The Teacup Yorkshire Terrier represents a miniature variant of the renowned Yorkie breed. While its captivatingly cute appearance may make this tiny toy dog seem an appealing choice for a pet, caution is advised before welcoming one into your home.
In order to appreciate why, let’s delve into the specifics of the Teacup Yorkie and the controversies that shroud this particular canine.
What Is a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier?
Teacup Yorkshire Terrier refers to a Yorkie that is intentionally bred to be smaller compared to regular Yorkshire Terriers. This tiny dog also goes by the name Micro Yorkshire Terrier or Mini Yorkshire Terrier.
How Big Will a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier Get?
There is no official breed standard for teacup dogs. However, generally, Teacup Yorkshire Terriers weigh no more than 2 to 4 pounds (0.90 to 1.81 kilos) and they grow around 5 to 7 inches (12.7 to 17.78 centimetres) tall.
In comparison, the acceptable weight of a Standard Yorkshire Terrier is 3 to 7 pounds (1.36 to 3.17 kilos) and they stand up to 9 inches (22.86 centimetres) tall.
Due to the lack of breed standards for the Teacup Yorkshire Terrier, some unscrupulous breeders may produce smaller dogs, weighing only around 2.2 pounds (1 kilo).
How Do Breeders Produce Teacup Yorkshire Terriers?
There is a lot of controversy surrounding the breeding methods used to produce Teacup Yorkshire Terriers.
It is not uncommon for some breeders to resort to using unethical breeding practices such as mating two runts of the litter. Unfortunately, health problems and birth defects often plague these tiny dogs.
By breeding them, it allows these medical conditions to persist in the following dog generations.
Moreover, using runts to birth puppies is dangerous. These small dogs already possess a fragile constitution.
Allowing them to carry offspring will later on cause birthing difficulties, which can be fatal to both the mother and her puppies.
It is also possible that other shady breeders crossbreed Yorkies with other toy or miniature breeds to produce smaller versions of them. Hence, there is a big contention about whether or not Teacup Yorkshire Terriers are purebred canines.
Due to the questionable breeding methods done to create these tiny dogs, major kennel clubs including the Kennel Club in the UK and American Kennel Club (AKC) do not acknowledge Teacup Yorkies.
Are Teacup Yorkshire Terriers Good Family Pets?
Teacup Yorkshire Terriers are good family pets because they are full of life and playful. However, we do not recommend getting these small dogs if your household has small children.
As we have mentioned, Teacup Yorkies are very fragile because of their miniature size. Handling them a little too roughly may easily result in life-threatening injuries.
They are more suited for families with older children who understand the importance of gently interacting with these pooches.
Does the Teacup Yorkshire Terrier Do Well with Other Pets?
Much like Standard Yorkies, Teacup Yorkshire Terriers tend to develop small dog syndrome, which causes them to exhibit hostility towards other animals.
Small dog syndrome is a learned behaviour that is often a result of the overprotectiveness of dog owners. It cultivates distrust and anxiety in small dogs, leading them to become aggressive if other pooches approach them.
Early socialisation is crucial to ensure Teacup Yorkie puppies grow up to be confident and friendly canine companions.
The dogs they meet during the socialising process should undergo careful screening beforehand. Choose friendly canines that are conscious of their size to decrease the risk of them injuring Teacup Yorkie Terriers when playing.
For the same reason, always carry out close supervision when socialising these tiny pooches with other pets.
How Often Should a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier Eat?
Teacup Yorkies should eat every 3 to 4 hours. Because of their small size, they do not need a large amount of food. In general, these small dogs only require around 40 calories per pound of their body weight.
Teacup Yorkies are prone to hypoglycaemia because of their small size, so regularly feeding them is important. Skipping meals can lead to low blood sugar levels, which is dangerous for their health.
If this health problem does occur, they should be immediately taken to the vet. Leaving hypoglycaemia untreated can result in life-threatening symptoms like seizures and coma.
How Long Do Teacup Yorkshire Terriers Live?
The Yorkshire Terrier breed typically lives between 11 and 13 years. Sadly for Teacup Yorkies, these smaller dogs have a shorter life expectancy than regular Yorkies. It ranges from around 7 to 9 years.
Their miniature size predisposes them to numerous debilitating health issues, which lowers their chances of living longer. Aside from hypoglycaemia, some of the most common ailments in Teacup Yorkies include:
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Collapsed Trachea
Collapsed trachea is a genetic health problem commonly seen in small-breed dogs. It occurs when the trachea’s cartilage ring weakens and eventually collapses.
Teacup Yorkies that developed this condition suffer from breathing difficulties and chronic coughing. Moreover, it causes them to have exercise and heat intolerance.
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Congenital Hydrocephalus
Congenital hydrocephalus is a genetic birth defect that causes the head of Teacup Yorkshire Terriers to develop a domed-shaped head with an open fontanelle.
The fontanelle is the soft spot located on a newborn puppy’s skull. Normally, it hardens when pups reach around 9 to 12 weeks of age.
However, when a pooch has congenital hydrocephalus, the fontanelle never closes. It leaves their head extremely vulnerable to fractures, injuries, and health problems like brain inflammation.
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Portosystemic Shunt
Portosystemic shunts occur when there is an abnormal formation of single or multiple blood vessels, which causes blood to skip flowing to the liver.
This prevents proper filtration of toxins, leading them to build up and cause health issues.
Although Teacup Yorkshire Terriers may seem like ideal pets, a lot of heavy responsibility comes with owning these pooches because of their frail health.
Thus, we do not advise getting these tiny dogs as canine companions. The high prevalence of serious medical conditions in Teacup Yorkies will require frequent doling out of money due to expensive vet bills.