Content
- 1. Dwarf Poodle
- 2. Italian Greyhound or Little Italian Lebrel
- 3. German Dwarf Spitz
- 4. Peruvian naked dog
- 5. Dwarf or small Portuguese Podengo
- 6. Welsh Corgi Cardigan and Pembroke
- 7. Miniature Schnauzer
- 8. Pug
- 9. Different types of bichon
- 10. Shiba Inu
- 11. Puggle
- 12. Maltipoo
- 13. Miniature Pinscher
- Other breeds of dwarf dogs
Although dwarf dogs are often confused with toy dogs, it is important to emphasize that we are dealing with different sizes. Thus, different international canine organizations determine that the following sizes exist when classifying a breed: toy or miniature, dwarf or small, medium or standard, large and giant.
if you are looking dwarf dog breeds to adopt the one that best fits your lifestyle, in this PeritoAnimal article we show all the known dogs and the crossbreds that are part of this group.
1. Dwarf Poodle
There are four types of poodle: the toy, the dwarf, the medium and the large. Focusing on the one that concerns us here, the dwarf poodle, we can say that it is a dwarf dog breed with a height between 28 and 35 cm to the withers and a weight ranging from 4 to 7 kg. In general, its appearance is the same as that of the medium sized poodle, but with a smaller size. In this way, it is a very proportional dog, with curly fur and woolly texture.
As a curious fact, the dwarf poodle is the longest-lived poodle variety, as it can perfectly reach 20 years of life if given.
2. Italian Greyhound or Little Italian Lebrel
The Italian greyhound is one of the smallest types of greyhound that exists and therefore another of the small dog breeds most popular there are. Its weight varies between 4 and 5 kg and its height at the withers varies from 32 to 38 cm. Like all greyhounds, the Italian stands out for being a stylish, fine and elegant dog. Likewise, it is a dog with a calm, calm and very sensitive personality, although it requires daily exercise to keep itself properly stimulated.
3. German Dwarf Spitz
Be careful not to confuse the German dwarf spitz with the pomeranian lulu (toy or miniature German spitz). Within the German spitz, the International Cynological Federation (FCI) lists five varieties which are mainly differentiated by their size. Thus, we find the wolf spitz, the large spitz, the medium spitz, the small spitz and the toy spitz known as the pomeranian lulu.
Thus, the dwarf or small German spitz, this one considered to be a dwarf dog breed, measures about 27 cm at the withers, being one of the smallest dwarf dogs, and weighs about 4-5 kg.
4. Peruvian naked dog
As with other small dog breeds already mentioned, we find the Peruvian naked dog in three different sizes: large, medium and small or dwarf. The ideal size for the latter case is 25-40 cm tall at the withers and 4 to 8 kg of maximum weight.
The most notable feature of this breed of dwarf dog is the absence of fur, as its name suggests, making it one of the most suitable dogs for allergy sufferers. Still, the fact that you have no hair does not mean that you do not need care, as your skin, exposed at all times to the sun's rays and the cold, must be taken care of to avoid burns, dryness, wounds, etc. As for your personality, it stands out for being docile, calm and very protective.
You might be interested in this list of over 20 rare dog breeds.
5. Dwarf or small Portuguese Podengo
Although we are used to seeing the Portuguese Podengo of medium or large size, the truth is that there is also a smaller version, the small Portuguese podengo. This type of Podengo has a height at the withers of 20-30 cm and a weight of 4-6 kg. Likewise, there are two different coats in this breed, and the small size can have either of them: long coat or short coat. The short coat is smooth, while the long coat is coarser.
As we see, this is another breed of dwarf dog that doesn't grow very much, as it does not exceed 30 cm in height and its weight rarely reaches 6 kg. He has a strong personality, is energetic and has a protective instinct. Being such an active dog, he needs to do a lot of exercise daily, including times to run, but also mind-stimulating activities like tracking exercises.
6. Welsh Corgi Cardigan and Pembroke
Both breeds are considered small or dwarf because their height at the withers does not exceed 30 cm. As for weight, despite his short stature, he is usually around 10 kg. That's because these dogs are longer than tall dogs, with a more robust and rustic morphology and a heavier bone density.
They are active and intelligent dogs, but tend not to get along very well with other dogs and strangers if they are not properly socialized. It is also important to note that due to their physical characteristics, these puppies cannot perform all types of exercises. For example, very steep jumps or very complex agility circuits should be avoided in these two small dog breeds.
7. Miniature Schnauzer
despite its name, it's not a toy dog, as this type of schnauzer measures from 30 to 35 cm to the withers and weighs from 4 to 8 kg. It is the only variety in which the pure white color is accepted, which is why it is so common to find them in this color.
