This Guinness World Records photo shows Pearl, the world's shortest living dog, with Reginald, the world's tallest living dog, both certified by Guinness World Records, during a play date in Idaho Falls, Idaho, on April 5, 2025. Image: Natalie Behring/Guinness World Records via AP.
A playdate between the world’s tallest and smallest living dogs last month went the way most dog park encounters go, despite the 90cm height difference; lots of tail wagging, sniffing and scampering.
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Idaho’s seven-year-old great Dane Reginald and Pearl, a Chihuahua from Florida, are both certified winners in their respective height titles by Guinness World Records.
The fact that Reginald is the size of a small horse and Pearl is as small as an apple didn’t stop them from getting along famously.
Pearl, a four-year-old who stands at 9.14cm, comes from a long line of short dogs. Her aunt Millie, a previous record-holder in the same category who died in 2020, was also under 10.16cm tall.
Both Millie and Pearl weighed 28.35g at birth.
“I was not expecting to once again have the record,” the owner of both tiny dogs, Vanesa Semler of Orlando, Florida, said.
“That would be, like, unbelievable.”
Guinness arranged the two-day meet-up between Pearl and Reginald, who also goes by Reggie and measures in at a whopping one metre, in March at his home in Idaho Falls.
Pearl sits under Reginald, barely the size of his foot. Image: Natalie Behring/Guinness World Records via AP.
Photo by
Nataljie Behring
Even though Pearl loves dogs, even big dogs, Vanesa said she was anxious because of Reginald’s size.
“For me, (it) was a huge, pleasant surprise from day one because Reggie is like Pearl, in bigger size,” she said.
“He is so gentle, so friendly.”
Reggie, for his part, might have been more interested in the Guinness film crew that accompanied Pearl than the tiny dog herself.
“I would say he likes people a little bit more than he likes other dogs,” his owner, Sam Johnson Reiss, said.
Pearl’s tiny size was also strange for the big boy.
“He was like very cautious, like a little anxious,” Sam said.
“He was very careful, like he didn’t step on her or anything or anything crazy. He was just very aware that she was there.”
Reggie’s super size was evident early on, especially on a dog park visit when he towered over other great Danes despite being only nine months old.
“They would be shorter than him, and they were full-grown,” Sam said.
There might have been a little jealousy shown over toys and beds, but Reggie and Pearl found common ground during their two days roaming the Idaho farm together.
“I think she found a good friend,” Vanesa said.
Despite their size difference, Reginald and Pearl got on famously when they met. Image: Natalie Behring/Guinness World Records via AP.
Vanesa said Pearl was her prima donna, with the Chihuahua even picking out the clothes she wanted to wear every day by placing her paw on the outfits laid out before her.
That comes in handy when news crews are lining up for interviews.
“For us, she was always our diva,” Vanesa said.
“Now she’s a diva for everyone.”
Pearl doesn’t have the top diva title quite yet, with Sam saying Reggie — who has a new Instagram account — has his own diva moments.
“He’s pretty high maintenance,” Sam said.
“Reggie’s just cheeky, like he’s kind of mischievous and silly and definitely tells you when he wants something.”
