Sorry, we couldn't find any results matching
Please:
Sorry, we couldn't find any results matching
Please:
11 – 15 years
2 - 3 lbs
No more than 7 inches
Yes, minimally
Personality:
Affectionate, energetic, independent, friendly
Common Health Problems:
Periodontal disease, obesity, heart disease, hypoglycemia
A teacup Yorkie is simply a miniature version of a Yorkshire terrier — the American Kennel Club®1 (AKC) recognizes the teacup Yorkie as a regular Yorkshire terrier, rather than a separate breed. These tiny dogs look virtually identical to a regular Yorkie except they rarely exceed 4 pounds.2,3
Teacup Yorkies come in four pairs of colors, such as:4
Generally, teacup Yorkie coats are a combination of two colors and not a solid color.4,5
Teacup Yorkies aren't known for drooling excessively.4
Yorkie's ears are small, pointed, and stand upward. Their coat grows around their ears, which can trap dirt and cause an infection. Be sure to keep their fur trimmed short around their ears, even if the rest of their coat is kept long.4,5
Teacup Yorkies are minimal shedders and considered hypoallergenic. Their coats are long, fine, and silky, requiring daily brushing and weekly baths to help prevent matting. Keep their coat neatly trimmed, especially around the ears, eyes, and feet. Yorkies’ eyes can tear a lot, so wipe them clean daily.4,5,6
What My Adoption Bio Would Say:
I may be small, but my heart and personality are big. I’m looking forward to playing, traveling, and being your mini-watchdog for life!
The teacup Yorkie is bold, confident, and mischievous. Despite their size, they’re energetic dogs who love to play more than you’d expect. Yorkies are generally very affectionate and protective when it comes to their humans, and find a friend in most people — though they can be cautious around strangers at times. They’re an adaptable dog that does well in most situations.4
Teacup Yorkies do need moderate amounts of exercise. A walk twice a day should be enough to keep their minds and bodies healthy. This breed can be content living in a small apartment as long as they have plenty of toys and attention from their pet parents. Since Yorkies are part of the AKC terrier group, having something to keep them busy can help prevent destructive habits.2,4
Some teacup Yorkies may be territorial of their owners, which could lead to unwanted behavior with other dogs. They’re also vocal and can be a bit bossy, which may not pair well with another pet. Early socialization is key to avoiding doggy warfare in your home.2,4
Training a teacup Yorkie can be fairly easy, but they’re also feisty and have a mind of their own. Take advantage of their eagerness to please and use positive reinforcement training to correct inappropriate behavior.2,4
Teacup Yorkies can be good pets for young children, but it depends on the individual child and dog. Due to their size, teacup Yorkies’ bones are very fragile and accidental injuries can occur when playing.3,4
Teacup Yorkies are yappy and loud. Some folks choose to take advantage of this behavior by training them as watchdogs. If this isn’t your goal, or if lots of barking is a stressor, a Yorkie may not be the best dog breed for your preferences.4
“Teacup” dogs aren’t official breeds — it’s just a size description, so teacup Yorkies can be tiny and lightweight.2,3 This could make them an ideal fit if you’re tight on living space or looking for a travel companion.
Teacup Yorkies are true terriers at heart, full of energy and play, so exercise and stimulation are a must. While they became known as lap dogs and purse dogs, the Yorkshire terrier was originally bred for hunting rats in mills and mines.4
Despite their general cuteness, there can be major disadvantages to breeding runts of Yorkshire terrier litters to get a teacup-sized pup.3 Do your due diligence before bringing home your new puppy so you can know how best to care for the dog.
You can find teacup varieties of all sorts of dog breeds. Since there isn’t a national guideline for teacup dogs, you may have to do some research to find the following mixes in “teacup” size:
All these dog breeds are already toy breeds, so make sure to ask the breeder about the health of the litter.
Teacup Yorkies may experience a variety of health issues, including:2,3,4,7
Because of the teacup Yorkie’s tiny size, dosing medications and performing surgeries can be more difficult.3
Teacup Yorkies are a “designer” breed, so you’ll likely have to get one from a breeder. They can cost somewhere between $1,000 – $3,000, but could reach more than $5,000 depending on where you live and the pup’s bloodline.8
Once your puppy is home, you’ll have various dog care costs to consider. Depending on factors like your location and your dog’s health, yearly costs might be $1,400 on average for a toy dog breed, with lifetime costs around $16,440.9
Some of the costs you might want to plan for with a teacup Yorkie dog can include spaying/neutering, vaccinations, routine vet exams, food and treats, professional grooming, routine dental cleanings, toys, and parasite prevention.
Breeders generally create this mini-Yorkshire terrier by mating two runts in a litter. This could lead to various health problems if genetic conditions carried by runt parents are then passed down to runt puppies.3 It’s critical that you’re clear on the health of the puppy before you bring them home.
It can be a good idea to have a plan for how you’ll pay for various vet care. Maybe more so if your teacup Yorkie is at a higher risk for expensive health conditions. Let’s take a look at how pet insurance can help you.
Crowding of the teeth is one major side effect of breeding these dogs so small. Crowded teeth can lead to tartar buildup and eventually periodontal disease — inflammation of the gums that could cause jawbone erosion, infections, and tooth loss. In severe cases, infections can spread and cause organ damage.3,10
Veterinarians can treat early stages of periodontal disease, but later stages can only be managed. Regardless, your dog will likely need a full cleaning with possible tooth extractions — which can cost up to a few thousand dollars.10 Dog insurance with MetLife Pet could reimburse you up to 90% of the vet bill for some of these costs.11
With a customizable dog insurance policy that you can add optional Preventive Care to, you can get coverage for unexpected and routine vet bills — including dental cleanings to help keep your teacup Yorkie’s mouth healthy.
