posted 03-03-2004 12:43 PM         

Smallest Living Dog
The world's smallest dog, in terms of length, is Tiny Pinocchio, a steel-blue-and-tan Yorkshire Terrier who measured 20.3 cm (8 in) long on May 23, 2003, and 12.06 cm (4.75 in) to the top of the shoulder. The one-pound pooch, who also goes by the name of Noki, sleeps in a birdcage at the home of his owner, Linda Skeels-Hopson of St Petersburg, Florida, USA.
"He's highly abnormal, even for a toy breed," says veterinarian Dr. Michael Rumore. "He just stopped growing at eight weeks, although he has matured and he's healthy. To be honest, we don't know why he's so small. He may be just tiny."