You’ve heard the rumors about small dogs—potty training nightmares, little dog syndrome—the works! So, you might be a little hesitant to own one. After all, are there any well-behaved smaller dogs out there?
Every dog has a different personality, so when it comes to specifics, it’s hard to tell how any dog will train (big or small). However, there are certain breed traits that can determine just how easy or difficult these dogs can be in different aspects.
Here are some of the small dog breeds that have a reputation for being well-behaved or easy to train, but remember that a lot of good dog behavior comes down to proper training.
The 12 Best-Behaved Small Dog Breeds
1. Basset Hound
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Basset Hounds are the cutest puppies of all—can we all agree? On top of their dopey, droopy sad looks, they are super compatible with a broad variety of lifestyles. These gentle dogs tend to be pretty laid back—calm, cool, and collected.
Your Basset Hound won’t hesitate to drag you around while they are hot on the scent trail. They love to explore new smells—from the neighborhood squirrels to all the dogs on your clothes you dare pet in their absence.
Basset Hounds are pretty slow in nature, but they have a heck of a sense of smell! These dogs will love to go on walks and scavenger hunts.
Basset Hounds are hound dogs—so they are adventurers by nature. If you live somewhere in the country, it isn’t unusual for your Basset to wander off if they get the opportunity. Once they catch wind of a scent, it’s on! So, it’s important that you have a fenced-in yard or area to contain them when you can’t be there to supervise them.
2. Bichon Frise
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The Bichon Frise is a popular dog because it has a great personality and is generally pretty easy to train. These dogs usually find a friend wherever they go and love to be the center of attention.
This is certainly a dog you pamper! They will enjoy trips to the groomer, dog park, and anywhere where they can entertain themselves or feel spoiled. These little dogs cheerfully approach life with a glass-half-full mentality.
The Bichon cares very much about what their owner thinks. Naturally, they love to go with the flow and don’t try to go much against the grain. Sometimes, certain Bichons have more boisterous personalities than others, but they are still pretty well-behaved as a whole.
However, Bichons are prone to separation anxiety, like many other small dog breeds are. So, it’s important to not leave them alone for too long, crate train them for when you do need to be gone for extended periods or have someone check in on them, and give them plenty of things to keep them busy during the day.
3. Bolognese
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The tiny Bolognese is a wonderful dog who loves people and other pets of all kinds. They are spunky little dogs that have curious minds and laidback spirits. They love going on adventures like car rides, to dog parks, and other public outings with their families.
These pups might be very friendly, but they are also quiet observers, not minding being a fly on the wall. They don’t need to be the direct center of attention and are quite content in a quiet home or low energy setting.
The Bolognese is also hypoallergenic, which means no shedding and sneezing in your home. They will need some basic brushing, but they are otherwise low maintenance in terms of care. Like many dogs, Bolognese are prone to separation anxiety. They love their time spent with their people and don’t care to be alone much.
4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
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The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a face as sweet as its demeanor. These pups are tiny little love bugs that want nothing more than to snuggle up on their human’s lap or be carried around like a baby.
Because these dogs are so gentle and affectionate, they want to spend time with their owners consistently. They don’t really have issues with destructiveness or other poor behaviors and are generally pretty relaxed in the household.
Many people love this breed because they are very patient and terrific with people and pets of all ages. However, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a hyper-dependent breed. They are often a dog who needs a constant companion or another, more independent dog to follow around.
5. Havanese
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The cheerful, bubbly little Havanese is truly a people-obsessed dog that will devote their lives to making owners happy. This breed was, quite literally, designed to be a companion animal. They are known for being extremely eager-to-please, making them pretty darn well-behaved!
The Havanese can come in a variety of colors, but they share the same long, silky coats that make them adorable. They don’t shed much, as they are hypoallergenic. They don’t bark as much as some small dogs, unless you get them excited or spooked.
Plus, they are gentle, docile, and friendly with just about everyone, making them perfect for any social life and for growing families with children of all ages. These dogs love being pampered and cared for, so they are ideal for folks who want to spoil their pooch.
However, this is a breed that wants to be with their people all the time! So, that means they might develop separation anxiety easily if they are left alone too often. They are much more suitable for families that can be home with them or take them on the go.
