11 Best Lap Dogs

Dogs are the best friends to humans, and for most animal lovers bringing a new furry friend into the family is an exciting prospect. Lap dogs are usually easy to train and have good temperaments, which makes it very enjoyable to have them around. The best lap dogs come in different breeds. They are generally small in size, amiable, and for them, your lap is a wonderful sanctuary that makes them forget everything around them.

With their warm “personalities,” lap dogs offer a perfect company to differently-abled people and seniors who spend most of their time inside the house. Nevertheless, these dogs are not only ideal companions to only those who sit all the time but can also be compatible with other dog lovers.

Having your lap dog curl comfortably on your lap as you watch your favorite programs on the TV after a busy is a wonderful experience. Therefore, if you are a pet lover who dreams of this kind of lifestyle, then you would be interested in learning about the best lap dogs to consider.

Our Top Choices for Best Lap Dogs

1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small, energetic, and friendly hunting dog that enjoys the company of its owner. As the name suggests, it was the favorite breed of King Charles II. Fortunately, these dogs do not care about your social status as long as they are free to spend some quality time on your lap while on the couch. In addition to that, they also love to go on outdoor adventures.

With their unique and gentle natures, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is considered a great therapy doggie. This lap dog breed is not only popular for its gentle, cheerful and affectionate character, but also for its stunning silky coat with three different colors: black, red and tan. These dogs are small in size as they only reach a height of 12 to 13 inches and weigh around 10 to 18 pounds. Besides that, they have 9 to 14 years of life expectancy.

As a pet owner, you should be aware of the common health complications associated with each breed. Some of the common health concerns associated with these dogs include syringomyelia, episodic falling, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, or dry eye. Others include hip dysplasia, mitral valve disease, and patellar luxation.

2. Havanese

This energetic, cheerful, and fun-loving lap dog is considered as the national dog of Cuba. These lap dogs have won the hearts of many pet lovers due to their beautiful eyes, cuddly size, and most importantly, their long, silky coat. Havanese love to stick close to their owners, which has earned them a nickname, “Velcro dog.” These lap dogs are energetic and easy to train to make them a wonderful companion.

In maturity, Havanese reaches a height of 8 to 11 inches and weight of 7 to 13 pounds, with around 14 to 15 years of life expectancy. The breed comes in different colors, but the most common ones include black, gray, brown, blue, white, and silver.

Havanese is popular for its social, loyal, cheerful, intelligent, and responsive nature. Besides, this best lap dog breed has little health concerns to worry about as the only minor concern associated with them is patellar luxation.

3. Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu is a Chinese canine that has a long, silky hair and weighs less than 15 pounds. Many dog owners consider these dogs as social and very friendly, though they might be a bit hostile to some strangers. Consequently, these dogs are famous as watchdogs. This makes them one of the best lap dogs, and also, perfect companions to seniors.

Moreover, Shih Tzus are also great pets for people with allergies as they do not shed that much. These lap dogs are also friendly to visitors and are comfortable being around with kids.

The Shih Tzu is one of the longest living dog breeds as they have around 13 years of life expectancy. However, there are also some common health concerns to think about if you want to own this breed. These include eye problems, ear infections, and trick knee.

4. Pug

If you are looking for the best lap dogs that are cheerful and very friendly, then a pug could be a choice that is worthy of your consideration. Just like Shih Tzu, this is a Chinese breed that is synonymous with affection and is popular with royalty members. The breed is friendly, cheerful, gentle, playful, alert, loyal, but most importantly, sweet and loving.

This wrinkly-faced canine breed has a short coat that requires little care. It is also important to mention that these dogs are brachycephalic (sensitive to heat). Therefore, whether you are out for some adventures or snuggling at the couch, it is good to ensure that they remain cool.

Pugs reach a height of around 10 to 14 inches and weight of about 13 to 20 pounds. Their life expectancy is approximately 12 to 15 years. The canine breed has black or silver colors.

Some of the common health concerns of this lap dog include painful entropion, proptosis, scratched corneas, and skeletal brow ridges.

5. Lhasa Apso

The other canine breed that makes it to our list of the best lap dogs is the amazingly small dog, Lhasa Apso. Lhasa Apso weighs at most 15 pounds, but they are not as small as the Italian Greyhound or Chihuahua. These dogs love to chill and are more comfortable spending time around the house.

