How long do teacup puppies live?
If you did your research correctly to find your teacup puppy, you can find yourself with a companion for up to 15 years. Smaller dogs do tend to live longer than larger breeds, and if given the proper treatment, your teacup puppy can lead a long, fulfilling life as well.
Teacup Dogs vs Toy Dogs vs Small Dogs
Is a toy dog a teacup dog? Is a small dog breed a teacup?
Here is a chart that will better help you understand these differences and teacup measurements.
| XXS (Teacup Dog) | XS (Toy Dog) | Small Dog | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 5 – 9 inches | 10 – 13 inches | 14 – 17 inches |
| Pounds | 3 – 5 pounds | 5 – 10 pounds | 11 – 16 pounds |
| Dog Breed | Teacup chihuahua Teacup Poddle | Yorkie Pomeranian | Beagle French Bulldog |
As you can see, there are minute discrepancies between teacup dogs, toy dogs, and small dogs when it comes to size and weight.
According to Animal Planet, when grown, teacup dogs should weigh less than the American Kennel Club-approved standard weight for their breed, often by a pound (half a kilogram) or more.9
Under this premise, we think it is safe to say that a toy dog or small dog breed can be considered part of the “teacup” classification, too.
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t fixate on teacup size but only use it as a point of reference and make an informed decision when buying a teacup dog and picking a breeder.
How much does a teacup dog cost?
Buying a teacup puppy comes with a hefty price tag. Teacup dogs can cost thousands of dollars, depending on the breed, breeder, and other factors. The price for a teacup dog may easily range anywhere between $750 and $10,000!
We researched the most popular teacup dog breeds to determine these puppy price ranges.
Here is what you can expect to pay by breed when buying from reputable breeders.
If you are looking to buy a teacup, Pawrade is the best place to find healthy, pre-screened teacup puppies from U.S.-based reputable breeders at a great price. The company works with over 135,000 breeders and has helped match 4,000,000 awesome families with loving forever friends. The best part about Pawrade is that they have zero tolerance toward puppy mills and only connect you with honest and certified breeders where puppies are raised with love and compassion.
The cost of teacup puppies can drastically vary depending on several factors.
Bloodline: If the teacup dog you want to purchase comes from a purebred bloodline, this can drive up the cost significantly.
Breeder: A breeder that is just hoping to turn a quick profit won’t spend money on the best teacup food or health testing on the teacup parents before breeding. In contrast, a reputable teacup breeder who genuinely cares about their dogs being bred will do both and more. You will see right away that there is a big difference in the asking price for a teacup pup.
Health: Unscrupulous breeders may use techniques such as inbreeding runts or breeding dogs that are not naturally healthy or functional (with deformities). They know inbreeding destines dogs to shorter and less healthy lives. This is why cross-bred designer dogs and teacup dogs may get such low prices.
PRO TIP: Nowadays, it’s possible to get a teacup puppy for as cheap as $500. However, you should always question the lower price tag based on the factors altering the price. A higher price tag doesn’t mean your teacup pup is healthy either.
A reputable teacup breeder should provide health records for the pup and its parents, pedigree certificate of parents, shot records, registration, and allow a veterinarian examination. If they don’t, you should take that as a warning sign.
What is the cheapest teacup puppy?
According to our research, teacup beagles, teacup chihuahuas, teacup silky terrier, teacup Pomskies are among the cheapest cup dogs. Teacup puppies under $500 exist, but we advise caution when buying from breeders that offer such low prices for these dogs.
Aside from the original purchase price for a teacup dog, ownership cost is another financial aspect of owning a teacup dog.
The average cost for the first year of raising small dogs is $2674, while the lifetime cost of raising a dog is $23,410, according to a study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.10
However, raising a cup dog price will potentially cost more than normal dog ownership due to the potential dog issues these micro dogs face. We cover these health concerns in the next chapter.
Are teacup dogs prone to health issues?
Unfortunately, these tiny canines have more than their share of health issues. As a caring dog parent, the more you know, the better positioned you’ll be to give your tiny dog the care she or she needs.
Is It Even Possible to Find an Ethical Teacup Breeder?
The short answer? Yes, it is possible to find an ethical breeder that has teacup dogs—the keyword being “has.” Sometimes, an ethical breeder will have a litter with smaller-than-average pups that he or she can still give a health guarantee. This may be a rare occurrence, but it is the most ethical way to find a teacup. Because it is hard to know the origin of puppies at the pet store, you cannot be certain that those puppies werent unethically bred.
If youre having a hard time locating an ethical teacup dog, you might want to consider toy dog breeds, which are smaller dogs, but a healthier size and weight for their standard.
The Teacup Dog: Everything you need to know
Thanks to celebrity teacup pup parents and social media outlets (were looking at you, Instagram!), teacup dogs, otherwise known as micro-dogs, have become increasingly popular over the last decade. From various celebrities purses to some of the most adorable videos on the internet, it seems like teacup dogs are everywhere.
Theres no denying that these tiny doggies are absolutely adorable, but do teacup dogs actually stay that small? Do they make good pets? And, perhaps most importantly, are they healthy?
Unfortunately, there are many myths and misconceptions surrounding teacup dogs—particularly around their health—so if youre considering adding one to the family, its absolutely vital to do your research. Making an informed decision can be the difference between bringing a healthy dog and an unhealthy dog into the family.
Read on to learn more about teacup dogs, and why they might not be the best pet for your family.