I have picked these 11 small dog breeds that are calm and easy to train.
#1 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s temperament is friendly and loyal. However, you should know that the Cavalier needs constant company as it gets very upset at being left alone.
Cavaliers do calm down from the puppy stage.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are eager to please and highly responsive to training.
Training is straightforward, as most can learn tricks and commands quickly.
#2 Poodle
Poodles originated in Germany as hunting dogs.
Poodles are intelligent and are particularly able to learn from humans. They are renowned for their friendly temperament.
I love Poodles since they are easy to train and excel at being taught tricks. Note – miniature poodles are so much easier to train.
#3 Papillon
Papillon dogs are the oldest breeds of toy spaniels. They have the spirit to keep up with active families. They’re very patient and therefore quite unlikely to snap.
Papillons are easy to train and puppies can start learning as early as eight weeks old.
#4 Shih Tzu
It is a toy dog or pet dog breed originating from Tibet.
I love Shih Tzus since they are relatively quiet compared to other breeds.
Shih Tzu are highly intelligent and have an eager-to-please nature, which makes them very trainable. However, Shih Tzus can be stubborn.
So, it is best to start from a young age with positive, reward-based training.
#5 Bichon Frise
Bichons frises are dogs with curly white coats and lots of personality.
It has origins in Tenerife. They are calm, charming, curious, and endlessly intelligent.
Extremely easy to train if you baby them. They quickly pick up basic cues and can learn fancier tricks, too. They don’t like being left alone for long periods.
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#6 Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer is the smallest of the three Schnauzers.
The breed originated in Germany. Miniature Schnauzers were bred to help control the rodent population.
As you probably know, Mini Schnauzers can be mischievous.
They are adaptable and can enjoy quiet time indoors. They are also fairly easy to train with consistency.
#7 English Cocker Spaniel
The English Cocker Spaniel is a breed of gun dog. It was first registered with the Kennel Club (England) in 1873.
They are great as family dogs. English Cocker Spaniels are easy to train and enjoy working with humans as long as only positive methods are used.
#8 Cavapoo
A Cavapoo is a breed resulting from the cross between a Miniature Poodle or Toy Poodle and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The Cavapoo breed is easily trainable, super smart, and affectionate.
They form a strong attachment to their owners and the people around them. Cavapoos have a calm demeanor, especially when they’re well-trained.
#9 Boston Terrier
Boston Terriers are small dogs who have lots of energy. Luckily, they are calm indoors. The breed is famous for its distinctive “tuxedo” markings.
Bostons get along well with other pets, even cats.
Potty training a Boston can be as easy as, within a week or two.
#10 Havanese
The Havanese is the only dog breed native to Cuba. It was developed from the now extinct Blanquito de la Habana. Havaneses are not aggressive, but they can be very mischievous.
Despite being a toy breed, Havaneses are not loud. It is one of the easiest dog breeds to train not to bark.
#11 Coton de Tuléar
It is a breed named after the city of Tuléar in Madagascar. The Coton is small but robustly sturdy. The Coton de Tuléar is slightly longer than its tall with dark pigmentation.
They can be lighthearted, calm, and easygoing. They are true people-pleasers.
I appreciate Coton de Tuléar‘s low-maintenance cost. Last but not least, the Coton de Tulear is generally easy to train. As such, they can make excellent obedience dogs.