Thanks to celebrities and Instagram models, more people are now looking to own teacup dogs. But before you rush into it, it’s important to have a fair understanding of these little pooches so that you can be a better pet parent. Remember, while they do look cute and promise to leave you smiling all the time, owning them also comes with challenges. Here’s everything you need to know about teacup dogs.
What is a Teacup Dog?
A Teacup dog is even smaller than toy dog breeds. A Teacup dog is a micro-dog. To identify a dog as a teacup dog, you will look at their size as stipulated by the American Kennel Club. This micro-dog is not breed-specific as one can breed teacup versions from a Pomeranian, Maltese or Chihuahua. Only the size and weight will qualify them as Teacup dogs. They have to weigh between two and five pounds, and their measurements must be less than seventeen inches when they are fully grown. Since this is not a specific breed, only a few toy dog breeds can become Teacup dogs. Such toy breeds include Shih Tzu, Pug, Poodle, Pomeranian, Maltese, Chihuahua, and Yorkshire terrier.
Popular teacup dog breeds
The physical attributes define whether a dog is a teacup or not. So, there are no specific breeds that are entirely ‘teacup’.
That said, there are certain breeds that are often known for teacup dogs. Here are the five popular ones:
Maltese
Teacup Maltese is one such teacup dog that is vocal and tends to bark a lot. But, they make great watchdogs. Teacup Maltese dogs need a lot of training and can be attentive and gentle. These dogs need positive reinforcement and can be playful. They have high energy levels and bond well with the family.
Chihuahua
Teacup Chihuahua is one of the more popular dogs. Adding this breed to the family will require a lot of thought because they are not comfortable with other dogs or children. They can be affectionate and don’t do well if left alone for long periods. They are also known as the puppy purse dogs. Teacup Chihuahuas are intelligent and easy to train. They are suitable for apartment living.
Pomeranian
Teacup Pomeranians are given to excessive barking and will need the training to curb this habit. They are always alert and watchful. However, they do better in smaller and laid back families. It is best to have limited access to young children as they do better with adults.
Shih Tzu
The teacup Shih Tzu has a long coat and is happy to wear bows in its hair! This dog is very common and one of the more popular ones that get adopted. Teacup Shih Tzus are calmer and given to less barking. They do well with young children as well as other pets. They are well suited to living in small spaces like an apartment.
Poodle
Teacup Poodles are considered one of the smartest dogs. They are easy to train and adapt to any household. They shed a lot and will need regular and frequent grooming. If you are a first-time dog owner, a Teacup Poodle may be the best choice.
How Are “Teacup” Dogs Bred?
When it comes to Teacup dog breeding, there are too many damaging techniques to the dog’s health. You need to be aware of the unethical practices that exist around the world.
Inbreeding: Breeders tend to practice inbreeding between runts of a litter so that they may get a new litter of only micro-dogs. It is well known that inbreeding can lead to inherited genetic disorders such as epilepsy or blindness.
Stunting the growth: Breeders attempt to provide less nourishment to the puppies just to stunt their natural growth. Such a technique either proves fatal to the pup or allows them to live with terrible health problems such as weak nervous, digestive, or skeletal systems.
False marketing: Breeders that are unethical will even try to pass off a toy breed as a micro-dog breed.
Be safe and find only those ethical breeders that already have teacup dogs in their list. This type of breeder will already have a litter of small toy dogs. You can be assured of the health conditions of the teacup dog you bring home.
It would be best if you definitely avoided the pet stores that try to sell teacup dogs as they are purely oriented to profit-making and have little to no regard for the health of the dog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teacup Dogs
Are teacup dogs healthy?
Teacup dogs are quite fragile and prone to suffering from a number of illnesses. Since they are so small, they can be overlooked and easy to step on. Even a small fall can prove dangerous to their life. They have small stomachs and bladders. They need frequent small meals throughout the day.
Are teacup dogs natural?
Teacup dogs cannot be considered natural as they are the result of selective inbreeding. If they are just the runts of a litter, they may be considered naturally small dogs. However, unethical practices of inbreeding two already undersized dogs does not make a teacup dog a natural one.
Can teacup dogs have babies?
Having a litter is challenging for a teacup dog because they are already products of inbreeding between two runts of a litter. They are also prone to a host of unhealthy conditions because of the inbreeding that impacts having babies negatively.
Can teacup dogs be left alone?
Teacup dogs must not be left alone or unsupervised. They are so small that they can be crushed by the lightest of feet and even slight rough handling by a child can prove dangerous. This is more so if they are outdoors as they can easily be picked up by an owl or a hawk.
Do teacup dogs grow?
Teacup dogs grow to a maximum of five pounds though four pounds is the usual weight. They also only measure in inches to a maximum of seventeen inches.
Do teacup dogs die faster?
Teacup dogs are born with potential health problems because of inbreeding. Apart from that, they are also fragile and contract various illnesses easily. They do not live as long as their normal-sized counterparts.
Do teacup dogs bark a lot?
It depends on the teacup dog breed. Most of them do bark a lot with a few exceptions including the Teacup Shih Tzu.
Are teacup dogs good pets?
Teacup dogs may be considered good pets; however, they come with a host of problems and maybe an expensive pet to have. Their medical needs alone may prove too costly. Teacup dogs can be good pets depending on the family and environment. A family with only adults and no other pets may find them to be ideal pets.
Love Dogs?
The primary principle of the Voice of Stray Dogs aka VOSD Sanctuary and Hospital is that no dog will be euthanized for lack of space or resources. So far, VOSD has rescued 8,000+ dogs, given 250,000+ state-of-the-art free treatments, and we continue to provide hundreds of treatments every day across India. Such an undertaking comes with certain costs and we can do with as much help as we can get.
If you love dogs and would like to own a dog but for any number of reasons, you are unable to do so, you have other ways of showing that you love them! Donate to VOSD today and help save a dog without a home or hope!
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