 14 – 16 years
The quick, curious Papillon is a toy dog of singular beauty and upbeat athleticism. Despite his refined appearance, the Pap is truly a ‘doggy dog’ blessed with a hardy constitution. Papillon fanciers describe their breed as happy, alert, and friendly. A tiny dog, measuring 8 to 11 inches at the shoulder, you can still spot a Papillon a block away thanks to the large, wing-shaped ears that give the breed its name.
8. Affenpinscher
- Height: 9 – 11.5 inches
- Weight: 7 – 10 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 12- 15 years
Loyal, curious, and famously amusing, this almost-human toy dog is fearless out of all proportion to his size. As with all great comedians, it’s the Affenpinscher’s apparent seriousness of purpose that makes his antics all the more amusing.
9. Brussels Griffon
- Height: 7 – 10 inches
- Weight: 8 – 10 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 12 – 15 years
Tipping the scales at no more than 12 pounds, this humanlike toy of complex character has enough personality for 10 ordinary dogs. A sensitive companion for discerning grownups, the Brussels Griffon is smart, devoted, and comically self-important.
10. Miniature Pinscher
- Height: 10 – 12.5 inches
- Weight: 8 – 10 pounds
- Life Expectancy: 12 – 16 years
Min Pins are sturdy, compact dogs standing no more than 12.5 inches at the shoulder. The smooth, shiny coat comes in two shades of solid red, or chocolate-and-rust or black-and-rust. The dark, slightly oval eyes and high-set ears help bring out a self-possessed, ‘big dog’ personality. A distinguishing characteristic is the Min Pin’s high-stepping ‘hackney’ gait, reminiscent of a hackney horse at the trot.
