The Teacup Poodle – Facts About This Cute Miniature Breed

The Teacup Poodle is one of the smallest dogs out there. These tiny little pups are loyal and loving and can fit just about anywhere! Because of their tiny size they can adapt to a number of different spaces, so it doesn’t matter if your apartment is small or your house is big.

Also intelligent, the Teacup Poodle will keep you on your toes and carries many of the same characteristics as their standard sized parents.

If you’re interested in learning more about this adorable little doggie, read on below as we cover their history, their characteristics and what living with one of these Poodles is like.

History Of The Teacup Poodle

A Teacup Poodle is not a purebred dog breed registered with a kennel club and is not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

This breed is selectively bred and is a variation of the Toy Poodle.

The only difference between the Toy Poodle and the Teacup Poodle is their size, so we can look to the Toy Poodle for a lot of information about the Teacup.

Breed Origin

The Poodle is one of the most popular dogs in the world and is in fact one of the oldest pure bred dogs. These dogs originated in Germany and were originally bred to be a working and gun dog that made the perfect hunting dog.

The Poodle has a waterproof coat and great retrieving talents.

Nowadays, this breed is more known as a lapdog rather than a working dog.

They are bred in smaller breeds so that more people can enjoy having a Poodle as a best friend.

The Teacup variation of this breed has been selectively bred from the Toy Poodle and must be under 9 inches in height and less than 6 pounds in weight to qualify as a Teacup.

Characteristics Of The Teacup Poodle

The main characteristic of this dog is their size. Teacup puppies are normally born in litters of one to two, although occasionally there can be more.

They weigh around 2 pounds when born and will only grow to around 5 pounds once fully grown. They also are always under 9 inches in height.

If you’re looking to buy a Teacup Poodle, you will be looking at a price of around $2,000 to $2,500. This is because of the selective breeding process and the fact that there are fewer dogs in every litter.

Appearance

We’ve already mentioned that a Teacup Poodle is tiny. Although there are no official breed standards, the general rule of thumb is that a Teacup Poodle is 9 inches in height and they weigh less than 6 pounds, whereas a Toy breed is less than 10 inches.

Their breed is very elegant looking, no matter the size, and they always stand poised. Their eyes are also small, dark and are always alert and they have a long muzzle with floppy furry ears.

Coat

Their coat is curled and thick and they do not shed any fur. This means they are a hypoallergenic dog and are perfect for those with allergies.

Color

The Toy Poodles’ coat comes in a variety of colors such as black, silver, blue, gray, red, white, apricot, brown and beige. Unlike other Poodle mix dogs who may have a mixture of different fur colors, this dog only comes in solid colors. This way, you can determine whether you are being sold a purebred Poodle or not.

Temperament

The temperament of the Teacup Poodle is very similar to that of the Standard Poodle. They are extremely loving and make great companions for everyone, including individuals, families and the elderly.

Because of their size, too, they fit into many different environments and will do well in apartments and in city living and also in large homes in the country or in open-spaced environments.

Their exercise needs are not great, although they do get bored very easily and do not like to be left alone. If they are left alone for too long they will begin to suffer from separation anxiety and exhibit destructive behaviors.

A socialization class from a young age can help this, but you also shouldn’t purchase a Teacup Poodle if you are not going to be able to be with them for a large portion of the day.

Lifespan of a Teacup Poodle

The life expectancy of a Teacup dog is relatively long. These dogs can be expected to live anywhere between 12 to 14 years. They can live longer or shorter than this range depending on their existing health conditions and the quality of their day-to-day care.

Known Health Issues

As with any dog, a Teacup Poodle is prone to some health problems. Some of these problems are similar to the issues that may be carried by their standard sized ancestors due to their genetic similarities. These include:

• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) — this is an eye disorder that eventually causes blindness from the loss of photoreceptors at the back of the eye.
• Dysplasia — this is normally seen in large dogs but can affect different joints in the body.

Also, because of their selective breeding and small size, they are also prone to some other health issues. You should always check with the breeder you are buying from to see whether the dogs show any signs of these problems.

The three most common are hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), heart defects and patella luxation. Patella luxation is a common condition in smaller dogs and is caused when the patella is not properly aligned. This can cause lameness in the leg or an abnormal gait, sort of like a skip or a hop.

To ensure you identify the signs of any of these issues early, ensure you take your dog to the vet for regular checkups.

Daily Life

Fortunately, taking care of a Teacup Poodle in day-to-day life is not too challenging. They do not have as many needs as other sizes of the Poodle breed.

