If you’re into Shih Tzus, you probably heard of the term “teacup” many times. You may even think of it as a stand-alone breed. As a start, you should keep in mind that Teacup Shih Tzu isn’t different from Shih Tzu. It’s just a type of Shih Tzu that’s below the standard size. Many sellers and breeders often use the term “teacup” to make an undersized Shih Tzu attractive to potential buyers.
A Teacup Shih Tzu, from the name itself, is as tiny as a cup. Of course, it sure looks cute and adorable. However, this small little pup carries risks on itself.
Thus, it would be best to learn more about this type of Shih Tzu before running to pet stores and breeders to get one.
In this article, you’ll find every vital information you need to know about this type of Shih Tzu.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Contents
General info
As I said earlier, Teacup Shih Tzus may look fancy and adorable due to their tiny size. In reality, it’s just a term for Shih Tzus born with bodies below the standard.
In general, we can sum up the information about this Shih Tzu type with the following:
Size
- Weight – 5-7 lbs as an adult
- Height – 8 inches as an adult
Features
- Shih Tzus have a squashed face and floppy ears.
What to expect
- Prone to health risks and issues
- Needs 20 minutes of exercise per day
- Has an average energy level
- Has an average lifespan of 10-18 years
- Does not drool much
- Does not snore much
- Barks Quite Loud
- Does not dig much
- Requires close attention and care
- Requires high and constant grooming
Bred type
- Lapdog
Coat
- Long Fur Coat
- Straight Coat
- Color varies
If you want an in-depth take on each aspect of this Shih Tzu type’s characteristics, take a look at the following.
Appearance
The first thing to describe a Teacup Shih Tzu is its tiny size. Thus, its name is quite perfect and matches their appearance – a cup.
Like all other Shih Tzus, Teacups have a similar appearance. They also have that long and double coat, which is quite elegant.
They can also have a variety of colors any regular Shih Tzu may have. Thus, you can see teacups in black, liver or brown, white, gold, brindle, silver, and red.
Many teacups have their hair in a bun to avoid falling in their eyes. If you groom them properly, they’ll have that gorgeous-looking coat like that of any Shih Tzu.
Like other Shih Tzus, Teacups share a similar appearance as well. In simple terms, they are miniature versions of Shih Tzus.
Size
Teacups weigh and stand less than an average Shih Tzu. They have an average of 5-7 pounds. As you can see, they are smaller than the smallest regular Shih Tzu.
The average and standard size of Shih Tzus is 9-16 pounds (4.1 to 7.3 kg) in weight and 9-10 1/2 inches (22.9 to 26.8 cm) in height.
If you plan on getting teacups, it would be best to choose between this range.
Pups weighing 4 pounds below are riskier and are unlikely to survive long.
Since teacups are relatively small, they also have tiny organs. Thus, they are prone to many health issues and problems.
Coat colors and quality
Like other Shih Tzus, teacups have long and silky coats that are gorgeous in everyone’s eyes. Moreover, this breed boasts of many colors. Their coats may come in the following:
- Black (Solid Black is rare)
- Black and White
- Gray (or silver) and White
- Brown (Solid brown, which is often considered liver)
- Brown and White
- Red and White
Tails that have white tips and foreheads with white blaze are quite expensive. Shih Tzus that come is Solid Black is the rarest of all.
History
Teacup Shih Tzus goes a long way in History. Since they are Shih Tzus of small size, they might even exist side by side for as long as regular sized dogs are around.
The thing is that they have a palace history, dating back to ancient times.
Many historians discovered the same and speak of this breed as existing as early as the 17th Century.
Temperament
Teacup Shih Tzus are nothing but mighty despite their small size. They are playful, loving, and charming pets.
Despite being small, this doggo will defend himself and the people he thinks of his own.
Another great thing is that they are incredibly playful. Since these pups are small, they are great with children.
However, be sure to supervise them, as they can get hurt easily, even by children.
Teacup Shih Tzu and family
Teacup Shih Tzus make great family pets. Because of their small size, you can entrust your kids to them, and they’ll play until they get tired.
The only risk involved is that they are too delicate to get left without your supervision.
While they can’t harm kids, the kids may harm them on the other hand.
For this reason, it would be best to always be with your kids and our pet when you allow them to play together. Moreover, they can play with other members of the family.
Still, it would be best to remind every member to be gentle in handling such a pet. This way, you can ensure its safety and avoid unwanted incidents.
Care and life with Teacup Shih Tzu
Before taking a Teacup Shih Tzu home, it’s crucial to learn and understand how to care for this dog.
Moreover, you must understand what to expect with your life with this adorable companion.
Of course, as owners, you’ll need to adjust your preferences to suit your pet. Moreover, it will also change the way you see things.
A Teacup Shih Tzu would need constant care to keep good health. It requires more attention and delicate handling than regular Shih Tzus.
Moreover, it needs to play, exercise, and train regularly. Without further ado, let’s have an in-depth take on the things to keep in mind.
Health
As I said earlier, Teacup Shih Tzus have a small size, which is not a healthy one. While they may look cute and adorable, this tiny size comes with many risks.
For instance, they have small bodies, which means they also have tiny organs.
Thus, they are delicate pets, and they are prone to many health risks and issues. Among these problems are:
- Liver Shunts
- Difficulty digesting food due to small stomach
- Incontinence due to a small bladder
- Low blood sugar
- Fragile bones
- Difficulty breathing due to the remote respiratory system
- Eye Issues
- Ear Infections
- Dental and gum issues
- Calcium deficiency
If you plan on taking one home, expect it to be fragile. Thus, you need to be more careful and expect frequent vet visits.
