9 of the Cutest Miniature Dog Breeds With a Big Appetite for Cuddles

Do n’t let these itsy-bitsy wonderment fool you — their bodies may be midget , but their heart are as vainglorious as they come .

allow ’s face it : sometimes little replicas of normal things are simply valued , and this is also true of miniature frump breed . They ’re just itty - bitty furballs of lap - lovin' goodness !

However , not all weensy doggos are related to their full - size lookalikes — they might be unlike breeds all in all , and not even from the same realm . For example , although both sighthounds , abellissimoItalian greyhound is n’t the miniature reading of a cosmopolitan greyhound .

black-and-tan miniature pinscher

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Jo Myers , DVM , of Salida , Colo. is a telehealth practitioner onVetster . She notes that it ’s essential for potential preferred parents of mini dog stock to carefullyresearch their wellness . " A person who has fallen in love life with a miniature dog want to also be inclined to allot with the associated wellness trouble that hail along with these stock , " she says . " An inauspicious result of our selective breeding over the 100 is that we ’ve also unintentionally increase the relative incidence of many case of sickness . "

Miniature dogs frequently haveeye conditions , dental issues(which if unchecked , lead to more serious wellness problem ) , and heritable diseases specific to the stock . Petite barker are also some of thelongest - living dog breeds , so it might also be helpful toconsult a veterinarianto memorize more about a furred friend that ’s get your fancy . Because one look at the diverse selection below of big - hearted , pint - sized puppy , and they ’ll be hard to resist !

Miniature Pinscher

Aminiature pinscherdog is just a foot tall , but has an expansive personality ! Expect about 10 pound sterling of spunky love from this petty guy , who ’s 110 per centum dedicated to his hooman and not hesitating to broadcast a rousingbarkalarm if anything is amiss . A true original , a ' min peg ' is n’t aDoberman pinscher’smini - me , though . Both aredogs with German heritage , but are n’t related .

Miniature Schnauzer

Evenexperienced wiener ownersare wow by the rattling natural endowment ofminiature schnauzer . Off - the - chartsintelligence , an avidness to ascertain new trick , and mad agility skill are standard features of this bearded 11–20 pound sign pooch . Miniature schnauzer wiener are also huge lovebugs , so do n’t require to nap or even shower in public security , as they do n’t understand personal space .

Chihuahua

Un poquitoChihuahua(so small — maybe 6 pounds and 6 inch tall overall , and that ’s generous ) is one of the good miniature Canis familiaris ever . Fiercely loyaland full of pluck , she might be the most mini on this list , but transcends her size with a massive personality and ample amounts of adoration for you . A ' ch’i ' commands the spotlight , sopositive support trainingis totally her press .

Miniature Poodle

The continentalminiature poodlehails from both Germany and France . Is she brilliant?Ja!Is she sweet?Oui!This devoted middle child stand about 10–15 column inch high , whereasstandard poodlesare larger andtoy poodlesare smaller . A attempt - after miniaturedog that does n’t shed(much ! ) , she ’s quite contented in a home with grownup and older small fry where walks , games of fetch , and snuggles are frequent .

Miniature American Shepherd

Blink , and you ’ll think anAustralian shepherdjust whizzed by ! And with good reason , as theminiature American shepherddescends from the famed miniature Aussiecattle dogsof the Old West . Sliding into the upper range of miniature dog breeds at 20–40 lb , an periodic grass - sniffing , squirrel - chasing routine wo n’t be enough for this high - energy , lash - impertinent , citizenry - lovin' doggo . Have yourhikingboots ready and a fewgames , too .

Miniature Bull Terrier

Cheerful clown ? chink . Mischievous ? Check!Bull terriersused to descend in touchstone , miniature , and toy sizes , but the miniature lessen in popularity over time . stand about 14 inches tall , the thick , robust , and outspoken miniature bruiser terrier looks like a real punk but is in reality a fully grown softie . Because he ’s naturally rambunctious , he relies on you for earlysocializationandconsistent skill trainingto amp up his spell .

Italian Greyhound

She ’s an elegant Roman dish , whereas her distant relative thegreyhoundconsorted with queens and pharaohs of Egypt . The gentle , sensitiveItalian greyhoundis terrific forfirst - sentence favored ownersif they keep in mind she ’s not a fan of beinghome alone . ( We would n’t desire to be without her either ! ) While wee — about 7–14 Sudanese pound and 15 column inch high up — she ’s speedy , and care to stay fighting .

Japanese Chin

Just sign up anapartmentlease and eager for a cuddly canine companion ? AJapanese chinwill put bantam hand print all over your core . At about 11 inches tall and 11 pounds , he ’s the most miniature of thebrachycephalic dog breed , but low maintenance and quick for a car ride anytime ! Likes : chillin ' out with serene grownup favored parents , a movie , and plenty oftreats . Dislikes : jobs to do , a pot of exercise .

Papillon

Once known as a ' nanus spaniel ' ( averaging 5–10 pounds ) , thepapillonis the most miniature dog breed in the spaniel stock . Her silky - flaccid coating and wide-eyed , feathery ears ( papillonis French for ' butterfly ' ) convey a ' pamper me ' come hither , but she ’s as trumping and tumble as a pooch twice her size of it ! Full of feisty goodness and high intelligence service , a papillon will beat you at anypuzzle biz , but give other dogs and cats in the family a freebie .

How to Choose the Best Miniature Dog for You

If you want to get a puppy from a stock breeder , Myers rede finding one devoted to their particular type of frankfurter . " As a outcome , they ’ll be work conscientiously and ethically to produce puppies who are the best examples of this breed potential , " she says . This helps you avoidpuppy mills , scam , and other unsavory breeding operations .

She recommends these primal question to postulate a miniature weenie breeder :

" A breeder who prioritizeshealthy puppiesover everything else will choose which animals to cover based on their health and genetic science , as match to which ones are the most ' typey ' or popular based on superficial characteristics , " Myers says .

gray miniature schnauzer standing in grass