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Dog Breeds You Can Hold In One Hand

 

There are some very small breeds of dogs out there, but which ones can you hold in one hand? Here’s a list of the top 10 smallest dog breeds. Did your favorite make the cut? You’ll have to read on to find out! 

When it comes to picking a new pup for your family, size is an important factor. Some people want big dogs that they can cuddle up with, while others only want small lapdogs that won’t take up much space at all. Whatever you’re looking for, there’s sure to be something perfect for you here!

 Pomeranian

Nowadays, Pomeranians have a status as lapdogs, and they were initially for flocking animals and pulling sleds. Originally, the Pomeranian breed weighed around 30 pounds. Around the 1800s, people bred them to be smaller to be companions rather than working dogs. 

Breed Summary

Group: Toy

Height: Below 7 inches

Weight: Below 7 pounds 

Coat and Color: Black, chocolate, orange

Life Expectancy: 12-16 years

Poodle 

This breed is known for its intelligence, sociability, and athleticism, making excellent family dogs. Teacup poodles typically weigh around 4 pounds, whereas their standard-sized counterparts weigh approx 45-70 pounds. One of the best traits of poodles, they are low-shedders. 

Breed Summary

Group: Toy 

Height: Below 10 inches

Weight: Below 6 pounds

Coat and Color: Dense coat, curly; white, apricot, black, and more colors

Life Expectancy: 8-15 years

Yorkshire Terrier

One of the most popular dog breeds in the standard small size category is the Yorkshire terrier. These smaller dogs can weigh around 2-3 pounds, yet they have big-dog personalities. The tiny dogs tend to be vocal, confident and guarding. They are very loving and devoted to their owners’ families.

Breed Summary

Group: Toy

Height: Below 7 inches

Weight: Below 7 pounds

Coat and Color: Silky coat, blue and tan, black and tan, and more colors

Life Expectancy:9-16 years.

Bichon Frise

Teacup bichons certainly live up to the name. They were bred to be loving companions, which most people refer to as stuffed living animals. However, bichons are quite snuggly, and they need a moderate exercise routine and love to play around.

Breed Summary

Group: Non-Sporting 

Height: Below 10 inches 

Weight: Below 12 pounds 

Coat and Color: Soft, dense coat; white, apricot, and cream

Life Expectancy: 12-15 years

Maltese

One of the oldest breeds of small-sized dogs is the Maltese. This tiny breed typically weighs around 2-4 pounds. Due to their smaller size and low energy, the dogs are the best fit for persons who want a cuddle baby.

Breed Summary

Group: Toy

Height: Below 7 inches 

Weight: Below 7 pounds 

Coat and Color: White coat

Life Expectancy: 12-15 years

Pomsky

The Pomsky is the hybrid between a Pomeranian and Siberian husky. They tend to vary in size depending on the ratio of each breed they contain in them. The combination tends to have incredible energy levels, so you have to be well prepared for lots of physical activity and playing around. 

Breed Summary

Group: Not a recognized breed

Height: 10 inches 

Weight: 9 pounds

Coat and Colors: double coat, fluffy; black, silver, white and more colors 

Life Expectancy: 10-15 years

Chinese crested

This toy breed of dog is hairless; hence a lot of tension is subtracted due to hairs. Some people can’t handle the dog’s hair trimming and grooming if your pup has a lot of hair. Sometimes you need a low-maintenance dog, and a Chinese crested breed comes to your rescue. They are tiny, clever, agile, and always eager to please their owners. This breed requires frequent baths to keep the skin clean, oil and dirt-free, and weekly brushing or monthly visits to the groomers make it hassle-free.

Breed Summary 

Group: Toy

Height, 11 to 13 inches

Weight: 5-12 lbs

Coat and Color: Any color

Life Expectancy: 10-14 years

Conclusion

Teacup dog breeds are such lovely companions to have, but their life span is shorter comparatively. Many vets and dog breeders suggest avoiding teacup breeds altogether. If you love to have a smaller dog, then the best option is to find a toy breed at the lower end of the reasonable height and weight levels. You can avoid the risk of heartache from a puppy’s death by certainly clearing teacup breeds of dogs. It is better to find a genuine dog breeder and vet, and with their guidance, and according to your preference, bring home a lovely, cute companion who has a reasonable life expectancy. 

 

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