The Smallest Dog Breeds

You’ve met the big dogs, now it’s time to meet the tiny ones, here are ten of the smallest dog breeds in the world

Interestingly enough most of these little guys used to be bigger and over the years selective breeding has made them smaller & smaller.

Also called Monkey Dog because of their monkey-like face & inherent curiosity, this breed was throught to have originated in Germany. Originally larger animals used to catch rats, during the 18th & 19th centuries they were bred smaller as companion animals.

First appearing in the 14th century the Bichon Frise was traded by Spanish sailors and later became the darling of 16th century French royalty. This breed was also popular as a circus & organ grinder’s dog.

The Chihuahua is the oldest breed in North America and the world’s smallest breed overall. Thought to have come from China originally, these dogs are native to Mexico & named for the state of Chihuahua.

These animals originated in Africa and were brought to the Americas by Chinese trading ships who used them for ratters. Later the Aztecs were knon to keep them for bedwarmers and *gasp* for food.

Believe it or not, Japanese Chin is thought to have come from Korea originally & later developed in Japan. The Japanese prized the breed and they became a favorite of royalty.

The Papillion is one of the oldest breeds of dog & has changed its name many times. Their likeness is represented in Italian art from the 13th century and many paintings of the Renaissance period.

These little dogs come from the ancient Spitz breeds and were originally used to herd sheep. Loved by many a famous name like Marie Antoinette, Mozart & Queen Victoria they are the quintessential small show dog.

A relatively new breed the Toy Fox Terrier was developed in the US in the 1930’s using a variety of small dog bloodlines. Originally used as rat dogs they are now primarily companion animals.

Although France has been officially recognized as the country of the Poodle’s origin, the topic has been long debated. The smaller versions became popular among French royalty during the 18th century & they were bred smaller & smaller creating the toy & miniature varieties available today.

The original Yorkies used to be much larger than their modern counterparts & were originally developed to catch rats in mine shafts and for hunting badger & fox. Over the years they were bred for a smaller size and became fashionable dogs for women.

Need More Extreme?

From smallest to largest, if you haven’t seen the biggest dog breeds (Pt. 2) yet, you should.