Are you looking for a tiny, fluffy dog? Well, your kids will love playing with this toy-sized dog! A teacup Pomeranian is adorable and loyal. It can make a great addition to any family.
You’re probably wondering, are they high-maintenance dogs? What are their traits?
Look no further for the answers! In today’s article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about teacup Pomeranian dogs.
Let’s dive into the details.
What Is a Teacup Pomeranian?
A teacup Pomeranian is simply a miniature version of the Pomeranian dog. It’s also called a dwarf Pomeranian or a teacup Pom Pom. The mini pup has the same personality and appearance as its parent breed, but the only difference is the size.
Pomeranian dogs are toy-sized, to begin with. So, you can imagine how tiny and lovable teacup Pomeranians can be.
Teacups, or micro dogs, are tiny puppies that weigh less than the average range of a specific breed. A teacup isn’t a dog breed itself. Teacups are regular pups bred to be as small as possible.
These puppies have always been pretty popular. Queen Victoria was the reason Pom Pom pups became popular in London during the 19th century. She had around 35 Pomeranian pups in the royal kennels. Since then, they’ve been considered royal dogs.
Like all teacup puppies, teacup Pomeranians are designer breeds. These dogs are bred for their adorable features and miniature bodies. Unfortunately, though, this selective breeding results in numerous health concerns. We’ll talk more about that later.
Teacup Pom Appearance
The miniature dogs are usually around 6 to 10 inches tall and weigh between 5 and 7 pounds. The pups have adorable, fox-like faces. Their tails are distinctly curved over their backs. Yet, teacup Pom puppies have straight tails!
Teacup Pomeranians have thick, fluffy, double coats. They come in a variety of colors, including the following:
- White
- Black
- Red
- Cream
- Blue
- Lavender
- Brown
They also come in many beautiful patterns, including the following:
- Beaver: Chocolate brown pattern
- Sable: Black and brown pattern
- Merle: A speckled coat of red, gray, or light blue
Here’s an interesting fact about their coats: The color of the coat might change completely from when they’re pups to when they’re fully grown. For this reason, it can be difficult to predict the exact color of a Pom puppy.
Instead, your Pom will surprise you with its distinct coat once it’s old enough!
Teacup Pom Temperament
It might be hard to believe that compact teacup Pomeranians have such big personalities. The micro pups are playful, brave, loyal, and sometimes feisty.
Vocal
Teacup Pomeranians are vocal dogs. Don’t be surprised if you see a mini Pom barking at a larger dog or a stranger!
They bark excessively and at the smallest of noises. These pups are wary of strangers, so they may be suitable as watchdogs. However, don’t expect intruders to fear these adorable little furballs!
Affectionate
Once your Pomeranian gets comfortable, it can get pretty clingy. Pomeranians love getting attention from their owners. In fact, they can become jealous and territorial in some cases.
Nevertheless, Pom pups are pretty affectionate and cuddly. Hugging one of these pups is basically like hugging a fluffy teddy bear!
Sadly, your furry friend can suffer from separation anxiety, especially if it’s too young. The teacup Pomeranian is social and loyal, so it doesn’t like to be alone for long periods.
Intelligent
Pomeranians are one of the most intelligent dog breeds. They can understand commands and learn to do complex tricks.
The downside is that they can be stubborn, so you need to be patient while training your Pom.
The Cost of a Teacup Pom
Teacup Pomeranians are expensive dogs. That’s only natural since their parent breed can reach thousands of dollars. The price of a teacup Pom can be anywhere from $1,000 to $8,000. Keep in mind that prices are subject to change.
The distinct price difference is due to how difficult it is to breed a healthy teacup pup. Furthermore, the demand for these designer pups is pretty high, which causes the prices to increase drastically.
Teacup Pomeranian Health Issues
Breeding teacup dogs might be controversial due to their health problems. However, some teacup puppies might be just as healthy as regular-sized dogs. There are also ethical dog breeders who care about the pups’ health as well as their appearance.
Simply put, if you do enough research about teacup dogs and choose the right breeder, you can have an adorable, healthy micro dog!
The main problem with teacup Pomeranians is that they’re too tiny and they’re selectively bred. This exposes the mini pups to plenty of health concerns.
Here’s a list of some of these health issues:
- Bone diseases, such as luxating patella
- Dental and gum diseases
- Eye problems, including glaucoma and progressive retinal atrophy
- Congestive heart failure
- Tracheal collapse
- Cryptorchidism
- Black skin disease
Life Expectancy of Teacup Pomeranian Dogs
It’s only natural that teacup Pomeranians live less than their parent breed. After all, these pups are susceptible to many diseases.
While Pomeranians can live for up to 20 years, teacup Poms’ lifespan is only 7 to 12 years. However, many teacups can make it to 15 years with proper care and frequent vet visits.
What to Look For When Buying a Teacup Pomeranian
It’s important to realize that teacup Pomeranians aren’t a recognized dog breed. These pups are just Pomeranians in miniature sizes.
For this reason, many backyard breeders might pass off malnourished Pomeranians as teacup pups. So, once you take good care of the puppy, it’ll grow into a normal-sized Pom.
