There are many breeds of dogs in the world. Some are big breeds while some are small. Among the small dog breeds, there is one which is the smallest of all. This article provides information on the smallest dog breed in the world.
There are plenty of dog breeds in the world from which you can choose your pet. You can bring home a large dog like a St. Bernard or a Great Dane if you have a big house and a big car. However, if you are not ready for big dogs, then you can always go in for some small dog breed like a toy poodle or a Bichon Frise. However, if you still aren’t happy with their size, you can adopt a puppy of the smallest breed.
A small dog breed is that which is less than 22 lbs in weight or shorter than 16 inches in height. You will come across many small dog breeds that are much heavier or taller, but they are considered to be a borderline between medium and small breeds.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed in the world. The toy dog breeds according to the AKC are as follows.
- Affenpinscher
- Brussels Griffon
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Chihuahua
- Chinese Crested
- English Toy Spaniel
- Havanese
- Italian Greyhound
- Japanese Chin
- Maltese
- Manchester Terrier
- Miniature Pinscher
- Papillon
- Pekingese
- Pomeranian
- Poodle
- Pug
- Shih Tzu
- Silky Toy Terrier
- Toy Fox Terrier
- Yorkshire Terrier
Smallest Breed Requirements
The Chihuahua has won the title of the smallest dog breed ever. A Chihuahua needs to be less than 6 pounds to be qualified as the smallest dog breed by the AKC. It should be about 6 to 8 inches tall and have a smooth, glossy coat. A long, shaggy coat is also considered. Any other breed that beats the height and weight of the Chihuahua will be considered as the smallest dog breed. The second smallest breed is the miniature poodle, which is about 10 inches in height and 6 to 9 pounds in weight.
The record holder of the smallest dog in the world was a Chihuahua that was living in Slovakia and measured about 5½ inches. After the sad demise of this record holder, the title was won by a Lake County, Florida resident Chihuahua named Dancer. He lost his title to two other contenders and finally, the title was won by Boo Boo. He is only four inches tall and the smallest dog in the world.
Information about Chihuahuas
Chihuahuas are devoted dogs that will protect their masters from any threat despite their size. Do not be fooled by their tiny size, they can cause as much damage as a German Shepherd would to an intruder.
Chihuahuas love to socialize and do not like being left alone by their owners. They are not suitable for owners who work all day and cannot spend time with the dog. They are also not ideal pets for children and tend to nip and growl whenever they get a chance. Although they are small, do not underestimate the grooming requirements of these dogs. If you are not ready to commit yourself to this breed for a considerable time of your day, then do not bring it home.
Chihuahuas are known for their devotion and ferocity and tend to become jealous when their owners shower more attention on someone else. Chihuahuas are not only the smallest dog breed in the world, but are high-energy dogs in a small package.
