Pearl, a four-year-old Chihuahua from Florida, recently enjoyed a two-day playdate. She made some beautifully new contrasting photos of him and Reginald, the world’s tallest living dog, as well as large-small true doggy friendship. Pearl is tiny in real life, measuring only 3.59 inches (9.14 cm) tall. She’s received official recognition from Guinness World Records as the world’s smallest living dog. Here’s how the groundbreaking convening played out in sunny Orlando, Florida. Pet owners Vanesa Semler and Sam Johnson Reiss largely carried the meeting along on a current of enthusiasm.
Pearl has a long history of small dogs in her pedigree. Her aunt Millie, who died in 2020, held the record until then. At birth, Pearl and Millie weighed only 1 ounce (28.35 grams) apiece. One small beginning builds a delightful family history of little puppers. Semler lovingly calls Pearl her “prima donna”—a name that captures the dog’s fierce, spirited nature.
Each day, Pearl reclaims agency over her body and wardrobe. She enthusiastically picks her wardrobe by putting her paw on the clothes I spread out for her. Although she’s small in stature, Pearl has a commanding presence with dogs of all sizes! Even Reginald, who looks down on her, is irresistibly attracted to her warmth. At first, Pearl wrestled with her own fears about Reginald’s size but then adjusted her attitude accordingly.
“Reggie’s just cheeky, like he’s kind of mischievous and silly and definitely tells you when he wants something,” shared Reiss about his dog.
As Pearl’s visit with Reginald drew to a close, the two dogs had become fast friends and their humans were equally amazed. Semler expressed delight in observing their friendship develop, stating, “For me, [it] was a huge, pleasant surprise from day one because Reggie is like Pearl, in bigger size.”
The meeting was somewhat rocky. Pearl showed signs of jealousy over toys and an existing bed shared with Reginald. It was her extraordinary adaptability that allowed her to keep up with her bestie. Pearl was not intimidated by Reginald’s size and was even quite affectionate with him.
“I would say he likes people a little bit more than he likes other dogs,” said Reiss about Reginald’s temperament.