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00:00 Every dog breed is beautiful in its little way.
00:03 However, we'd agree that certain pups have that "aww" effect more than others.
00:07 Likewise, size doesn't seem to matter when it comes to dogs, as these critters, whether
00:11 big or small, will always have a special place in our hearts.
00:15 After all, they're man's best friend.
00:17 But some people don't want to let go of the feeling of cuddling a puppy, so they opt for
00:21 dog breeds that won't outgrow their lap.
00:24 Well, in today's video, we'll be talking about breeds that got the best of both worlds.
00:29 After judging by how contentious it would be to rank these poochies by cuteness, here
00:33 are the 20 smallest and cutest dog breeds in the world that will melt your heart and
00:38 leave you wanting more.
00:39 So without much ado, let's jump right in.
00:41 20.
00:44 Pug We kick off today's video with an undeniably
00:48 cute breed, the pug.
00:51 Pugs are a little bundle of joy with their cute little monkey faces and square bodies.
00:55 Anyone who's ever owned one would know it's hard to walk them down the street without
00:59 someone bending over to dote over your dog.
01:02 They've also got this mischievous side to them that make them all the more fascinating.
01:07 Pugs were originally bred to be lap dogs by the Shang Dynasty in 300 BC, and since then,
01:13 they've done a darn good job at being companion dogs.
01:16 But they weren't always this small, just as with Pomeranians, we'll talk more about them
01:20 in a bit.
01:21 Pugs were first imported to the Netherlands from China, then the breeder who's probably
01:25 somewhere in the great beyond marveling at his work, decided to breed them to make them
01:29 smaller.
01:30 The turn of the 19th century brought loads of popularity for pugs, especially since Queen
01:35 Victoria had several of them, which she bred herself.
01:39 Her involvement inspired the creation of the Kennel Club in 1873, which is acknowledged
01:44 as the first kennel club in the world.
01:47 According to the club, a pug is "a lot of dog in a small frame."
01:51 So who are we to argue?
01:54 Number 19.
01:55 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel You might have guessed from its name where
01:59 this bundle of cuteness originates.
02:01 Yep, it's from the United Kingdom.
02:03 But the ones we have today differed slightly from their ancestral parents from the 17th
02:08 century.
02:09 Cavaliers, for shorts, were interbred initially with flat-nosed breeds and the current look
02:14 was then attempted by other breeders in the early 1900s.
02:18 However, it wasn't until 1928 that the first breed standard for the Cavalier was created,
02:25 along with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club.
02:28 They're a breed that thrives on affection and is excellent as a companion dog or lapdog
02:33 thanks to their happy, adaptable and loving demeanor.
02:36 They're enchanting, joyous and gentle.
02:39 Standing no more than 13 inches and weighing about 18 pounds, Cavaliers offer a lot of
02:44 love in their tiny, gracious bodies.
02:46 They were recognized by the AKC in 1995.
02:50 Great with pets, kids and elderly people, Cavaliers are a must-have for every household.
02:57 Number 18.
02:58 Japanese Chin If you assumed that the Japanese Chin originated
03:02 from Japan, taking a hint from its name, you're slightly correct.
03:06 However, it's believed that the Japanese Chin originated from China before being exported
03:11 to Europe from Japan.
03:13 It wasn't until the Japanese opened trade with the rest of the world in 1854 that the
03:18 breed gained attraction in the Western Hemisphere.
03:22 Famed for their strabismus eyes, soft and straight coats and a tail curved over their
03:26 back leaning on either side, Japanese Chin are adorable and ideal for companion and lapdogs.
03:34 They're also known for their chin spin.
03:36 They weigh in between 7 and 11 pounds and are 8 to 11 inches tall.
03:41 Nonetheless, they've got plenty of personality beneath their small hood.
03:45 Take note, Japanese Chins are exceptionally great with kids and are generally quiet dogs.
03:51 They're not high-energy dogs and might not require a great deal of exercise.
