Smaller than an iPhone - meet Tyson, Britain's smallest dog

STANDING tall at a mere four inches and weighing less than a bag of sugar – this is Tyson, Britain's smallest dog.

Owner Rosemarie thinks that her mini mutt Tyson is the smallest dog in Britain Owner Rosemarie thinks that her mini mutt Tyson is the smallest dog in Britain [SWNS]

The bite-size barker stands shorter than the height of an iPhone and has struggled against the odds throughout his short life to stay fit and healthy.

The 11-ounce (312g) pooch was rejected by his larger siblings at birth – forcing owner Rosemarie McLinden to hand feed Tyson every two hours using a pipette.

He just hasn't really grown since. I had to start feeding him myself as he couldn't latch on to his mother. He was so small he just could not breastfeed due to the tiny size of his mouth

Rosemarie McLinden, owner

Kitting-out the dinky dog, who has a head smaller than a golf ball, has also proved difficult for owner Rosemarie who now uses a hamster carrier to transport the miniature mutt.

Tyson even needs his own custom-made crate to stop his boisterous siblings violently playing with him like just another squeaky toy.

Mother-of-four Ms McLinden said: "He was tiny when he was born and he was eventually pushed out by his brothers and sisters because he was so tiny.

"He just hasn't really grown since. I had to start feeding him myself as he couldn't latch on to his mother. He was so small he just could not breastfeed due to the tiny size of his mouth.

"I bought a little dropper and had to feed him day and night every two hours until he was a little bigger."

Owner Rosemarie says that playing with his siblings can be dangerous as they mistake him for a toy Owner Rosemarie says that playing with his siblings can be dangerous as they mistake him for a toy [SWNS]

Rosemarie McLinden holds the smallest pet in her animal-filled house Rosemarie McLinden holds the smallest pet in her animal-filled house [SWNS]

Tyson the tiny dog is only 11 cm tall

Tyson – believed to be the smallest dog in Britain –  is a Lhasa-Chi (cross between a Lhasa Apso and a Chihuahuawa) and was born on March 30 this year, as part of the litter of five.

Owner Ms McLinden said: "I've been doing a lot of research and I can't see a smaller dog anywhere in the entire country."

Ms McLinden and husband Antony Corr, 47, first became frightened when they noticed that their new pint-sized pet began to loose weight after his birth.

The couple rushed the dog to a vet who couldn't find anything wrong with him but gave the pair special feeding instructions as a precaution.

Tyson stands at a minuscule four inches tall – the same dimensions as an iPhone 5 Tyson stands at a minuscule four inches tall – the same dimensions as an iPhone 5s [SWNS]

Tyson has now grown (but not by much) to become a fit and healthy young dog – although he remains only a quarter of the size of his four brothers and sisters.

His siblings tower over him at seven inches tall and weigh more than three times as much as him.

Ms McLinden explained: "They are all so boisterous, but he is just too small to be boisterous, he's just an energetic loving pup.

"He loves toes, he will chase them and give you a nip, but they are bigger than him.

"He has one ball that he likes to chase, we found a practice golf ball that he can use, but even that is bigger than his head.

"We've just started trying to wean him onto dog food, and we have to rub around his little gums to help him eat.

"He seems do be doing well though and we hope he stays fit and healthy."

Loveable underdog Tyson lives with Ms McLinden and bus driver hubby Mr Corr at the family home in Keal Cotes, Lincolnshire where the animal-mad couple already house two kittens, a bearded dragon, sheep, horses, chickens and a hedgehog.

Pilgrim Veterinary Surgery Vet Sharon Crocket – who treated Tyson – admitted: "He is so tiny, even for a part Chihuahua.

"He could possibly be the smallest dog in the UK."

The previous smallest dog in the UK was five-inch tall Yorkshire terrier Pagan, from Hull, in Yorkshire.

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