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Have you ever looked at a puppy and just wanted it to stay that small forever? After all, many dog breeds tend to be at their curest, fluffiest, and most lovable when they’re puppies. While many puppies grow out of their small size into small, medium, and even large dogs, some puppies remain small for the rest of their lives. These are often known as toy breeds.
Toy dogs, miniatures, and even some small dog breeds will stay small forever; we’re talking about weighing less than ten pounds and being less than 6-8 inches at the shoulder. While every puppy grows into an adult dog, knowing that some puppies stay small may influence your adoption choices. In fact, having a toy or miniature can make having a dog possible for people who live in apartments, small homes, or areas without large backyards.
In this article, we take you through a handful of puppies that stay small. Read on to learn more about some of these breeds.
Things to Consider About Puppies that Stay Small
Having a puppy that stays small might sound like you’re living the dream. After all, who doesn’t want a cute little companion that’s cost-effective to feed, low maintenance, and doesn’t require a massive backyard? While there are some benefits to puppies that stay small, you also need to consider a few factors before you adopt one.
They Might Not Look Like Puppies Forever
We know that we’re covering puppies that stay small, but it’s important to note that puppies that stay small still don’t look like puppies forever. For example, some breeds may have fluffier hair and different-looking snouts or ears when they’re puppies; once they grow out of their puppy years, their ears may stand up, their snouts may lengthen, and their hair might feel harsher.
Therefore, you need to keep this in mind before you adopt a puppy that remains small based on their appearance and traits as puppies.
You Have to Watch Their Diet
When you have a puppy that stays small, you have to watch its diet to prevent weight gain, bloating, and other health issues. Due to their tiny bodies, puppies that stay small don’t need a lot of calories. Make sure you’re shopping for dog food that’s made for small, toy, or miniature dogs to ensure that they’re getting the necessary amount of nutrients.
If you do notice that their weight is above their average range, it’s time to adjust their diet, take them for more frequent walks, or bring them to the vet for a thyroid evaluation.
Be Mindful of Children and Other Pets
Most small dogs can’t harm a child or another pet, so it’s the other way around. Make sure you keep an eye on cats, children, and other pets you have in your home. If they’re playing rough with a small dog, it can result in injuries to either the dog or the other party involved – be that your child, a cat, or another type of animal.
This isn’t to say that you can’t play with a small dog, just focus on activities that don’t get overly physical. Many small dogs, like the Chihuahua, can even get aggressive or vocal if they feel threatened, which can be dangerous.
Eight Puppies That Stay Small
Puppies that stay small tend to be miniature or toy breeds that weigh less than ten pounds; perfect dogs for small spaces, apartments, and areas without a ton to do outdoors. We take you through some of the most notable dog breeds that stay small throughout their life.
The only notable exceptions are growing sideways, which happens due to weight gain. Learn about some of the dog breeds that remain small below.
1. Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is one of the most popular dog breeds, and it stays small forever. These dogs only reach 5-8 inches at the shoulder, and most of them weigh less than 10 pounds at a healthy weight. Due to their small size, this dog breed is ideal for people who live in tight, small, or cramped spaces. They don’t need a lot of space to thrive, but they do need companionship and can become vocal if you start ignoring them.
Chihuahuas are also known for their lack of maintenance needs; their short coats don’t require too much brushing, shedding isn’t a problem, and keeping them fed is even affordable due to their small size. The only drawback is that Chihuahuas can be territorial, so you may have to socialize them from a young age to help them get along with other dogs, cats, and pets in your home.
2. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is one of the cutest dogs that stays the same size once they reach six months of age. Not only do they stay the same size, but Pomeranians are some of the smallest dogs you can find. They only weigh between three to seven pounds and barely reach eight inches at the shoulder; for this reason, many people also refer to them as mini Pomeranians. While these dogs used to reach up to 30 pounds way back in the day, once Queen Victoria got her hands on these adorable dogs, she started breeding them to keep them small.
While Pomeranians are small, they’ll walk around your home like they own the place. They have this strut to them (maybe also from the queen), which shows off their elegant coat and tiny legs. Speaking of their coat, they have a really long coat compared to other small dogs. Their coats make them look like a little pom-pomp. Personality-wise, Pomeranians have a mild temperament and make great members of the family once you train them.
3. Toy Poodle
Poodles come in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Some poodles, like the standard poodle, can weigh well over 50 pounds. That said, poodles have been bred to be smaller over the years, which has led us to the toy poodle. These little guys seemingly stay puppies forever, and you’ll notice that they always look like a standard poodle puppy, likely the closest to actually being a puppy that seemingly stays small forever. Toy poodles only reach 10 inches at the shoulder (often less) and weigh between four and six pounds when healthy.
