No doubt, if you’ve seen a Teacup Maltese, you think they are absolutely adorable. If you’re thinking about adding one to your family you are going to want to learn everything you can about them, From their origin to their potential health problems and everything in between, this is the information you need.
IN THIS ARTICLE
What Is A Teacup Maltese?
What Do The Look Like?
– Size
– Pros & Cons Of Teacup Size
– Coat & Colors
How To Care For Your Teacup Maltese
– Food & Dietary Needs
– Exercise
– Training
– Health Concerns
– Grooming
Temperament and Personality
– How Are They With Kids And Pets?
How To Find A Teacup Maltese
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thought
What Is A Teacup Maltese?
A Teacup Maltese, simply put, is a very small version of a standard Maltese. You will most often see them alongside celebrities, or rather in a handbag or purse. Their seemingly microscopic size makes them an almost perfect tagalong accessory.
Unfortunately, the “accessory” attitude has led to some unfortunate and, quite frankly, unethical breeding practices. However, those practices are not the fault of these sweet little puppies.
Origin
Nobody really knows where the Teacup Maltese officially started. Teacup Maltese are not technically their own breed of dog. In fact, they are generally premature Maltese puppies; sometimes known as the “runt”.
Sometimes, with a litter of puppies, one of the offspring may get fewer of the mother’s resources in utero. When that happens, the “runt” is born smaller and, at times, less developed than their siblings. When bred only for size, these health issues can be passed along to the next generation.
Since the Teacup is just an underdeveloped version of a standard Maltese, we can presume they have been around for just as long. They are a Swiss Spitz breed and are believed to have been around since at least 500 BC with some thinking as far back as 2,000 BC.
They were quite popular in the Mediterranean part of the world. In fact, one of the first known historical recordings of “small white dogs” was by Aristotle.
Since then, they have been commonly associated with royalty due to their pure white silky coats and overall royal appearance. Even today, some could call celebrities modern day royalty and there is no shortage of Teacup Maltese in the arms of a young socialite.
What Do They Look Like?
If you’ve ever seen any type of Maltese, teacup or otherwise, you know they have the most lovable little faces. In fact, they are often included with other Teddy Bear Face puppies due to their dark eyes and button noses.
Their other most notable features are their size and their beautiful, silky coat.
Size
The size difference between a standard Maltese and a Teacup Maltese is pretty significant. Both weigh in the single digits which, on paper, may not seem like a big difference. However, when you have a Teacup at 3 pounds, a Maltese at 7 pounds is more than twice their size.
Here is a chart with the size differences between them both.
| Height | Weight | |
| Teacup Maltese | 4″ to 6″ at the shoulders | 3 lbs to 5 lbs |
| Standard Maltese | 8″ to 10″ at the shoulders | 5 lbs to 7 lbs |
Pros & Cons Of The Teacup Size
There are several pros and cons for a dog this size. Unfortunately, the cons can be, and often are, pretty serious.
Pros
- they are adorable (obviously)
- they can go anywhere with you
- great for small spaces like apartments
- they eat a lot less
Cons
- small body = small bladder = notoriously difficult to house train
- they are very fragile and can be injured easily
- due to unethical breeding practices they are often prone to some serious, sometimes life threatening, health conditions
- treatment of these health conditions can sometimes be very expensive
Coat
Maltese are known for having long, flowing, and silky white coats. While Teacup Maltese are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, Maltese are. A Teacup Maltese should, more or less, follow the same standards of perfection as a full sized Maltese.
- single coat, no undercoat
- floor length (or almost floor length) “long, flat, and silky” hair
- any texture, like wooly, curls, or “kinkiness” are not to standard
- pure white coat with “permissible” lemon or light tan along the ears
Color
As we mentioned above, the only acceptable color for a Maltese, and thus, a teacup Maltese is pure white. They will occasionally have tan or lemon yellow around their ears, but snowy white is the desired color.
