Have you ever seen the movie Gremlins and fallen in love with the furry adorable nuggets with their almond-shaped eyes? The appearance of a Teacup Pomeranian definitely fits the bill of these fictional creatures we have grown to love over the years. They are tiny, cuddly, and playful.
A Teacup Pomeranian is not really a separate, distinct breed of Pomeranians. The Pomeranian is just one breed but different sizes of these dogs are nicknamed accordingly. Teacup Pomeranians or Miniature Pomeranians are usually the runt of the litter or are undersized when born. Breeders would usually pair undersized dogs to make them as small as possible.
Our aim in this article is for you to find out if you are the perfect match for a Teacup Pomeranian. Issues like shedding, noise level, and overall friendliness will be discussed in a bit. For now, allow us to focus your attention on the size of a Teacup Pom.
Are Teacup Pomeranians Good Pets?
Yes, Teacup Pomeranians are good pets. In fact, having your children play with your dog is great but adult supervision is strongly recommended. Proper handling of these delicate pups is a must to avoid freak accidents.
How Tall Do Teacup Pomeranians Get?
As the nickname suggests, a Teacup Pomeranian can fit into a cup or be held by the palm of your hand. Teacup Pomeranians weigh around 3 lbs and will grow tall at an average of 6 to 10 inches. Anything more than this would be considered a Standard Pomeranian.
Teacup Pomeranians are genetically predetermined to stay small all their lives and stop growing between the ages of 10 and 12 months. And, due to their sizes, the Teacup Pomeranians are also ideal for city living, especially for small apartment dwellers.
Physical Features
Teacup Pomeranians have thick double coats with a soft, fluffy undercoat and a longer, shiny outer coat. They have short snouts, furry tails, almond-shaped eyes, and small triangular ears. In other words, Teacup Poms are just tiny versions of regular Pomeranians.
They come in different colors and patterns from white to black to deep red, and solid-colored brindles.
How Do You Keep Your Teacup Pomeranian Safe?
Since they are tiny and delicate, itโs important to be aware of the surroundings of your fur baby both inside your home and outdoors.
- Avoid leaving your Teacup Pom alone on the bed, chairs, tables, or atop of stairs.
- When out for a walk, it is best to put your pet in a harness rather than a neck collar.
- Puppy-proof your home by stowing away small items.
How Long Do Teacup Pomeranians Live?
Given the right care, the Teacup Pomeranians do not die easily and will have an average lifespan of 12 years.
As a result of their size, Teacup Poms are prone to health problems, such as underdeveloped organs and hormonal problems. A number of common health issues that may arise are the following:
Tracheal Collapse
This is a chronic disease that weakens the cartilage of your fur babyโs trachea. This is usually evident when you find your Teacup Pom having difficulty breathing and is constantly coughing or gagging when excited or exercising.
Teacup Poms are fragile and this is why a tight leash causes constriction that can result in trachea collapse.
Black Skin Disease
This discoloration is due to fur loss. Hormonal imbalance arrests the growth of hair follicles and would contribute to the inability to grow fur. Exposed skin would eventually discolor and darken the skin.
Luxating Patella
An orthopedic condition where there is dislocation on your fur babyโs knee cap which may be caused by an inherited deformity. When your Teacup Pomeranian seems to be limping or holding its leg up when standing, this is one of the signs. Arthritis could develop afterward if not responded early on.
Cryptorchidism
This reproductive health problem sometimes occurs among male Teacup Poms when one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum. If their testicles fail to descend when they reach 6 months, having them neutered is the best solution.
Other health concerns include bacterial and yeast infections that can cause your Teacup Pomeranian to smell bad.
How To Take Care Of Teacup Pomeranians?
Exercise
Despite their tiny size, the Teacup Pomeranians are active and like to be kept entertained all the time. They have good endurance and taking them out for a walk is good for Teacup Poms. But, limit walking for every session to be only 20 minutes long.
Indoor exercises are good options, too. Playing hide-and-seek and tug of war are some of the activities that you and your Teacup Pom can enjoy.
Dietary Requirements
Giving them a well-balanced diet is essential for a long and healthy life. The food intake is usually ยผ to ยฝ cup of food-specific for tiny dogs divided into 2 or 3 small meals per day.
