Exploring the Best Small Dog Breeds for Families

There’s nothing more important than family, but is any family really complete without a household pet or two? If you’re considering adding a canine companion to your family, the good news is that you’ve come to the right place, especially if small dog breeds are your thing.

In this guide, we take you through the best small dog breeds for families. Read on to learn more.

Best Small Dog Breeds for Families: Factors to Consider

When looking for the best small dog breed for your family, there are a handful of factors you need to consider. These factors include:

• Temperament: Look for breeds that are affectionate, loyal, and good with children of all ages.
• Care Needs: Care needs can become complicated and potentially costly for small dog breeds. Keep an eye out for dental issues and breathing difficulties.
• Activity Level: Low energy tends to be the best for older families, whereas high energy is suitable for children and younger families.
• Size: Small for you might not be small for someone else; the best small dog breeds tend to stand under 10 inches at the shoulder and weigh 5 to 15 pounds.

Keep these factors in mind, and choose the breeds that check the most boxes for your family.

The Best Small Dog Breeds for Families

There are several small dog breeds who are great for families. While this may be the case, sometimes this can make it harder to narrow your options down. The good news? We did the hard part for you. Explore the best dog breeds for families below.

Teacup Poodle

The poodle is one of the best dog breeds in the world. However, they’re a little too big for some families and homes. This is where the teacup poodle comes into play.

The teacup poodle retains the temperament of the typical poodle, including their loyalty, friendly nature, and trainability, but comes in a much smaller, more manageable package. Most teacup poodles are a few inches tall and only weigh a few pounds.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Are you looking for a lapdog? Or an emotional support animal? In both cases, the cavalier King Charles spaniel is an excellent choice. The cavalier King Charles spaniel is small, gets along well with children of all ages, and doesn’t require too much care.

Sure, they’re not as trainable as a poodle, but they tend to be just as, if not more, lovable.

Pug

Does your family live in a small apartment or home? And are you lacking in the energy department? Then let us introduce you to our little friend (and your likely perfect match): the pug.

While you need to keep an eye on their breathing due to their short snouts, these dogs don’t have a ton of energy and are easy to care for. Ultimately, pugs are perfect loaf around-the-house buddies. Of course, they’re also one of the smallest breeds around.

Yorkshire Terrier

If your family is looking for a little more of a challenge, and you want a pint-sized companion that’s energetic and lovable, look no further than the Yorkshire terrier. They’re small enough to comfortably sit on your lap but are also energetic enough to join you on an easy hike. Plus, they’re brave, playful, and loyal.

That said, Yorkshire terriers aren’t the best fit if you have small children. They may be a bit snippy and stubborn, so keep this in mind.

Jack Russell Terrier

Last but not least, we have the Jack Russell terrier. These dogs are larger and more active than the others, but they offer a good compromise for active families.

Therefore, if your family loves to hike, camp, or go on long walks, the Jack Russell terrier is the perfect canine companion for your needs. That said, make sure you have enough time and energy to train this rowdy pup.

Find the Best Small Dog Breeds for Families Today

Knowing what the best small dog breeds for families are is a good place to start, sure, but finding one to welcome into your home is another story. Thankfully, you can usually find breeders in your area who have puppies available; just consider your budget because puppies tend to be expensive and require more training.

On the other hand, adoption is also an option. Older dogs may have some training already, and they may be used to people and more mellow. Whether you want to adopt a teacup poodle puppy or any other dog breed that we’ve covered, resources like Dog Academy can always help.