20 Small and Medium Dog Breeds Under 50 Pounds: Small But Mighty

Affenpinschers are cute little fur balls mostly kept as companion dogs. Extremely curious and loyal, this breed is famous for showing human-like characteristics.

Affenpinschers are native to Germany, originally bred to serve as mousers. They live around 11 to 14 years and come in multiple coat colors, including black silver, grey, beige, and red.

Weight: 7-10 pounds

Height: 9-12 inches

The Australian Terrier is extremely friendly and compassionate but often shows aggressiveness when threatened. Despite its small size, this little creature never shies away from an attacker.

While these cute canines make excellent companions, they are not the best choice for multi-pet households. The Australian Terrier will aggressively compete against other pets for its owners' affection. One of the greatest perks of having one is that these pups usually keep the homes clear of disease-spreading rats and mice.

Weight: 15-20 pounds

Height: 10 inches

The Beagle is a small-sized scent hound that appears similar to its cousin, the Foxhound. It has consistently made it to the list of the top ten most popular dogs in North America for over 30 years.

Beagles mostly come in tricolor coats, which primarily consist of white hair with brown and black shades. These pups have an incredible sense of smell; an experiment showed that Beagles found a mouse hidden in a one-acre field within a minute. It's closest competitor was the Fox Terrier, which took nearly 15 minutes to find the mouse.

Weight: Up to 20 pounds (13 inches & under), 20-30 pounds (13-15 inches)

Height: 10-15 inches

The Bichon Frise is one the best breeds for first-time dog owners and people living in apartments. The fluffy animal is incredibly friendly, affectionate, and loyal to its owners.

These dogs adapt well to people and even suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for long hours. Adored for its fluffy hair that resembles snow, this breed is energetic and remains alert to its surroundings. Just don't try to use it as a guard dog as it is friendly even to strangers.

Weight: 12-18 pounds

Height: 9-11 inches

The Brittany is an ideal breed option for families and retirees. These dogs are extremely patient and gentle by nature. Also, their small size means they can be carried around without much difficulty.

Native to France, the breed got its name from its place of origin, the Brittany peninsula. The pet comes in multi-color fur, including liver & white, orange & white, black & white, and orange roan, among others. Brittany's floppy ears that hang below its face, further boosts its cuteness.

Weight: 30-40 pounds

Height: 18-20 inches

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is tiny by design. Originally bred as a guard/herding dog, its small size helps protect against the powerful kick of cattle.

Despite the size, the canine can remain energetic and active for long hours. The Corgi needs regular exercise and walks to lose the excess energy in its body. This breed gets along exceptionally well with young children and other household pets. 

Weight: 30-38 pounds (Male), 25-34 pounds (Female)

Height: 10-13 inches

The Chihuahua is the smallest recognized dog breed in the world. Native to Mexico, this breed is small enough to be carried around in a purse.

Chihuahuas are extremely compassionate and loyal dogs. Sadly, they often get the bad rep for being over-aggressive. However, haters don't realize that its aggressiveness comes from its protective and territorial instinct. Meanwhile, many experts argue that Chihuahua's aggressiveness is a result of either poor health or lack of training or socialization.

Weight: Up to 6 pounds

Height: 3-9 inches

Nicknamed the Royal Dog of Madagascar, the Coton de Tulear is a small dog breed adored for its smooth white coat. Its name "Coton" is French for cotton, whereas Tulear in Madagascar is its place of origin.

The Coton de Tulear is a significantly rare breed; hence, it is more expensive than most breeds. In the US, a pure-bred pup costs around $3,000 to $4,000. Celebrities like Barbara Streisand, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Jane Fonda have owned one at some point.

Weight: 9-15 pounds (Male), 8-13 pounds (Female)

Height: 8-12 inches

The Dachshund steals the limelight with its pointed face and unusually long body that resembles a sausage. Originally bred for hunting, this breed became a famous household pet for its adorable looks and charming personality.

The Dachshund has short legs but large paws that were primarily used for digging tunnels. Further, its loose skin facilitates moving through tight spaces and burrows. Hollywood stars like Jack Black, Clint Eastwood, and Kirsten Dunst, among others, have been known to own this breed.

Weight: 16-32 pounds (Standard), Up to 11 pounds (Miniature)

Height: 14-19 inches (Standard), 12-15 inches (Miniature)

The English Cocker Spaniel is a long-eared breed native to England. The canine is widely loved for its joyful attitude, flowing hair, and constantly wagging tail, which earned it the nickname "Merry Spaniel."

Despite its small size, the Spaniel is extremely energetic and intelligent. It can maintain the energy level of a puppy well into adulthood. This can, however, be a challenge to some pet owners as these dogs require regular walks and exercise.

