  We review basic properties of the population of dwarf galaxies in the Local
Group focusing on dwarf spheroidal galaxies found in the immediate vicinity of
the Milky Way. The evidence for dark matter in these objects is critically
assessed. We describe the methods of dynamical modelling of such objects, using
a few examples of the best-studied dwarfs and discuss the sources of
uncertainties in mass estimates. We conclude with perspectives for dwarf
galaxies as targets for dark matter detection experiments.
