What Size Urn for a Small Dog?
Updated November 2026.
The short answer: for a small dog up to 15 kg (33 lb), choose our Small–Medium size. As a stacked piece, our Small–Medium canopic jar urn measures approx. 120 mm wide, 154 mm deep and 231 mm tall. Weigh your dog at their usual, healthy weight, not at the end of their life if they lost weight towards the end.
What size urn for a small dog?
Small-Medium is the smallest of our three sizes and it covers every dog up to 15 kg, from a tiny Chihuahua to a sturdy cocker spaniel. So the real question for a small dog is rarely which size, but whether yours sits close to the 15 kg line. If they were well under it, Small–Medium is simply right. If they were near it, or you are unsure, go up.
How much space do a small dog's ashes need?
A common guide is about 1 cubic inch of space for each pound your dog weighed. It is a guide, not a measured volume, but it gives a good starting point. For a small dog:
- A 5 kg (11 lb) dog: about 11 cubic inches, roughly 180 ml
- A 10 kg (22 lb) dog: about 22 cubic inches, roughly 360 ml
- A 15 kg (33 lb) dog: about 33 cubic inches, roughly 540 ml
If the crematorium gave you the volume of the ashes, use that figure instead and tell us before you order.
Our sizes
| Our size | Pet's usual weight | Rough ashes volume (guide) | Canopic jar urn, approx. outer size (W x D x H) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small–Medium | up to 15 kg (33 lb) | up to about 33 cubic inches, roughly 540 ml | 120 x 154 x 231 mm |
| Medium–Large | up to 30 kg (66 lb) | about 66 cubic inches, roughly 1.1 litres | 140 x 180 x 270 mm |
| Extra Large | up to 40 kg (88 lb) | about 88 cubic inches, roughly 1.4 litres | 160 x 206 x 309 mm |
The weight bands are the same on our dog portrait, wrapped, collar and canopic jar urns, so the same choice applies whichever style you prefer.
Small by weight, not by breed
Many small breeds weigh well under 10 kg, but some small-looking dogs are heavier than they seem, and some larger breeds are lean. The weight decides the size. If your dog is between 12 and 15 kg, Small–Medium is still the right band. Breeds that often sit near that line include cocker spaniels and staffies, so their guides are worth a look.
Tips before you choose
- Use the weight your dog was when healthy. If they lost weight towards the end, their usual weight is the better guide.
- If the crematorium gave you the volume of the ashes, use that figure and tell us before you order.
- Between two sizes? Go up. A little space is better than too little.
- Never use the outside measurements as the space inside: tell us the volume you need and we will confirm the size.
Styles in the Small–Medium size
Small dogs leave a very particular gap in a house, and many people want a piece that looks like them. Our custom dog portrait urn is a seated portrait shaped from your photographs. The personalised canopic jar urn comes in the Small–Medium size for pets up to 15 kg and carries their name on the front panel. The wrapped pet urn holds your dog's face in curved, overlapping forms, and the collar urn is made to hold their own collar.
Every White Doe dog urn is cast stone, finished by hand and made to order, with free tracked delivery in the UK and worldwide. For portrait styles you send one to five clear photographs and we share a digital proof before anything is made. The portrait, collar and wrapped urns are for indoors on a steady shelf, mantel or sideboard; the canopic jar can also sit in a sheltered outdoor spot. Support any urn underneath with both hands when you lift it.
Where to go next
Look at the full range in pet urns for ashes. If your dog was a Labrador or a cockapoo, our size guides for those breeds are here and here. For dogs over 15 kg, see our 30 kg dog guide. Not sure what you need? Read how to choose a pet urn or what to do with pet ashes, or use our urn size calculator.
Questions people ask
What size urn for a small dog?
Dogs up to 15 kg (33 lb) choose our Small–Medium size, the smallest of our three.
What size urn for a 10 kg dog?
Small–Medium. The guide gives about 22 cubic inches, roughly 360 ml, for a 10 kg dog.
My dog was 14 or 15 kg. Is Small–Medium enough?
Small–Medium is for pets up to 15 kg. If you are near the line or unsure, go up to Medium–Large.
Can I use the outside measurements to check the capacity?
No. The outside size is larger than the space inside. Tell us the volume you need to hold and we will confirm the size.
Is there a smaller size for a tiny dog or puppy?
Small–Medium is the smallest size on our dog urns. If you need something smaller, message us with your pet's weight before you order.
Do all your urn styles come in the Small–Medium size?
The dog portrait, wrapped, collar and canopic jar urns all use the same three weight bands.
Do you deliver outside the UK?
Yes. Delivery is free and tracked, in the UK and worldwide.