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15 Best Small Dog Breeds for Active People (Explained)

There are a great many benefits of small dogs for active lifestyles. As loving and devoted animals, our pets can offer us companionship, love, friendship, and other benefits that span the gamut from health issues to athletic performance to protection. 

One of the primary benefits of dogs for active lifestyles is their ability to provide us a form of exercise every day. With their endless energy and zest for life, dogs can make an enormous difference in our own lives by adding new dimensions to our schedules.

Walking, running, jogging, playing fetch, and engaging in other exercises with our pets can increase our overall mobility, and health, as well as significantly improve our quality of sleep. Not only do these exercises benefit our bodies, but they provide great emotional and mental stimulation for us as well.

Another of the many benefits of dogs for active lifestyles is that they provide companionship. This not only helps to overcome the loneliness of senior citizens, but it also helps to create a warm, secure environment that makes the senior citizen feel welcome and confident about the world and its possibilities.

Beagle

Beagle
Photo by Joe Smith on Unsplash

Beagles are energetic and strong animals who thrive on an active life. They love playing in the yard, chasing a ball around, or running around with your friends. Beagles love to run, jump, swim, play fetch, and spend time on the beach or in the park. They need physical stimulation to help burn up excess energy even if you’re not home, they will still be running around at your side. When it’s time to go for a walk or run, be sure to take them to a location that allows them plenty of space and freedom to run and play.

The Beagle is an excellent choice for those looking for a great pet. They have a very strong temperament and are highly intelligent. They have very good agility and are known for their speed. Being very calm and trusting, the Beagle makes a great pet for children, as long as they are taught not to chase or harm other animals.

Jack Russell

Jack Russell
Photo by Rob Fuller on Unsplash

Jack Russell is an ideal companion and housemate. With an abundance of energy and a highly developed sense of smell, Jack Russell’s makes ideal watchdogs or surveillance dogs. They possess a strong, adventurous, and playful personality that make them ideal companions for a lively family. Jack Russell’s are known for their loyal, energetic nature, being extremely devoted to their owners and other animals.

In spite of their mischievous nature, these dogs are extremely devoted to their owner and will usually follow them around wherever they go. These energetic dogs are great companions for a wide range of people, including people with disabilities. 

Parson Russell Terrier

Parson Russell Terrier
Image by Sabrina St. from Pixabay

While the Parson Russell Terrier is considered a hunting dog due to the endurance it has, these dogs are also very comfortable around other people. The Parson Russell Terrier is a very intelligent dog, but this may make them somewhat hard to train due to their stubborn attitude. However, with the proper training this will change. 

These dogs need to be given plenty of exercise daily as they are highly prone to boredom and need to have something to do all day long. With proper socialization and training, this dog can fit well into many households. These dogs need to have someone to lead and teach them basic manners, such as not to jump on people and not to beg incessantly. 

Cairn Terrier

Cairn Terrier
Image by hazelw90 from Pixabay

One of the most popular and most common dogs in the United States is the Cairn Terrier, which was first bred and used as a hunting companion. These small dogs were originally bred to scent game and make noises at the first sound of a bird. Today’s they have become a much more popular pet for those with active lifestyles and who enjoy hiking, running, kayaking, or just spending time outdoors with their family.

They are very well-balanced, which makes it a great choice for those who are new to pet ownership. This small dog is very friendly and eager to please, making it an excellent choice for children who live in small spaces, or for people who like companionship and are not necessarily interested in training their dog.

Border Terrier

Border Terrier
Image by No-longer-here from Pixabay

The Border Terrier is a good breed to have, if you want an active, intelligent, and alert dog that can be a lot of fun to have around the house and that will not tire easily. These dogs tend to be good watchdogs because they have a tendency to follow their leader but still bark at anything that gets close to them. They are also very playful dogs that love to be around people and other animals.

This kind of breed can be used in any style of active household. Because these dogs are naturally athletic and quick, they make a good breed of dog for those who want to be in sports or those who just want an active, intelligent pet that likes to be outside and have fun. 

Australian Terrier

Australian Terrier
Image by No-longer-here from Pixabay

 these dogs require so much attention, care, and exercise, they require a commitment from the owner. Although these dogs can make fabulous pets, they are not for those who need to spend all day alone. These dogs are excellent for apartment life, as long as their owners are responsible and have a little space. They are very social and make great companions for apartment dwellers because they love to meet new people.

With the proper exercise and socialization, these dogs can flourish in just about any environment, but they need the right owner who can give them the attention they need and the space they desire. This dog will make an excellent pet for a person who has lots of energy and enjoys working and playing.

Wire Hair Fox Terrier

Wire Hair Fox Terrier
Image by LRuss from Pixabay

The Wire Fox Terrier is an excellent candidate for any type of sporting, agility, or hunting breed, however since its conception it has also been used as a companion dog for people with physical disabilities or those with limited mobility. This versatility makes them, a great pet for people from all walks of life. Due to its agile and curious nature, it also makes them an excellent pet for children.

