Teacup Dogs and Puppies: Everything You Should Know

There are plenty of reasons why some people prefer small dogs. It could be due to portability, less space requirements or lower energy levels. The appreciation for small breeds has rapidly increased with the new trend of teacup dogs and puppies. 

Teacup dogs have become incredibly popular these days, and breeders are trying to meet the demand. Now you must ask yourself, is it okay to get these super tiny dogs? From unethical breeding practices to health problems, there are several things to consider before getting a teacup dog. 

What are teacup dogs and puppies

“Teacup dog” refers to miniature variants across various dog breeds. The reality is that there’s no official category for a “teacup” puppy. It’s a term used to indicate a puppy that is smaller than usual. While it might not sound concerning, imagine a typical chihuahua puppy’s size—now consider it half as small as their usual size. 

Teacup dogs are not breeds in themselves but rather the result of breeders aiming for the tiniest versions within a breed. They are also known as micro dogs or pocket dogs. 

Popular teacup dog breeds

Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Maltese, Poodles, and Pomeranian , shih tzu are frequently available in a teacup size. 

Let’s take a look at the ideal weight of these breeds:

• Yorkshire Terrier – 3 to 6 pounds
• Chihuahua – 2.5 to 6 pounds
• Toy Poodles – 3 to 6 pounds
• Pomeranians – 2.5 to 7 pounds
• Maltese – 3 to 7 pounds
• Shih Tzu 3 to 7 pounds

Breeders of teacup puppies aim to lower these weights further. Although there’s no set weight for a teacup dog, it’s typical for adult teacup dogs to weigh significantly less than 4 pounds.

Additionally, some teacup dog breeders offer mixed or “designer” teacup breeds, such as teacup Pomchis (Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix) and teacup Maltipoos (Maltese-Pomeranian mix).