If you want a cute and adorable dog that packs a prominent personality and cheerful attitude in a tiny body, you should definitely consider getting yourself a Teacup Poodle.
The Teacup Poodle is a purebred Poodle that has been deliberately and selectively bred to create a Poodle that is very small in size. Teacup Poodles have the appearance, behavior and temperament of the Standard Poodle, but in a much smaller body. Being a purebred, the Teacup Poodle is officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.
Before bringing the Teacup Poodle home, it is important to know what to expect with this tiny fido, particularly when it comes to caring for one. In this article, we’ll go over all the important information about Teacup Poodles, including their dietary requirements, grooming requirements, exercise requirements, and common health issues. Before all that, however, we’re going to answer the most pertinent question about these dogs – do Teacup Poodles stay small?
Do Teacup Poodles Stay Small?
What Size Is A Teacup Poodle?
The defining characteristic of Teacup Poodles is their very tiny size, even smaller than Toy Poodles. At the time of birth, Teacup Poodles weigh just 2 lbs. After reaching full maturity, the Teacup Poodle stands at no more than 9 inches at the withers, while weighing less than 7 lbs.
Appearance
Like Standard Poodles, Teacup Poodles are characterized by a round head with a slight stop, droopy ears and a long muzzle. They have small and dark but very alert eyes, a long neck, a deep chest, a square body with a straight back, and long, muscular legs.
Coat
One of the most distinguishing features of all Poodles, including Teacup Poodles, is their coat. Teacup Poodles typically have coats covered with long hair, instead of fur. This long hair gives them the appearance of a fluffy doll.
The hair on Teacup Poodles can be clipped in various styles, and very often, you’ll find most of them clipped in the Continental style. This is a style where the hair on the pooch’s face, hindquarters, and legs is clipped, while leaving balls of hair on the tip of the tail and on the hocks.
The coat of Teacup Poodles can have various textures, from soft and wavy to coarse and wooly. Purebred Teacup Poodles usually come with a solid coat, with the common coat colors being blue, black, brown, gray, silver, red, beige, white, café au lait and apricot.
How Long Do Teacup Poodles Live?
Teacup Poodles are healthy little dogs, and with the right kind of care, they can have a life expectancy of about 12 to 15 years. Some have even lived to the ripe old age of 18 years.
Despite the long life expectancy, there are some common health issues that affect Teacup Poodles, including…
Luxating Patella
Luxating patella is a condition that is very common to Teacup Poodles. This condition occurs when the kneecap (patella) gets dislocated from its normal position. A luxating patella is a painful condition that makes movement very difficult for your canine buddy.
If your Teacup Poodle has a luxating patella, you’ll notice them walking with a partial limb, and in cases where the condition affects both legs, your pooch will try as much as possible to keep their weight off the affected legs.
Dental Issues
Teacup Poodles are also highly vulnerable to various dental issues, usually caused by the accumulation of tartar on the teeth. These include gingivitis, tooth infections, tooth decay, and tooth loss. The best way to keep dental issues at bay is to stay on top of your fido’s dental hygiene.
Adrenal Problems
Your Teacup Poodle could also experience adrenal problems, leading to conditions such as Cushing’s Disease (caused by overproduction of cortisol) and Addison’s Disease (caused by underproduction of cortisol).
Do Teacup Poodles Smell?
Teacup Poodles do not generally have a bad smell. If your Teacup Poodle has a bad odor, this is either a sign that they need a bath, or that they have a skin infection.
How To Take Care Of Teacup Poodles?
Dietary Requirements
Due to their small size, Teacup Poodles don’t need a lot of food, otherwise they’ll get obese. So, how much do you feed a teacup puppy? 1 cup of high quality food every day is enough to provide these tiny dogs with all their energy needs. This food should, however, be divided into multiple servings.
It’s good to note that Teacup Poodle puppies are highly prone to hypoglycemia, and therefore, they should be fed frequently (about every 5 hours) to prevent their blood sugar from running low.
Teacup Poodles also tend to have sensitive stomachs, and therefore, you should avoid feeding them food that is rich in cholesterol or fats.
We recommend feeding your Teacup Poodle with food from Pet Plate, particularly their Chompin’ Chicken or Tail Waggin’ Turkey. These foods have low fat content and contain lean proteins that are great for doggies with sensitive stomachs.
