The variety of small dog breeds is astounding. There are so many that even the most picky dog lovers can find a perfect match when it comes to personality, activity level, and even coat type. 

To compile a list of the tiniest dog breeds in the United States, 24/7 Tempo reviewed data from the American Kennel Club. We only considered breeds with male dogs not usually weighing more than 10 pounds. 

Due to their size, smaller dogs don’t need to exercise every day — though it won’t hurt them — because they don’t need to burn much energy and are therefore suitable for living in an apartment. 

Small dogs may look like the perfect lap warmers when in fact they have very tough personalities. Though having a dog is certainly rewarding in many ways, the path to forming a friendship can be challenging, especially with some breeds — these are the hardest dogs to train.

Click here to see the smallest dog breeds in the US.

To determine the tiniest dog breeds in the U.S., 24/7 Tempo reviewed information on each of the 282 dog breeds currently listed by the American Kennel Club, the country’s purebred dog registry. We only considered breeds with male dogs not usually weighing more than 10 pounds, per the information the AKC provides on each breed. Information on popularity, height, temperament, and breed category also came from the AKC.