03:55 These loving dogs with irresistible faces were once the companions of royalty, so you
04:01 best treat them as such.
04:04 Number 17.
04:05 Boston Terrier Characterized by their tuxedo coat and expressive
04:10 round dark round eyes, Boston Terriers are lovable dogs and anyone who's ever met one
04:16 would agree.
04:17 They're such an amusing, intelligent canine companion with their small, compact body,
04:22 weighing in measuring between 20 and 25 pounds and 11 to 17 inches tall, respectively.
04:27 While they're called Boston Terriers, plot twist, they aren't entirely terriers.
04:32 You see, in the 1860s in England, a bulldog and white terrier were used to produce the
04:38 progenitor of the Boston Terrier we currently have.
04:41 Some years later, in Boston, the same parents were used for the same result to create a
04:45 breed fit for their horrific dogfighting sport.
04:52 But the Boston Terrier has put its rough-and-tumble past behind it to become a perfect companion
04:57 for everyone.
04:58 With their dapper looks, gentle, manly disposition and tuxedo coat coupled with the fact that
05:03 they were originally bred in the US, Boston Terriers have been aptly nicknamed the American
05:09 Gentleman.
05:11 Number 16.
05:12 Shih Tzu Can you guess where the Shih Tzu originated?
05:16 Not so smart, huh?
05:17 Well, that's what we're here for.
05:19 Shih Tzus are believed to be products of the crossbreeding between Apekinese and Alasa
05:24 Apso and were presented to the Chinese emperors around the end of the 17th century.
05:30 The emperors were so enchanted by this adorable dog that they ensured no Shih Tzu was sold,
05:36 traded or given away.
05:38 This continued until 1930 when the breed made its way to Europe and the rest of the world.
05:44 Their name, which is Chinese for "lion", was assigned because the dogs were bred to resemble
05:49 a lion as it appears in traditional Oriental art.
05:53 Weighing between 9 to 16 pounds and measuring about 8 to 11 inches, the Shih Tzu is a cute,
05:58 charming and downright adorable dog with a friendly and affectionate personality.
06:04 They have a distinct long, silky coat, short legs and large, soulful eyes.
06:08 However, they might be a lot of work as they require frequent and consistent grooming.
06:14 Number 15.
06:15 Chihuahua For cute dogs that come in small packages,
06:20 Chihuahuas are sure the smallest of the lot.
06:23 Measuring only between 5 and 8 inches, Chihuahua pride themselves on being the smallest cute
06:28 dogs in history.
06:30 In fact, the smallest dog in history was a Chihuahua called Miracle Millie with a weight
06:34 of approximately 1 pound and only 3.8 inches in height.
06:40 They're one of the most popular smaller dog breeds in the world and are also very territorial.
06:45 But what they lack in size, they make up for in personality.
06:49 And boy, what a personality we're talking about!
06:52 Chihuahuas are known to boss their owners around if they're not given guidance and always
06:56 want to have their way.
06:58 Therefore, they're not quite the dogs for small kids.
07:01 On the flip side, they have loads of energy and sass, making them fun and loving companions.
07:08 Number 14.
07:09 Papillon Next, we've got one of the oldest dog breeds,
07:13 the Papillon.
07:15 Most of Papillon's history can be traced through paintings.
07:18 For example, Tiziano Vecchielli, also known as Tishin, painted small dogs that looked
07:22 like Papillons with many of the companion dogs that lived in the mid-1500s.
07:27 Also, a Papillon was seen in the family portrait of Louis XIV.
07:32 The first set of known Papillons had a curled tail over the back, making people call them
07:37 the squirrel spaniel.
07:38 Papillons are affectionate, smart, and very energetic.
07:42 So you need to keep them engaged if you don't want them chowing down on your socks and just
07:46 about anything in the house.
07:48 They're also great with dog sports despite their small size.
07:52 Did you know their name is French for butterfly?
07:54 Like butterfly wings, their large, elegant ears earned them the moniker "butterfly
07:59 dog."
