Teacup Puppies

If one were to search the world wide web. A person would find a slew of conflicting information on the word Teacup. When it is associated as a smaller dog . The word Teacup describing a dog is simply a weight description meaning any fully grown mature dog under 4 pounds. Some classify it under 5 pounds. The description was given to puppies that would fit inside a normal teacup. Somehow Urban Legion has a large amount of the public believing a Teacup dog will fit in a teacup when mature. This is not true. Unless of course the Teacup were made to fit the size of the dog.

How does one fit a puppy in a teacup?

Well when I was a greenhorn selling these tiny puppies. I could not figure out how so many websites got these puppies inside a teacup. It took me a while to figure this out. For a puppy of legal selling age .Even at a pound and a half . The pup will not, what so ever, fit inside a teacup. So I scrutinized. My first discovery was the obvious. Over sized teacups. Then as I paid serious attention I noticed something...Lets see if you can figure this out.

Now this is a real cute York ie. Inside a teacup. Does something look odd? If you visually measure the size of his head and front legs. You will notice that in order for the rest of this pups body to actually fit into that teacup. It would have to be grossly deformed. Then you will notice the back drop touching the sides of his neck. The trick is someone behind the backdrop positions the pup over the teacup. The back legs are not inside the cup. The pups body is laid over the cup. The person taking the picture can find the right angle to make the picture more believable. I took this picture myself. I loved that pup and this was my only fake teacup picture. I just had to figure out how to do it.

This pup you can see is really inside the cup. Granted it is a coffee cup. But these days who drinks out of a real teacup. This pup unlike the pup above is under aged he is only 5 weeks old. I will teach you how to tell a pup is under aged. First the ears. You can see how tiny the ears are on this pup and the yorkie pup in the logo. Both are in real cups not fake pictures with back drops. The ears are the teller. See how tiny they are compared to the yorkie ,in the fake teacup picture. This Chihuahua the face is that of a chubby infant . Unlike this true teacup

                                                                  This is my dog Lemon Drop She is 4 months old in this picture. See the bigger ears. The defined face. And yes she did grow to be a real teacup. In this picture she would never fit into a coffee cup or teacup at that. But her weight of 3 pounds as a full grown dog classify her as a Teacup dog.

So why do some people say there is no such thing as a Teacup?

This I find hilarious. I surf the internet too. I have read over and over that there is no such thing as teacups that they are just runts. Well if they do not exist who are they ( the runts) . Sure teacups exist. I have to agree the word is a huge marketing tool. For that is exactly what the word is, a descriptive marketing tool.

Supply and demand keep the prices high. Also the care it takes to bring a real teacup puppy to healthy weight for its new home. Granted many of the Teacup sellers do not do this. And most advertised Teacups are not even teacups but just underage pups, or under fed to keep small so the seller can make more money.

Just like anything expensive, buyer beware!!

Very few would buy a Rolex in Mexico for 20 bucks and assume it was the real deal. But many can be tricked into assuming that same Rolex were real if it had a large price tag, and was being sold on a posh website, or in a fancy store.

Down falls of a Teacup

The down falls are many. First off how badly these poor little dogs are exploited. Because my website ranks pretty high in organic searches for teacups I get tons of emails about them . Because they are so grossly exploited too many people want them for the wrong reasons.

The worse reason is: I want a dog that is small enough for my children to carry around. Ok do not get mad if you were thinking this ,and I just dished you. Sure it makes… uh.. a little sense. But the issue here is live tiny animal small child. Cranial fractures can be a killer not to mention micro surgery putting that pups leg back together.

Tiny children and teacups sounds synonymous as giving a teenager a NASCAR as a first car.

If you have children and want a small dog take them around dogs before you buy first. To see they are at the age where you can have one safely. This will also ensure the dog is not going to frighten your child.

A teacup puppy is not much different then a toy breed puppy, in the fact it will squirm and wiggle and may not want to be held all the time.

Another truth is very few people have ever seen a full grown teacup. Maybe they think they have but honestly very few stay that size. so a regular toy is cheaper, healthier and who will know the difference besides your pocketbook.

Purses made for dogs along with the clothing lines are not made to fit teacup dogs. Size extra small in most dog clothing lines fit 6 to 7 pound dogs. Purses to fit tiny dogs are way too big for a real teacup especially if it has an opening for the head. This opening is way too large for a real teacup and your dog may fall out.

Also The public is led to believe that tiny 1 pound puppies will stay that size for ever and ever.
If you want a 1 pound dog, which granted I highly doubt you will find one. You better buy an adult. Because like all things born to this planet. Everything grows.

The most serious issue in small teacup and toy puppies, is that because they are so small, they can expel their energy very rapidly.
If this happens Hypoglycemia is not far behind. This can and will lead to death.
With any small breed puppy. Play time should be limited. The pup should always be kept warm. And the pup must be fed no less then three times a day. I prefer free feeding. When free feeding a pup. You must always monitor that the pup is actually eating.

