Most people in Cyprus live in a flat, and every summer runs past 35 °C for weeks. A small dog suits that life well, but not every small breed copes with it equally. Here are the small breeds we bring to Cyprus, sorted by how they handle the heat, and what each one needs from you.

A Toy Poodle, a Chihuahua, a Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltipoo puppy.

What matters in Cyprus

The summer. Dogs cool down by panting, not sweating. From June to September a small dog walks before 8 in the morning and after sunset, and spends the afternoon on cool tiles. Short-nosed breeds find this hardest.
The flat. Marble stairs without a lift, tiled floors, a balcony and neighbours on the other side of the wall. Long backs, small knees and a loud bark all count.
Time alone. Most small companion breeds were bred to be with people. A dog left alone from eight to six will tell the whole building about it.
Sandflies. From about May to October they bite at dusk and can pass on leishmaniasis. Every dog in Cyprus needs protection, whatever its size; our puppy care sheet explains it.

Coping best with the heat

Chihuahua 1.5–3 kg · smooth or long coat Few toy breeds enjoy the Cyprus climate as much. The risk is underfoot: a July pavement can burn his pads, and in a cold tiled house in January he needs a jumper.
Bichon Havanese 4.5–7 kg · silky, sheds very little A dog from a hot Caribbean island, with no thick woolly undercoat. Sturdy for his size, very good with children, and one of the easiest dogs in a flat, as long as he is not alone all day.
Maltipoo 2–9 kg · soft, sheds very little A normal-length muzzle and a small body make him one of the best choices for a Limassol or Nicosia flat. What he does not cope with is long days alone.
Toy and Miniature Poodle 2–7 kg · curly, sheds very little Clever, easy to train, and many love the sea. Dark coats warm up fast in the sun, so choose shade, and book a groomer every four to six weeks.
Yorkshire Terrier up to 3.2 kg · silky, sheds very little His single coat can be clipped short for summer with no harm. Fearless with cats and loose dogs, which is why he walks on a lead and a harness.
Miniature Schnauzer 4.5–7 kg · wiry, sheds very little Sturdy and playful with children, and comfortable in summer with a short clip. Keep him away from fatty food: the breed is prone to pancreatitis.

Good in a flat, careful in summer

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 5.4–8 kg · silky, sheds moderately Always within reach of his people, and gentle with children. A slightly short muzzle and a full coat mean early and late walks only in July and August.
Cavapoo 4–11 kg · wavy, sheds little Follows his family from room to room and is very good with children. Some take after the Cavalier's shorter face and tire quickly in the heat.
Miniature Dachshund about 4–5 kg · smooth, long or wire Brave, funny and loyal. His chest is a hand's width above hot pavement, and his long back needs carrying on marble stairs.
West Highland White Terrier 6–10 kg · harsh white coat A confident terrier who is sturdy enough for a family. His pink skin burns in the sun, and the breed is prone to itchy skin allergies.
Pomeranian 1.5–3 kg · thick double coat A northern winter coat on a two-kilo dog. Short summer walks, a cool spot indoors, and never shave him: the coat is his insulation.

Short noses: summer in air-conditioning

Shih Tzu 4.5–8 kg · long, sheds little One of the easiest dogs for a flat, calm and affectionate. As a short-nosed breed he cannot cool himself well above 35 °C, so from June to September the midday walk is skipped altogether.
Pug 6.3–8.1 kg · short, sheds a lot Sturdy, patient and wonderful with children. No breed we offer has a flatter face, so he spends the summer in air-conditioning, with walks at dawn and after dark.

A little bigger, still flat-sized

Shiba Inu 8–11 kg · double coat Quiet, clean and independent, often house-trained within weeks. A hunter at heart: off the lead only inside a fence.
Welsh Corgi Pembroke 9–12 kg · double coat A herding dog on short legs who needs a job as well as a walk. Ten minutes of training tires him more than an extra kilometre.

If someone in the family has allergies

No dog is completely allergen-free. The allergens are in skin flakes and saliva as well as hair. But dogs that shed very little leave far less of it on sofas and tiled floors, and many people with mild allergies live comfortably with them. The low-shedding small breeds are the Poodle, Maltipoo, Cavapoo, Yorkshire Terrier, Bichon Havanese and Miniature Schnauzer, and the Shih Tzu when he is groomed regularly. If allergies are a real concern, spend an hour with an adult dog of the breed before you decide.

With young children

The smallest dogs, the Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Yorkshire Terrier and Toy Poodle, are fragile: a two-kilo puppy is easily dropped or stepped on, so they suit calm, older children. For a family with younger children, look at the sturdier small breeds: the Miniature Schnauzer, Pug, Bichon Havanese, Cavalier and Cavapoo.

If you are out at work all day

Be honest with yourself here. Almost every small companion breed was bred to be with people, and the Cavalier, Cavapoo, Maltipoo and Havanese are the most attached of all. The Shiba Inu is the most independent of our breeds. Whatever you choose, build up time alone slowly from the first week, and plan for a dog walker or a neighbour on long days.

Summer rules for any small dog

From June to September, walk before 8 in the morning and after sunset.
Put the back of your hand on the pavement. If you cannot hold it there for seven seconds, it is too hot for paws.
Never leave a dog in a car, not even for a few minutes with the windows open.
For single-coated and curly breeds, a summer clip of two or three centimetres helps; a shave down to the skin causes sunburn. Double-coated breeds, the Pomeranian, Shiba and Corgi, should be brushed out, not clipped.
Heavy panting, a bright red tongue or a dog that lies down and will not get up: move him somewhere cool at once and call a vet.

Each breed above has its own page with a full guide to living with it in Cyprus. If you would like a puppy of a breed that has no litter right now, put your name on the availability list and we will tell you when one is confirmed.