08:01 Number 13.
08:02 Havanese Havanese is a breed that embodies the term
08:06 "clingy."
08:07 Nicknamed the Velcro dog, these adorable little pooches enjoy the company of their owner 24/7.
08:14 They love to cuddle, are charming, and are warm towards humans and fuzzballs alike.
08:19 Their beautiful, soft, easy maintenance coat is one of the reasons why they're everyone's
08:23 sweetheart.
08:24 They're about 8.5 to 12.5 inches tall and can weigh as much as 13 pounds.
08:29 Interestingly, Havanese is the national dog of Cuba and were introduced to the United
08:34 States during the Cuban Revolution.
08:36 The AKC recognized them in 1996 as a toy breed, but they're also useful as therapy, assistance,
08:42 and signal dogs.
08:44 They're descendants of the now-extinct Bichon Tenerife and Blanquito de la Habana, which
08:49 means "little white dog of Havana."
08:52 Number 12.
08:53 Miniature Pinscher Another fluffball to love up to is the Miniature
08:58 Pinscher.
08:59 These guys are believed to have originated from Germany and are also "Minpin," a cooler
09:05 name.
09:06 Similar to their German counterparts, the German Pinschers, but about half their size,
09:10 Minpins are very brave and energetic.
09:13 This fun-loving, friendly dog breed is said to be the cross between German Pinschers and
09:17 Dachshunds or Italian Greyhounds.
09:20 They're classified as toy dogs, but also make great companion dogs, so they're famously
09:25 known as the "King of the Toys."
09:27 An average Miniature Pinscher is about 10 to 13 inches at the shoulder and weighs around
09:31 8 to 10 pounds.
09:33 Known for their hackney gait, which means when a dog lifts his front feet high and bends
09:37 the wrist like a hackney horse, these sturdy, smart dogs are affectionate toward cats and
09:42 people, but are aggressive with other dogs.
09:44 Guess they love being the only dog around!
09:48 Number 11.
09:49 Toy Poodle Meet the smallest of all poodles.
09:54 The Toy Poodle is the smallest, with a weight of only 6 pounds tops and a height of 10 inches.
10:00 Toy Poodles are quite puzzling because they're incredibly self-confident but eager to please.
10:05 And yeah, they're a bundle of energy and mischief, don't let their diminutive size tell you otherwise.
10:11 They were first noticed in the early 1900s in Paris when poodles were used in circuses.
10:16 The circus guys appreciated that Toy Poodles were smaller and easier to transport and handle
10:21 when traveling in circuses.
10:23 Toy Poodles then found purpose outside the circus by becoming popular companion dogs.
10:28 Toy Poodles are excellent water retrievers and very intelligent, despite not being as
10:33 fast and agile as the standard or miniature poodle.
10:36 They also add high trainability to that impressive resume.
10:40 For looks, the Toy Poodle sports a fancy haircut with a squarish body and large, dark-colored
10:45 cute eyes.
10:47 Number 10.
10:48 French Bulldog The French Bulldog is one you can't mistake
10:53 with its bat ears and mashed, wrinkly face.
10:56 Although that might not be your idea of cute, trust me, they're downright irresistible.
11:02 Playful, affectionate, charming, and smart, a French Bulldog is capable of turning anyone
11:12 into an alluring fan of little dogs.
11:15 Frenchies, as they're fondly called, are on the larger side of small dogs but can weigh
11:19 as little as 28 pounds, stand about 11 to 13 inches tall, and have a muscular, compact
11:25 build.
11:26 Frenchies are rather quiet pups that don't bark often but will bark to let you know if
11:30 someone is at the door.
11:32 They're also alert and territorial, but don't expect them to be guard dogs.
11:36 French Bulldogs also have a reputation for being a bit headstrong, but with a bit of
11:41 patience and loads of treats, any French Bulldog can be trained.
11:45 As with all short-nosed dogs, Frenchies have a low tolerance for humidity, heat, and too
11:49 much exercise.
