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

Group: Toy, Non-Sporting

Also known as: Caniche (Duck Dog), Barbone (from the Barbet), Chien Canne, French Poodle, Pudle

About Teacup Poodle          

Country of Origin, History of the breed Poodles originated in Germany or France where they were water retrievers. The name “Poodle” comes from the German word “Pudel” which means “one who plays in water.” Hunters designed clips (the way their fur is cut) to help them move through brush and through the water more efficiently. They left patches of fur to protect vital organs and joints which were susceptible to cold.

The French used the Poodle’s high intelligence, trainability, and showmanship to turn him into a circus dog. The very small (toy) Poodles were especially desirable as performers. Toy Poodles became favorites of royalty in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Breed Selector Tool - is the Teacup Poodle the right breed for you?

Is the Teacup Poodle the right breed for you and your family?
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Check Your Teacup Poodle's Learning Style

Are you aware dogs also have a learning style that can greatly affect their ability to housetrain as well as be trained correctly. Evaluate your Teacup Poodle's learning style and personality using our free Learning Style tool so that you are better able to provide him with the proper training methods.

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Teacup Poodle Calorie Calculator

Do you know how many calories your Teacup Poodle needs every day and how many cups of food you should be giving it every day? Click here to use our Teacup Poodle Calorie Calculator.

A General Appearance of the Teacup Poodle

The Teacup Poodle appears to be a square dog because his height is about the same as his length. His head is elongated with a topknot. His ears are long, flat, and wide with long, soft hair. A liveliness lights up his black or brown eyes.

He has long, straight legs and a docked tail which usually has a pompom of fur at the end. It is normal to dock the tail to half or less of its original and to remove dewclaws. His feet are small, oval and somewhat webbed with arched toes. He appears to be an elegant dog who carries himself in a dignified manner.

If you are thinking about getting a Teacup Poodle, learn how to choose a happy, healthy dog or puppy.

Personality

Temperament of the Dog

Teacup Poodles are smart, lively, and cheerful. They are sensitive and loving. They love to learn new things and will perform tricks endlessly. They are very playful and clever. They love to be involved with the family and get their feelings hurt if they feel left out. Some love children while others prefer adults. They come closer to understanding human conversation than any other dog, often learning hundreds of words as well as voice inflections.

When the puppy is well socialized and trained, he will be a good watchdog without being yappy and he will be friendly toward new people and animals. If teased, the Teacup Poodle will snap. If not well socialized, he will become demanding, shy, and yappy.

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

The Teacup Poodle can live his whole life indoors by housetraining him to potty pads or a litter box rather than outdoors. However, he will need a lot of play exercise and a window to watch the world. Teacup Poodles love walks and romps in the yard

Are they suited to homes with kids?

If well socialized as a puppy, Teacup Poodles will love children. However, it is critical that the children be carefully watched when holding and playing with the dog so as not to frighten the dog, squeeze him, smother him, or toss him about like a plaything.

It is advisable to meet the parents, and when possible grandparents, to make sure they get along with children. Some Teacup Poodles are adult-only dogs who have a great fear of children, loud noises, fast movement, etc. and react with shyness, trembling, or snapping.

How to take care of the Poodle Puppies? There is no special care needed for a Teacup Poodle puppy other than dividing his daily food into several small meals. By a 9-12 months, two meals a day should suffice. Ask the breeder about special care or supplements.

Your Teacup Poodle will be a fun and rewarding dog for you if you sign up for our Free Teacup Poodle Training Course.

Training

The Teacup Poodle is exceptionally smart and highly active. He is easy to housetrain and to train in obedience or a variety of activities. He loves to learn tricks and perform.

To learn the latest methods of housetraining, get our free Tips on Housetraining Your Tiny Poodle.

Activity Level

Several playtimes a day will take care of the Teacup Poodle’s need for play. They are very active and playful. They very much enjoy one or two daily walks, an outdoor playtime, and may delight in playing in water.

To learn how to make training fun for both you and your dog, sign up for our step-by-step guide on Teacup Poodle Training now.

Health and Care

Poodles can have a variety of genetic diseases: cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) which causes blindness, allergies, skin conditions, runny eyes, ear infections, diabetes, epilepsy, seizures, and heart disease. Dark colored poodles do get gray around their faces and on the feet and legs as they age.

All small dogs are prone to dirty teeth, tooth decay and loss, and gum disease. The Poodles’ teeth should be cleaned twice a week, with an annual professional inspection and cleaning as necessary. A diet of dry food will help with keeping teeth and gums clean and healthy. To learn more about the best diet for your Teacup Poodle, sign up for our free information on Tiny Poodle diets.

Weight: Less than 6 pounds

Height: Under 9 inches

Litter size: 2-4 puppies, sometimes up to 6

Life Span: 12-15 years

Grooming

His non-shedding, hypoallergenic coat requires professional grooming every 4-6 weeks. Regular brushing and some baths may be needed between grooming appointments.

There are three possible clips for Poodles. The puppy cut is the easiest to keep. It is also referred to as the pet clip with relatively short hair over the whole body. The Continental clip is often seen at shows with the rear half of the body shaved and bracelets around the ankles and pompoms left on the tail and hips. The English Saddle clip is also permissible at shows. Both the Continental clip and English Saddle clip take more grooming and more frequent professional grooming.

Anal glands will have to be checked and emptied regularly. Their nails should be cut and ears cleaned regularly. All small dogs are prone to gum infections, dirty teeth, and tooth loss. Learning to clean your dog’s teeth twice a week will be an aid to keeping him healthy. Also check with your vet for a vaccine. Light colored Teacup Poodles may have tear-staining.

Coat Color

All Poodles come in a variety of solid colors: black, blue, silver, gray, cream, apricot, red, white, brown, chocolate, and café-au-lait. Poodles should never have two or more colors.

Coat Type

The long coat of the Poodle is double with the outer coat being wiry curls and the undercoat being thick and woolly. If unhindered, the outer coat forms thin cylindrical mats known as cords. The Poodle does not shed, so must be groomed at least every 4-6 weeks. A brushing once or twice a week and a couple of baths between grooming appointments will keep a Poodle looking and feeling good – unless he is in an English Saddle or Continental clip which take more work.

Size

The Teacup or Tiny Poodle is smaller than that recognized by the AKC, so he or she is less than 6 lbs and under 10 inches. There is no universally recognized standard for those Poodles smaller than the AKC Toy.

Some breeders give the following designations:

Teacup – adult size of 3.5 pounds or less
Tiny – adult size of 3.6 - 6 pounds
Toy – adult size within AKC standard weight – 6-9 lbs