Companion dogs typically describe canines which aren’t meant for a specific task such as hunting or guarding, but rather those who offer companionship to their owners. Most owners use companion dogs for company and not as workers in any way. Any dog can essentially be a companion dog, and many working or hunting types are often chosen for the tasks due to their friendly nature (for example, retrievers).

Companion dogs are often smaller breeds, though not necessarily: companion dogs can be any size, whereas toy dogs are all very small.