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20 Rare Small Dog Breeds (With Info & Pictures)

Written by: Adam Mann

Last Updated on November 8, 2024 by Dogster Team

Jagdterrier dog sitting and playing with a stick

20 Rare Small Dog Breeds (With Info & Pictures)

If you think you know all about every dog breed on the planet, think again! While there are plenty of common small dog breeds like the Poodle or the Shih Tzu, there are also plenty of much rarer dog breeds that you likely haven’t heard of.

We’ve highlighted 20 of these rare small dog breeds for you here so that you can learn more about these adorable little pups.

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The 20 Rare Small Dog Breeds

1. Affenpinscher

black affenpinscher dog standing in the park
Image Credit: Didkovska Ilona, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–14 years
Height 9 to 11.5 inches
Weight 7 to 10 pounds
Temperament Loyal, intelligent, somewhat stubborn, not overly clingy

The Affenpinscher might be the best-known small dog breed on this list, but that doesn’t quite make them a household name. They’re great companion animals and extremely loving. They’re great lap dogs throughout and through, but they retain a large personality that defies their small size.


2. Biewer Terrier

Biewer Yorkshire Terrier puppy laying on a table
Image Credit: Dominique Bradette, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–15 years
Height 7 to 11 inches
Weight 4 to 8 pounds
Temperament Affectionate, intelligent, alert

At first glance, the Biewer Terrier reminds you of a Yorkshire Terrier, but there are a few notable differences that make them an entirely different breed. They first came to the United States in 2003, and by 2021, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the breed.


3. Bedlington Terrier

Bedlington terrier dog standing outdoors
Image Credit: Rita_Kochmarjova, Shutterstock
Lifespan 11–16 years
Height 15 to 17.5 inches
Weight 17 to 23 pounds
Temperament Gentle, alert, merry

The Bedlington Terrier is a bit larger than the other rare small dog breeds on our list so far, but they’re still far from a large dog. They have a unique appearance with curly fur and floppy ears. Just as interestingly, they were once fighting dogs, but with their sweet demeanors today, you would never know!


4. Norwegian Lundehund

Norwegian Lundehund dog sitting
Image Credit: Eric Isselee, Shutterstock
Lifespan 11–16 years
Height 15 to 17.5 inches
Weight 17 to 23 pounds
Temperament Gentle, alert, merry

An ancient hunting dog, the Norwegian Lundehund is a dog breed that almost went into extinction in recent times. They’re making a bit of a comeback but are still extremely rare. Another unique feature about this breed is that every Norwegian Lundehund has six toes on each foot.


5. Bolognese

bolognese dog standing wearing leash outdoors
Image Credit: islavicek, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–14 years
Height 10 to 12 inches
Weight 4.5 to 8 pounds
Temperament Affectionate, demanding, aloof with strangers, hates to be left alone

The Bolognese is an extremely small dog, but they still retain a compact demeanor compared to many other dog breeds. They’re incredibly playful, but unlike many other small dog breeds with unlimited energy, the Bolognese can calm down a bit once you meet their daily exercise needs.


6. Cesky Terrier

Cesky terrier dog standing on the grass outdoors
Image Credit: Dora Zett, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–15 years
Height 10 to 13 inches
Weight 14 to 24 pounds
Temperament Adventurous, playful, friendly

While the Cesky Terrier isn’t well known in the United States, they’re actually the national dog of the Czech Republic. They’re natural hunting dogs that work in packs, but they also get along great with kids and are great family dogs.


7. Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Dandie Dinmont Terrier dog standing on the grass outdoors
Image Credit: Radomir Rezny, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–15 years
Height 8 to 11 inches
Weight 18 to 24 pounds
Temperament Affectionate, loyal, independent, stubborn, intelligent

The Dandie Dinmont Terrier is another vermin hunting dog breed, and with long bodies and big heads, their appearance certainly fits the mold. No matter how you look at them, they’re extremely cute. They come from the area between Scotland and England, but today, you can find them all over the world, even if they’re not all that common.


8. Finnish Spitz

Finnish spitz dog (Finkie) sitting in the snow wearing leash
Image Credit: Maris Grunskis, Shutterstock
Lifespan 10–15 years
Height 15 to 20 inches
Weight 30 to 35 pounds
Temperament Sweet-tempered, animated, affectionate, active, intelligent, willful, sensitive, loyal, vocal, alert

The Finnish Spitz is among the largest dogs on our list, but they’re still far smaller than many other dogs out there. While they’re a bit larger, they’re also among the most determined, and this feature makes them great hunting dogs. They’ll stick with their prey for hours, ensuring their target doesn’t get away no matter how long it takes!


9. Nederlandse Kooikerhondje

sable white Nederlandse Kooikerhondje dog standing on the grass
Image Credit: Lisjatina, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–15 years
Height 15 to 16 inches
Weight 20 to 30 pounds
Temperament Friendly, loving, easy to train, energetic, alert

The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is another dog breed that’s rare in the United States but more common abroad. They’re popular throughout the Netherlands where they’re a common duck-hunting dog. They hunt in packs and are incredibly loving, although they do need a bit of socialization to ensure they act the way they should around children.


10. Pumi

Two pumi or Hungarian shepherd dogs in a studio
Image Credit: Jne Valokuvaus, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–13 years
Height 16 to 18.5 inches
Weight 22 to 29 pounds
Temperament Lively, affectionate, energetic, driven

The Pumi is another dog that is on the larger side of things for this list, but they’re still longer than most other dogs out there. They’re incredibly loving, but they’re also high-energy and need plenty of time outdoors.

Still, if you take the time to train them, they always want to try and please you, and they shed far less than most other dog breeds.


