Teacup Pomeranians are some of the cutest puppies out there. They look like a cross between a fluffy cloud and a teddy bear. Here is everything you could ever want to know about how to find one, care for one, and their general health and personality.
IN THIS ARTICLE
What Are Teacup Pomeranians?
What Do The Look Like?
Size
Coat Colors
Temperament and Personality
How To Care For Your Teacup Pomeranian
How Long Do They Live?
Exercise
Training
Grooming
Health Concerns
Frequently Asked Questions
How To Find A Teacup Pomeranian
Find A Reputable Breeder
Find A Rescue
Teacup Pomeranian Alternatives
Final Thought
What Are Teacup Pomeranians?
Teacup Pomeranians are not actually an official breed. The official breed is a Pomeranian. Teacup Poms are just very, very small versions of the standard breed. The AKC considers anything under 7 lbs to be teacup sized.
Pomeranians are originally from the Arctic region of the world where they were bred as, much larger, sled dogs. Eventually they were domesticated in Pomerania, hence their name.
They have always been very popular as a status symbol first with royalty and now, in current day, with celebrities. Over time they have been bred to be smaller and smaller, eventually getting us the teacup size that is so popular today.
What Do They Look Like?
We already describes them as a cross between a fluffy and cloud and a teddy bear. I suppose we should maybe be a little more specific.
Size
As we mentioned, they are very small. The generally range in the 3 to 7 lb range. Easily falling under the AKC definition of teacup size.
Head & Body
Teacup Pomeranians can have one of three different head shapes; Fox Head, Teddy Bear Face, and Babydoll Face.
- Fox Head: They have a longer and more pronounced snout and muzzle; like that of a fox.
- Teddy Bear Face: Their face is and snout is much shorter and compacted into their head. They quite literally look like a stuffed teddy bear.
- Babydoll Face: This is very similar to the teddy bear face, however they are much less compacted and have more delicate features.
The teacup sized body is very small, fragile, and lightweight. It’s hard to tell from the thick coat of fur, but their body is tiny. They are vulnerable to injury if dropped or even if they jump from a tall sofa or chair. Think of their bone size and density to that of a typical pencil.
Coat
Teacup Pomeranians have fur and not hair. In fact, they have two layers of fur; a top coat and an undercoat.
The undercoat is short and dense. It is there to insulate the body and keep it warm, as well as, protect it from potential harm.
The top coat is the longer, colored fur that we associate with the Pomeranian. It is the “pretty” coat we see that makes them look like a fluffball.
Their coat can come in several different colors. Some of the more popular colors are:
- black
- chocolate
- cream
- orange
- red
- sable
- white
Temperament and Personality
Like many small dogs, Teacup Pomeranians don’t realize how small they are. They love to run, play, and rough house. That means they will even jump from furniture if the get too excited; which can be dangerous for them.
Again, like many small dogs, they are very loyal and affectionate but not typically very patient with small children. Kids tend to be a bit rough for them and they do not like it.
They will often choose one member of the family as their “person”. Teacup Poms become very attached and can even experience separation anxiety if they are away from them for too long.
They do well with other pets and with strangers. These dogs are a pretty friendly breed, however, they can be a little yappy at times.
One of their favorite things to do is to curl up with their person and just cuddle…likely forever if you would let them.
Since they have so much energy, it is good to keep them occupied. We will cover training and exercise later in this article. Just know that they should have a source of stimulation otherwise they may get bored and can exhibit destructive behavior; like chewing furniture.
How To Care For Your Teacup Pomeranian
If you are going to get a puppy, you should definitely know how to take care of it. Dogs are cute and cuddly and absolutely worth every second you can spend with them. But they are a lot of work and responsibility.
Here are a few things you should know before buying a Teacup Pomeranian.
How Long Do They Live?
Small breed dogs typically live longer than larger breed dogs. So know when you are getting a dog, it’s for the long haul.
The average lifespan of a Teacup Pomeranian is 12 to 15 years. That’s longer than the average marriage in the US!
All jokes aside, if you care for your puppy it will love and appreciate you and it will be a long and fruitful relationship.
Feeding
Since they are so small, they have the same needs as most small breed dogs. Their metabolism is super high and they burn through energy like crazy. That means they need to have a food that is specifically for smaller dogs.
As a puppy they should be eating about 4 times a day. Once the reach adult hood you can cut that back to just 2 times a day. The amount you feed depends on the age, size, and needs of your dog.
You can follow the feeding guide on the food bag and/or consult your vet for your specific puppy.
Exercise
Being such a small dog, they have what seems like an endless supply of energy. They can run and run for what seems like forever. Fortunately, that means you can use that to your advantage when it comes to their daily exercise.
They should get a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes of exercise each day to stay in good health. That doesn’t have to be a 30 minute jog for you. They enjoy long walks in cool weather. They are small enough that you can roll a ball down your hallway or across your apartment.
Training
Teacup Pomeranians are a fairly intelligent breed. They are loyal and love to please their person. Because of this they take training pretty well.
However, they are small dogs and don’t have the greatest attention span. The best strategy with this breed is to do short sessions with lots of rewards. Be patient and your puppy will be doing any trick you teach it.
Grooming
As we mentioned, Teacup Pomeranians have 2 layers of fur; a top coat and an undercoat. At a minimum they should be brushed 2 to 3 times a week to keep them from getting knotted or matted fur.
You can run a comb through it to start. Combs are great for finding problem areas that you may not catch with a regular brush. Depending on the type of problem, like a mat, knot, or just some tangles there are different types of brushes for Pomeranians and dogs with similar fur.