Additionally, breeders might only care for the puppy’s size and disregard its health. Sadly, many micro dogs with numerous health conditions are sold, only to live a couple of months.
That’s why, before buying your teacup Pomeranian, you should check the following:
- Don’t buy your dog from an online, anonymous user.
- Double-check the breeder’s information through references, reviews, or testimonials.
- Avoid adopting pups labeled as rare or premium.
- Visit the breeding premises to ensure the dogs’ living conditions are comfortable and healthy.
- Ask the breeder for the puppy’s registration papers.
- Screen your teacup Pom for any health conditions as soon as you adopt him.
- It’s best if you take him to a vet for a check-up.
How to Care for a Teacup Pomeranian
While many people get teacup Pomeranians for their gorgeous appearance, owning a dog is a huge responsibility.
So, before getting a Pom pup, you should know how to care for him properly.
Living Conditions
Whether you live in a big house or an apartment, teacup Pomeranians are ideal pets regardless of the space.
The only downside to keeping your tiny pup in an apartment is that his barking can get loud. You might get noise complaints from the neighbors if you don’t train the dog properly.
Poms are extremely feisty dogs. It’s hard for them to tolerate other pets or young children, especially in the first couple of weeks. Luckily, there are some ways you can overcome this.
For starters, you should let your puppy get comfortable in their new home. Additionally, take your time to introduce your pets to it. If they aren’t getting along, keep them in separate rooms and try again later.
When introducing your pup to your family, make sure your children are old enough to understand how to deal with an agitated puppy.
Furthermore, the compact size of teacup Pomeranians means they can easily injure themselves. Therefore, you’ll need to dog-proof your home.
It’s best if you don’t allow your Poms on couches or beds. That’s because they might hurt themselves when jumping up and down the furniture.
Exercise
Even though teacup Pomeranians are lap dogs, they can benefit a lot from regular exercise. These pups have moderately high energy levels. Therefore, they need frequent physical stimulation.
However, you don’t need a spacious home for your Poms to run around. The tiny pups only need a small space to play.
Alternatively, you can take Poms on a walk every day or just let them play with some toys. This will be an adequate energy release for them. Afterward, your pups will happily snuggle with you.
Dog Training
Like all dogs, teacup Pomeranians need proper training. Unfortunately, training your Pom at home can be a little difficult.
Despite being an intelligent breed, Pom dogs are sometimes too stubborn. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t give up on training your dog. You might end up finding it an easy, fun process and a good way to bond with your furry friend.
More importantly, start training your mini pup at a young age. Early training can ensure your Pom doesn’t develop any behavioral issues or hard-to-break habits. On top of that, the earlier you start the training process, the easier it’ll be.
A well-trained Pomeranian pup is unlikely to bark loudly or display signs of aggression. Training your dog is also crucial for his safety. That’s because you can train him not to jump around the house or pick fights with other dogs.
Grooming
The double coat of the teacup Poms can be mesmerizing, but unfortunately, these pups shed quite a lot. Luckily, grooming a teacup pup doesn’t cost a lot of money, and it’s easy to do on your own.
For starters, it’s essential to brush your furry friend’s coat at least once a week to keep it looking as beautiful as ever. Since Poms can be pretty active, their fur can collect dust and dirt. Therefore, you should bathe your pup once every two weeks.
However, grooming your pup at home sometimes isn’t enough. We recommend paying a visit to a dog groomer every four to six weeks. There, the groomer will do a full session involving grooming essentials you might not be able to do at home.
The grooming includes nail clipping, fur trimming, ear cleaning, and sometimes anal gland cleaning, too.
Teacup Poms have a thick coat that keeps them warm in winter. During summer, the coat might make them overheat. That’s why you’ll need to provide your pup with a lot of water and keep him indoors in the summer.
Diet
While you should pay attention to your dog’s diet regardless of his breed, the health issues of teacup Poms call for a special diet. If you have other regular-sized dogs, you probably know that they eat relatively large portions of food.
However, this isn’t the case with the teacups, as they eat tiny portions.
A healthy, adult teacup Pom dog usually eats between ¼ and ½ cups of dog food per day. It’s not the best idea to let your Pom eat whenever he wants, as he might become overweight.
Ideally, you want to feed a growing pup three or four times a day, while an adult dog needs only two to three portions per day.
If your furry friend gets too big, this can cause many health issues to him, including hyperglycemia or obesity. That’s why it’s best if you always monitor your dog’s weight.
Your Pom’s bones are already fragile. So, adding more weight means your pup will be even more prone to fractures.
Ideally, you’ll want to feed your puppy animal protein and fat in addition to kibble. The kibble should be specific for small breeds. You also have to add vitamins and minerals to support the puppy’s bones.
Wrap Up
If you’re looking for a toy-sized, adorable pup, you should consider getting a teacup Pomeranian. The family-friendly breed has a distinctive coat with lovely colors.
Additionally, Poms have big personalities and can become aggressive sometimes. So, early training can be extremely helpful.
The purse-sized pups love to play around. Luckily, they don’t need a lot of space due to their small size. Grooming is an essential part of taking care of your Pom pups, as they have a thick double coat.
Before buying a teacup Pom, make sure that it’s healthy and well-nourished. You also need to ensure that the breeder is reputable and has good reviews.