Introduction: Over many generations, the toy poodle has been bred down in size, creating smaller and smaller dogs. These tiny dogs are known as teacup or tiny toy poodles. These little dogs are just as healthy and active as regular sized toy poodles, only smaller. They are not runts as some people may tell you. They are small offspring that have been bred from small parents, small grandparents and small great grandparents.
This selective breeding took many generations to produce the teacup poodle we know and love today. Because of the ‘down-size’ breeding, they all carry recessive genes. Therefore, some larger toy poodles can produce teacup size puppies and some tiny toy and teacup poodles can produce larger size puppies.
Teacup or tiny toy poodle: Many people think they want a teacup poodle until they discover the extra time and care it requires. Most people want a lap dog that can be left alone for part of the day but large enough to be able to jump up onto the couch safely or walk to the corner store with the kids. These activities describe the tiny toy poodle, not the teacup poodle.
Because of their small size, teacup and tiny toy poodles are well suited to apartment living as they do not require a big back yard or regular walking. They are easily trained to use an indoor doggy toilet. Teacup and tiny toy poodles need the companionship of people and should never be left alone for long periods of time. They get very lonely and suffer from separation anxiety. If your puppy will be left alone a lot, we suggest you get two puppies so that they can keep each other company when you are out.
About teacup poodles: Owning a teacup poodle is similar to having a child. They need extra care and attention. Your teacup puppy may be a fussy eater and needs to eat often to prevent Hypoglycaemia. A teacup poodle cannot get up onto the couch or bed by itself and may have difficulty climbing stairs. You always need to watch your puppy to make sure it does not fall off the couch as it may break a bone.
Almost everything is bigger than the puppy and it gets scared very easily. It is impossible to board them anywhere if you want to go away as it is just too stressful for them. You need to find a friend or family member willing to take care of them for you while you are away.
Teacup poodles are not suitable for families with small children or other larger dogs as they could get hurt or stepped on. They are not suitable for people that work full time or for people who are away from home for more than a couple of hours at a time. If you take them out for the day, you need to pack their food, play pen, piddle pad, toys etc so they can eat and rest while they are away from home.
It is not a good idea to breed a female teacup poodle less than 2kg. They cannot pass puppies easily and usually require a caesarean section. Trying to give birth could result in the death of your female and/or the death of the puppies.
Don’t get me wrong, I love teacup poodles but you need to consider your personal lifestyle before buying one of these babies and make sure a teacup poodle will fit into it. They can live for up to 18 years so make sure when you when you purchase a teacup puppy that you are doing the right thing for the dog.
About tiny toy poodles: Tiny toy poodles are big enough that you can take them for a walk in the park (using a harness, not a collar) but small enough that you can carry them around in your arms and let them fall asleep on your lap. You can teach your tiny toy to use a doggy door and they are big enough to be able to jump up onto the couch. Your bed may be too high for them to jump onto but if you get a set of doggy stairs, they will not have a problem.
They are sturdier than teacup poodles but still small enough to dress up or play ball with. It is easier to find a baby sitter for them if you need to go away and they are suitable for families with children.
Personality: Teacup and tiny toy poodles are an extremely intelligent and trainable breed. They are very social and make a wonderful indoor pet. They simply adore spending time with their humans. For those people who don’t appreciate dog hair in their homes or on their clothes, the fact that the poodle is non-shedding and hypo-allergenic is a huge plus.
Contrary to popular belief, well bred teacup and tiny toy poodles are just as healthy as toy size dogs. They have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years with many living even longer. All our puppies are well socialised. From the time they are born until the time they leave for their new homes, our poodle puppies receive the utmost tender loving care, being cuddles, kissed and played with every day.
Males vs females: Most of the time, males are more easy going than females. Females are usually the leaders of the pack, they tend to be more bossy and more independent than the males. You will also need to deal with the females’ heat cycles if you do not get her spayed. Males on the other hand are very loyal and protective and bond with all members of your family. Females tend to bond more closely with one person in particular. If the male is neutered early, he will not learn to lift his leg and mark his territory.
As far as activity levels between males and females go, males have a strong desire to play and remain young at heart well into their senior years. Females become reserved as they age, seeking your attention one day then acting aloof or uninterested the next. Although there are differences between the sexes, each dog has his or her own unique temerament and personality and both make wonderful pets.
Health: Many people have the mistaken idea that teacup and tiny toy poodles are not healthy and are just the runts of the litter. While it is true that some tiny puppies can have health problems, if a teacup puppy is bred from a healthy line of dogs that has been specifically bred to be small, then they can be just as healthy and active as larger poodles.
Sometimes a puppy will be born extra small from regular sized toy poodles which have regular sized toy poodle lines behind them. Some breeders will call this puppy a teacup. Although it may be teacup size, it is not a true teacup. It may be small due to ill health or not getting enough milk if larger pups in the litter constantly push it away from the mothers’ teats. This is why it is so important to purchase a teacup puppy from an experienced breeder who has the knowledge to know the difference.