6. Lhasa Apso
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The funny little Lhasa Apso is a tiny little sausage with adorable proportions. They are known for being wonderful little pets for folks who love the company. These dogs tend to be very chipper, playful, and affectionate with their owners.
These dogs are incredibly intelligent. They will impress you with their ability to learn new information and perform a bounty of tricks.
As far as small dogs are concerned, these pups are pretty okay on their own. They don’t require constant supervision and they can chill at the house while you’re at work without much fuss.
The Lhasa Apso certainly comes with a downside—they are notoriously difficult to potty train. Because they tend to be a little more independent than some other small dogs, it can prove to be challenging for some folks. Crate training them can help with potty training since most dogs don’t like to use the bathroom where they also sleep.
7. Maltese
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The Maltese is a real purse dog—constantly wanting to be close to their people—and they love to be spoiled! These shadow dogs will follow you wherever you go, constantly glued to your hip. If you’re looking for a constant companion, they will never disappoint.
These little dogs work amazingly well for emotional support. If you or someone in your home wants a hypoallergenic, cheerful pup who can brighten the darkest days, the Maltese will certainly be a fit for the job.
These lively little dogs will certainly keep you on your toes. They will love morning walks, car rides, and dog park adventures. So, prepare for a best friend that wants to be a part of everything.
While the Maltese can be a terrific pup, they require a lot of socialization. These dogs can get a little timid and even intolerant toward small children or boisterous dogs if they aren’t introduced at an early age.
8. Pekingese
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The charming little Pekingese might be a very well-mannered dog, for their owners! However, these dogs have a larger-than-life personality and will fiercely charge into any situation with assertiveness.
These little dogs will definitely require major grooming as they have thick, long coats. You can also give them a variety of adorable haircuts to try out different looks. They will be a fun companion to take out for a pampering session.
These pups are not really known for being destructive and they don’t usually have major anxiety issues. Their outgoing personality makes them very independent. So, even though they love time with their owners, they don’t mind taking on the world for a few hours while you’re at work.
The Pekingese can be a little bit yappy! Since they notice just about anything and everything that moves around them, they will alert the whole house. So, if you’re not a fan of barking, this vocal little breed might not be right for you.
9. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
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The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is one of the happiest dog breeds of all. They meet everything with a smiling face and wiggling butt. They are simply adorable, and almost any canine lover would agree.
In addition to their cheerful personalities and adorable appearance, they also are pretty well behaved. Corgis are incredibly intelligent and capable of picking up just about any concept you’re willing to teach them.
They tend to get along great with people and pets of all shapes and sizes. Just keep in mind, these dogs do shed quite a lot, so they might leave tufts of hair all around if you aren’t diligent about brushing.
The Corgi is a very headstrong dog so they can be hard to convince sometimes. They might also exhibit destructiveness when they are alone for long periods of time. A Corgi without the appropriate amount of exercise will likely chew and tear up things, so it’s best to only get this dog if they have appropriate outlets for physical and mental stimulation.
10. Pug
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If you’ve ever met a Pug, you know just how happy and cheerful they are! These pups really know how to make a friend of all and typically get along with anyone and anything they encounter.
Pugs can also make pretty darn good guard dogs as they are not afraid to alert when they hear any rustling. Dogs, while very docile, can be pretty intelligent too. They certainly aren’t in the top 10 most intelligent dog breeds, but they’re capable of learning a variety of concepts.
Because of their willingness to please and extreme food motivation, training should be a breeze. But Pugs can be a little tricky to potty train. With enough guidance, they can certainly get the job done, but they often do best with a larger more assertive dog around that they can follow.
They are also prone to more health conditions and breathing problems due to their facial structure, so it’s important that you don’t over-exercise them.
11. Shih Tzu
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There’s more to meets the eye with a Shih Tzu. Not only are these smush-faced dogs adorable, but you can also give them so many different hairstyles to really give them their own personal sense of style. The Shih Tzu is notorious for being very outgoing, loyal, and a friend to all.
On top of just being easy going, these dogs are also highly intelligent and clever. Because they love pleasing their owners so much, they will definitely be receptive to most types of training, and even excel at it.
