If you’ve ever wanted a teacup dog, you’re not alone. These are adorable dogs that you can fit in a purse or other small container and they’re barely noticeable.

There is no official size the dog has to be in order to be considered a ‘teacup” dog, but they are incredibly small indeed.

If this is the type of dog you want, you had better be prepared to pay a hefty price for it because these tiny, cute dogs range anywhere from $750 to $10,000. They are definitely not cheap, but they certainly are adorable!

What Are Teacup Dogs?

Before we get into more details about teacup dogs, let’s talk about what they are. Teacup dogs are not registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC), but the organization recognizes a teacup dog as any dog that weighs 2 to 5 pounds and gets to a maximum of 17 inches when they reach adulthood.

Interestingly enough, “toy” breeds are usually recognized as dogs weighing less than 15 pounds.

Just like size, teacup dogs’ breeds can vary and in fact, teacup dogs can be numerous breeds, including the following:

• Chihuahua
• Dachshund
• French bulldog
• Maltipoo
• Pekingese
• Poodle
• Pug
• Russian toy
• Shih tzu
• Silky terrier

Other breeds can also be classified as teacup dogs, depending on their size, and keep in mind that because there is no official size for these dogs, what you consider a teacup dog can vary from someone else’s interpretation.

Nevertheless, the AKC acknowledges that dogs weighing no more than 5 pounds and getting to a maximum of 17 inches can certainly fall under this category.

Always Check Out the Breeder of the Dog

Teacup dogs, on average, cost between $3,000 and $5,000, but they can cost much less or much more. The cost itself is dependent upon many factors, including the breeder, the bloodline of the dog, and the dog’s overall health.

It’s good to remember that if someone offers you a teacup dog for $500, for example, it’s best not to take it because it will likely be riddled with health problems.

There are reputable and not-so-reputable breeders out there, so it’s good to do some due diligence before you decide who to buy your dog from and you can do that online.

If a teacup dog is too cheap, the breeder is likely not reputable and it’s almost certain that you won’t be happy with your purchase. The saying “too good to be true” definitely applies here.

How can you tell if a breeder is reputable? You can ask a lot of questions and ask for the health records of the parents and the dog, shot records, breeder registration, and even the parents’ pedigree certificate if they are claiming that the dog is a purebred dog.

A reputable breeder will not mind showing you these things, and if your gut instinct tells you to avoid that breeder, you should pay attention to it.

How Much Are Teacup Dogs?

Most teacup dogs are less than $10,000 but this doesn’t mean that they are cheap. In fact, here are the average prices of the teacup dog breeds mentioned earlier:

• Chihuahua ($3,000 to $7,000)
• Dachshund ($6,000)
• French bulldog ($5,000 to $10,000)
• Maltipoo ($2,500 to $5,000)
• Pekingese ($750 to $3,000)
• Poodle ($5,000 to $6,800)
• Pug ($1,900 to $6,000)
• Russian toy ($1,200)
• Shih tzu ($3,500 to $9,000)
• Silky terrier ($1,800 to $5,600)

Originally, it is believed that the teacup dog got its name from the fact that it can fit into a teacup, but dogs can be a little bit bigger than that and still be considered a teacup dog. If the dog is tiny and fits into a small purse, it can be thought of as a teacup dog.

Should You Get a Teacup Dog?

Teacup dogs are adorable, but they are still dogs that deserve owners who will love them and take excellent care of them. Because they are so tiny, many teacup dogs are prone to certain health conditions and dangers.

These are some of them:

• Fragile bones. This is why fractures and broken bones can be commonplace in teacup dogs.
• This involves blood sugar that gets too low. One way to avoid this is to make sure that your teacup dog never misses a meal.
• Collapsing trachea. This can cause obstruction of the airway and can even be fatal.
• People can easily sit or stand on these dogs simply because they can’t see them, which is why it’s crucial to keep a close eye on them.
• Miscellaneous conditions such as seizures, heart defects, respiratory problems, dental and gum issues, and digestive problems.

Regular visits to the veterinarian for checkups are essential to making sure that your teacup dog remains healthy and happy for the rest of their life. Be aware of anything that might be out of the ordinary and keep an eye on them at all times.

Conclusion

Teacup dogs are usually dogs that weigh 2 to 5 pounds and don’t get to more than 17 inches in size when they’re full-grown. There are no official sizes, but these are the numbers that the AKC recognizes when it comes to teacup dogs.

While teacup dogs can be feisty, they are actually very fragile, so they are not dogs to have around if there are children in the home.

Teacup dogs cost from $750 to $10,000, but most are in the $3,000 to $5,000 range, which means that not everyone can afford them.