Teacup dogs are extremely popular pets because these little dogs look like puppies forever. It's no wonder they can fetch thousands of dollars apiece—their adorably small size makes them a hot commodity for dog parents-to-be.
In general, teacups are markedly smaller than their breed standard and are not recognized by the American Kennel Club. It’s important to inform yourself about ethical breeding practices, as some breeders will use harmful techniques to keep the dogs small. Also, these tiny dogs are known for having various health issues.
Here are 15 teacup dog breeds in all their pint-sized glory.
What Is a Teacup Dog?
A teacup is a dog that weighs 5 pounds or fewer fully grown.
- 01 of 15
Pomeranian
@mochi_mini / Instagram
Although today's Pomeranians have a reputation as lapdogs, they were originally bred to herd animals and pull sleds. Earlier versions of the Pomeranian breed weighed around 30 pounds. In the 1800s, they were bred to be smaller to be kept as companions rather than working dogs. Since then, they've only gotten smaller.
They are bold little dogs that can act as watchdogs, but they’re affectionate with family. And these pricey dogs can cost $1,800 or more.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: Under 7 inches
Weight: Under 7 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Affectionate, alert, bold
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Fluffy double coat; colors include black, chocolate, orange, and more
Life Span: 12 years (teacup); up to 16 years (toy)
02 of 15Poodle
The Spruce / Kristie Lee
Known for their intelligence, athleticism, and sociability, poodles make amazing family dogs. Teacup poodles usually weigh about 4 pounds, while their standard-sized counterparts weigh 45 to 70 pounds.
One convenient trait of poodles? They shed little. Their curled coats don't drop much hair, which is great news for your allergies and your vacuum cleaner. But a toy poodle is expensive and can cost as much as $2,000.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: Under 10 inches
Weight: Under 6 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Affectionate, intelligent, active
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Curly, dense coat; colors include white, apricot, and black
Life Span: 8 to 15 years
03 of 15Beagle
Petr Mašlaň / Getty Images
What they lack in size, teacup beagles make up for in friendliness and energy. Most of these beagles only weigh around 15 pounds, which is relatively large for a teacup dog. They can be stubborn when it comes to obedience. But they respond well when you make training fun with treats and games.
Since they are pack dogs, they don’t like to be alone, and could end up barking a lot if they experience separation anxiety or boredom. Beagles that are bred to be smaller are expensive, too, with prices as high as $2,000.
Breed Overview
Group: Hound (AKC)
Height: Under 15 inches
Weight: Under 20 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Fearless, attentive, companionable
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Short coat; colors include black and tan, brown and white, and more
Life Span: 12 to 15 years
04 of 15Maltese
The Spruce / Kristie Lee
Not only is the Maltese one of the world's oldest breeds—originating almost 3,000 years ago—but it also was considered royalty back in the day. The teacup variety generally weighs between 2 and 4 pounds.
Because of their small size and low energy, these dogs are a good fit for people who want a cuddle buddy. Like other toy dogs, the Maltese is pricey, but if you want a teacup Maltese, you might spend over $3,000.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: Under 7 inches
Weight: Under 7 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Alert, affectionate, fearless
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Dark, alert eyes; silky, single-layer, white coat
Life Span: 12 to 15 years
Continue to 5 of 15 below05 of 15Pomsky
Sebastian Thiebaud / Getty Images
As its name suggests, the Pomsky is the cross between a Siberian husky and a Pomeranian. Pomskies tend to vary in size depending on how much of each breed they have in them.
This mix tends to have a high energy level, so be prepared for lots of walks and play. And these expensive dogs can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000.
Breed Overview
Group: Not an AKC-recognized breed
Height: Up to 10 inches (toy)
Weight: Up to 9 pounds (toy)
Personality/Temperament: Loyal, social, energetic
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Fluffy, double coat; colors include white, silver, black, and more
Life Span: 10 to 15 years
06 of 15Yorkshire Terrier
@stuntman.mikey / Instagram
Yorkshire terriers were already popular dogs at their standard small size, so the teacup variety is a hit, too. These tiny dogs can weigh just 2 to 3 pounds, but they still have big-dog personalities.
