The smallest dog breed recognized by the American Kennel Club is the Chihuahua.
The Chihuahua takes its name from the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where early examples of the breed were found. Its ancestry is linked to the ancient Techichi, a small companion dog associated with the Toltec and later Aztec civilizations. The modern breed developed in Mexico and became an AKC-recognized breed in 1904.
Despite its tiny body, the Chihuahua is known for an alert, confident, and often bold personality. The AKC breed standard places its weight at no more than 6 pounds, although individual dogs can vary. Chihuahuas may have smooth or long coats, and both types come in many colors and patterns.
A common mix-up is confusing “smallest breed” with the smallest individual dog ever recorded. Record-holder claims can involve unusually tiny dogs, while this question asks about the breed as a whole. The Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, and Pomeranian are also small breeds, but none is generally recognized as the smallest AKC breed.