You will want to keep them clean. But, like with most dogs, they produce different oils to keep their skin and coat healthy. A bath once or twice a month should be sufficient so long as they have not gotten themselves filthy while playing. Make sure you use a good Pomeranian shampoo.
Health Concerns
Unfortunately, many extremely small, designer breeds have been bred for size while having their health ignored.
That is not to say all breeders are bad or unethical. It just means that many small breeds of dogs, like the Teacup Pomeranian, may have moderate to severe health issues due to their size.
A few of these potential problems can be:
- Black skin disease
- Collapsed trachea
- Cryptorchidism (undescended testicles)
- Epilepsy
- Hypoglycemia
- Luxating patella
Frequently Asked Questions
While researching Teacup Pomeranians, we found a few questions that kept springing up. Here they are:
Q1. How Much Do They Cost?
The cost of a Teacup Pomeranian really has a wide range. It can depend on things like their pedigree, their coat color, your location, etc. We have seen some as low as $300 and others all the way up to $6,800 or more.
There is not really a set standard for prices since they are not a standard breed.
Q2. Are They Hypoallergenic?
Teacup Pomeranians are not hypoallergenic. However, they are considered to be low shedding dogs so with that, along with their small size, they may not trigger someone’s allergies as much as other breeds of shedding dogs.
Q3. Are They Good Pets?
Yes! They make great pets. They are perfect for single individuals or couples who want a sweet pet that doesn’t take up a lot of room.
Q4. Do Teacup Pomeranians Bite?
All dogs have the potential to bite when they feel threatened or vulnerable. Teacup Poms are not too terribly aggressive though. You should monitor young children around them, as well.
Q5. Do They Stay Small?
They will get larger as they grow from puppy to adult but they will stay small. Typically, they will stay in the 3 to 7 lb weight range.
Q6. How Do I Find A Teacup Pomeranian?
You can find them from either reputable breeders or through a rescue shelter. There are even some Pom-centric rescues out there.
Continue reading for some more in-depth information on finding a Teacup Pomeranian.
How To Find A Teacup Pomeranian
If you’ve made it this far you must have decided that the responsibility of a brand new, cute, cuddly, adorable, precious, little ball of Teacup Pomeranian fluff is for you. Congratulations!
Now you just need to find one. Not to worry, you have a couple of options.
Naturally, the first thing you may do is Google them in your area or even ask on social media. In our opinion, the best options, for you and for the health of a puppy, is through a reputable breeder or from a rescue.
Find A Reputable Breeder
When you buy a dog from a reputable breeder, they will generally have any information you could possibly want. You know their full history. Everything from health issue in their parents to how large they may grow.
Plus, breeders will send pictures and videos of your puppy so you can start bonding right away. if they’re local, some may even let you visit before they are ready to leave their moms.
You’ll notice that we keep saying reputable breeder. Unfortunately, there are a lot of unethical breeders out there who are only in it to make money and place little concern on the poor puppies involved. You may have heard of these backyard breeders as puppy mills.
You will want to ask a lot of questions to determine if this is a good breeder or not. You’ll want to know things like:
- What is the condition of the area they keep their dogs?
- How many litters do they have a year?
- How many dogs do they keep for breeding purposes?
- Are their dogs pets or primarily for breeding?
- Do they live in the house with the owners or are they crated/kept in a kennel?
A reputable breeder is someone that makes sure the health and happiness of their dogs comes first and foremost.
You may also want to see if the breeder offers a health guarantee. Some breeds will have a standard health test. Asking if the parents have been tested is a good idea.
Finally, you can ask around on social media or even ask the breeders for recommendations from previous customers.
These suggestions are good for any breed of dog, as well, not just Teacup Pomeranians. You should always try to avoid pet stores and puppy mills.
Find A Rescue Or Pet Adoption Agency
You may have noticed we have mentioned a few times how big a responsibility raising a dog can be. This section is all about why.
Far too often, someone will want a puppy, or they will buy one for a girlfriend or their kids, only to find the dog is way more work than they expected it to be.
Those dogs sometimes end up in shelters or animal rescues. As we know from earlier, once these dogs become attached to someone they can get severe separation anxiety.
This happens often enough that there are Pomeranian specific rescue organizations. So, if you want to adopt a Teacup Pomeranian, that is truly a wonderful thing.
The only drawback to going the adoption route is that you are not likely to get a puppy. Adult dogs, especially those that have been abandoned, will sometimes come with behavioral issues, as well.
But, these dogs are just as deserving of love and attention than a brand new puppy, if not more so. You can use the time it will take to retrain them as a bonding experience.
Teacup Pomeranian Alternatives
Depending on where you live, you may not be able to find a reputable breeder or a rescue with this particular dog. If you still want a small, Pom-style puppy, you’re in luck!
There are several small breed dog Pomeranian mixes out there as well. A few we can mention are:
- Corgipom (Pomeranian and Corgi mix)
- Dameranian (Pomeranian and Dachshund mix)
- Maltipom (Pomeranian and Maltese mix)
- Papipom (Pomeranian and Papillon mix)
- Peekapom (Pomeranian and Pekingese)
- Pomapoo or Pomadoodle (Pomeranian and Toy Poodle Mix)
- Pomapug (Pomeranian and Pug mix)
- Pomchi (Pomeranian and Chihuahua mix)
- Shiranian (Pomeranian and Shih-Tzu mix)
- Yoranian or Yorkie Pom (Pomeranian and Yorkshire Terrier mix)
Final Thoughts
While some breeding practices with Teacup Pomeranians can be problematic, there is no denying that they are adorable and sweet little bundles of joy.
If you want to add one to your family you will absolutely love it! You have all the info you need to make a good decision about what, where, and how to find your new puppy.
If you have one or are getting one soon, tell us about it in the comment section below!
