40 Smallest And Easiest Dog Breeds To Look After

They say good things come in small packages — and that’s certainly true of small dogs! Because while tiny pooches will only take up a little bit of space in your home, they’ll more than make up for it with their outsized personalities. But there are drawbacks, too. Some of them need lots of grooming, for example, and some will need plenty of exercise. So if you’re looking for the smallest, easiest dog to handle, you’ve come to the right place.


To compile our ranking, we consulted the all-important stats put together by the American Kennel Club. We looked at each breed’s trainability and adaptability, how affectionate they are with family, how good they are with children, and how easily they get along with other dogs. And these gave us an “Easy Score” out of five for each dog. You’re welcome!

40. Beagle

Height:

13 inches & under (variety one)

13-15 inches (variety two)

Weight:

under 20 pounds (13 inches and under)

20-30 pounds (13-15 inches)

Life Expectancy: 10-15 years

Trainability: 3

Adaptability: 4

Affectionate with family: 3

Good with young children: 5

Good with other dogs: 5

Easy Score: 4

39. Japanese Chin

Height: 8-11 inches

Weight: 7-11 pounds

Life Expectancy: 10-12 years

Trainability: 3

Adaptability: 4

Affectionate with family: 5

Good with young children: 3

Good with other dogs: 5

Easy Score: 4

38. Norfolk Terrier

Height: 9-10 inches

Weight: 11-12 pounds

Life Expectancy: 12-16 years

Trainability: 3

Adaptability: 4

Affectionate with family: 5

Good with young children: 5

Good with other dogs: 3

Easy Score: 4

37. Norwich Terrier

Height: 10 inches

Weight: 12 pounds

Life Expectancy: 12-15 years

Trainability: 3

Adaptability: 4

Affectionate with family: 5

Good with young children: 5

Good with other dogs: 3

Easy Score: 4