The Shih Tzu is definitely known for being a lap dog, meaning they want to be your shadow at all times. They will get up to follow you to the bathroom, hang out with you during your downtime, and always offer the best company.
The Shih Tzu can sometimes be really stubborn and difficult to train. Once they give in and learn the ropes, they are generally very well-behaved, but some might need more convincing than others.
12. Skye Terrier
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As far as terriers are concerned, the Skye Terrier is an amazingly well-behaved little dog. They tend to be very relaxed and good-natured. Although they look similar to the Cairn Terrier, they don’t share the same bold, spicy temperament.
However, what many owners love about the Skye Terrier is that they can maintain levels of independence without being totally reliant on their people. They will love snuggling up with you and going on walks, but they can also occupy themselves most of the time.
These dogs are known for being very sweet, affectionate, and playful. They make very good pets for growing families, retired couples, and apartment living.
However, these are dominant little dogs that might boss around the family cat or seriously injure smaller pets by trying to “play” with them. Most terriers were bred to be ratting dogs, so they don’t see small pets as pets, but rather as prey. So make sure to never let your small pet out of the cage when a Skye Terrier is around.
Least Behaved Small Dogs
Any dog can be a good pet if they are socialized and trained properly. However, some dogs can be more challenging than others. What are some small breeds that have a reputation for being more spicy, harder to train, and less well-behaved?
1. Affenpinscher
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The Affenpinscher is certainly a dog that you don’t see every day. This scruffy, bearded, brachycephalic dog will certainly get lots of attention. However, this tiny little guy has a big personality too!
They tend to be extremely brave, and even challenging towards authority. These little dogs are also rascals in some senses and most of them are only moderately good with children and strangers.
Since they can be aggressive and quick tempered, this might result in nipping or biting if the behavior isn’t corrected early. If you plan to get an Affenpinscher, you should always socialize them properly with people and other pets to expand their social skills.
2. Chihuahua
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We all imagine Pit Bulls and Doberman Pinschers as being the aggressors of the canine world, but no one ever wants to talk about this savage little beast. Chihuahuas are very much loved and sought after, so some Chihuahua owners might disagree.
But they do have some pretty serious personality quirks—including aggression toward people and other pets, poor results when potty training, and marking behaviors. Plus, they can be very neurotic and suffer from separation anxiety more than many other breeds.
3. Dachshund
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The Dachshund is a real favorite because of their interesting appearance. These short legged, long bodied dogs certainly will steal your heart with their fascinating looks. However, don’t let that fool you.
These dogs are absolutely not recommended for first time dog owners. They can be stubborn and destructive. By nature, they are diggers, which means that they can dig underneath fences and get out of just about anything!
You can refer to them as little Houdinis. While we admire the Dachshund’s spiciness and attitude, they might pose a lot more work than some owners are willing to put in.
4. Wire Fox Terrier
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The Wire Fox Terrier is a dog that is very happy-go-lucky and adventurous. Even though they will definitely be down for trips out of the house and social interactions with others, they can be extremely challenging in other ways.
True to their terrier nature, these dogs can be very stubborn and difficult to train. They tend to be very independent thinkers that aren’t easily moved, making finding a level ground difficult for some.
In addition to their personalities, they might also be very difficult to house train. Often, they are too energetic and hyper for smaller children as well and might even accidentally hurt them by playing too rough.
5. Yorkshire Terrier
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The Yorkshire Terrier certainly can fool you! This dog is small enough to fit in both hands, but their spirit is so much bigger! These dogs have larger than life personalities and a little bit of trouble giving up their natural leadership desires.
If you looked at personality alone, the Yorkie is one of the most assertive dogs and can certainly bully small children and other animals of all sizes. These dogs fearlessly march into the world and are not fazed by much. Because of this attitude, it can sometimes get them into trouble and make them very complicated to discipline or train.
Conclusion
Now you know a little bit more about some of the best behaved small dogs. Certainly, we all agree that every single dog has their own personality, quirks, and challenges. However, the breeds on our list have proven to be pretty easy going companion animals.
Which of these furry cuties were your favorite?
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