42 breeds

English Bulldog

English Bulldog

A calm, sturdy companion with a lovable sour-mug face and high vet needs.

⚡ 1/5👶 4/5🏢 4/5
Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu

A palace companion dog: affectionate, low-shedding and ideal for apartments.

⚡ 2/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
Dachshund

Dachshund

The long-bodied badger hound: bold, clever and occasionally stubborn.

⚡ 3/5👶 3/5🏢 4/5
French Bulldog

French Bulldog

A bat-eared apartment favourite that barks little and needs modest exercise.

⚡ 2/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
Shiba Inu

Shiba Inu

An ancient Japanese spitz, fox-like, fastidious and cat-like in independence.

⚡ 3/5👶 3/5🏢 4/5
Chihuahua

Chihuahua

The world’s smallest breed, fiercely loyal to one person and great for small homes.

⚡ 3/5👶 2/5🏢 5/5
Pomeranian

Pomeranian

A fluffy toy spitz full of personality, perfect for apartments.

⚡ 3/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5
Pug

Pug

A wrinkly, comedic lap dog that loves people but struggles in the heat.

⚡ 2/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
Maltese

Maltese

A silky white toy companion, low-shedding and devoted.

⚡ 2/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5
Poodle

Poodle

Comes in toy, miniature and standard sizes; extremely intelligent with a low-shedding coat.

⚡ 4/5👶 4/5🏢 4/5
Yorkshire Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier

A tiny terrier with a silky coat and a big-dog attitude.

⚡ 3/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5
Affenpinscher

Affenpinscher

The “monkey dog”—tiny, fearless and comical.

⚡ 3/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5
Alaskan Klee Kai

Alaskan Klee Kai

A miniature husky lookalike, reserved with strangers.

⚡ 4/5👶 3/5🏢 4/5
American Cocker Spaniel

American Cocker Spaniel

The smallest sporting spaniel, with a lavish silky coat.

⚡ 4/5👶 5/5🏢 4/5
American Eskimo Dog

American Eskimo Dog

The fluffy white former circus star—smart and showy.

⚡ 4/5👶 4/5🏢 4/5
Bichon Frise

Bichon Frise

A cheerful white powder-puff, low-shedding and apartment-perfect.

⚡ 3/5👶 5/5🏢 5/5
Biewer Terrier

Biewer Terrier

A tricolour toy terrier descended from the Yorkie.

⚡ 3/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
Bolognese

Bolognese

A fluffy white Italian lapdog, deeply attached to its owner.

⚡ 2/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
Boston Terrier

Boston Terrier

The “American Gentleman” in a tuxedo coat.

⚡ 3/5👶 5/5🏢 5/5
Chinese Crested Dog

Chinese Crested Dog

Hairless or powderpuff—an affectionate companion.

⚡ 3/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
English Toy Spaniel

English Toy Spaniel

A flat-faced royal lapdog of the English court.

⚡ 2/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
German Spitz

German Spitz

The family of spitzes from which the Pomeranian came—an alert little watchdog.

⚡ 4/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
Japanese Chin

Japanese Chin

A cat-like aristocratic toy from the Japanese court.

⚡ 2/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5
Japanese Spitz

Japanese Spitz

A fluffy white companion spitz—bright and apartment-friendly.

⚡ 4/5👶 5/5🏢 5/5
Miniature Dachshund

Miniature Dachshund

The small dachshund bred to hunt rabbits in burrows.

⚡ 3/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5
Papillon

Papillon

The butterfly-eared toy—one of the smartest small breeds.

⚡ 4/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
Pekingese

Pekingese

The lion-maned palace dog of imperial China.

⚡ 2/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5
Russkiy Toy

Russkiy Toy

One of the world’s tiniest dogs, with fine legs and large ears.

⚡ 4/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5
Schipperke

Schipperke

The little black “captain” of Belgian barges.

⚡ 4/5👶 4/5🏢 4/5
Tibetan Spaniel

Tibetan Spaniel

A little Tibetan monastery lookout that loves high perches.

⚡ 3/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
Tibetan Terrier

Tibetan Terrier

Not a true terrier—a shaggy Tibetan monastery companion with snowshoe feet.

⚡ 3/5👶 5/5🏢 4/5
Toy Poodle

Toy Poodle

The tiniest poodle—clever, non-shedding and hugely popular in Iran.

⚡ 4/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5
Xoloitzcuintle

Xoloitzcuintle

The ancient Aztec dog in three sizes, hairless or coated.

⚡ 3/5👶 4/5🏢 4/5

Brussels Griffon

A human-faced, bearded toy that bonds intensely.

⚡ 3/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

A gentle, affectionate lap spaniel that loves everyone.

⚡ 3/5👶 5/5🏢 5/5

Coton de Tulear

Madagascar’s cotton-coated royal companion.

⚡ 3/5👶 5/5🏢 5/5

Havanese

Cuba’s national dog—a sweet, sociable apartment companion.

⚡ 3/5👶 5/5🏢 5/5

Keeshond

The Dutch barge dog with its signature “spectacles”.

⚡ 3/5👶 5/5🏢 4/5

Lhasa Apso

A Tibetan temple sentinel—small, alert and wary.

⚡ 3/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5

Löwchen

A rare companion traditionally clipped like a little lion.

⚡ 3/5👶 4/5🏢 5/5

Miniature Pinscher

The “King of Toys”—a fearless, high-stepping mini.

⚡ 5/5👶 3/5🏢 5/5

Miniature Schnauzer

A bearded, low-shedding favourite for apartments and a keen watchdog.

⚡ 4/5👶 5/5🏢 5/5

General care guide: Dogs

Before you bring a dog home

A dog is a 10–15 year commitment. Match the breed to your space, schedule and budget, not just its looks.

Feeding

Puppies eat 3–4 meals a day, adults two. Use a quality food with meat as the first ingredient. Never feed chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, xylitol or cooked bones.

Vaccines & health

Core vaccines start at 6–8 weeks with yearly boosters; rabies from 12 weeks is essential in Iran. Deworm every three months and protect against fleas and ticks.

Training & exercise

Reward-based training works best. Socialise puppies between 3 and 14 weeks. Most dogs need at least two walks a day; working breeds need much more.

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