The Wire Fox Terrier is extremely trainable and obedient; being eager to please its master makes it an excellent choice for a companion or show dog. This breed is also eager to learn new things and take part in daily activities.

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen
Photo by Brett Jordan from Pexels

The Petit Basset Griffon Vedndeen, or PBGV, is an extremely popular breed of long-haired scent hounds in the French countryside, bred primarily to trail live hares in thick brambles of the Vendée region of France. The PBGV is famous for its high intelligence and for being a very loyal dog to his owner. The PBGV is very friendly to the kids and tends to get along well with other animals.

This dog also weighs in at roughly 30-40 pounds, which would make it the ideal pet for a lively and active family. They are not only well proportioned but also very strong for its size. This breed can be used for a number of activities from hunting to performing agility courses and obstacle jumping.

Basenji

Basenji
Image by Andrea Fischer from Pixabay

The Basenji is the perfect pet for those who are ready to take their dogs to the next level of performance. These dogs not only have the extra energy needed when engaging in extreme physical activity, but they also possess a mind that works to help you lead a healthy lifestyle.

This is one of the main reasons why people who own these dogs choose them over other breeds. As hard as it may be to train a dog to follow your instructions, these animals are trained to perform tasks that will help you live a better life.

Bichon Frisé

Bichon Frisé
Image by u_91zgw5yq from Pixabay

Bichon Frisé are excellent for those of us who are active in our daily lives and love to travel. Bichon Frisé can be great companions for those who live in apartments, condos, or rural areas. These dogs make very energetic and responsive pets that can get bored if they do not have a lot of activities to keep them interested.

The great thing about these dogs is that they are very lively dogs that enjoy getting out of the house and playing with people. If you are an active lifestyle person and want to include your pet in your life then you should look into owning a Bichon Frisé.

Miniature Dachshund

Miniature dachshaws are a very delicate and loving breed, but like all dachshunds, they can be temperamental and have somewhat independent personalities. Due to their independent personalities, they need to be trained as they are likely to become destructive if not trained properly. They love exercise, however, so owners need to establish a routine of walks, handling, and training in order to make these dogs as obedient as possible.

Miniature Dachshund are very active, and their small size enables them to spend lots of time running around. Some people believe that miniature dachshund dogs have an independent personality, but the truth is, they are very friendly, outgoing, and playful. 

Miniature Pinscher

Miniature Pinscher
Photo by Victor Cayke from Pexels

Miniature Pinschers are high-energy , and require vigorous exercise and lots of stimulation to stay healthy. Miniature pinschers tend to be very energetic dogs that can get bored if they do not have something of interest to do.

Make sure to incorporate some playtime into your daily activities so that your dog will not become bored and lose energy. Give your dog his or her favorite toy as well as a few high-energy games, so that the dog will be engaged as well as having fun.

Miniature Poodle

Miniature Poodles are very energetic dogs that tend to be a bit rowdy at times. Because of this high energy, Poodle puppies can be prone to misbehavior at times because of their energy. Poodles need a lot of love and attention from their owners. 

They can become depressed if they are constantly exposed to negative people and events. Since Poodles have high energy, you need to make sure that you provide them with regular exercise, encourage them to play frequently and allow them to have a comfortable place they can call their own.

Scottish Terrier 

The Scottish Terrier, more popularly known as the Scottie, is an energetic and gentle breed of canine. This breed is famous all over the world for its love, loyalty, and affection for members of the family. However, despite its high energy level, the Scottish Terrier is an animal that is highly susceptible to illnesses if it does not receive adequate exercise.

It requires at least an hour of vigorous exercise daily to remain healthy. During the warmer months, a person with a dog like this can spend hours walking and running with this energetic breed without ever feeling that they are overexerting themselves.

Silky Terrier

Silky Terrier
Image by Delia Strange from Pixabay

The Silky Terrier is such a cute little breed that originated in Australia. They are also very affectionate and well-behaved, making them ideal family pets. Silky terriers are very intelligent and eager to please, which makes them a great choice for family and friends, as they are great companions for kids and adults alike.

However, the Silky Terrier can get boring if its surroundings are constantly changing, so it needs a pretty big room to move around in, and will often need a bit of human stimulation to keep it motivated. The Australian Silky Terrier needs lots of exercise.

Author

  • Karin S

    Welcome to All About My Small Dog, where my love for small dogs and years of hands-on experience meet your need for trusted information. As a dedicated small dog enthusiast and pet parent, I'm deeply committed to sharing expert insights, reliable advice, and a community of support. Every blog you read here is crafted with the utmost care, guided by my passion and expertise. You can trust that you're in the right place for valuable insights and a warm community that understands the unique joys and challenges of small dog ownership. Together, we'll make sure your small dog's world is filled with love, care, and knowledge.