Shih Tzu – weight 4-7.2 kg
The Chinese name "Shih Tzu" translated into Russian means "lion cub".
The long, silky hair around the Shih Tzu's head truly resembles a lion's mane. Shih Tzus are one of the oldest breeds in the world, with a history dating back to 8000 BC.
A Shih Tzu can be a wonderful companion for a child who understands that a dog is not a living toy. These furry babies are very gentle, sociable, temperamental, smart and not at all aggressive.
Papillon – 3.6-4.5 kg
Small, friendly and affectionate dog. The name "papillon" means "butterfly". The breed received this name in honor of its funny ears covered with thick hair, reminiscent of butterfly wings.
Papillons are very temperamental, affectionate and clean dogs that need daily walks. Daily brushing is important to maintain the beauty of your animal's long, silky coat.
Bichon Frize – 3-5 kg
A small breed developed in France. The name “bichon frize” means “curly lap dog”.
Bichon Frizes are incredibly fun, friendly, playful, and intelligent. They have a compact body with a dense coat. This dog can easily be confused with a white poodle.
A cheerful temperament is a distinctive quality of the breed. In addition, they are very patient and friendly with children and other pets in the family.
Boston Terrier
The Boston Terrier has a square appearance and is a small breed of dog. They have a well-muscled body, although it is small in size. They have a square head, a wide chest and a short tail. This dog weighs only 4.5 to 11 kg.
It is very important to start socializing Boston Terrier puppies at an early age. They are sensitive to the tone of their owner's voice and learn tricks easily. Boston Terriers can be an ideal pet as they are very playful and lovable. However, since these dogs have very short hair, it is best to keep them indoors as extreme weather conditions can be harmful to them.
Japanese Chin – 2-4 kg
In Japanese, "hin" means "jewel". It is not difficult to guess that the dogs that were given this name were companions of high-ranking persons. However, the exact homeland of the Japanese Chin is unknown. It may have entered Japanese territory from China.
This long-haired, sociable and devoted little thing is an excellent dog for a city apartment. Chins are moderately active indoors and will do well without a daily walk, especially if it is cold or hot outside.
Their coat requires regular grooming with a brush and comb (twice a week).
The breed is very friendly towards other pets, but can be jealous of children. The ideal option is if the puppy and child grow up together.
Papillon
Papillons have been known since the 16th century. The name of the tiny breed means “butterfly” in French, which is quite consistent with the appearance of the doggies. They have relatively large ears, which are covered with long hair and resemble the wings of this insect.
The Papillon's fluffy coat is snow-white with black or red markings. The baby's coat needs frequent combing and regular washing.
These representatives of the list of the smallest dog breeds grow up to 20–28 cm and weigh 3.6–4.5 kg.
Papillons are endowed with an energetic, cheerful disposition. They do not tolerate loneliness well and do not like strangers.
The price of a small Papillon is 12,000–80,000 rubles.
Russian Toy – 2-3 kg
One of the most unpretentious of all miniature dog breeds. Toys are undemanding when it comes to food, get along well with other animals, and do not need long walks.
There are two varieties of Russian Toy: one is smooth-haired, and the other is long-haired. Moreover, the long-haired Toy's ears are covered with long and soft hair, hanging down like a fringe.
Despite its fragile physique, the Russian Toy will fearlessly rush into an attack even on a large dog if it considers its owner to be in danger.
Chihuahua
Mexico is considered the homeland of these small dogs. Presumably, miniature dogs lived in the wild and, after domestication, played an important role in the development of other dwarf breeds.
Chihuahuas have every right to be called the smallest dogs. The weight of miniature dogs does not exceed 3 kg, and their height is 15–23 cm.
Curious and sociable creatures require careful care and are not suitable for families with small children. Despite their miniature size, most Chihuahuas show aggression towards strangers and have the habits of real watchdogs.
The cost of a purebred small puppy is 13,000–70,000 rubles.
Pomeranian Spitz – 1.9-3.5 kg
This is one of the smallest dogs in the world. Photos of the breed look more like a beautiful toy, but they are very active, intelligent, social and playful dogs.
Pomeranians have long, beautiful fur that makes them look like cheerful balls of fluff.
This is not the best dog for small children because even the largest of the breed is not big enough to handle rough play.
Pomeranians are one of the most capricious breeds to keep. Daily brushing and combing of teeth is a necessity to maintain the beauty of your dog's appearance.