While toy poodles look like standard poodle puppies, once they’re adults, you’ll find that they share their intelligence, drive, and loyalty with their larger counterparts. This makes them one of the more well-rounded small dogs available, especially in the temperament department. These dogs are also known as teacup poodles, but some breeders claim that teacup poodles are even smaller!
4. Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire terrier is another small dog that looks like it’s a puppy that stays small forever. They don’t change much from their puppy years, although their fur might grow a little longer, and their ears and about might become more pronounced. Yorkshire terriers tend to weigh less than ten pounds, and they usually aren’t more than eight inches tall. This makes them one of the few small terrier breeds you can find, which is great for people who want a terrier without the size and energy needs that larger terriers may come with.
While Yorkshire terriers are small, don’t let them fool you because they have massive personalities. You’ll find that they’re vocal, affectionate, and loyal. They also love to play, explore, and stay warm and cozy on your lap. There are also smaller versions of the Yorkshire terrier known as teacup yorkies, which breeders are trying to make more common. That said, they’re not much smaller than your average Yorkshire terrier.
5. Papillon
The Papillon is one of the few puppies that stay small and look the same throughout most of their life cycle. Once they reach around six months, you won’t notice too much growth or any notable changes in their appearance. Instead, you’re left with an elegant-looking dog that has long and floppy ears that resemble butterfly wings. In fact, the name papillon translates to butterfly in French. On average, papillons weigh between five to ten pounds when fully grown and stand at eight to ten inches at the shoulder. That said, their long hair can sometimes give the illusion that they’re bigger and taller than they are.
When it comes to intelligence, papillons are some of the smartest dogs around. Training them is easy because they love mental stimulation. Papillons are also high-energy dogs, so make sure you set aside plenty of time to play with them. They also love long walks, games like fetch, playing with their humans, and visiting dog parks.
6. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzus are one of the most popular small breeds you can adopt. These little dogs are full of personality and have long and intricate coats with a wide range of colors, and happy little faces. Shih Tzus is also known for being intelligent, smart, friendly, and even alert. In other words, they’re smart enough to be a guard dog without barking at every single thing that moves past your home. They’re also easy to train and suitable for apartments, small homes, and areas where not too much outdoor access is available.
Shih Tzus are also some of the smallest dogs you can find and won’t grow past around 16 pounds. When it comes to height, they stand at around nine to ten inches at the shoulder, so they’re not any taller than most small dogs – just a little heavier. If their average weight seems a little too high, some breeders may have teacup Shih Tzus available that are slightly smaller. Still, they’re great dogs that are bound to get along with other pets, you, and your family if given plenty of love, affection, and training.
7. Pug
Pugs are some of the cutest, smallest dogs you can find and tend to look the same as adults as they do when they’re puppies. So, they’re really puppies that stay small throughout their life. These dogs are easy to spot due to their round face that almost looks like it was flattened. Pugs also come from a long line of history, with some of the first iterations of this breed being bred during the era of the Shang Dynasty in 300 B.C.E. While they used to be larger dogs in the past, selective breeding was done to reduce their size to 14 to 18 pounds and 10 to 13 inches in height.
We love the pug breed, but there are some health problems to be aware of. The most notable issue is that their wrinkled flat face can impact their breathing. This tends to become a bigger problem as they get older. Still, pugs are one of the best breeds for people who don’t have a lot of space.
8. Italian Greyhound
The Italian greyhound is a unique small dog that tends to look the same once they reach around six months to one year. While these dogs resemble larger greyhounds, these dogs are about a quarter of the size. In fact, most Italian greyhounds are only 13-15 inches tall, and they tend to weigh less than 14 pounds.
While these dogs are smaller than greyhounds, don’t let their size fool you. Italian greyhounds are extremely athletic, intelligent, and highly trainable. They were bred to hunt small game, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that these dogs are great companions that can track a scent for miles and learn dozens of commands.
Adopt Puppies That Stay Small Today
There’s nothing quite like a puppy. Little balls of fluff that are full of curiosity, life, and energy. While many puppies stay small for around six to twelve months, most dogs end up growing up and getting a lot bigger; some breeds can gain more than 100 pounds over a year or two!
That said, there’s no need to worry if you want a puppy that doesn’t seem to grow once they’re up and walking around. There are plenty of puppies that stay small when you get into toy, miniature, and even teacup breeds. Whether you want an energetic Chihuahua or a more elegant Pomeranian, plenty of small breeds are available for you to purchase or adopt. Still, these puppies will grow into adults, so they won’t always look the same or share the same traits as puppies, so keep this in mind.