Physical down falls also do exist in your tinier dogs. Luxated Patella being the most common. Googling this condition one will assume it is always the breeders fault. Many times called congenital. Congenital means born with. Hereditary defects can develop over time. A completely different issue.

Luxated Patellas can be developed. Being that Teacups and many toys are so small. Jumping on and off house hold objects on slick tile, and wood floors, can cause an injury to the knee or both knees other wise known as luxated patella.

So your Teacups and Toys should be watched for jumping off the bed or couch. Especially if your house is all tile or wood.

Hydrocephalus also called water on the brain. Yes an injury can cause this one too. If it comes on sudden and fast it may be an injury. If it comes on slow it is most likely hereditary. Seen in small breed dogs with open fontanels. I have seen this and it is a very sad condition. Some say surgery can relieve it but there is no cure.

Liver Shunt. This is a hereditary condition mostly congenital. Surgery can correct the condition. It can kill a pup. One of the symptoms that a pup has Liver Shunt is not growing. So Some Teacups are small because they have Liver Shunt.

Hypoglycemia is very common in small breed dogs especially puppies. This is where the pup utilizes its store of energy. Granted it is more technical then this but I am writing in laymen's terms. It can be caused by missing meals, over exercised, being too cold and shivering , parasites, illnesses.

How to tell a puppy is hypoglycemic?

The puppy will look lethargic. Maybe dragging his or her toes a bit. The pup will be Wobbly. Next stage the pup does not want to stand up. At this point you do not have much time until the puppy goes into a full blown seizure. after that death is close without proper care. Before running out the door. To drive to the vet, grab something sweet to rub on the puppies gums. and keep the puppy very warm. This is an emergency and have someone drive for you so you can warm the pup. If the puppy has a seizure be careful not to be bitten.

Any case of Hypoglycemia a professional experienced Veterinarian must be consulted. Even if you did bring your puppy back to normal on your own with sugar. Make sure the veterinarian is experienced.

You need to discover what caused the attack, so it will not happen again. Also any puppy that has crashed ( meaning went down from hypoglycemia) This may have caused other health issues. Like bringing on a bout of coccidia, or allow an over growth of bad bacteria. These seemingly mild conditions can kill a teacup or toy size puppy if left unattended.

Picking a Veterinarian

It is Very Important for any pup you choose. to find an Honest Competent Veterinarian. Make sure that the Veterinarian is familiar with the Breed you choose. This is extremely Important. You do not want a Vet to wing it pretending they know something when it is your Puppies life. When buying a Teacup be sure the vet you pick has experience. Watch out for over zealous vets. Some can over diagnose a simple hypoglycemic case which may. cause the death of the pup.

Veterinarians are like any other business person. You have your good and you have your Bad.

Always get a second opinion.

Always remember a veterinarian is a regular person, vet school does not change them into Mother Teresa.

Pick a veterinarian like you would pick any service

In larger cities call around do not settle on a fancy office. Ask the vet if they have ever handled Hypoglycemic puppies. Ask what they charge. Ask about the survival rate? Then ask for references. .

If you are in a small town. ask your vet if they are not familiar with the breed you choose. If they would be willing to consult another vet or the breeder.

Stay far away from some of your larger chain store vets. Many do not have the capability to diagnose without sending the x-rays, lab results, ect. To some main office. You want a vet that can diagnose quickly for time can mean life or death. You want experience . You want what you pay for.

Pet Health Insurance

Vetranarian medicine is constantly evolving.
In these times conditions that would be compelty unknown say 10 years or so ago can now be discovered. Animal hospitals are using fancier diagnostic equipment . The cost of Veterinarian Medicine has become extremely expensive. If your puppy has an emergency you can end up with a Veterinarian bill as high as $4,000.00 dollars or more. In tiny toys putting a broken leg back together may require micro surgery. That alone can cost over $2,000.00 in any major city. This is why Health Insurance is now so Important. When choosing a plan check first to see what you are covered for. With the puppies we breed we will be sending them with Health insurance for the new owner to take over. We strongly encourage you to keep this up through your puppies life time. No one wants to be faced with the decision weather to pay the mortgage or save the family dogs life. here is the company we use http://www.petcareinsurance.com/

Teacup Breeds

This is a touchy subject. I get emailed alot about lets say Teacup Pugs. It is impossiable for a pug to be a teacup full grown. It is a very heavy bodied and boned dog. In inches it would have to resemble a hamster. I would love to say they exists. I would also love to own a winged horse or even a unicorn.

Googling Teacup pug it is usually a mix between a Chihuahua and a pug. Still this is not going to take away that cobby body. Teacup pugs according to who made the rules on them explain they are under 10 pounds.

The same as Teacup schnauzers. The rules on them are under 7 pounds. Ok I breed Schnauzers that size, but I refuse to call them teacup and I pray I never produce one that is under 4 pounds.

Teacup size comes in Yorkie, Chihuahua, Pomeranian and very rarely Maltese, and toy poodles
The most common being Chihuahua.

Dogs grow up until they are 2 years old.