11:52 Number 9.
11:53 Doxent From doxy, wiener dog to hot diggity dog,
11:57 the Doxen goes by many cute names.
12:00 These long-bodied pooches are feisty, spunky, and have a bark bigger than them.
12:05 Doxens can be very curious and are ready to test your boundaries, but with the proper
12:10 training and patience, you'd get along just fine.
12:13 Doxens were originally bred to sniff out badgers, and this continued for over 600 years, earning
12:19 them their name, which is German for "badger dog."
12:22 Their loud barks enable the hunters to locate them wherever, but once that was over, Doxens
12:27 were kept for their clever attributes and were traditionally viewed as symbols of Germany.
12:32 A standard Doxen is about 8-9 inches and weighs between 16 and 32 pounds, while the miniature
12:38 is between 5-6 inches and 11 pounds or under.
12:42 Both types are known for their signature long bodies and short legs.
12:45 They're confident, with high alertness, and have coats that can either be smooth, wire-haired,
12:50 or long-haired.
12:51 Number 8.
12:53 Chinese Crested Meet the Chinese Crested, a hypoallergenic
12:59 dog that also has a hairless variation.
13:02 Like other hypoallergenic dogs, the Chinese Crested is perfect for people with pet allergies.
13:07 They're easily recognized by their pink skin, spiky crested hairdo, feathery tail, and furry
13:13 socks.
13:14 Chinese Crested breed can be a handful as they are super energetic, alert, frolicsome,
13:19 and want to be around their humans all the time.
13:22 This lively toy breed stands between 11 and 13 inches in height, weighs about 8-12 pounds,
13:28 and can be coated or hairless.
13:30 The coated variety is called the Powder Puff because of their puffy, silky coats, while
13:34 the not-so-coated variety has a smooth, soft skin with tufts of hair on their tails, head,
13:40 and head ankles.
13:41 The hairless variants are preferred to the coated ones because they have no doggy odor
13:46 and don't have much to shed, if you know what I mean.
13:50 Number 7.
13:51 Maltese Although Maltese dogs have been our sweethearts
13:55 for a long time, little is known about their origin.
13:58 Nonetheless, many historians believe they might have originated from Malta.
14:03 It's theorized that these small dogs were brought to the island by the Phoenicians when
14:07 they colonized it and may have contributed to how they spread across the world as Phoenicians
14:12 sailed and traded around the known world.
14:19 They needed dogs to keep pesky rodents off the ship and sometimes bartered the dogs for
14:24 food.
14:25 However, on Malta, Maltese were companions and comforters.
14:29 Maltese are known for their long coats and fashionable haircuts for all dog breeds.
14:34 The haircuts range from standard cut, bob cut, show cut, puppy clip, teddy bear cut,
14:39 and anything their owner deems cute.
14:41 They're gentle, sweet, and great low-maintenance companion pets ideal for every home.
14:47 Maltese can reach about 7-9 inches and weigh between 6 and 9 pounds.
14:51 They're also super playful and aren't demanding, but will play when you're ready.
14:56 Number 6.
14:57 Pekingese With their large, short, muzzled head and
15:02 large, dark, sparkly eyes, Pekingese are a hard breed to train.
15:06 They might be an intelligent toy breed, but submission doesn't come with their package.
15:11 It must be taught and at a very early stage.
15:14 Given a chance, a Pekingese wouldn't complete tasks on command, and harsh training methods
15:19 don't work either.
15:21 But conversely, they're very friendly, especially around family, but are hostile to strangers
15:26 as they're natural watchdogs.
15:28 Pekingese share the same heritage as Shih Tzu.
15:31 They're also called lion dogs and were exclusive companions of ancient Chinese royalties.
15:36 Peaks are compact, stocky toy dogs that measure between 6 and 9 inches and weigh as much as
15:41 14 pounds.
15:42 They're loyal, sassy dogs with a distinct rolling gait.