Moreover, Lhasa Apso also makes a great watchdog since they tend to bark a lot, which can serve as an alert when a stranger or visitor comes close to a door. The dog is also a good addition to your family as a lap dog since it does not shed that much. Lhasa Apso is fairly clean, making it an ideal option for aspiring pet owners with allergies.

However, just like other canine breeds, these lap dogs also require training. If the canine breed is not trained early and effectively, they might become aggressive with visitors and grandchildren.

These canines have an average lifespan of up to 14 years and are also free from most health problems. Therefore, the Lhasa Apso is pretty healthy, but they can suffer from skin or eye problems. With 14 years average lifespan, the dog is one of the longest living canine breeds.

6. Chihuahua

The Chihuahua is a small dog breed that also makes one of the best lap dogs in the world. This makes it a suitable canine breed, especially those who cannot spend lots of hours walking like the seniors. These dogs appreciate visiting dog parks, tearing up trails or getting out, but are also comfortable to live without having to exercise regularly.

However, the dog breed is not great with kids, according to most Chihuahua owners. Chihuahuas are among the longest living dog breed in the world, making them good lap dogs. The only downside about them is that they rarely get along with some canine breeds, which should be a consideration when choosing new pets.

It is also advisable to avoid feeding these dogs too much as they are prone to obesity. Some of the health complications associated with Chihuahuas include epilepsy, bronchitis, and tracheal collapse. Most of them are also prone to dental issues, which explains why it is recommended to brush their teeth on a daily basis. Unfortunately, these dogs have a high risk of suffering from trick knees.

7. Yorkshire Terrier

Just like Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso, York Terrier is another lap dog breed that requires regular grooming. As the name suggests, the active and tiny canine breed originated from England. The dog breed is an ideal option for those with allergies as it does not shed that much.

As compared to most small breeds, Yorkshire Terrier is among the best lap dogs as they score handsomely when it comes to obedience training. These were also used for hunting rats in ancient times, but these days they mostly act companions.

However, the canine breed is associated with some common health problems such as trick knees, eyelash issues, retained puppy teeth, and low level of blood sugar. The dog breed also suffers from tracheal collapse and portosystemic shunt. Eyelash issues cause corneal damage.

Finally, regular tooth brushing is also recommended since these dogs are also prone to periodontal disease, just like other small breeds. Yorkshire Terrier has an average lifespan of up to 17 years if it avoids suffering from severe health issues.

8. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a medium-sized breed canine that offers a good option for those looking for the best lap dog companion. These dogs are small enough for many owners to handle since it weighs only 24 to 30 pounds.

With their short legs and medium-sized body, Corgis are adorable and fun to have around you. Corgis are also smart and fairly easy to train because they are herding dogs by nature.

It is also good to mention that they need routine exercise though regular walks are also beneficial for them. These dogs have minimal grooming requirements as compared to most canine breeds.

9. Bichon Frise

If you are looking for a joyful and affectionate lap dog, this small, fluffy canine breed could be a great option for you. Bichon Frise is easy for many dog owners to handle as it weighs only 7 to 12 pounds. These dogs require regular grooming and are simple to train, which makes them low-maintenance pets.

10. Papillon

The Papillon is a friendly, intelligent and alert canine breed with long fur, which makes them easy to train among the best lap dogs. This dog breed is popular for its long, perky ears. With its friendly personality, the Papillon lap dog breed is ideal for children.

Despite their long fur, the dog requires low grooming maintenance. However, you need to comb the dogs’ fur regularly to prevent them from matting. The other challenge of owning this dog is that you need to trim their nails more often as compared to other dogs as they tend to grow quickly.

11. French Bulldog

This is a calm and friendly lap dog breed that is also known to be very adaptable and alert, making it a good watchdog. French Bulldogs rarely bark unless there is an intruder. The canine breed can make a great lap dog since it requires little outdoor exercise. Therefore, you can comfortably own one even if you live in an apartment building.

Moreover, the dog breed is very comfortable with children and other animals, which makes them a perfect companion to have as one of the best lap dogs.

Final Verdict

If you are looking for the best lap dogs, you should consider getting one of the breeds on our list. The canine breeds mentioned above have the perfect body size, great temperament, fewer health issues, and often require low maintenance. This allows you to choose one that suits your taste. However, it advisable to remember that some are more adaptable and easier to train than others.