11. Russian Toy

russian toy terrier dog sitting on the grass outdoors
Image Credit: Evgeniia Shikhaleeva, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–13 years
Height 8 to 11 inches
Weight Up to 6 pounds
Temperament Lively, affectionate, energetic, driven

The Russian Toy dog is a rare dog breed, but it’s also among the smallest dog breeds in the world. They only weigh about 6 pounds, but while they’re tiny dogs, they’re extremely smart and eager to please, making them the perfect lap dog!


12. Skye Terrier

Two Skye Terriers in the summer grass
Image Credit: Sevostyanova Tatyana, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–15 years
Height 9.5 to 10 inches
Weight 30 to 45 pounds
Temperament Smart, loyal, energetic, vocal, reserved with strangers

The Skye Terrier is another dog on our list with a vermin-hunting pedigree, but they might be the most distinctive-looking dog here. They have a long coat around their entire body, giving them a shaggy appearance throughout.

And while a quick look at a picture of one of these dogs might make them seem super small, these dogs can reach 45 pounds! Of course, on the smaller side of things, these dogs can top out closer to 30 pounds too.


13. Danish-Swedish Farmdog

Tricolor danish swedish dog framdog standing on the grass outdoors
Image Credit: Kewalin Madsen, Shutterstock
Lifespan 11–13 years
Height 12 to 14 pounds
Weight 15 to 20 pounds
Temperament Upbeat, energetic, affectionate, alert, people-oriented

The Danish-Swedish Farmdog often goes by the name Danish Puncher, but no matter what you call them, they’re great farm dogs that also have outstanding ratting skills. They get along great with families, but they’ve declined in popularity over the last 50 years, and it doesn’t seem like the breed will be making a revival anytime soon.


14. Dutch Smoushond

Dutch Smoushond dog face close up
Image Credit: Joop Snijder Photography, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–15 years
Height 11 to 13 inches
Weight 10 to 11 pounds
Temperament Affectionate, friendly, active

As another dog breed with a ratting heritage, the Dutch Smoushond is far from a unique entry on our list. However, the breed almost went completely extinct after World War II, although a more recent revival from breeders has kept the Dutch Smoushond from extinction.


15. Jagdterrier

jagdterrier dog standing outdoors
Image Credit: Oksamutnaya, Shutterstock
Lifespan 10–12 years
Height 13 to 16 inches
Weight  17 to 22 pounds
Temperament Loving, energetic, intelligent, hardworking, brave, stubborn

The Jagdterrier is a working dog with a German heritage, although they haven’t gained a ton of popularity throughout the rest of the world. Other names for them include the Deutscher Jagdterrier or the German Hunt Terrier, and while they’re not currently AKC registered, it seems like formal registration might not be too far down the road.


16. Kromfohrlander

Kromfohrlander dog puppie posing or standing on park bench
Image Credit: Djordje Novakov, Shutterstock
Lifespan 13–15 years
Height 15 to 18 inches
Weight  20 to 35 pounds
Temperament Adaptable, companionable, good-natured, spirited, agile, trainable, docile

Another sweet and loving dog breed, the Kromfohrlander is still one of the rarer small dog breeds in the world. They’re a little more popular in Europe, but even there it’s not too common to see these dogs. They come in both wire-haired and smooth-haired variants, but both variants belong to the same breed.


17. Löwchen

Little Lion Dog (Lowchen) face closeup
Image Credit: Svetlana Valoueva, Shutterstock
Lifespan 13–15 years
Height 12 to 14 inches
Weight 9 to 18 pounds
Temperament Affectionate, loyal, brave, and outgoing

While the Löwchen is a rare dog in the United States, they’re a bit more common throughout Europe. The Löwchen is a small put but has a big personality, and since their name translates to “little lion,” this big personality makes tons of sense.

While they’re a rare dog throughout most of the world, they have a longstanding history throughout Europe.


18. Peruvian Inca Orchid

Peruvian Hairless Dog
Image Credit: Anna Krivitskaya, Shutterstock
Lifespan 10–12 years
Height 10 to 26 inches
Weight 18 to 26 pounds
Temperament Affectionate, intelligent, protective

While some Peruvian Inca Orchids fit right into the small dog category, others are far too large. That’s because the Peruvian Inca Orchid comes in small, medium, and large sizes. Most Peruvian Inca Orchids are hairless; however, there are varieties that have hair.


19. Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka

Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka dog is crouching and crowling
Image Credit: Hanicka1982, Shutterstock
Lifespan 10–12 years
Height 10 to 11 inches
Weight 6 to 9 pounds
Temperament Intelligent, extremely friendly, outgoing

If you want a super sweet and loving lap dog, the Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka is an outstanding choice. They’re super small pups that get along great with children and other pets in the home, and they’re relatively easy to train with a bit of consistency.


20. Swedish Vallhund

Swedish Vallhund dog resting in the grass during an agility training
Image Credit: Marcel van den Bos, Shutterstock
Lifespan 12–15 years
Height 12 to 14 inches
Weight 20 to 31 pounds
Temperament Energetic, sweet, friendly, intelligent, alert

The Swedish Vallhund might be a small dog, but they have a rich history that dates all the way back to the Vikings. They’re still a relatively rare dog, but the AKC officially recognized the breed in 2007. Even with this, the breed is still pretty rare, and it’s unlikely that the breed will grow too much more in popularity any time soon.

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Final Thoughts

While you likely won’t see too many of the dogs on this list walking down the street any time soon, that doesn’t mean they’re not great pups that deserve a little more attention and love! Whether you’re simply looking to learn a bit more or want a unique small dog breed, all the pups on our list are great dogs to learn a bit more about!

Related Read:


Featured Image Credit: Malivan_Iuliia, Shutterstock

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