Teacup puppies are basically premature dogs.
Teacup puppies are miniature versions of toy dogs. While toy dogs weigh 4 to 7 pounds, teacup dogs generally weigh between 2 and 4 pounds and are premature puppies. Teacup dogs are not recognized by any dog registries. Breeders producing such dogs are mostly backyard breeders since no reputable breeder will select dogs under 4 pounds for their breeding pool.
Teacup Yorkshire Terriers
Teacup Yorkies share many common traits with the regular sized Yorkshires.
Teacup Yorkies are very tiny specimens weighing 5 pounds at the most. They are not a specific type of breed but are simply runts of the litter. Like regularly sized Yorkshire Terriers, they are not the easiest dogs to housebreak and are known to like to bark. Due to their size, owners of teacup Yorkies must be extremely careful in handling them to prevent them from being dropped or stepped on. These puppies usually come with a high price tag due to their miniature sizes.
Teacup Maltese
Maltese can be finicky eaters and difficult to housebreak.
Teacup Maltese puppies are in high demand due to their convenient size; they can can easily fit inside a purse, pocket or clutch. They make good dogs for people who are allergic because they do not shed much compared with other dogs. House-training can be quite challenging, and this breed is known for being quite a finicky eater. They can be high-maintenance dogs requiring lots of attention and must be always handled with care because they are extremely fragile.
Teacup Chihuahuas
Teacup Chihuahuas are the smallest dogs on earth.
Teacup Chihuahuas are the world's smallest dogs and it is not unusual to mistake one of these puppies for a rodent. With a height of 9 inches and a weight of no more than 5 pounds, these puppies can be quite low-maintenance dogs. However, due to their miniature sizes, they are very fragile and must be handled with extreme care. They are also quite prone to barking, so this may be problem for apartment dwellers.
Teacup Pomeranians
Teacup Pomeranians require lots of tender loving care.
Teacup Pomeranians are obtained by breeding runts of the litter. These small specimens require lots of tender loving care and careful handling. They should be taken on short walks and should never be exposed to larger dogs. Due to their size and metabolism, they may have a hard time tolerating cold temperatures, therefore investing in some dog clothes for the winter is a must.
Other Teacup Breeds
There are several other ''teacup dogs'' available on the market. Teacup pugs, teacup Shih-tzus, teacup poodles and teacup silky terriers are just a few of the many varieties of teacup dogs. When considering adopting a teacup puppy, look at the over all personality traits attached to the individual breed rather than at size. However, it is important to recognize that reputable dog breeders do not breed for teacups because they do not conform to the breed standard.
Considerations
Teacup puppies may be very cute, but these dogs may be prone to health problems. Being so small, their bones are very fragile and can be easily broken by leaping off high places or being stepped on. They can also be prone to several health conditions such as portosystemic shunts, hypoglycemia, collapsing trachea, and luxating patellas just to name a few. Teacups are not really a dog breed of their own, and the term ''teacup'' is therefore mostly a marketing ploy to demand a premium price for these premature puppies.
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