15:47 Number 5.
15:48 Pomeranian It might interest you to know that Pomeranians
15:52 weren't always this tiny.
15:54 Currently measuring between 5 to 8 inches in height and weighing in at about 4 and 6
15:59 pounds, Poms once weighed as much as 30 pounds, several times greater than what the breed
16:04 weighs today.
16:05 How did they reduce to this size?
16:07 Well, years of breeding have made Poms go from a medium-sized breed to a small lap dog.
16:12 Also, they exhibit several traits found in companion dogs.
16:16 They love to be the center of attention, have a heart the size of their initial weight,
16:20 and develop strong bonds with their humans, but not so much with little children.
16:26 Number 4.
16:27 Brussels Griffon Say hello to the adorable Brussels Griffon.
16:32 With its distinctive beard, take that away and they instantly resemble a pug.
16:37 But with a different temperament.
16:39 Although they have many of the qualities of a companion dog, they're more alert than
16:43 other companion dogs, which kinda gives them an edge.
16:46 Brussels Griffons are small, spunky, and intelligent pooches with great personalities who love
16:51 being around their humans and other dogs and cat.
16:54 However, they're a bit shy and would be hostile towards strangers at first.
17:00 Number 3.
17:01 Cockapoo Dubbed the "designer breed," Cockapoos
17:05 are a product of a cross between the English Conqueror Spaniel and the Poodle and may well
17:10 be the friendliest dog on the planet, never leaving his owner's side.
17:15 Cockapoos have the brightest and purest smiles and don't shed much.
17:19 They'd happily greet you at the door, offer themselves for cuddles, and eagerly follow
17:23 you.
17:24 Hence, this friendly, sociable dog makes an excellent therapy dog with their small size
17:28 (approximately 20 pounds) being a plus for those who can get nervous around dogs.
17:33 They were initially called the Cockadoodle, but that didn't catch on, so people opted
17:38 to call them Cockapoos instead.
17:39 I still don't understand the thinking behind that.
17:43 Number 2.
17:44 Bichon Frise The Bichon Frise is a breed whose ancestry
17:49 dates back to the 13th century.
17:52 Bichon Frises are believed to have originated around the Mediterranean and were the choice
17:56 pups of Renaissance royalty.
17:58 They eventually found their way to the United States in 1950 and became famous as show dogs.
18:04 And in terms of cuteness, very few breeds come close to this little white ball of fluff.
18:09 They're small, compact dogs with dark, inquisitive eyes and a cheerful disposition.
18:14 Frises are highly trainable dogs that love to please their owners.
18:18 They aren't noisy, love to play, are sociable, and are adaptable to weather changes.
18:23 What's more, the Bichon Frise is hypoallergenic.
18:27 Number 1.
18:28 Yorkshire Terrier Yorkshire Terriers are unsurprisingly everyone's
18:34 favorite as they pack a lot of personality into those tiny bodies.
18:38 This hypoallergenic breed is among the smallest terrier-type dogs.
18:42 They averagely weigh between 5 and 7 pounds but are packed with all the bravery and feistiness
18:47 terriers are known for.
18:54 Fun fact.
18:55 Did you know a Yorkshire Terrier has a statue in Cleveland for her heroic efforts in the
18:59 Second World War?
19:01 Well, Smokey was a dog found by a soldier in New Guinea during World War II.
19:06 Her first assignment involved her running communication lines beneath an airstrip highly
19:10 targeted by the Japanese.
19:12 The mission's success helped save the lives of over 250 men and over 40 aircraft.
19:18 Not to mention the healing effect she had on recuperating soldiers on base.
19:22 But Smokey did score a point for her kind.
19:25 And with that, we've come to the end of another exciting time on Forevergreen.
19:29 Was there a breed we left out that you believe deserves mention?
19:32 Be sure to let us know in the comment section.
19:34 You can also share your favorite breed from today's video.
19:37 Thanks for watching and see you in the next one.
19:58 (upbeat music)