Dog breed · Mexico
The Mexican lapdog, also known as the Peruvian lapdog, Mexican mopsey or Ytzcuinte potzotli, is an extinct breed of lap dog originating in Mexico. Noted for its small size, it was the smallest known dog breed. Another Mexican breed, the chihuahua, is the smallest breed still in existence.
Characteristics: The Mexican lapdog was the smallest of all dog breeds, being nearly identical in size to a guinea pig, with the puppies roughly the size of hamsters. The only surviving taxidermy specimen, which is of unverified maturity, is only 18 centimetres (7.1 in) from the snout to the base of the tail, and 8 centimetres (3.1 in) tall at the shoulders. A contemporary account by John George Wood stated that the breed was smaller than even toy dogs in shop windows.
The breed had medium length white fur, although the fur on its short tail was longer than the fur on the rest of the body. It had a round head, small ears, a flesh-colored nose, and widely separated brown eyes. There were two varieties, a silky-haired one and a woolly-haired one. The latter variety was called the "Mexican mopsy" and was the more popular of the two. Author Dave Madden described the breed as resembling "a guinea pig caught in a wind tunnel". The breed's foundation stock is not known, although it is believed to have likely been descended from European breeds.
Due to its small size, the breed was not used for any sporting or working purposes; an 1875 book refers to it as being "of no use" and "merely an object of curiosity".
Characteristics: The Mexican lapdog was the smallest of all dog breeds, being nearly identical in size to a guinea pig, with the puppies roughly the size of hamsters. The only surviving taxidermy specimen, which is of unverified maturity, is only 18 centimetres (7.1 in) from the snout to the base of the tail, and 8 centimetres (3.1 in) tall at the shoulders. A contemporary account by John George Wood stated that the breed was smaller than even toy dogs in shop windows.
The breed had medium length white fur, although the fur on its short tail was longer than the fur on the rest of the body. It had a round head, small ears, a flesh-colored nose, and widely separated brown eyes. There were two varieties, a silky-haired one and a woolly-haired one. The latter variety was called the "Mexican mopsy" and was the more popular of the two. Author Dave Madden described the breed as resembling "a guinea pig caught in a wind tunnel". The breed's foundation stock is not known, although it is believed to have likely been descended from European breeds.
Due to its small size, the breed was not used for any sporting or working purposes; an 1875 book refers to it as being "of no use" and "merely an object of curiosity".