Weight: 28-34 pounds

Height: 14-17 inches

There's no denying that the French Bulldog is one of the cutest dog breeds. Extremely intelligent, this low-energy dog can understand up to 150 words, if properly trained.

The French Bulldog's short snout, paired with its pointed ears, makes it an iconic animal. They are excellent family pets and are very good with young children. This socializing nature can also be considered a vulnerability as they constantly need human company; being left alone for an extended time could cause severe anxiety issues.

Weight: Up to 28 pounds

Height: 9-13 inches

The German Pinscher is considered the short-haired equivalent of the Schnauzer breed. The medium-sized breed is popular for its agility and athleticism.

Originally developed as a hunting dog, these silky-haired canines have a natural killer instinct and might not get along well with other dogs or household pets. However, if introduced at a young age, they can develop strong friendships with other breeds and even cats. The German Pinscher also has an independent personality which may not fare well with harsh commands.

Weight: 25-45 pounds

Height: 18-20 inches

The national dog of Cuba, the Havanese was developed from the now-extinct breed, Blanquito de la Habana. The Havanese is iconic for its silky coat and curled-over tail. 

The specimens of this breed come in a variety of colors, including black, white, silver, blue, champagne, gold, red, cream, and even a mix of two or more of these colors. The Havanese dog almost went extinct in the 1970s when the population had dropped to a mere 11 pups. Today, this breed has not just survived the extinction threat but is also thriving as one of the most popular dogs.

Weight: 7-13 pounds

Height: 9-10 inches

Native to Hungary, the Mudi has an unconventional appearance that resembles a wolf. Initially developed as a herding dog, it is one of the few breeds that continues to serve its original purpose. Likewise, the breed is also a regular participant in dog sports.

Mudis are energetic little creatures with a curly coat of medium length. These pups are available in multiple colors, including black, brown, ash, fawn, and mixed.

Weight: 18-29 pounds

Height: 15-19 inches

The Pomeranian is one of the smallest dog breeds by size and weight, not much bigger than a Chihuahua. These cute fur balls first gained recognition due to their association with several European royal families, including as a pet to the late Queen Victoria.

Pomeranians are small enough to be carried around in a lady's handbag, though it's not recommended. Further, their small size also helps in adapting to city life. They can be easily handled by first-time pet owners and thrive in apartments with limited space.

Weight: 3-7 pounds

Height: 7-12 inches

The Pug is not related to bulldogs, although its appearance can fool anyone into believing that the two are close cousins. Instead, the former originated from China and shares its origin with the not-so-similar-looking Pekingese.

The breed became globally famous after being featured in the Men in Black movie franchise in the late 90s. Similarly, its inclusion in an Indian Vodafone commercial made the breed a phenomenon in Asia. Due to the demand for purebred Pugs, these dogs are often born with severe breathing problems and are also prone to obesity due to a lack of physical activity.

Weight: 14-18 pounds

Height: 10-14 inches

The Pyrenean Shepherd is a European herding dog native to France. It continues to serve its original purpose, often found herding sheep or cattle in the Pyrenees region of France.

The shepherd dog has a thick coat of hair to survive extremely cold weather. Their coat, ranging from medium to long, come in multiple colors, including fawn, grey, blue, black, and mixed. Due to its instinct as a herder, the Pyrenean Sheepdog is naturally wary of strangers.

Weight: 15-30 pounds

Height: 15-21 inches

The Shiba Inu became a cultural phenomenon in the 2010s when it became the face of the cryptocurrency, Dogecoin. Before that, its popularity was limited to its nativeland Japan. 

Also called the Shiba Ken, the Shiba Inu belongs to the Spitz family. It has a curled tail and a short coat that comes in different shades like black, red, tan, cream, and black sesame. They are also one of the cleanest breeds that require minimal grooming and care.

Weight: 17-23 pounds

Height: 13-16 inches

Nicknamed the Lion Dog, the Shih Tzu is beloved for its long silky coat and floppy ears. The breed originated in Tibet as a cross between Lhasa Apso and Pekingese.

The Shih Tzu was imported to Europe from China and made its way into the US during the 1940s and 50s. Today, the furball is a popular breed in the US, costing anywhere between $750 to $3,000. In 2012, it was the 11th most-sold dog breed in the US.

Weight: 9-16 pounds

Height: 7-11 inches

The Swedish Vallhund is an ancient breed that originated over a thousand years ago. The short canine with a curled tail was developed to serve as a cowdog.

The short-haired pup shows intelligible characteristics along with fearlessness and high level of energy. They are also extremely friendly but don't easily trust strangers due to their natural instincts.

Weight: 20-35 pounds

Height: 11-14 inches