Breed Recognition
Since Teacup Maltese are not technically their own breed, but rather the premature offspring of full sized Maltese, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Association (AKC).
How To Care For Your Teacup Maltese
While these adorable little pups may look like toys, they are a full time responsibility. In fact, smaller dogs like these, especially ones prone to health issues, may need more care than a larger dog.
The payoff is definitely worth the effort, though. Take care of your sweet puppy and you will have a loyal dedicated friend and companion for life.
Food & Dietary Needs
All living things need food to live and Teacup Maltese are no exception. Fortunately, their feeding instructions are often found right on the bag. Generally, you can follow those guidelines. You will just want to make sure their weight and body condition are both at a healthy level.
Normally, a Teacup Maltese will weigh between 3 and 5 pounds. With an animal this small, any fluctuation of weight can become a health risk quickly. If you are unfamiliar with monitoring body condition, this body condition chart from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) is an easy to read guide.
Additionally, you want to give your dog an appropriate food. Small dogs have different dietary needs than larger dogs. That’s why it is best to give them a small breed dog formulated food.
And, as always, if you notice any severe fluctuations in weight or body condition or your pet is not acting like it’s normal self, contact a vet right away.
Exercise
Teacup Maltese have a ton of energy. They love to run and play. One of their favorite pastimes is running around with their family. Naturally, they get a good amount of exercise this way. But they will still need a little bit of focused exercise, as well.
These pups need about 30-45 minutes a day of exercise. This does not have to be all at once. In fact, it is best when split into a couple of walks and maybe some games like fetch. Make sure when they are out walking they have a proper small breed harness to keep pressure off of their throat since they are prone to collapsing trachea.
These dogs are very intelligent. If they become bored or do not get enough stimulation, they can become yappy and possibly destructive. Make sure they have plenty of exercise and attention. They also really enjoy puzzles. Give them a good treat puzzle and they will stay entertained for a long while.
Training
As we mentioned, Maltese, and thus, Teacup Maltese are highly intelligent. They are almost up there with Poodles and Doodles as far as intelligence goes. Their intelligence is a double edged sword. If they are not properly trained, they can become bored and get into trouble.
Fortunately they are not very hard to train at all. Because they are so smart, they pick up tricks and commands really easily. Additionally, they are people pleasers and love to make their family happy.
They are a small dog so they can have a short attention span and lose interest if a training session goes on too long. Try and keep your sessions short and to the point. They also respond best to positive reinforcement so heap on the praise and don’t be stingy with the treats.
The one part of training that is difficult is house training. This breed is notoriously difficult to potty train. Since they are so small, they have very tiny bladders. That means they can’t hold their urine in as long as larger breeds. Be patient when training and you may be able to house break them eventually.
Health Concerns
The health of a Teacup Maltese, or any Teacup breed, is pretty controversial. We, of course, love how cute and tiny they. But, since their size is the main selling point, many unethical breeders will only focus on size and ignore unwanted, and sometimes dangerous, health characteristics.
This has gone on for quite some time and has, over time, brought about a whole host of moderate to severe health issues in these innocent little creatures.
One of the main health issues is one that plagues many small breed dogs, even those born to ethical breeders. That issue is hypoglycemia and is, fortunately, a manageable health concern.
Hypoglycemia
Like we said, this is a problem for many small dogs. Hypoglycemia, if you are unaware, is more commonly called low blood sugar. Have you ever gone too long without eating anything healthy and then ate a candy bar or doughnut? You know that weird, not-quite-right feeling you get?
That’s usually caused by a spike and then drop in your blood sugar. The same thing can happen to these dogs.
Small dogs typically have a lot of energy but do not have a large storage capacity for that energy. So, when they play so hard they quickly burn through their body’s supply of carbohydrates. When carbohydrates are burned they turn into glucose.
Glucose is their energy source and burns very quickly. When they burn through all of their glucose, their blood sugar level drops. In some more serious instances this can result in death.