Food And Diet

Because they are small dogs, their food needs are not huge. Experts recommend that you feed your Teacup Poodle approximately 250 calories per day, which is the equivalent to approximately 1 cup of high quality dry kibble per day.

Best Dog Food for a Teacup Poodle

We recommend Solid Gold Mighty Mini for very small toy breeds.

You should try them on a diet that is specially formulated for toy sized breeds, so you are ensuring that they get the right nutrients.

It is important that you don’t miss a meal or underfoot your Teacup Poodle, because little dogs are more prone to hypoglycemia which can be fatal.

It is recommended that you feed them their food split into four meals a day — one at 7 AM, one at 11 AM, one at 3 PM and one at 7 PM. You can also reward them with treats when they exhibit good behavior, as well as fruit snacks.

Exercise

The Teacup Poodle does not have great exercise needs, because of their size. Despite this, they still need to be walked every day. Exercising your dog can be a great way to bond with them and increase mental stimulation, as well as allowing them to experience new sights and sounds.

Experts recommend you take your Teacup Poodle for no more than a 30 minute short walk a day. It is best that you split the walk into three so they do not over exert themselves.

This way you could take them in the morning, in the middle of the day and in the evening and you could vary the locations to give your dog new experiences.

Your dog will also benefit from toys at home that will increase bonding time with you. This will also give them something to play with when you have to go out and they are left alone, so they don’t end up destroying your house!

Keep in mind that a Teacup Poodle has trouble keeping warm because of their small size. If you live in a colder area, your Teacup will benefit from a sweater or jacket to keep warm!

Family Compatibility

Poodles love humans and make great companions for everyone, including families. Because of their size, Teacup Poodles can fit into any home, whether you live in an apartment in the city of whether you live in a large house in the countryside.

They do not have great exercise needs so, apart from walking them daily, they don’t need a backyard to run around in.

They love to be around you, so they are not well suited to a family that is going to be out for most of the day. That being said, they are extremely loving and a great lapdog — and small enough so you might be able to take them with you!

One main difference between the Standard Poodle and the Teacup Poodle is that the Teacup doesn’t have as much patience as the Standard Poodle when it comes to small children.

The Teacup may feel intimidated when being held by small children and therefore get a little cranky. Fortunately, with early socialization, this can be fixed.

Training

Teacup Poodles are easy to train, which is another reason many people love these dogs. They are naturally intelligent which makes your life a lot easier, especially if you have never trained a dog before. Teacups want to learn and want to please and they respond well to positive reinforcement. This includes verbal praise and treats.

You shouldn’t use more than short five minute training sessions two or three times a day while training your Teacup Poodle. You will also need to socialize them, especially because they are small. They need to be introduced to other people and animals from a young age so they learn how to interact.

Grooming

Grooming is one of owners’ favorite things about the Teacup and Toy Poodle breeds. Because of their coat’s thickness, it means that it can be clipped in many different ways and you can change their hairstyle every time they go to the groomers.

Even if you’re not interested in giving them a new hairdo, you will still need to brush them. Although they don’t shed, brushing shouldn’t be ignored and will help prevent knots and matting in their hair. You should aim to do this twice a week.

You should also clip their nails and brush their teeth. To help prevent dental decay and disease, daily brushing is the normally recommended.

Teacup Poodle Facts Infographic

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Teacup Poodle FAQ’s

Are Teacup Poodles a family dog?

Teacup Poodles certainly do well in a family environment and love to be around people.

They can feel intimidated when they are around small children, so it is not usually advised to house them with young children.

However, this can be fixed with socialization. Teacup Poodles also make a great family dog because they don’t care where you live! They can live in both small apartments or in big houses, as long as you give them enough love.

How much do Teacup Poodles cost?

A Teacup Poodle puppy can cost you anywhere between $2,000 to $2,500. They are expensive because they can be difficult to breed and there is normally only one or two puppies in a litter. If this is too expensive for you, you may find a Teacup Poodle at your local shelter who needs a home.

Summary

Teacup Poodles are an adorable, friendly and loving dog. Their small size means they can adapt to any environment and they don’t have a lot of care needs. Ensure that you give them the right amount of food, exercise them every day and play games with them and they will love you forever!

Teacup Poodles love to be around people and can make the perfect family dog. They are not difficult to train and walking is minimal, so they make a great pet to everyone! What do you think — is a Teacup Poodle the right dog for you?