Pet Plate is a wet dog that is customized or food specific for Teacup Pomeranians. Itโs because the Vet Nutritionist at Pet Plate adjusts the amount of food that your small dog needs to eat in a day.
And, add to that, your Teacup Pom is guaranteed that it will get nothing but the freshest, cleanest, delicious, and human-grade ingredients that are cooked in a sanitized kitchen environment.
Multivitamins
Your Teacup Pom can benefit from a daily intake of multivitamins. Look for those that contain Glucosamine, Chondroitin, and CoQ10. You have a choice if you like the chewable or powdered multivitamins that you can mix with Pet Plate wet food.
Dental care is as important since Pomeranians are prone to tooth decay. This is why we highly recommend that you invest in dental water additives. These work by killing bacteria and preventing tartar formation and periodontal diseases.
Do Teacup Pomeranians Bark A Lot? Temperaments Of Teacup Pomeranians
Being a small dog, Teacup Pomeranians have the tendency to overcompensate for their size by acting big.
This usually translates to barking incessantly or even acting aggressively to the chagrin of your neighbors and strangers.
On the plus side, this loud barking makes these pups a good watchdog for their alertness.
Separation Anxiety
Teacup Poms, in general, are playful, energetic, and like human companionships. They also have the tendency to get very attached to their human families. The problem begins when Teacup Poms are left home alone as this leads to acting out behaviors like chewing the furniture and making a mess around the house.
Are Teacup Pomeranians Affectionate?
Yes, they are and they love it when they are being cuddled by their human families. In fact, they can even get demanding by reaching out their little paws to you, as if begging for more tummy rubs and gentle cuddles.
The only times they wouldnโt want to be held is when they are injured.
Trainability
Teacup Pomeranians are intelligent dogs and easy to train so housekeeping them is not much of a task. Small dogs usually have small bladders that make them pee all the time. A chosen spot outside and a regularly scheduled potty time would train your Teacup Pom to know where it is safe to do its business.
Apart from training, socializing Teacup Pomeranians early on with other dogs and other people would help them feel more confident and become less shy and aggressive. Socialization also helps minimize too much barking.
Do Teacup Poms Shed A Lot? Grooming Tips For Teacup Pomeranians
Teacup Pomeranians do shed some hair so they are not completely hypoallergenic. But, because of their tiny size, problems with hair around the house are kept to a minimum.
Grooming
Regularly brushing their coat is a must to loosen out dead hair from their thick undercoat and prevent matting. This also promotes healthy skin and increases blood flow to the hair follicles. But, you have to choose an effective deshedder brush like the FURminator Undercoat Tool.
Bathing your Teacup Pom once a month is enough. But, be sure to brush the coat with the FURminator Undercoat Tool before giving it a good bath. This is done to effectively remove hair without damaging the top coat.
When it comes to shampoo, choose products that are mild and made with natural ingredients like oatmeal. A good one that we encourage you to try on your Teacup Pom is the Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner. This product does not contain harsh chemicals, making it the perfect choice for dogs with sensitive and allergy-prone skin.
Temperature Requirements
Teacup Poms require a temperature that is not too cold nor too warm, so that should be 70 ยฐF. Dressing them up in clothes when itโs cold or turning on the AC when itโs warm would keep your Teacup Pom comfortable.
Related Questions
How Much Is A Teacup Pomeranian Cost? Teacup Pomeranians cost about $500 to $1,500 or more depending on their lineage and color. True Black and Lavender Teacup Poms are rare so they command a high price. When buying, itโs best to do research because some breeders would claim itโs teacup in size but when fully grown, can reach the height of a Standard Pom.
Can Teacup Pomeranians Swim? We would not recommend that you allow your Teacup Pom to swim. Swimming should be left to medium to large-sized dogs and those breeds that have webbing in between toes. Plus, you have to remember that Teacup Poms are temperature sensitive, they might end up with a nasty bout of respiratory ailment.
Can A Teacup Pomeranian Get Pregnant? Yes, a Teacup Pomeranian can get pregnant but itโs a question of safety and ethics. For commercial and breeding purposes, breeders would pair the โrunts of the litterโ to produce the smallest puppies possible. The puppies wonโt be born healthy and the health risks involved are liver shunts, blindness, and hydrocephalus.