However, it is not nearly as scary as it sounds and is entirely manageable. Just make sure your dog is eating a recipe designed for a small dog (they take hypoglycemia into account with these formulas). Also make sure they are eating between 2 and 4 meals a day, depending on their age.
Some other health issues Teacup Maltese face may be:
- blindness
- bone fractures
- chronic stress
- collapsing trachea
- digestive problems
- heart defects
- hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
- hydrocephalus (water on the brain)
- incontinence
- liver shunts
- low body weight
- patella luxation (slipping kneecap)
- respiratory problems
- seizures
Grooming
The hallmark of the Maltese is their gorgeous flowing locks of silky white hair. Unfortunately, hair that looks that good is not the easiest to maintain.
They do not have an undercoat so you do not have to worry too much about matting. However, you will need to comb and brush through their hair at least 3 times a week. If you can manage it, they do better with daily brushing.
You do not need to bathe them very regularly. In fact, frequent bathing is not good for most dogs. Their bodies produce natural oils that nourish the skin and hair. Bathing too often washes these oils away and can dry them out.
A bathe once every 3 or 4 months is adequate. When you wash them, you will want to make sure to use a shampoo and conditioner that is formulated for their hair type. You can also schedule periodic sessions with a professional groomer to assess your specific dog’s personal groom schedule.
Temperament and Personality
Teacup Maltese are some of the cuddliest little lovebugs you can imagine. They are super sweet and love nothing more than to be YOUR favorite lap dog.
They become super attached to their people whish makes them very affectionate. It can also lead to severe separation anxiety if their people leave them alone at home for long periods of time.
Like most small dogs they can get pretty yappy. But, they are not quite as noisy as other small breeds and with proper training you can cut most of that behavior out.
Most of the time when they bark it is due to boredom or they are trying to alert you to something, like a guest at the door. Training can cut down on alert barking. They are smart and can get bored. Proper exercise and brain teasing puzzles will keep them occupied and barking less.
They can suffer from small dog syndrome and be a little braver than they should be, considering their size. But overall, they are incredibly gentle and love to please their people. These dogs truly make wonderful companions.
How Are They With Kids & Pets?
Teacup Maltese are great with people. They can get a little nervous when around someone new or in a new place. But, in general, they like to meet new friends.
If they are properly socialized as a puppy, you will have no problem integrating them with other pets.
They are a great family dog. They can be prone to injury since they are so small and like to play really hard. It is best to protect them from larger pets and small children who are not quite mature enough to temper their rough playing.
How To Find A Teacup Maltese
If you’ve made it this far, you are most likely interested in finding your own little Teacup Maltese.
Congratulations!
It is entirely possible to find one that is healthy and looking to be the newest member of your family. It is a little more difficult and requires more effort than finding most other types of dogs.
Since there is so much controversy around the intentional breeding and selling of Teacup puppies, you have to be hypervigilant to find either a reputable (and ethical) breeder or go through a rescue.
Find A Reputable Breeder
Due to the fact that breeding for such a small size almost always breeds in significant health problems, finding a reputable breeder of Teacup Maltese is not easy.
Your best bet is to find someone who responsibly breeds standard Maltese and ask them if they have an puppies they expect to be teacup sized. Remember, a Teacup Maltese is just a Maltese that is extra small.
The reason you don’t want to just find a breeder who is only selling Teacup puppies is because they are only breeding for profit. This is disregarding the health and well being, not only of that specific animal, but the well-being of future generations.
These breeders are the reason these tiny animals have such a long list of health problems.
Our definition of a reputable breeder is someone who puts the health and safety of their animals above the sale. They do not breed their dogs more often, or for longer, than they should. Often times, reputable breeders will treat their breeding dogs the same as family pets.
When you find a breeder, please feel free to ask as many questions as you want. A good breeder will be happy their puppies are going home with someone who cares that much.
Some of the questions that you can ask are:
- Where do they keep their dogs?
- How many puppies do they have a year?
- How many dogs do they breed?
- Are they pets?