Aside from good food, you should also invest in dental water additives to keep dental problems away, and multivitamin supplements for better health and nutrition.
Exercise Requirements
While Teacup Poodles are high energy dogs that need lots of physical activity, the good thing is that their small size means that they don’t have to leave the house to expend this energy. Teacup Poodles can get enough exercise just by running around the house, without much risk to themselves or your home furnishings.
You can supplement the exercise they get indoors with short walks. A 15-minute walk per day is enough to keep a Teacup Poodle in good physical condition.
Can Teacup Poodles Be Left Alone? Temperaments Of Teacup Poodles
Personality
Like Standard Poodles, Teacup Poodles are very loyal and devoted to their favorite humans, which makes them very good companion dogs. These tiny dogs are very good at forming deep bonds and will never want to leave your side, opting instead to follow you all over the house as you go about your chores.
Unfortunately, their tendency to be very close to people they love can also be a disadvantage. Teacup Poodles are not very good with handling loneliness, and will develop destructive behaviors if left alone for long periods, such as barking and chewing at furniture and other household items.
This will mean that Teacup Poodles are best for people who work from home, or people who don’t spend a lot of time away from home.
Teacup Poodles are generally not an aggressive breed, and if properly socialized, they will get along well with other pets, including cats and dogs.
Do Teacup Poodles Bark A Lot?
Despite their tiny size, Teacup Poodles are very vocal. This can be an advantage, since it makes them good watchdogs. However, their excessive barking can also be a great cause of annoyance and irritation, particularly for your neighbors if you live in an apartment.
Are Teacup Poodles Easy To Potty Train?
The Teacup Poodle is a very intelligent dog that takes well to training. With the right approach, your Teacup Poodle will quickly learn their potty training, as well as other commands. You can also teach your Teacup Poodle how to perform various tricks.
Do Teacup Poodles Shed? Grooming Tips For Teacup Poodles
Are Teacup Poodles Hypoallergenic?
One of the main reasons why people love these dogs is that Teacup Poodles do not shed hair. This makes them a great choice for anyone looking for a hypoallergenic dog.
Brushing
While Teacup Poodles do not shed, they still need regular brushing to prevent their hair from matting and tangling. You should brush your Teacup Poodle about two or three times a week.
To prevent damaging your Teacup Poodles coat, the brushing should be done using a professional brushing tool, such as the Furminator Undercoat Tool. This tool is designed specifically for doggies with long hair, such as your Teacup Poodle.
Clipping
Since Teacup Poodles have hair, rather than fur, they need to have the hair clipped regularly, otherwise it can become too long and unmanageable. Clipping also helps your canine buddy cope better with heat during warmer months.
You can either clip your Teacup Poodle’s hair by yourself, or take them to a professional groomer.
Bathing
Since they do not shed, Teacup Poodles need to have baths more frequently than most other dogs. Giving them a bath once every month is enough to keep them clean and healthy.
To avoid affecting the balance of oils in your fido’s coat, you should always give your Teacup Poodle a shower using a dog shampoo, such as Mighty Petz 2-In-1 Oatmeal Dog Shampoo And Conditioner. This shampoo will keep your canine buddy’s coat fresh and moisturized, while replenishing the oils needed to keep the coat healthy.
Related Questions
How Much Do Teacup Poodles Cost? Teacup Poodles cost between $2,000 to $5,000 for a puppy. Micro Teacup Poodles will cost you even more. The high price can be attributed to the small litter sizes, and because Teacup Poodles require very careful breeding. However, the price of acquiring a Teacup Poodle will be lower if you choose to adopt from a shelter.
Are Teacup Dogs Unhealthy? Teacup dogs are not unhealthier compared to standard dogs. Many teacup dogs live long and healthy lives, with Teacup Poodles being a great example. That said, some teacup dogs are prone to conditions like hypoglycemia, especially when they are puppies. Generally, the health of teacup dogs will largely depend on the general health of their parents.
Is Teacup And Toy The Same? The difference between a toy and a teacup dog lies in their size. Toy dogs are those that fall below 12 inches in height, while teacup dogs fall below 9 inches in height. This means that teacup dogs can also fall under the toy dog category. However, most teacup dogs are not officially recognized by kennel clubs.
