Teacup/tiny poodles

[Foxglovii]

Does anybody have one and can anybody tell me more about them - personal experience wise. I previously thought that these tiny dogs were a bit of a joke and a fashion accessory. I've been reading quite a lot recently and I'm getting a different view..but I'm not entirely convinced. They seem too good to be true from the perspective of someone who doesn't want a dog that needs long walks every day and who likes to play and likes cuddles!

There are none bred in my area too and I'm very nervous about animals from breeders (in case they're a puppy farm and I've not realised).

Also concerned about how attached these dogs can get to owners..although not sure if it's significantly more than other sizes of the same breed.

So posting here as I thought there may be some posters who have experience.

Mega mega health issues. I would not touch or encourage any breeding of teacup dogs

Teacup is just another name for runt of the litter! Poodles like mud and water, they're not handbag accessories (meant kindly).

Don't touch with a 10-foot pole. Teacup dogs of any bred are created by breeding the runts of the litters over and over to shrink down the size of the dog. You're effectively picking the genetically weakest animals and overbreeding from this stock. Why anyone would think that's a good thing is beyond me! Appalling for the poor creatures. Terrible practice by unscrupulous people who don't care about the health of the animals they are breeding.

I would also add, every teacup dog I've ever seen has looked terrified when out in public. When you are only the size of a rodent, the world must seem a scary place.

No such thing as teacups. They just runts and tend to have lots of issues and breeders use the term to ask high prices.

I think the one you’re looking for is TOY poodle not teacup.

They may be little but they are quick little dogs with lots of energy and smarts

Poodles were originally working dogs. They're bred to run, swim, play and get wet and muddy. If you have no intention of walking your dog for at least 1-1.5 hours a day, don't get a poodle (of any size).

Definitely avoid anyone that advertises their dogs as being "teacup". Teacup dogs are bred by breeding the runts of litters together until you get a small dog. Runts in general are not the healthiest and shouldn't be bred from.

If you want a small dog that requires little exercise, look for a different breed altogether.

No such thing at all. You would be buying a tiny runt.
Pick an actual breed if you want a pedigree puppy.

No such thing as teacups in any breed. As others have said just smallest & usually weakest in litter, then some bred down from these. They usually don’t live long.
If you want a small poodle a toy poodle is plenty small enough & a recognised KC breed.

@Soubriquet

I think the one you’re looking for is TOY poodle not teacup.

They may be little but they are quick little dogs with lots of energy and smarts

Tea cup is even smaller than a Toy I’m afraid. Please don’t encourage the breeding of these poor dogs by buying one.

'Teacup' is the ultimate puppy farm red flag.

@Soubriquet

I think the one you’re looking for is TOY poodle not teacup.

They may be little but they are quick little dogs with lots of energy and smarts

You're right that toy poodles exist as a legitimate breed, but some people will try and pass off runts as "teacup" versions of the breed - as a way of making more money, basically.

I have a beagle and people try and claim that "pocket beagles" are a breed - I mean, they are, but they died out in Elizabethan times Nowadays, "pocket beagles" are either runts bred together, or beagles outcrossed with something like Jack Russells.

Oh this is interesting. I thought that Toy was the same as Teacup.

So are Toy poodles not runts then?

Thanks by the way - at least I know to stay away from teacups!

As an aside, my friend has a short-haired chihuahua (rodent similarity noted 😂). Is this a runt over-breed too, or a genuine, "normal" breed?

So are Toy poodles not runts then?

Toy and teacup are two different things :)

Toy poodles are a legitimate breed of dog - teacups are not. Stay well away from anyone advertising any kind of "teacup" dog!

My neighbour has a toy poodle, a year and a half old. Needs long walks, not in the slightest bit docile, and very attached to his owner (who is sensible and not over protective)

So the biddable snoozing laidback teacup is a figment of someone's imagination.

Pugs seem more laidback, but also do better with plenty of exercise.

All dogs need stimulation and proper walks.

Cats are snoozers par excellence.

Aah Nettleskeins that's useful to know thank you. I don't mind going for walks but, for instance, not an hour three times a day, or twice 1.5-2hrs. Actually I'd love to have the time for that, but it doesn't work for me right now.

I had a lead for my last cat 😉 but admittedly that was because he'd refuse to get in the cat box to go to the vet and to avoid a horrible fight, I'd take him on a lead, with the box, and at some point he'd put himself in it! 😂

Thanks everyone for taking the time to reply. I think I'm going to be revisiting this when I retire..which won't be for quite some years.

@Foxglovii when you can it’s worth visiting Discover Dogs. Chance to see different breeds and ask questions.

Are these even smaller than toy poodles? We had a toy poodle and she loved a good long walk. Bags of energy.

Thanks Wolfiefan.

PickAChew - how long is long, just out of interest? (Your name made me laugh!)

If you want a less energetic dog, you might want to look into adopting an older dog. Often dogs that have been kept as companions by older people end up homeless when their owner dies. They're often accustomed to a quiet life at home and might be getting on a bit, themselves, so past their most energetic and not very attracive to a fmily who don't want to become attached to a pet they'll only have for a few years.

At least an hour a day, when she was young, @Foxglovii. She avoided walks if the weather was bad but took her energy out on the cats, instead (not that smart!) She liked a good sniff.

As far as I was aware teacup was a horrendous fashion and anyone breeding anything labelled as teacup now would be a puppy farm and likely imported.

A bichon might work for you - they're not massively active.

I have a toy poodle and she is quite a substantial and stocky little dog who loves long muddy walks, wading in ponds and puddles and chasing things she will never catch, like seagulls and crows. She is also cuddly and loves a warm lap. As others say, teacup dogs are just runts.
I know someone who rehomed a 'teacup' yorkie pup.(a teacup breeding experiment that went wrong) The poor creature was so inbred it's doggy equivalent of its fontanel had never grown so it just had a hole in the top of its skull covered by skin. It's tongue also used to hang out of the side of it's mouth all the time. It didn't live very long (about a year) but they very manfully cared well for it and nursed it during its short life. It was a dear little thing. So sad it's life was ruined by human stupidity.

Bichons are lovely, as mentioned above! Really lovely dogs. A bit yappy but I think most small breeds are. But if I were to ever get a small breed, I'd go with a Bichon.

But even bichons are energetic creatures, full of mischief.
Tbh when people describe greyhounds they sound more docile than bichons or toy poodles or yorkies.
Small dogs were often originally rat catchers to fit into small spaces and are therefore full of energy and "spark".