- Do they have a kennel or do they live in the breeder’s home?
You will also want to get a health certificate from anyone selling Teacup puppies. If they have health certifications for the parents, that’s even better.
Find A Rescue Or Pet Adoption Agency
The preferred route for finding a Teacup Maltese is to go through a shelter or rescue. There are a lot more hoops to jump through but you can rest assured knowing that you are helping an animal that is in need.
Unfortunately, people will buy a cute little puppy and then realize how much work a puppy really is. Especially a Teacup puppy that may have extra health problems. Either it’s too much work, too expensive, or both. Then that innocent puppy ends up in a shelter.
You can call your local shelters and rescues to see if they have any Teacup Maltese. There are also some rescues organizations out there that specialize in Maltese and Teacup dogs.
The organizations will vary depending on where you live. You can easily do a web search for “teacup rescue near me” or “Maltese rescue in my area”. Some variation of these searches should give you some options for finding your new pet.
Adopting a rescue animal is a lot of work. Sometimes they will suffer from trauma after being abandoned. Don’t let that scare you. With a little time and patience, you can help them work through their trauma and you will have a strong bond that will last forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
While researching Teacup Maltese, we found a few questions that kept popping up. Here they are:
Q1. Do teacup Maltese bark a lot?
Teacup Maltese, like most small dogs, can be quite yappy. Often times this is due to boredom or anxiety. Teacup Maltese become very attached to their person and will experience separation anxiety if left alone for too long. This can lead to excessive barking.
Q2. Does a teacup Maltese shed?
No, they do not shed much at all. Maltese, and thus, Teacup Maltese, have no undercoat and shed very little. They are considered to be hypoallergenic.
Q3. Are teacup Maltese easy to train?
Teacup Maltese are very smart and pick up on training pretty quickly. They are a small dog and, like most small dogs, lose patience quickly. Be patient, train in short sessions, and give lots of positive reinforcement.
Q4. Do teacup Maltese have health problems/Why teacup dogs are bad?
Teacup puppies have a bad reputation due to unethical breeding practices. There are many backyard breeders who only breed for a small size with no regard for other negative health issues. Some of the more common and serious ailments from which teacup puppies suffer are:
- blindness
- bone fractures
- collapsing trachea
- digestive problems
- heart defects
- hemorrhagic gastroenteritis
- hydrocephalus (water on the brain)
- hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- incontinence
- liver shunts
- low body weight
- patella luxation (slipping kneecap)
- respiratory problems
- seizures
Q5. Can teacup Maltese have babies/Do teacup puppies stay small forever?
Since Teacup dogs cannot breed there are no true teacup puppies. Teacup puppies are what you call very small/undersized/runts from standard or toy sized breed. With that being said, yes, they will stay small. The average size of a full grown teacup puppy is under 7 inches and under 7 pounds.
Q6. Do teacup puppies bite?
Teacup puppies do bit but not typically out of aggression. Normally a teacup puppy will only bite when it is wanting to play.
Q7. What do teacup Maltese eat?
Teacup Maltese do best eating a good, high quality dog food formulated specifically for the needs of a small dog.
Q8. How long does a teacup Maltese live/How long do teacup dogs live for?
A Teacup Maltese will typically live anywhere between 12 and 15 years old.
Q9. How big will a teacup Maltese get?
A Teacup Maltese is generally between 4 and 6 inches tall and between 3 and 5 pounds in weight. You can remember the teacup requirements as 7 & 7; under 7 pounds and under 7 inches.
Q10. How do they breed teacup puppies?
Teacup puppies are, unfortunately, often the result of breeding undersized dogs together. This causes many of them to develop mild to serious health issues.
Q11. Are teacup dogs expensive?
Typically, they are very expensive. Depending on their pedigree, you can expect to pay anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to a couple thousand.
Final Thoughts
Now you know everything there is to know about the precious little Teacup Maltese. If you decide to add one to your family, we hope you love your little bundle of fun!
Until next time…
