Do you love the idea of owning a cute micro dog, or a dog that can sit comfortably inside a teacup?
Teacup dogs are dogs that weigh four pounds or less when fully grown and measure less than 17 inches.
We have a list here of the most common breeds that you can find in this micro dog category.
But before you fall in love with these pint-sized pups and start dreaming about popping one in your pocket or handbag, there are a few important things you need to know.
The first is that ‘teacup’ is not an official category of dog breed. These micro dogs have largely been bred as a marketing strategy to attract buyers who are willing to pay large dollars for a ‘tiny pup that can fit in a cup’.
Teacups are basically miniaturized versions of popular breeds of small dogs. They can weigh considerably less than the standard for their particular breed, and this means they can face serious health issues down the track and shortened lives.
The health problems you might encounter include seizures, liver shunts, teeth problems, heart problems and Hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE), which is a disease characterized by sudden vomiting and bloody diarrhea. The symptoms are usually severe and can be fatal if not treated.
In some cases, unethical breeders will purposely raise runts of the litter (smaller, weaker dogs that are struggling to survive) and label them teacup pups, or they may deliberately withhold the nourishment the puppies need to stunt their growth.
While they might look like they would be low maintenance, teacup pups basically need someone to watch out for them and care for them every minute of the day.
Teacup pups (and adults) are very fragile. They have a high rate of broken bones, can easily die from a fall, are hard to see and easy to step on and cannot go outside alone as they make easy prey for predators (owls, cats, hawks and other dogs).
These little pups can’t be left unsupervised with kids or home alone by themselves.
Because they have tiny stomachs, they need to eat many more small meals a day than standard sized breeds (think 4-5 small meals every day), and their tiny bladders mean they also need to be taken out for supervised toilet breaks a couple of times every hour.
If you are someone who works from home all day and are prepared to give your pup constant attention, love and protection, you may still find a teacup dog on our list that is the right breed for you.
But before you take one home, make sure you do your research and get an independent qualified vet to check out your prospective pup – this could save you lots of money and heartache down the road.