Pomeranians are some of the cutest, fluffiest dogs out there. This dog breed comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. The smaller versions of these dogs are called Mini/Teacup Pomeranians.
The Miniature Pomeranian is the second-smallest variation of the breed. On the other hand, Teacup Pomeranians are the smallest. Besides their size difference, both Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians are virtually identical in appearance, personality, and needs.
Read on to learn more about the characteristics of Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians. You’ll also find in this guide plenty of information regarding their price, care needs, training, and potential health issues.
Mini/Teacup Pomeranian Overview
There are three Pomeranian sizes. From smallest to largest, they are teacup, miniature, and standard.
In this guide, we’ll explore how Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians are different and how they’re the same.
Brief History of Pomeranians
When you think of Pomeranians, a cute little lap dog with a fluffy fur coat comes to mind.
This is why you may be surprised when you find out that these dogs were initially bred to serve.
Pomeranians come from the lineage of the Spitz breed. This Icelandic dog breed was much bigger. Its job was to pull its owner’s sled, herd livestock, and guard its owner’s estate against thieves and intruders.
This is a big reason why Pomeranians bark so loudly and so often. It’s part of their instinct to alert their owners when something doesn’t feel right.
The history of Pomeranians is also why they’ve developed such thick, voluminous fur coats and tiny ears. These evolutionary characteristics allowed these dogs to live in such frigid weather conditions.
It wasn’t until the late 1800s that these dogs were introduced in the United States. A few years later, they officially became a breed registered with the American Kennel Club.
Miniature Pomeranians vs. Teacup Pomeranians: Characteristics
Without further ado, let’s see the differences (or lack thereof) between Miniature Pomeranians and Teacup Pomeranians in terms of size, appearance, and personality.
Size and Weight
Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians are both super small. The typical adult height of a Miniature Pomeranian is between 9 and 12 inches. As for its weight, it can range from 4 to 7 pounds.
Teacup Pomeranians are even more diminutive than Miniature ones. These adorable pups are some of the tiniest canines you’re likely to come across. They can reach a maximum weight of 3 pounds and are between 8 and 11 inches in height.
Appearance
Miniature, Teacup, and Standard Pomeranians all look the same.
Let’s see how Pomeranians look:
Fur Coat
Teacup and Miniature Pomeranians have the same fur coat as standard dogs from this breed. This coat is double-layered for insulation. It also consists of long, fluffy fur that makes Pomeranians look like walking clouds.
Pomeranians’ coats can come in all sorts of colors. These colors include white, black, orange, tan, red, and chocolate brown.
Head
Although Pomeranians can have several facial structures, the most common and widely-recognized one is the “fox face.” This moniker refers to the fox-like features that Pomeranians have, particularly the shape of their head and snout.
The only difference between Standard, Miniature, and Teacup Pomeranians in this regard is that the snout of the Miniature and Teacup versions is shorter.
Tail
All Pomeranians have moderate-length, ultra-fluffy tails. Exactly how long a Pomeranian’s tail is will depend on its size.
These dogs’ tails curl over their backs.
Eyes, Nose, and Ears
Both Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians have small, erect, wedge-shaped ears. This trait helped them avoid frostbite in their early days in Iceland.
As for their eyes, Pomeranians have stunning hazel ones. They also have adorable little black snouts.
Personality and Temperament
The personality and temperament of Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians are the same as those of Standard ones. Just because these variations of the breed are a bit smaller doesn’t mean that their personality is any less dynamic!
These dogs are super smart and full of energy. This makes them an absolute joy to train. It also means that they’ll provide a constant lively presence in your household that’s sure to brighten up everyone’s mood.
Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians are also extremely loyal and protective of their family. These dogs will love you like no other, and this love will manifest itself in them following you around all over the place and having a never-ending appetite for cuddles.
You’ll also notice that Pomeranians bark quite a lot. This behavior is ingrained in their instincts due to their history of being guard dogs. This tendency is highly useful, but it can also get a bit cumbersome at times.
Miniature Pomeranians vs. Teacup Pomeranians: Price
If you’re thinking of buying a Pomeranian and adding it to your band of furry pals, be prepared to shell out a considerable amount of cash. This is true for all variations of the breed.
Standard Pomeranians can cost up to $1,500. Therefore, you can expect to find Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians being offered at prices no less than $2,000. They can even reach up to $6,000 if they come from certain bloodlines.
The Miniature and Teacup versions of these dogs are more expensive due to the selective breeding needed to produce them.
The prices mentioned above are what you can expect to pay when buying these dogs from a reputable breeder. If these prices are beyond your budget, you can try looking for Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians on puppy classifieds or at your local rescue shelter.
However, buying Pomeranians through these channels poses two problems.
First, these dogs are in high demand and in short supply, so you’re unlikely to find them. Second, even if you do find one, you run the risk of buying a dog with health issues or past traumas.
