Based on DnD, I've always sorta viewed them as dragon-headed bozos. They come in groups and are good exp
There are several different types of Kobolds according to the settings, but they generally describe them at some point, so you can keep track of which one they're using. Whether it's Bipedal Dog, Goblin-Like, Earth-Fairy-like, Lizardlike, WoW's version (bearded something) or whatever they want to describe them as.
D&D makes them a form of diminutive lizard people that are typically fanatical followers of (evil) dragons. Suikoden made them furry dog people. WoW made them some sort of candle-obsessed cult. We can keep expanding this list, as many have already done, but basically, it is some sort of humanoid creature.
Kobolds have dog heads. Depending on the lore of the story, they can be either taller or shorter than humans. In middle age literature, kobolds are short tunneler type creatures, usually found in abandoned mines or making their homes in natural underground caves. In active mines, they were called knockers, because of the knocking sounds they make although the miners themselves didn't see them. Medieval literature also often identified them as the lowest minions of Satan, whenever they're mentioned, with dragons being the closest to Satan or avatar of Satan himself. In Baldur's Gate, kobolds are big humanoids, slightly taller than the average humans and they live on the mountains. However, excluding recent, modern literature, most agreed that kobolds have heads of dogs and are humanoid in form.
Who is "most"? Kobold outside of Japan most are either the western lizard things or the European goblin-like creature.
The variation is because of different cultures, since there's no one world wide mythos. Everquest for example uses the ape like creature with a dog face(Gnolls in Everquest are more like hairy humans with a wolf face). D&D went with more of a lizard look. The creature that shows up in Chapter 28 of Killing Grounds of Gods and Devils sounds like the Everquest Kobold. If you are translating something then usually the author is either referring to local mythos or their favorite game's version. Like a Korean author might use a more lizardman type look if they played Lineage.
Translated german folklores that I read back in my youth. For English literatures, The Witches Hammer identified kobold as a dog headed lesser devil. I have heard some English literature identified kobolds as lizard-like things, but I've not personally read any of such books yet. And let me remind you that I said medieval literature, not modern literature. Modern literature changed everything so much that even vampires can glow under the sunlight now. I would like to ask you the same question, by 'most', which medieval literature you have read described kobolds as lizard-like things or goblin-like creatures?
a kobold is a humanoid 90% canine and 10% humanoid, more or less, in the case of a beastman (nekomimi mode and all) its 10% beast 90% humanoid in appearance. XD