Maltese – 1.8-3.2 kg
This tiny dog with long snow-white fur is native to the Mediterranean island of Malta.
Maltese dogs don't shed much and are therefore a good choice for people with dog allergies.
Despite their small size, Maltese dogs are very active and stubborn creatures, and may not be suitable for those who have not dealt with dogs before. Training them adequately requires patience and persistence.
Cheerful Tom Tam
The weight of the next pet barely exceeds 100 g - this is 3 times less than the weight of a guinea pig. The length of the little fluffy ball is 12 cm. A tiny Chihuahua named Tom Tam was born into a family from West Dunbattenshire, Susan and Archie Thomson. The tiny baby himself can easily fit in a teacup and can barely reach his mother when she gets up.
Tom Tam was an unexpected gift for the Thompson family
Tom Tam's owners say they've had six litters of Chihuahuas in their years of dog breeding, but they've never seen puppies this small. Considering its small size, Tom Tam is well developed in proportion.
Toy Fox Terrier – 1.5-3.5 kg
The long-eared, athletic-looking dogs with short, shiny coats were bred from the small, smooth fox terriers. A fearless, active and easily trained puppy, despite its modest height and weight, can “sit on the neck” of its owner. So if you decide to get a toy fox terrier, you should show him from a young age who’s boss.
During the molting period, these babies lose a surprising amount of fur. Therefore, they are unlikely to be suitable for allergy sufferers. But caring for the coat is not difficult, and Toy Fox Terriers do not bark too loudly. This makes them excellent companions for older people.
Yorkshire Terrier – 1.3-3.2 kg
A popular miniature breed that is well known for its long, silky hair. Yorkies have a small head, black eyes and pointed, erect ears.
The temperament of these dogs depends on the training and socialization they receive as puppies. Well trained dogs will be calm and brave. They are not suitable for outdoor activities because they cannot withstand conditions that are too cold or too warm.
Yorkshire Terriers are good watchdogs. They will bark at anything they consider strange or threatening to their owners.
Second place – Brussels Griffon
This breed is very rare, so few people know about it. The Brussels Griffon is a very sweet and kind dog, he is affectionate to absolutely everyone who pays attention to him. However, dogs of this breed must be trained from puppyhood; they are very smart and easy to train. Incredibly, this breed was bred to catch rats, and now it is a very expensive and rare dog. The height of animals of this breed can reach 22 cm and weight 2.5 kg.
Read more about the Brussels Griffon breed
Chihuahua – 0.9-2.7 kg
Here is the answer to the question of what breed of dogs is the smallest. With a maximum weight of 2.7 kg, Chihuahuas are by far the smallest dogs in the world. Photos of these tiny beauties are even in the Guinness Book of Records.
- The size of the dog named Millie, which belongs to a resident of Puerto Rico, Vanessa Semler, is only 9.65 cm at the withers, and weighs 400 grams. She is the smallest of all dogs on Earth.
- And the record holder in the “shortest dog” category is a chihuahua named Brandy, whose length is 15 centimeters.
The Chihuahua breed originates from Mexico. They are named after the state of Chihuahua, where dog breeders found amazingly miniature dogs. These dogs have a small round head, straight ears and large wet eyes that seem to be about to pop out of their sockets. There are both short-haired and long-haired Chihuahuas in the world.
As with any breed, early socialization and training are essential for Chihuahuas. They are very smart and curious, and learn quickly. These animals are devoted to their family, although they tend to become especially attached to one person. Chihuahuas also love to follow their owners wherever they go.
Despite their tiny size, they are very good watchdogs; they will always bark a warning if someone approaches the front door. In general, Chihuahuas love and know how to bark. They will bark at strangers, strange noises, and other dogs. Chihuahuas should not be left unattended outdoors as they may get into fights with larger animals.
9Bishom Frize
The best choice for people with a tendency to allergies Average price: 60,000 rubles.
Rating (2019): 4.2 Bichon Frize dogs will be an excellent friend for their owners and are especially suitable for families with children. These little dogs are very active, energetic, playful, and extremely friendly and unobtrusive. They are very trainable. The pet easily makes contact with strangers, so it will become not a guard, but a companion. Allergy sufferers should pay special attention to this dog, because... The peculiarity of representatives of this breed is that their fur does not cause allergic reactions. Thanks to the listed qualities, this breed is included in our top of the smallest in the world. The size of an adult varies from 23 to 30 cm at the withers. The average price is 60 thousand rubles, depending on the class of the animal.
