Smallest Dog in the World!

Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Cocker Spaniels, Fox Terriers, German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Great Danes, Rottweilers, Beagles, Dachshunds, English Sheepdogs, Bulldogs…Dog breeds are a dime a dozen. Small, large, thin, fat, black, white, brown, fawn…dogs come in various shapes, sizes and colors. However, in this article, we will focus only on the small-sized ones in an attempt to find out which happens to be the smallest breed of dog in the world. So then, any wild guesses? Is it the Poodle? Or the Pug? Or the Shih Tzu? The Yorkshire Terrier perhaps? Well, how about the Lhasa Apso? Or maybe the Pomeranian? Quite a lot of options, aren’t they? So then, is the smallest dog in the world one among the above-mentioned types of dogs? Or does it belong to a dog breed that hasn’t been mentioned until now? Well, read ahead to find out.

So what is the world’s smallest dog breed ever? Well, I suspect most of you would already know the answer to that question, but for those of you who don’t, here it is. The smallest dog breed in the world is the Chihuahua. It is widely recognized the world over as a toy dog and a natural toy dog at that. What that means is that a Chihuahua is naturally small in size, and that it is not purposefully bred to make it smaller (as is the case, in case of a few other small dogs). Well, now that you know which the smallest dog in the world is, here are a few interesting facts and features about Chihuahua dogs:

This dog breed is named so because it was discovered in the Mexican state of Chihuahua in the mid 1800’s. They are generally categorized into two varieties – short-haired, smooth coat Chihuahuas, and long-haired Chihuahuas.

Their head is wide, round and dome-shaped. In contrast, their snout is very small and compact. The same cannot be said of their ears, however. Their ears are upright, flared and point outwards at a near 45 degree angle. Their distinct ears happen to be one of the unique features of this dog breed.

Weight-wise, these dogs can weigh anything from a mere three pounds to around nine pounds. They have short, thin legs and their height tends to be anywhere between four to eight inches.

They are suitable pet dogs for people who live in urban areas, apartments, etc. They require moderate level of exercise, most of which happens on its own (in the form of their daily play activity).

Generally, their life expectancy is in the range of 11-16 years.

Unfortunately, most Chihuahuas are not comfortable with toddlers and young children. However, they make great pets for elders, singles, senior citizens, etc. They are always friendly with their masters, and they remain fiercely loyal to them. Read more on Chihuahua puppy training tips.

So then, as far as world records are concerned, which is the smallest dog in the world? Well, that is a tricky question to answer. Simply because, the title of the ‘smallest dog in the world’ constantly keeps getting transferred from one dog to another (as and when new entries come up). Therefore, rather than putting down the name of the present title holder in this article, and running the risk of the information getting outdated in the near future, I think it would be better if you google that piece of trivia, and find out the answer for yourself.

Article Courtesy of Veronique Brown