10. Shih Tzu: The Emperor’s Companion

Bred for centuries specifically to warm the laps of Chinese emperors, the Shih Tzu knows they are royalty and fully expects to be treated as such. Weighing between 9 and 16 pounds, they live 10 to 18 years and excel at their only historical job: offering unwavering companionship.

Unlike the terriers on this list, the Shih Tzu has virtually zero prey drive and absolutely no guarding instincts. They view approaching strangers as friends they simply have not met yet. Their outgoing, playful, and incredibly gentle nature makes them one of the absolute best breeds for families with young children and other household pets.

While they enjoy a good daily play session, they are ultimately lap dogs who are perfectly happy spending the afternoon snoozing on the sofa while you read. Like the Frenchie, they have flat faces, so you need to manage their outdoor exercise carefully in hot weather and keep their facial skin folds clean and dry to prevent bacterial infections.