Some dogs are small, but these are absolutely tiny. The teacup puppy is cuteness, pocket size.
If you’re looking for a dog that doesn’t take up much space, to any, seek out a teacup puppy.
What qualifies a dog as teacup, an adult size of five pounds or less. Seems tricky, huh? It is. To make a teacup requires particular breeding strategy, that is, finding two extremely small breeds to start. Two small parents under 5 pounds will almost guarantee a litter of petite pooches.
Some of the most popular teacup breeds are Pomeranians, Poodles, and Yorkshire Terriers.
Some other breeds you may find in teacup size are the Maltese, Schnauzer, Shih Tzu, and Chihuahua.
While they are cute, their existence is controversial. From breeding practices to health issues these small pups come with great risk.
In regards to breeding, to make a teacup requires risk for the mother. Small breeds already suffer from poor health during pregnancy, this is made worse by multiple births. Often times, a dog that has birthed teacups in the past is used many times to produce them. This puts great strain on the dog and pups.
Breeders have resorted to breeding with dogs from the same litter. This, to some degree, assures them of small puppies. Horribly, some breeders will even starve or subject puppies to disease to stunt their growth. So when searching for a teacup, find a breeder whose litter is from a first pregnancy and shows no sign of malnutrition. If you discover such practices, turn them over to the authorities.
The most common health issue prescribed to teacups are hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
This means they require attentive food practices. Their risk of diseases heightens due to their small frames. They can suffer respiratory, heart, and brain diseases such as hydrocephalus (water in the brain). So keep in mind that having a teacup puppy means frequent vet visits. If you don’t have the time or financials to take care of a teacup try a bigger breed.
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Like all small breeds, be careful when they are with children. A teacup dog is vulnerable to rough touching or falling from heights. Even if your child is good with animals, always supervise them around a puppy as miniature as the teacup.
You will need to keep a close eye on them. They are easily harmed from falling objects or walking feet. Be sure to inform your guests to look out for your pup when sauntering across your pad. A teacup is subject to heights, so be sure they aren’t in areas that could lead to big falls.
This is something to consider when walking your teacup or taking them to dog parks. While you may want to socialize your pup, they are easily injured by other dogs, especially aggressive ones. Also, protect them against harsh weather and dangerous sports.
Having a teacup is precious, so treat them as such. Be careful with them, and be sure to heed breeder practices when selecting your teacup puppy.