What Is a Teacup Terrier?

A teacup terrier is a nickname given to extremely small versions of Yorkshire terriers. Teacup terrier is not an official breed name, but it's a name used to market the breed to potential buyers who desire the smallest versions of the breed. Other names for the teacup terrier include t-cup, baby doll face, teacup yorkie and teddy bear face. These breeds are popular despite their high price, but potential owners should be aware of the potential risks inherent to this type of terrier.

  1. Definition

    • A teacup terrier is a Yorkshire terrier that has been selectively bred to limit its size. A regular-sized Yorkshire terrier may weigh up to 7 lbs., according to American Kennel Club (AKC) standards, but a teacup terrier weighs between 3 and 5 lbs. at the most. In order to produce such small dogs, breeders carefully mate the smallest of their dogs with one another to produce quality puppies.

    Misconceptions

    • A teacup terrier is not a separate breed of Yorkshire terrier, according to the AKC standards. Unlike other dog breeds, such as the poodle, which have separate breed categories based on their size, the teacup terrier is placed with all Yorkshire terriers under the toy group.

    Popularity

    • The teacup terrier is an extremely expensive breed, but that does not keep it from enjoying popularity. Many owners carry their teacup terriers around with them when they leave the home, often putting the teacup terrier in their purses. While Yorkshire terriers are a popular breed as a whole, the teacup version of the Yorkie brings the owner and the puppy extra attention, due to their extremely small size.

    Controversy

    • The teacup terrier is a breed surrounded in controversy. Breeders do not agree on whether it is ethical or harmful to sell such small dogs. One reason for concern is the health issues that teacup terriers have, while another reason is concern that the money teacup terriers bring in serves as a higher motivation than producing healthy puppies. Detractors of the teacup terrier express concern that the need for a small size will override breeding for temperament and that the breeders and owners will gloss over the problematic aspects of owning a teacup terrier.

    Other Concerns

    • The small size of a teacup terrier makes it much more susceptible to health concerns than a regular-sized Yorkshire terrier. It is common for teacup terriers to have gastrointestinal problems that make them vomit and have diarrhea. Teacup terriers are also more likely to be injured because of their size, whether from falling, dog attacks or their owners stepping on them. Teacup terriers tend to have higher vet bills, even for routine examinations, because of the specialty equipment involved in their exams.