Breed Guides
Best Small Dog Breeds for Families — Top 5 Picks
Choosing the right small breed for your family comes down to temperament, energy level, grooming needs, and how they do with children. Here's our honest comparison of the five breeds we raise.
May 1, 2024 · 8 min read
How to Choose the Right Small Breed for Your Family
Not every small breed is equally suited to family life — and 'small' covers an enormous range of personalities, energy levels, and care requirements. The best small dog for your family depends on the ages of your children, your activity level, whether anyone has allergies, and how much grooming time you're willing to commit.
Cavapoo — The Gold Standard Family Dog
If there's a single small breed we'd recommend most consistently for families with young children, it's the Cavapoo. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel brings extraordinary patience, gentleness, and warmth. The Poodle adds intelligence, trainability, and a low-shedding coat. The combination is nearly ideal.
- Excellent with young children — patient and gentle
- Low to no shedding — good for allergy-conscious families
- Highly trainable — eager to please
- Adaptable energy — not too hyper, not too sedentary
- Best for: Families with children of all ages who want a devoted, trainable companion
Yorkshire Terrier — Bold Personality, Big Heart
Yorkies are one of the most beloved small breeds in America — and with good reason. They're lively, loyal, and remarkably confident for their size. They form incredibly close bonds with their primary person and can be wonderful family companions when properly socialized with children from puppyhood.
- Spirited, loyal, and deeply devoted
- Naturally low-shedding coat
- Better suited to families with older children (school age+)
- Strong personality — consistent training is important
- Best for: Families or individuals seeking a charismatic, devoted companion
Biewer Terrier — The Rare and Stunning Option
If you want something rare that turns heads everywhere you go, the Biewer Terrier delivers. A near-hypoallergenic, tricolor terrier with a gentle-but-confident personality, the Biewer makes a wonderful family companion for those willing to commit to coat maintenance.
- Stunning tricolor coat — blue/black, gold, and white
- Gentle temperament — slightly softer than a traditional Yorkie
- Low-shedding, near-hypoallergenic coat (no dog is 100% allergen-free)
- Rare and distinctive — not every family has one
- Best for: Families seeking a unique, devoted, elegant small companion
Toy Poodle — The Genius of the Group
The Toy Poodle is consistently ranked as one of the most intelligent breeds in the world — and it shows. They pick up commands quickly, thrive on mental stimulation, and form strong bonds with their families. Their hypoallergenic, low-shedding coat makes them one of the best options for allergy-sensitive households (no dog is 100% allergen-free).
- Highly intelligent — fast learner, excellent for tricks and training
- Hypoallergenic, low-shedding coat
- Active and athletic — loves games and engagement
- Requires regular professional grooming
- Best for: Active families or individuals who love training and want a hypoallergenic-type dog (no dog is 100% allergen-free)
French Bulldog — The Laid-Back Charmer
French Bulldogs are unique among our breeds in that they're neither terrier nor doodle — they're a beloved brachycephalic breed with an enormous personality and minimal exercise requirements. Frenchies are generally excellent with children, deeply affectionate, and happy in virtually any living situation.
- Easygoing and gentle — excellent with children
- Minimal exercise requirements — great for apartment living
- Does shed — not ideal for allergy-sensitive homes
- Sensitive to heat — requires air-conditioned environments in summer
- Best for: Families or individuals who want a chill, affectionate companion with big personality and low exercise needs
Our Recommendation by Family Type
- Young children (under 6): Cavapoo, French Bulldog
- School-age children (6–12): Cavapoo, Yorkie, Biewer Terrier
- Teens only: Any of our five breeds
- Allergy concerns: Toy Poodle (best), Cavapoo F1B, Biewer Terrier, Yorkie
- Active family: Toy Poodle, Cavapoo
- Low-energy family: French Bulldog, Yorkie, Biewer Terrier