Without a doubt, this is one of the most popular white and furry dwarf dog breeds, both for its tender appearance and for its virtually no shed fur. In addition, its coat is characterized by being hard and dense, with a very rough texture. As for temperament, he is a very curious, intelligent, loyal and active dog, but also very dependent, as it does not tolerate loneliness well. In fact, he tends to develop separation anxiety, which can be identified by noticing destructive behavior when alone, excessive barking, crying, etc.
8. Pug
One of the most popular and well-known dwarf dog breeds is the pug, famous for having appeared in several Hollywood movies. Its compact, rounded and short body are the main physical traits that represent this breed. Measures between 25 and 28 cm to the withers and weighs between 6 and 8 kg. Precisely because of these physical characteristics, it is essential to control this dog's diet very well, since he tends to develop excess weight or obesity very easily, something totally counterproductive for his health.
This dog is very sociable, affectionate, cheerful, playful and fun, but he needs to be accompanied at all times. Therefore, it is not a suitable dog for people who spend many hours away from home. However, is ideal for families with children, because they like to spend hours and hours playing.
9. Different types of bichon
Both the Maltese bichon, the bichon habanero and the bichon frize are considered dwarf dogs. The bichon bolognese, on the other hand, tends to be smaller and therefore is more common to find it classified as a toy-type dog. Returning to the other three breeds, we find the following sizes:
- Maltese Bichon: 20-25 cm tall at the withers and 3-4 kg in weight.
- Hawaiian Bichon: 21-29 cm tall at the withers and 4-5 kg in weight.
- Bichon Frise: 25-29 cm tall at the withers and 5 kg in weight.
We can find these three small dog breeds in white color, so they are on the list of most popular white dwarf and furry dogs in the world, as their fur is long, woolly and soft. all three dogs are active, happy and very playful. They need to be properly socialized to learn to relate to other dogs, animals and people, otherwise they tend to be suspicious and even aggressive. It is also important to ensure that they exercise daily to channel their accumulated energy.
10. Shiba Inu
If you are looking for dwarf dog breeds that also look really adorable, the shiba inu can become your ideal companion. it measures between 36.5 and 39.5 cm to the withers and weighs around 10 kg, being able to exceed them or not reach them. Despite its small size, the shiba inu can weigh up to 13 kg due to its bone density, as its bones are much stronger and heavier than those of other breeds.
this dog is pretty independent, loyal, protective, affectionate, easygoing and playful. It is perfect both for families with older children (with babies is not recommended) and for people who live alone and need to be away for a few hours, as it is a dog that tolerates loneliness perfectly. Of course, it is always important to emphasize that it is not appropriate to leave an animal alone for more than 8 hours a day. We emphasize that the shiba inu is good for older children, but not for babies because of their personality, as they may be bothered by the little one.
11. Puggle
As with previous breeds of dwarf dogs, crosses between them will also result in a small dog breed. The puggle, for example, is a dog born from a mix between a pug and a beagle, which is generally a pug-like size.
In general, it varies from 20-38 cm in height at the withers and weighs from 6.5 to 14 kg. Like the pug, the puggle tends to be rounded, robust and rustic.
12. Maltipoo
Of cross between a toy poodle and a maltese bichon Maltipoo is born, one of the loveliest crossbred dwarf puppies in the canine world. Due to the fact that one of your parents is not a dwarf but a toy, it is possible that a maltipoo toy is born, so here we will focus on the small version. The dwarf maltipoo (not the toy) usually weighs between 4 and 7 kg and has a smooth or wavy coat, dense and similar in length to that of the Maltese.
This dog stands out for being intelligent, like the poodle, active, cheerful and playful. It is also common for the bichon to inherit its low tolerance for loneliness, a factor to be taken into account when adopting it.
13. Miniature Pinscher
Like the schnauzer, despite its name, the miniature pinscher is considered a dwarf dog, not a toy dog. Measures from 25 to 30 cm to the withers and weighs from 4 to 6 kg. Physically it is very similar to the Doberman, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the "miniature Doberman", however, as a curious fact, the mini pinscher is much older than the Doberman. In fact, it's the smaller version of the German pinscher.
this is a dog loving with his family, but suspicious of strangers, it is for this reason that proper socialization is essential. Likewise, he is curious, active and with a strong personality.
Other breeds of dwarf dogs
The breeds mentioned above are not the only ones of dwarf dogs. We list below some others, both pure breeds and breeds that emerged from different mixes of dog breeds.
- border terrier
- chinese crested dog
- Brussels Griffon
- belgian griffon
- Shih-poo
- bullhuahua
- cavapoo
- Cavachon
- Yorkie poo
- Morkie
- cockapoo
- Cavalier King Charles spaniel
- Dandie dinmont terrier
Dogs like the chihuahua, yorkshire terrier or the prague ratter are not dwarfs, but of the toy type, it is for this reason that they are not part of this list.
If you want to read more articles similar to dwarf dog breeds, we recommend that you enter our The more... section.