Teacup Poodles—buyer beware

Tiny Poodles called Teacups. They may be charming and adorable, but buyers should know what they are getting into before purchasing one.

Through thousands of years of breeding the smallest with the smallest and the largest with the largest, there are now three distinct sizes of Poodles recognized by the AKC: Standard, (over 15 inches at the highest point of the shoulders), Miniature, and Toy (under 10 inches).

There is no such thing as a registered Teacup Poodle. The term is used as a marketing gimmick to indicate that the puppy will be extra small, commonly 2 1/2 to 4 pounds when full grown. However tiny Teacup Poodles often have serious health problems, which may be why they are so small in the first place.

In many ways they are like premature babies. In nature they would seldom survive puppyhood. They need constant human care and nurturing. If they survive, they often have lifespans of 3 to 5 years instead of the expected 12-15+ years of a toy or miniature Poodle.

These tiny puppies should cost less than a normal size healthy puppy because they require special care and generally have higher medical expenses, but often a breeder will charge more for them.

For most people a "Teacup" puppy is a bad idea. Besides health and dental problems, they are quite delicate. Jumping from a chair or being stepped on can cause serious injury. They should never go into a home with children or a lot of activity unless they are kept in a draft-free crate or cage.

In which case, as my email friend Rita says, “You might as well put a Poodle costume on a rat or hamster.”

Comments

[Tina]

Thanks for writing about this. My mil had a teacup poodle who just keeled over when he was three years old. Mil cryed for two weeks, then she went back to the same breeder and paid $1300 for another one.

[chandira]

Aw.. Cute, but sad. I agree, and I think mutts are generally a lot healthier with all that chance for biodiversity in their genes.. Why breed more problems into a dog when life is hard enough! I say rescue a pound puppy!!

All my cats have been homeless waifs, and they're SO grateful for a home..

[Laura]

I had heard of teacup poodles but I didn't know what exactly was meant by teacup. I always thought it just meant toy.

Thanks for clearing that up with me. If I want a pet that small I'll stick with gerbils.

[Ed]

why would anyone want a dog you cant walk or play with? I agree you might as well get a rodent.

[Mushy]

I had a toy poodle years ago...so small my wife brought it home in her coat pocket, but not quite as small as this one looks.

Anyway...it only lived a few years and died suddently one night in its sleep.

Gave an arm and leg ($125) for that thing back in 1970.

[Janey Loree]

Hi Jan, I followed you over here from my PJ's Paper Doll Cut Outs blog. Thanks for the comment. We had a silver toy poodle named Princess when I was a little girl. She was joined by a little black cockapoo named Candy.

I voted for you over in BLOG VILLAGE.

[Faith]

That's so sad; what people will do to make money just completely outrages me.

I don't know what's worse - that there are people willing to do that to dogs just to make money or that people actually purchase them not realizing what they're buying.

[schnoodlepooh]

I have seen teacups advertised in the newspaper, but I didn't know anything about them. So sad. It would break my heart to have a dog with a lifespan of only 3 - 5 years. Fifteen years is too short.... Poor little creatures.

[Kristyn]

They are adorable, but for me it would just be too sad to bear. I have a shih tzu, and I love him dearly. He's only a little more than a year old and I couldn't imagine him only living another 1 1/2 - 3 years. It would just be unbearable. I'm looking forward to years more with him, he's a wonderful -if tempermental dog.

Shih tzu also come in "teacup" and I just think it's sad. Why would anyone breed these dogs this way? Do they not realize that they're breeding underdeveloped dogs? No animal deserves to live this way! It just makes me so darned angry, and more than that, sad.

Thanks for writing about this, Jan!

Kristyn

[glorious]

We've had dogs for years though currently dogless. Our best dogs were mutts and crossbreeds. We had an adorable Shih Tzu named Venus who we loved more than anything. She lived 11 years. I couldn't bear to have a dog for only a couple years. Oh the pain! Some breeders are just in it for the money. Bad people.

[ivy]

It was explained to me when a runt of one litter bred w/ a runt of another litter, you get a Teacup. That is why it is so small, and genetically unhealthy. With high costs of today's vet care, people in general should stay away form getting a teacup size pet. You would think folks would take time learning how to select a healthy pet, but they don't. It infuriates me because these people has created a market for the teacup, so greedy breeders would just keep producing these tiny things to fill it.

