The Top 9 Smallest Dogs in the World

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• First recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 1908, the Chihuahua breed is a breed that showcases the world’s smallest dogs, standing 5-8 inches tall and typically weighing 6 pounds. The breed is more prone to heart disease than some other breeds, but has an average lifespan of 14-16 years.
• The Dorkie is a small dachshund crossed with a Yorkshire terrier. Dorkies typically weigh between 5 and 12 pounds and stand between 5 and 9 inches tall. They have prey instincts, are wary of children, and tend to bond with one.
• A Shi-tzu and Maltese cross, the adorable Mal-Shi dog has a brave and gregarious temperament and a love for people. This breed is often used as a therapy dog.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s smallest living dog is a Chihuahua from Puerto Rico named Millie, who stands 3.8 inches at the shoulder. But surprisingly, the world’s smallest dog ever was a diminutive Yorkshire terrier owned by Arthur Marples from England. This puppy measures 2.8 inches at the shoulders and 3.75 inches from nose to tail. Will another dog in the future break this incredible record as the world’s smallest dog?

If you think owning a dog about Milly’s size would be fun, there are several options to consider. When compiling our list, the breed’s minimum height was considered first. We then assessed their weights when compiling the final list.

Teacup designer dogs can be the perfect addition to your home, but don’t overlook some of the smaller standard breeds. who knows? Maybe your future puppy will break the record and become the next smallest dog in the world!

#9 Maltichon – 6 to 12 inches

Breeders created the Maltichon by breeding Maltese and Bichon Frize. The dog should be between 6 and 12 inches tall and weigh between 6 and 14 pounds. It is a friendly family dog ​​who loves to be involved in everything your family does. This dog also does well in households that already have another dog.

All Maltichons have soft, broad coats. Some have apricot, yellowish or cream markings. The coat can be single or double and of variable length. This designer breed will have brown eyes and a black nose. A quick 20-minute romp is appreciated, but beware those who wear double coats to avoid overheating.

#8 Brooodle Griffon – 6 to 11 inches

Brooodle griffons stand between 6 and 11 inches tall. Typically, they weigh between 6 and 12 pounds. This cross between a Poodle and a Brussels Griffon may also be known as a brussapoo, brusapoo, brus-A-Poo or griffinpoo.

A Brooodle griffon’s head can resemble either parent, but is rarely a mix of the two. This dog can have a wavy, smooth or curly coat.

If you’re looking for a stunted dog, consider those with curly coats. If the dog has curly hair, it will take more time to groom it. This dog is eager to please her owner, which makes training a lot easier.

Griffs are highly intelligent and form especially strong bonds with their owners. Like many other toy breeds, potty training and house breaking may require some extra time and effort. Brooodle Griffons are very sensitive and they do not respond well to harsh training methods. They are adorable and need to be loved in return.

#7 Mal-shi – 6 to 10 inches

The mal-shi is a cross between a Maltese and a Shih Tzu. They stand between 6 and 10 inches tall and should weigh between 6 and 12 pounds. Most are brave, sociable, and loving. As such, they often make great therapy dogs. This dog does best when it has a place to romp.

Mal-shis are prone to respiratory problems that are exacerbated by heat, so if you live in a warmer area, share air conditioning with your pet. While this dog needs little to no shearing, you do need to brush him daily. Often these dogs do well in the home with other dogs and children.

#6 Chorkie – 6 to 9 inches

A chorkie is a designer dog that is a cross between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Chihuahua. They should be between 6 and 9 inches tall and weigh between 2 and 8 pounds. They may also be called Yorkiechi. Any color combination is possible, but due to Yorkshire heritage, most have a distinct gray and white appearance. Unlike some designer puppies, you can’t breed two chorkies together and get a dog that looks alike, so you have to breed a Yorkshire Terrier and a Chihuahua each time.

While a bath or two a month is usually enough, keep an eye on the hair growth inside this breed’s ears. This blocks the flow of air into the air, which can lead to ear infections. Frequent ear infections can lead to deafness.

Learn more about chorkies.

#5 Smallest Dog: Toy Poodle – 5 to 10 Inches

Toy Poodles have been around since at least the 17th century, when they were known as sleeve dogs. Typically standing 5 to 10 inches tall and weighing 6 to 10 pounds, this breed is the fifth smallest dog in the world.

The American Kennel Club says this dog can live from 10 to 18 years. It is the smallest of the three poodles recognized by the club. A variety of colors are possible, including blue, gray, silver, brown, café-au-lait, apricot and cream, but the dog’s entire body should be one color.

The Toy Poodle was originally bred as a hunting dog and is full of energy. Favorite activities include catching with a ball or stick, walking, and even swimming. They are also very intelligent dogs and easy to train.

Learn more about toy poodles.

#4 Smallest Dog: Dorkie – 5 to 9 Inches

The Dorkie is a cross between a miniature dachshund and a Yorkshire terrier. These dogs typically weigh between 5 and 12 pounds and stand between 5 and 9 inches tall. Black and tan are the most common color combination, but they can be chocolate and tan, fawn and tan, or gray and tan. They can be brindle, brindle, piebald or sable.

Since both of their bloodlines are hunting dogs, you can expect this designer dog to have strong predator instincts. Many owners report that they are attached to one person. They are often wary of young children. Try to limit the amount of jumping this dog does, as they are prone to disc disease.

Learn more about dorkies.

#3 Smallest Dog: Miniature Dachshund – 5 to 9 Inches

The miniature dachshund is the third smallest dog breed in the world, weighing up to 11 pounds and standing 5 to 9 inches tall. The pendulous ears on its oval head add to this dog’s adorable appearance. This breed can be red, tan, or yellow, or a combination of all three. They are smart dogs and get bored quickly. Their coats can be smooth, woolly or wiry.

The miniature dachshund is a very loyal dog, but it can take a while to warm up to outsiders. They have long spines and short ribcages, which can cause back problems. Most people have almost unlimited energy.

#2 Smallest Dog: Chiweenie – 5 to 9 Inches

Chiweenies stand between 5 and 9 inches tall and weigh between 4 and 11 pounds. They are a cross between a Dachshund and a Chihuahua. Most chiweenies have short hairs, but there are also long-haired chiweenies. The ears can be erect like a Chihuahua or drooping like a Dachshund.

This breed makes great watchdogs, but they can be difficult to train. These dogs usually don’t have strong predator instincts, but they will alert you to any changes in their environment by barking. While this engineered breed may have been accidentally bred earlier, breeders began intentionally breeding these breeds in the 1990s.

#1 Smallest Dog: Chihuahua – 5 to 8 Inches

The American Kennel Club’s Chihuahua Breed Standard says the dog will grow to be 5 to 8 inches tall and should weigh no more than 6 pounds. As we’ve already noted, Chihuahua Millie is currently the world’s smallest dog at just 3.8 inches tall.

The breed’s lifespan is usually between 14 and 16 years. The breed’s coat can be long or short and groomed appropriately. This breed can be any color and can have markings or splashes.

Despite their small size, Chihuahuas have a big dog attitude. This breed is more prone to heart problems than some other breeds. The American Kennel Club first recognized the breed in 1908.

Learn more about Chihuahuas.

If you’re looking for a small dog, consider these breeds. They could be the perfect companion for your family. Remember that taking in any dog ​​is a commitment to love and care for it until its death some years later. These tiny teacup dogs could be the perfect addition to your life.

Even though they are small, the size of a teacup, they have a lot of love to give.

Summary of the 9 Smallest Dogs in the World

Let’s take a look back at those who were cut to be the smallest dogs on earth:

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