Yorkies tend to be vocal, protective, and confident. They're also very loyal and loving to their families. Yorkies are expensive, and the teacup Yorkie can cost up to $5,000.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: Under 7 inches
Weight: Under 7 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Playful, affectionate, active
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Silky coat; colors include black and tan, blue and tan, and more
Life Span: 7 to 9 years (teacup); 13 to 16 years (toy)
07 of 15Bichon Frise
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Bichon frise roughly translates to "curly lapdog" in French. And teacup bichons definitely live up to their name. They were bred to be loving companions who some people refer to as living stuffed animals.
But while bichons are quite snuggly, they do have moderate exercise needs and love to play. Also, teacup bichon frise puppies might cost $3,000 or more.
Breed Overview
Group: Non-Sporting (AKC)
Height: Under 10 inches
Weight: Under 12 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Friendly, playful, affectionate
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Dark, alert eyes; soft, dense coat; colors include white, white and apricot, and white and cream
Life Span: 12 to 15 years
08 of 15Chihuahua
Alona Rjabceva / Getty Images
Between starring in fast food commercials and being toted around in celebrities' purses, teacup Chihuahuas have had their share of fame. But it's not all glamour for these tiny dogs. Chihuahuas need proper training and socialization, or they can become fearful and defensive around strangers.
They also need regular exercise and mental stimulation. And, like other teacup puppies, teacup Chihuahuas could cost thousands, with some priced around $5,000.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: Under 5 inches
Weight: Under 6 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Lively, companionable, loyal
Energy Level: High
Coat and Color: Smooth or long coat; colors include black, tan, and more
Life Span: 15 to 20 years
Continue to 9 of 15 below09 of 15Pug
The Spruce / Kristie Lee
Teacup pugs can be great apartment dogs. Their small stature (weighing around 3 to 7 pounds), chill demeanor, and low exercise needs make them ideal for small living spaces.
Some pugs can be stubborn, but they tend to respond well to training, especially if treats are involved as a reward. Teacup pugs will be more expensive than standard pugs, with prices being as high as $4,000.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: Under 10 inches
Weight: Under 14 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Sweet, playful, affectionate
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Short, smooth coat; colors include black and fawn
Life Span: 6 to 10 years (teacup); 13 to 15 years (toy)
10 of 15Shih Tzu
The Spruce / Kevin Norris
Teacup shih tzus are generally regarded as divas of the dog world. These affectionate dogs love to be by your side and need a lot of attention, so be sure you have the time and energy to devote to them. Plus, the tiniest shih tzus might cost around $2,000 or more.
These canines are also incredibly athletic. Underneath their long, silky hair, shih tzus have quite muscular bodies and were built for agility courses. But don't overwork them, as their flat faces make them prone to breathing issues and overheating.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: Under 9 inches
Weight: Under 9 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Playful, loyal, alert, friendly
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Long, flowing coat; colors include black, blue, gold, silver, and more
Life Span: 10 to 16 years
11 of 15French Bulldog
Mike Linnane / 500px / Getty Images The French bulldog is one of the most popular dog breeds, and for many good reasons. They are friendly and affectionate, intelligent and willing to learn, and playful. At the same time, they are cuddly, so when they aren’t playing, they’ll want to relax with you. But because of their flat faces, they can suffer from brachycephalic syndrome.
Mini or teacup Frenchies are bred to weigh less than standard Frenchies. Standard Frenchies can cost as much as $3,000, so a mini will likely cost about the same or more.
Breed Overview
Group: Non-sporting (AKC)
Height: Under 11 inches
Weight: 5 to 14 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Loyal, sociable, friendly, affectionate
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Short, smooth; fawn, white, brindle, combinations of brindle and white or fawn and white
Life Span: 10 to 12 years
12 of 15Papillon
Tara Gregg / EyeEm / Getty Images
The petite papillon makes a great family dog and is one of the smartest breeds. They are active but also wonderful lap dogs, and can do well in homes with other pets, including cats, especially if they’re properly introduced and socialized. Just be aware that they can be stubborn and feisty, and they like to be the pack leader.
