Maltese puppy Scooter contender for world’s smallest dog

**Honey** · July 17th, 2009, 03:04 PM

It wasn’t that long ago that we published an article on Tilly, the 15 inch little dog that may become Britain’s smallest dog. However, now we might be looking at a new contender for the world’s smallest dog – so meet Scooter, a Maltese puppy whose owner believes may be the world’s smallest dog, if he’s stopped growing that is.
Scooter lives in New Zealand with his owner Cheryl McKnight and currently, at six months old, he is only a mere 8 centimetres (3.2 inches) tall! In fact, from the tip of his nose to the end of his tail, he measures only 20 centimetres and weighs less than 400 grams.
The current holder of the Guinness Book of World Records title for the world’s smallest dog is Boo Boo, a long hair Chihuahua from the United States.
As you can see from this picture, which has catapulted the Maltese puppy to fame this week, Ms McKnight has cups of tea larger than her dog.
In fact, the little ball of fluff is so small that his owner has made him a jumper from a bright purple sock so people won’t stand on him. His eats from an egg cup and sleeps in a shoebox; it’s like something from a children’s book. Yet, Ms McKnight very nearly gave Scooter away.
Ms McKnight said:

“It really is quite something. I can’t take him for a walk or put a leash on him. For the first 10 weeks or so I didn’t really want him. I thought nah, someone else can have him. But over time I’ve fallen in love with him.”

Scooter’s first name when Ms McKnight bought him was Pee Wee, but she reportedly renamed him so he wouldn’t develop an inferiority complex. He was born in a litter of three puppies and was bred by Ms McKnight’s sister, a dog breeder of Maltese puppies. Technically, Scooter should weigh more than twice his current weight before he should leave his mother. Bless him, he still can’t make it up the stairs!

Maltese puppy Scooter contender for world’s smallest dog | Dream Dogs

**HelpMeRhonda** · July 17th, 2009, 03:09 PM

Omg.. how cute..and that fur looks like those furry scarves.

*DIVA! · July 17th, 2009, 03:12 PM

Aww him is so precious..

**Laurent** · July 17th, 2009, 03:38 PM

He's adorable.

I can't believe she almost gave that sweet baby away! He melts your heart just to look at him.

**mrsJB** · July 17th, 2009, 04:07 PM

i.want.him.

**Wiseguy** · July 18th, 2009, 07:12 AM

Adorable.

**Sasha** · July 18th, 2009, 09:24 AM

My little Maltese died last year. I miss her soo much!

She was only 4 lbs. and little Tilly reminds me of her a LOT.

**McJag** · July 18th, 2009, 10:37 AM

Who in the world could give away that darling??

**Rondette** · July 18th, 2009, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by HelpMeRhonda

Omg.. how cute..and that fur looks like those furry scarves.

Ha! I thought that too

It is a rat on a string. A very cute rat, admittedly!

Still not as cute as any kitten.

**mizglam** · July 18th, 2009, 01:09 PM

Awww, how cute!!

**sparkly** · July 22nd, 2009, 01:46 AM

I'm squealing with delight over that cute lil face!!!!! Cute lil munchkin!!!

**Honey** · September 4th, 2009, 07:00 PM

Little Scooter scarpers to the great kennel in the sky

Scooter ... could sit in a tea cup, with owner Cheryl McKnight.

Scooter, a dog so small he could sit in a teacup, has died.
At six-months-old, the Maltese pup was claimed to be the smallest dog in the world. He was going to try for the official world record when he turned one.
But he never got the chance.
He broke his leg jumping out of the hands of a minder earlier this week. His tiny leg was put in a cast but the medication he was given for it caused stomach ulcers and he did not survive.
But it was not for want of trying. The vets caring for Scooter took him home with them while he was being treated, getting up in the middle of the night to check on him.
"They were amazing, they tried so hard," said owner Cheryl McKnight.
The 8cm tall, 20cm long dog is now buried in his shoebox at the bottom of his owner's Gisborne garden in New Zealand.
Scooter slept and spent a lot of his life in the shoebox, she said.
When he died the vets offered Ms McKnight a box to bury him in, but it was too big.
"There was no box small enough for him. I said `I'm not going to bury him in that', so I thought I would put him in the shoe box he lived in. The poor little fella."
"I put him in the box with flowers and a little dove picture to take him to heaven – he looked wonderful."
Ms McKnight said she would miss him immensely.
"He was a big part of my life."
Scooter came from a litter of three and stopped growing before he reached two months.
His weight never exceeded 400 grams – and that was while fully clothed.
Ms McKnight fashioned a regular purple sock into a jersey, which Scooter wore around the house so he was easily seen.
He was originally named Pee Wee, but Ms McKnight changed it, saying she didn't want him to suffer an inferiority complex.
Scooter achieved global fame in his short life, with his picture published in Switzerland, Malaysia, America, Australia, United Kingdom and the Netherlands.

Little Scooter scarpers to the great kennel in the sky