By Paige Mountain
Dailypaws.com
Pearl the Chihuahua is officially the shortest living dog in the world — even shorter than a TV remote.
When she was born, teeny Pearl weighed less than one ounce. Now as an adult, the two-year-old pup stands at 3.59 inches tall and 5 inches long — around the same length as a dollar bill, Guinness World Records says.
Pearl's owner, Vanesa Semler, tells Guinness her dog is only "slightly taller than a teacup." The previous record holder, Miracle Milly, also a Chihuahua, passed away in 2020. However, her spirit lives on in the current title holder as Pearl's mother is one of Milly's sisters.
Pearl went back to where it all started when it was time to capture her world record, getting measured at the Orlando, Fla., facility where she was born. The evaluators measured the Chihuahua three times using a dog measuring wicket. Per Guinness's rules, the measurements spanned from "the base of the front leg foot up to the top of the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades) in a straight vertical line." While Pearl and teacup dogs are certainly cute and tiny, teacups and other tiny dogs are prone to a host of health concerns not seen in their larger counterparts. Many are not ethically bred and sometimes come from puppy mills, in which breeders' primary goal is to make a profit rather than ensuring healthy reproduction.
It's important to do your research and find a responsible breeder or consider adopting a dog from a shelter instead.