These tiny dogs are expensive, with average prices ranging from $800 to $3,000. Also, beware of breeders who sell “teacup” papillons, as these dogs are very small to begin with, and so-called teacup varieties may be bred unethically and with health concerns.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: 8 to 11 inches
Weight: 6 to 10 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Friendly, alert, intelligent
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Straight, long; white with markings and a mask of color that’s usually black, red, lemon, or sable
Life Span: 14 to 16 years
Continue to 13 of 15 below13 of 15Mini Dachshund
Avoid holding your Mini Dachshund puppy too much so it learns confidence. Getty Images/Lotte van Alderen / 500px
The miniature or mini dachshund is a smaller version of the standard dachshund. This is a playful dog that’s friendly and fun, but they can have a stubborn and independent side, so training them might take some extra work at times.
Low to the ground, they have short legs and floppy ears, but they are alert and protective watchdogs as well. These tiny dogs are also expensive, with prices around $1,000 to $2,000 on average.
Breed Overview
Group: Hound (AKC)
Height: Up to 11 pounds
Weight: 5 to 6 inches
Personality/Temperament: Playful, alert, friendly, affectionate
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Smooth, wirehaired, or longhaired; black and cream, black and tan, blue and tan, chocolate and tan, cream, red, wheaten, wild boar, blue and cream, fawn and tan, fawn and cream, or chocolate and cream with/without brindle, sable, piebald, or dapple
Life Span: 12 to 16 years
14 of 15Pekingese
Vlad Petin / Getty Images The tiny Pekingese is small to begin with, as these dogs were bred for dwarfism and have short legs that keep them low to the ground. So, if you find a “teacup” Pekingese, it’s important to consider if they were bred ethically.
Also, because of the shape of their face, they can have brachycephalic syndrome. And these tiny dogs come with a big price tag, costing as much as $5,000.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: 6 to 9 inches
Weight: Up to 14 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Intelligent, affectionate, assertive
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Long, thick, double coat; variations of gold, red, or sable; occasionally colors including black and tan, white, cream, sable, and gray
Life Span: 12 to 14 years
15 of 15Brussels Griffon
8-month-old Brussels Griffon Photo © Aaron & Katie Another toy dog is the Brussels griffon, or griff. They are loyal dogs that bond strongly with their humans and don’t like to be left alone. They also have human-like expressions and a personality that makes them at once friendly and independent.
As is the case with other breeds, because these dogs are already small, if you see puppies advertised as “teacup” griffs, look into how they’ve been bred and treated. If you want to purchase a Brussels griffon, these dogs cost $1,000 to $4,000 on average.
Breed Overview
Group: Toy (AKC)
Height: 7 to 10 inches
Weight: 8 to 12 pounds
Personality/Temperament: Intelligent, loyal, playful, stubborn
Energy Level: Medium
Coat and Color: Smooth or rough; red, black and tan, black, or belge (mix of black and reddish-brown)
Life Span: 12 to 15 years
Breeds to Avoid
Most vets and responsible breeders would tell you to avoid teacup breeds altogether. It's great if a teacup pup is lucky enough to make it to adolescence, but that does not mean the dog is out of the woods.
Several breeds—teacup Yorkies, pugs, and Pomeranians—have markedly shorter lifespans than their larger counterparts. If you want to get a smaller dog, look at toy breeds and get a dog at the lower end of the acceptable height and weight levels. The higher risk of heartache from premature puppy death is avoidable by steering clear of teacup breeds.
Common Health Problems
Because of the way that they’re bred, teacup dogs can be susceptible to a variety of health problems, such as:
- Hypoglycemia: This is low blood sugar. It can cause symptoms like lethargy, weakness, sleepiness, stumbling, twitching, disorientation, unconsciousness, and seizures.
- Liver shunts: This congenital problem can cause abnormally small body size, excessive urination, stumbling, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive thirst, and various other symptoms within the first weeks of a puppy’s life.
- Fragile bones: Because teacup dogs have smaller bones that are frailer, they are prone to fractures and breaks.
More Dog Breeds to Explore
If you’re interested in other small dogs, check out the following:
- 32 Small Dog Breeds Perfect for Owners With Limited Space
- 10 Best Small Dogs for Kids
- 12 Best Low Energy Small Dogs
FAQ- How long do teacup dog breeds live?
It depends on the breed, but the average life span for a teacup dog is 9 to 15 years.
How do they make teacup dogs?Teacup dogs have been created by intentionally breeding the runts of the litter, making a smaller and smaller dog.
What is the smallest teacup dog breed?The teacup Chihuahua, weighing in at under 6 pounds and under 5 inches tall, is the smallest teacup breed.
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