[chandira]

I see a lot of this vanity with pet owners. I live near a lake in Seattle that is a popular dog-walking spot, and you can see the owners parading their prizes, with no thought for the poor dogs. All shape and size of trophy dog.
it's not that I'm against dog breeding, a well-bred dog is a beautiful thing, its just the greed and short-sightedness of some of the people involved that irritates me.

[marie therese]

I have a small (4 pound) poodle who is 12 years old. I agree that these little dogs are very fragile and they do require a lot of care. Generally, small dogs have a longer life span than bigger dogs, and it is not unheard of for the toy pooldle or tiny toy to live for 18-20 years. Our little girl dog is very healthy and brings a lot of joy to our lives. Great blog, I've enjoyed reading it!!!

[Steve]

Small poodles can be extremely healthy and live a very long time. I had a female tiny-toy 5 lb poodle for 20 years.

She was very strong, very healthy and could run and play like any other dog. She just did it smaller.

What usually kills small dogs is food. People tend to overfeed them and they get obese. Then they have all the problems obese humans have and usually they die at an early age of heart faliure.

Do not get a small dog without learning all about them, but do not think that just because a dog is very small, that it is unhealthy or will die young.

[Steve]

Small poodles can be extremely healthy and live a very long time. I had a female tiny-toy 5 lb poodle for 20 years.

She was very strong, very healthy and could run and play like any other dog. She just did it smaller.

What usually kills small dogs is food. People tend to overfeed them and they get obese. Then they have all the problems obese humans have and usually they die at an early age of heart faliure.

Do not get a small dog without learning all about them, but do not think that just because a dog is very small, that it is unhealthy or will die young.

[Ashley]

I think teacup poodles are the cutest thing ever and I want one so much, but I just can bring my self to spend over $1000 and more in vet bills on a pet that is gonna wipe out after 5 years. I think I'll stink with a miniature or standard.

[Dianne]

What most of you aren't thinking about is...maybe it is a shame there is such a thing as a teacup poodle but that does not make them unworthy of being someone's pet. I'd rather someone buy one and give it the best life it can have, no matter how long that may be, than to have them destroyed somewhere just because they're small, or mistreated, or never to have been born and never have known a human's love. That would be a crime! I say, buy one! My brother's teacup died just a few days ago at the age of eight so don't tell me they only live 3-5 years or that was a fluke! Loving care can surely extend any dogs' life. Just think...eight years of love she had that she wouldn't have had if she had NEVER been born! Have a heart people!!

[jan]

Dianne,

While I agree that all puppies should have a loving home, my purpose was to let people know what they may be getting when they buy a teacup. Paying a premium price for a puppy that might have severe health problems or a shorter life span is something that people should be aware of before they make the purchase. They should also be aware of the special needs of these dogs throughout their lives.

I didn't put this in my post because it is quite unpleasant to think about, but some disreputable breeders will induce labor so that the puppies are born prematurely and will never become healthy dogs. Others give the newborns drugs or alcohol to stunt their growth and then charge high prices because there is a high demand for tiny Poodles.

[Dianne]

Take note at the words YOU used in your response to me... "what they MAY BE getting", "MIGHT HAVE severe health problems or a shorter life span", and "SOME disreputable breeders". Obviously, even you don't think ALL breeders have the same breeding practices. And, obviously... even you don't think ALL teacups have health problems. But, based on your article and related comments, it looks like the majority of people that posted a comment are now convinced that no one should ever own one. What a shame! Couldn't they have just said...thanks for the info? I guess if no one EVER bought one, the bad breeders wouldn't have a need to breed them anymore. But, the fact remains...they're here and they need us. Price really isn't a problem to someone that really wants one and can afford it. It's the people that buy pets when they can barely feed themselves that should think twice. By the way....thanks for the info!

[Angie]

I just bought a minature(teacup)poodle a couple of weeks ago and I love her so much! She brings me so much happiness and I only paid $450 for her. I have spent way more money on other things that I never used or that never gave me any happiness! She will give me happiness for the rest of her life, no matter how long that is! I am not being selfish, I am being loving and I don't mind taking care of her like I do my children. She IS one of my children.