Still, if you’re up for the challenge, we promise you that giving a shelter dog a chance at a new life in a forever home will be rewarding!
Caring For Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians
Are you thinking of getting a Miniature or Teacup Pomeranian as the newest canine member of your family?
If you are, you should make sure to have all the information you need to care for these little bundles of joy the right way.
Here are some guidelines to follow to fulfill your miniature or Teacup Pomeranian’s care requirements:
The Ideal Environment For a Mini/Teacup Pomeranian
Pomeranians are amazing companions to have in your home, and they’ll bring plenty of happiness to your life. In turn, you should provide them with the best environment possible to return the favor.
If you have any other pets at home, you won’t have to be concerned that your Miniature or Teacup Pomeranian won’t get along with them. These dogs are great with other canines if you’ve socialized them properly from a young age.
As for their interaction with the human members of the household, these dogs won’t have any issues. However, they’re not the best option for families with infants or toddlers.
The diminutive size of Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians means that the risk of them getting injured from a child accidentally stepping on them is quite high.
Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians are also ideal pets for people living in relatively small apartments thanks to their compact size.
How to Train a Mini/Teacup Pomeranian
Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians are just as intelligent as their Standard counterparts. This makes training them an amazing experience.
That being said, you should note that dogs from this breed have relatively short attention spans. In turn, it’s a good idea to keep your training sessions short and engaging.
Additionally, you should never take a punishment approach when training a Pomeranian. These dogs are highly sensitive and won’t respond well to this at all. Instead, adopt a positive reinforcement strategy and reward your dog with treats or belly rubs when they learn something new.
All dogs need a good amount of mental and physical stimulation to keep them in good spirits. A happy dog is much more likely to be an obedient one, so make sure to provide your Pomeranian with the exercise it needs.
You should take these dogs on daily walks. These walks don’t have to be very long since these small dogs will expend all their energy rather quickly.
In addition to this, engage them in mental games that challenge them and keep them sharp.
Finally, the diminutive stature of Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians can make them fearful or timid when faced with new experiences. Therefore, you should expose your dog to plenty of new environments from a young age to counteract this.
What to Feed a Mini/Teacup Pomeranian
When feeding your Pomeranian, you want to put it on a diet that provides it with the correct balance of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins it needs to keep it healthy and happy.
The best way to do this is to steer clear of grain-based foods. These foods fill your dog up with calories that don’t nourish him. At the same time, they put your dog at risk of allergies.
Your best option is dry dog food that’s rich in meat-based protein and carbohydrates. You can even feed your Pomeranian probiotic dog food.
Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians are quite small. Therefore, they don’t need that much volume when it comes to food.
We recommend giving your dog around 300 calories a day. You can do this by putting out approximately one cup of dry food for him each day.
You should also make a conscious effort not to overfeed your Pomeranian.
Failing to do so may lead to your dog becoming obese. Dogs at an unhealthy weight can experience plenty of life-shortening issues as they get older.
So, stay strong and say no to your cute little Pom from time to time!
How Often Does a Mini/Teacup Pomeranian Shed?
Pomeranians have a highly dense, fluffy coat of fur. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that these dogs shed quite frequently all year long. The intensity of their shedding kicks up a notch during the warmer months of the year.
This is why you should brush their hair every day to avoid the hassle of having to sweep up their fur from all over the house.
In addition to this, a trip to a professional dog groomer every now and then is something we’d recommend. Getting your Pomeranian the occasional trim goes a long way in maintaining the health of its coat. You can also change things up and give your pup a new hairstyle!
What Is the Lifespan of a Mini/Teacup Pomeranian?
The Miniature, Teacup, and Toy versions of most dog breeds typically have a shorter lifespan than the Standard version. However, this isn’t the case for Pomeranians.
Miniature and Teacup Pomeranians share their Standard counterpart’s expected lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
The exact lifespan of your Pomeranian is contingent on numerous factors. First and foremost, your dog is most likely to live a long and happy life if you consistently give him all the love and care he needs.
Another factor to consider is whether your dog is lucky enough to go through his entire life without experiencing any serious health issues.
Potential Health Issues in Mini/Teacup Pomeranians
As with most dog breeds, there are certain health problems that Pomeranians are more at risk of than others.
These ailments and illnesses include:
- Patellar luxation
- Tracheal collapse
- Pharyngeal gag reflex
- Coat loss
- Seizures
- Blindness
- Respiratory conditions
Additionally, dental problems such as periodontal disease are very prevalent among small dog breeds.
Conclusion
Pomeranians are some of the most adorable dogs you’ll ever see. So, you can only imagine how cute the smaller Mini/Teacup Pomeranian is.
These dogs come in all sorts of colors, including white, black, red, and brown. They’re also super intelligent and an absolute treat to train and have roaming around your house.
If you give these dogs the care and attention they need, you’ll have the perfect canine companion for well over a decade!