When we talk about dog breed classification, we often use terms like sight hounds, blood hounds, terriers, etc. In this case, the classification is done on the basis of dogs sharing common characteristics. The teacup and toy group include dogs with one overriding characteristic-they are all small despite the variety in their shapes and personalities. Teacup dog breeds can really steal your heart! Find out if these little bundles of love and energy are right for you!
Teacup dog breeds characteristics
- Teacup Maltese is one of the most popular of all toy breeds.
- Morkies or the cross between Yorkshire terrier and Maltese is another breed that is gaining popularity.
- Teacup Yorkies are known by several different names: Teacup, Toy, Micro or even Mini Yorkies.
- Although today they are bred solely for companionship, in their early days, the Toy dog breed groups actually performed different working dog tasks. Many of them made excellent watchdogs and vermin catchers!
- Teacup dog lifespan- It is said that smaller the dog, bigger the lifespan. The toy breed varieties live up to 12-14 years and some Teacup Maltese have even lived up to 18 years!
- Recently breeders have started offering teacup poodles as well. The air of regal dignity carried by this breed is unlike any other dog breed.
- Size and weight- Depending on their bloodlines and parentage, your teacup dog breed can measure somewhere between 15-17 inches in height and weigh up to 4 lbs.
Different toy breed dogs
The toy breed has many representatives for you to choose from:
- Affenpinscher
- Australian Silky terrier
- English toy terrier
- Maltese
- Yorkshire terrier
- Morkies
- Toy Poodles/teacup poodles
- Miniature Pinscher
- Pekingnese
- King Charles Spaniel
- Cavalier King Charles
- Pomeranian
- Papillon
- Pug
- Shih Tzu
- Chinese Crested
- Teacup Chihuahua
- Mini Italian Greyhound
- Havanese
Are the Teacup dog breeds right for you?
Please note that, before you buy or adopt any dog breed, you must get a dog ownership license. Some states even make it mandatory to update the dog ownership license annually. You also need to show current rabies vaccination each year during renewal. Here are some factors to consider when bringing home a Teacup dog breed.
Do you have other household pets?
There are a number of factors that will determine if your teacup dog breed will get along with other pets in your household. Yorkshire terriers are predisposed to chasing small animals. So if you get a Morkie, he/she might chase small kittens or other pets like gerbils and hamsters. It is important that you train and socialize your pet from an early age; preferably during the first three months of life. Genetically, Yorkshire terriers and Maltese dogs get along well with cats; so your Morkie might too. Also, most Morkies are good with other small dogs but tend to get snappy with larger dogs. You must always supervise your Teacup’s interaction with other pets, at least in the beginning.
Is their temperament right for your personality?
Pocket dog breeds are dogs with big personalities and small size. As with different dog breeds, your teacup dog will display many different traits and characteristics. Personality and temperament also change as your puppy grows up. Early obedience training and socialization can go a long way in making sure your puppy grows up to be the ideal companion you want him to be. In general, micro teacup breeds like Morkies are lively and curious, alert and spunky. These people oriented small dog breeds are known to develop strong bonds with one member in the family. Note that most toy dog breeds are yappy but training and socialization can help take care of that.
Can you meet their exercise needs?
Small dog breeds are energetic but you need not exercise them too much. However, it is good to engage your pet in active, fun filled play in order to help them expend energy. Failure to do so could lead to unwanted behavior like chewing furniture and unnecessary barking.
Are there allergy sufferers in your household?
Before you go looking for teacup dog breeds for sale, you must find out if they are suitable for allergy sufferers. Thankfully, most teacup breeds have long, silky single coats. Teacup Chihuahuas have short coats and both varieties shed just once a year. Shedding is not much of a menace either. So these dogs, especially the teacup Morkie and teacup Maltese are good breeds for allergy sufferers. (Note that no dog is 100% hypoallergenic, especially if they have fur. Also allergy sufferers are allergic to dog skin dander and that is present on all dogs, irrespective of the type of coat they have).
Can you keep up with their grooming requirements?
Many teacup dog breeds have stringent grooming requirements. For example, the Morkie inherits a long silky coat from its parent Yorkshire terrier breed. They need regular trimming and brushing. Brushing stimulates natural oils in the coat and also prevents matting. Clipping coat is not a rule if you do not plan to show your dog but it has its advantage. Teacup poodle breed also looks great when groomed professionally. Breeds like the Chinese Crested are totally hairless but you must still take very good care of their skin to prevent issues like acne and sunburn. You will also have to cut their nails and clean their ears out from time to time. It is recommended that you bathe your pet once every 15-20 days.
Do you know their common health issues?
All dog breeds, big or small, are prone to health problems. The good thing about designer breeds like the Teacup and pocket dog breeds is that they have a wider gene pool to draw their characteristics from. When you buy your teacup dog breed from reputed breeders, you can minimize health risks. Having said so; some small dog breeds are known to suffer from health issues like dental problems, eye issues, hypoglycemia, collapsed trachea and patella luxation. Regular vet checkups along with right nutrition, exercise and grooming can help prevent serious problems in your pet.
Can you commit to feeding them healthy meals?
The right food for your dog is the one that gives him a healthy body, alert mind and happy spirit. Commercial dry dog food or kibble is convenient and, these days, there are many scientifically made and vet approved foods available for toy breeds. You could always choose to feed healthy, homemade recipes for some variety. Note that domesticated companion dogs generally do well on low carb diets.
Conclusion
If you want a small, portable dog who loves to cuddle and make friends then the toy dog breed, teacup dogs or pocket dog breeds might just be perfect for you. You can select from a wide range of coat and personality types in this class of dogs. Note that toy breeds are slightly harder to housetrain; it happens to be a genetic trait. Silky coated toy dogs also need plenty of grooming and very small dogs and toy puppies are often prone to low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. With these pointers in mind we hope you can make an informed choice before buying or adopting your pet.