Teacup Pomeranian: Health, Diet, LifeSpan, Temperament...

Group: Toy

Also known as: Pocket, Teacup, or Miniature Pomeranian

About Teacup Pomeranian

Country of Origin, History of the breed The breed we know as the Pomeranian originated in the regions surrounding Russia and Siberia and is known as a Spitz-type dog. It shares relatives with other Spitz-type breeds like the Keeshond and Samoyed among others.

These breeds were originally bred to serve as sled dogs as well as alert and guard dogs, although the smaller varieties were more likely companion and alert dogs. The Arctic conditions of its origin helped to create the thick, luxurious coat Pomeranians possess for warmth.

The Pomeranian was a larger dog than we currently know it, but as it traveled to Europe and England, its size increasingly reduced. Upon arrival in England sometime in the 18th century, it began to draw attention and even joined the ranks of Royalty with Queen Charlotte and then Queen Victoria helping to make it one of the most popular toy breeds.

The teacup size of the Pomeranian is not a recognized size class but instead refers to a Pomeranian that is smaller than its breed standard. Teacup sized Pomeranians are produced in a normal litter, and a breeder cannot guarantee the dog’s adult size.

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Check Your Teacup Pomeranian's Temperament

Training your Teacup Pomeranian will be fast, easy and simple, if you know whether your Dog is aggressive, docile or friendly. Use this Free Dog Personality Test to peek into how your Teacup Pomeranian's mind works.

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A General Appearance of the Teacup Pomeranian

The Teacup Pomeranian is a smaller version of the toy breed known for its fox-like expression. Its face is short muzzled with large almond shaped eyes. Tiny pricked ears peek out of a thick woolen coat which should have a dense undercoat.

The Pomeranian has a tail different from its other Spitz-type dog relatives in its tail set. Most Spitz breeds carry their tail up and over their back, usually in a curled fashion. The Pomeranian also has a high tail carriage, but it lies flat over the back, not curled.

Everything about a Teacup Pomeranian is compact from its short body length to its cat-like feet. This is truly one tiny dog!

Teacup Pomeranians come in a wide variety of colors with a bright orange being one of the most popular and known color varieties. You will also find coats in colors like: cream, white, black, chocolate, parti-colored (white with spots), and black and tan being some of the more common variations.

The Toy Pomeranian generally only weighs 3-7 pounds and is 8-11” in height. Teacups are the smallest of the small Pomeranians weighing in at no more than 4 pounds. Some Pomeranians can be seen as slightly oversized dogs but those breeders that breed to a standard maintain dogs under 7 pounds. Females are often larger than males.

Be prepared to wait for a puppy. Pomeranian litters are small with only 1-3 puppies in a litter.

Personality

Temperament of the Dog.

Pomeranians can have a lively and fun personality that can be contagious. They have an adorable teddy bear quality that makes many people want to lavish affection on them. There are some Pomeranians that are more independent, stubborn, or prefer less doting. It is always important to visit with a breeder about his/her dogs to insure you are matched with a compatible personality.

With proper socialization and training, he can make a delightful companion. Motivation based training begun early can be a rewarding experience and quite a few Pomeranians of the toy size compete in agility and obedience successfully!

It is perhaps more important with the Teacup Pomeranian to make sure that training is part of your life with your dog. Many small dogs are not given proper instruction, and many Pomeranians will quickly assert themselves.

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

The Teacup Pomeranian can thrive in a lot of diverse environments but is probably best suited to a household with no young children due to their fragility. Most breeders will not recommend a teacup sized Pomeranian for families with young children. Teacup sized dogs can be easily hurt and must be handled with great care.

An indoor home is best for the Teacup Pomeranian, and he can be an excellent apartment dog, although he will likely need to be housetrained to litter, pads, or alternate means. Some Pomeranians can be a little barky, so work early to provide plenty of exercise, play time, and mental stimulation to reduce the urge to bark.

He can get along well with other animals like cats and dogs, but any canine friends should be equally sized to avoid injury.

Training

All dogs should be trained, and you will find your Teacup Pomeranian quite trainable with patience and motivation. No harsh training! Instead, use toys and food rewards to encourage good behavior.

Due to these dogs’ small size, leash walking should probably be done on a harness to avoid damage to the dog’s throat.

Activity Level

You will find them eager participants in all kinds of activities, and they will love going places if started early. Walks can be short and much of the daily exercise can be acquired through playtime and training around the house and yard.

Never leave your dog unattended in the yard. These tiny dogs are often victim of dog thefts and wild animal attacks (like owls and coyotes), but they can also fall prey to other animals like neighborhood dogs, can easily get out of fenced yards, and can be accidentally injured or ingest something when left alone.

Health and Care

The Pomeranian is a fairly healthy little dog and suffers from a few things that many toys breeds do. Some of the more common are patella luxation (or slipping knee caps) and collapsing tracheas (which causes terrible honking sounds).

Some Pomeranians also suffer from coat and skin disorders often referred to as Black Skin Disease. It can have a variety of medical origins including thyroid problems, infection, etc.

In all sizes of Pomeranians, you must be careful to feed small, frequent meals to avoid Hypoglycemia. Drops in blood sugar can be dangerous, especially for Teacup Pomeranians, and can result in lethargy, seizures, and possible death.

Teacup Pomeranians should always be vet checked for any conditions that might contribute to the smaller size like heart problems, liver conditions, etc.

Teacup Pomeranians will require more care throughout their lives as there are increased risks when using vaccinations, medication, anesthesia, etc. Always consult with your veterinarian about your dog prior to giving it anything new. A very tiny dog can quickly be adversely affected.

Teacup Pomeranians should not be allowed to jump on and off of furniture to protect their fragile bones and no rough playing with people or other dogs.

Life Span: 12-15 years, if healthy.

Grooming

The Teacup Pomeranian will benefit from daily brushing (or at least 3 times per week) with a pin or bristle brush to keep his coat tangle free. Regular maintenance of ears and toenails is a must as well. Lastly, small dogs can have terrible dental problems, so a strict schedule of tooth brushing can prevent many problems.