- These two are just too adorable together.
Opposites attract, they say. Here’s one adorable story to prove that is absolutely true.
Recently, two very different dogs got together to play. They were Reginald and Pearl.
Reginald holds the Guinness World Records title for being the tallest pooch on the planet, towering above three feet. Pearl is his complete opposite, barely breaking the three-and-a-half-inch mark.
You might think their vastly different sizes would cause problems, but the two got along very well. Perhaps their differences are what brought them together, as both tried to figure out what on earth this tiny/huge thing was.
The Gentle Giant
Before we get to the playdate, let’s meet our canine protagonists. We’ll start with Reginald, since you can really ignore him.
Yet, he wasn’t always gigantic. When the great Dane was born, he was the runt of his Idaho litter.
His owner, Sam Johnson, immediately fell in love with the tiny puppy. Although she knew he’d grow bigger, she had no idea how massive he would get.
“From the time I got him until he was about, I’d say a year and a half, he just grew, like, just non-stop growth,” Sam said.
“Everybody was like, he’s really tall. We’ve never met another dog that’s taller than him.”
That’s probably why he received the title for World’s Tallest Living Dog (male). Yet, according to Sam, his size and respectable name are misleading.
“He’s just a big baby. He acts like a human toddler. He’s super playful, very vocal – very much, he’ll tell you what he wants, when he wants it,” she said.
That said, Reginald’s size does bring challenges. He’s so tall that he can eat off counters, so his owners have gone to great lengths to teach him to eat only from his bowl — which sits on a two-foot-tall pedestal.
He gets one concession, though. When he’s thirsty, he can drink straight out of the sink.
The Minuscule Fashionista
Next, we have Pearl. The chihuahua from Florida is described by her family as a pocket-sized diva.
The Semler family got Pearl after a doctor recommended they get a dog in the aftermath of some health issues. Pearl isn’t just an emotional support animal, though, but a part of the family.
And she knows it.
“She’s small in size, but she has a big personality!” said her owner Vanesa Semler.
Like her much larger counterpart, Pearl will let you know when she wants something. Yet, she’s not a yappy thing like you might expect from a chihuahua.
Vanesa said Pearl expresses herself like a cow. She’ll snort, moan, or snore, but rarely barks.
Curiously, she’s a real fashionista. Pearl owns a lot of outfits, and she appears to genuinely enjoy wearing them.
“Pearl’s wardrobe, I think, is bigger than mine. She loves clothing, I think because she’s always cold,” mused Vanesa.
“She actually chooses what she wants to wear each day, and it’s really funny for me because I can actually see her mood that day.”
The Date
The two dogs got together in Idaho Falls near the Johnson family’s home on April 4-5. Arranged by Guinness, it was agreed to hold the meeting near Reginald’s home, since he’s not really built for travel.
You might expect some conflict from the meeting of such vastly different. However, according to their owners, both are extremely good with other pooches — especially those that are much smaller or larger than them.
Indeed, the two got along right from the start. As soon as they met, there was much sniffing and tail wagging.
Reginald collapsed down on the couch so he could be at eye level with Pearl. The chihuahua loved that and happily hopped across the gentle giant’s legs.
After the greeting sniffs were done, Reginald took Pearl on a tour of his home, showing her around the rooms. They then proceeded outside, where they happily ran around.
“I was surprised Pearl wasn’t more afraid of Reggie. But she was so excited and interested in him, and he was just like ‘Whoa, I have no idea what that is!’” Sam laughed.
Once the dogs had tired themselves out (Pearl was done first), they cuddled together on the couch while their owners chatted. Reginald and Pearl might not be the same size-wise, but their personalities really complement each other.
“People say ‘only small dogs wear clothing’, but Reggie has a bunch of sweaters he wears… ‘Small dogs are high maintenance’, but Reggie is very, very high maintenance. So, I think they’re more alike than they are different,” summarized Sam.