Feeding
Eating is an issue for the Teacup Shih Tzu, and you need to be careful with their portions and amount of meals per day.
They may not be able to handle solid food and probably not dry food. You will want to feed these dogs in small amounts several times a day to be sure they can digest it completely.
Feeding may require more effort for Teacups. Due to their small size, they may find it challenging to digest dry food.
Moreover, they may not handle solid food well. Teacups also have small stomachs, which means they can’t take in food in large amounts.
For this reason, it would be best to feed teacups in small amounts but frequent times.
It’s also important not to overfeed and to overplay these dogs.
Of course, you can give the following as treats and only in small amounts and pieces. You can offer small amounts of cheese and fruits like apples and mangoes.
If you have ice cream, you can give your pet a taste. Still, remember not to give ice cream with chocolate flavor or any food with chocolate.
It’s also better to give small amounts of meat since it’s rich in protein. As long as you keep it as treats, you can provide pork and chicken. Still, when doing so, always make sure you offer it plain, cooked but without excess oil, and with no seasoning.
Here’s a list of toxic food that you shouldn’t give your Teacup Shih Tzu:
- Chocolate
- Raisins and Grapes
- Macadamia Nuts
- Nuts in general
- Onions
- Sweets and Candies (mostly sugar-free since they contain xylitol)
- Mushrooms
- Raw Egg
- Cow’s Milk (due to being lactose-intolerant)
- Products with Caffeine
- Green potatoes (also toxic for us)
- Bread dough
- Moldy Food
- Avocado
- Cherries
- Garlic
To learn more about feeding Shih Tzu, you can check out these related articles in our blog.
Training
One thing you need to know is that Teacups can get tired more than regular Shih Tzus. Thus, it would be best if you allowed your pet to rest after a 30-minute playtime.
Shih Tzus are the types of pets you can enjoy playing with all day long. This trait makes them adorable and easy to love. However, when it comes to training, they could be quite stubborn.
Of course, he’ll learn basic commands and tricks. However, it may take a lot more time than training other breeds.
For this reason, training your Shih Tzu requires consistency, gentleness, and understanding.
If you wish to teach your dog the basic commands, it’s essential to prepare yourself to be patient and consistent. Moreover, being a teacup means they usually seem confused. That gesture is because they do become confused most of the time.
As always, remember that despite being adorable, they can be challenging to train.
Teacup Shih Tzu breeders
Teacups Puppies and Boutique
Established in 1999, Teacups, Puppies & Boutique is one of the country’s first puppy boutiques you can find. They specialize strictly in teacup and toy breed puppies.
- 5195 S University Drive
- Davie, FL 33328
- (954) 885-8848
- https://www.teacupspuppies.com/teacup-puppies-for-sale/shih-tzu-puppies-for-sale/
Class A Teacup Shih Tzu Puppies
This shop offers Gorgeous teacup and Micro teacup Shih Tzu puppies. They specialize in doll and bear-faced puppies with extreme, gorgeous faces and beautiful, expressive eyes. They also boast of different colors that make their puppies one of the best.
- No Address Available
- (806) 752-9534
- http://superbshihtzus.zohosites.com/
Teacup & Toy Pet Boutique
This boutique is a family-owned and operated one that caters to teacup and toy dog breeds. Their founder, operator, and owner is Rebecca Bice. She is a dog-lover, and she has a passion for tiny pups.
- 3550 Stonewall Rd Wylie, TX 75098
- 972-989-5266
- https://www.texasteacups.com/
Boutique Puppies LLC
This shop offers a wide array of options. They also specialize in teacups with a wide range of breeds.
- boutiqueteacuppuppies@gmail.com
- Teacup Puppies LTD, Spring Branch TX 78070
- https://boutiqueteacuppuppies.com/
Teacup Pups
Found in 1984, this shop’s owner is both an animal lover and dog trainer. They have been serving in Brooklyn for years now. They also spend countless hours vetting the professional breeders from where they get their dogs.
- 540 86th St. Brooklyn, NY 11209
- (718) 238-7387
- https://teacuppups.com/
Interesting facts
If you wish to know more about Teacup Shih Tzus, you may find the following facts interesting.
Here are five fun facts that will make you fall in love with teacups.
People tend to fall for them.
Teacup Shih Tzus look too cute for people not to get mesmerized by their charm.
Due to their tiny size, they look more like toys than pets. For this reason, many people get tempted to take it home after seeing one.
They are polite.
Teacups are so polite that you’ll do nothing but love them. If you tell them to move towards something, they’ll walk so cute and obey that it is quite a delight to see.
Their hair is quite soft.
Their coat is thin and soft, which seems too good to be true. In fact, teacups do seem like a living stuff toy.
They have a floor-length coat.
Teacups have a floor-length coat that makes them look gorgeous, especially if groomed regularly.
If you’re willing to spend time grooming your pet, you’ll end up with a gorgeous looking buddy.
They always move.
The thing about these little pups is that they are always on the move. It’s not in their trait to keep calm and stay in one place. Thus, you can often see their cute paws moving around endlessly.
Honestly, it’s quite enjoyable and satisfying to watch.
Types of Shih Tzu
Aside from teacups, Shih Tzus come in many other types. In general, there are seven more specific types that you need to know.
Understanding the difference is essential in choosing your preferred pet to take home. Aside from teacups, the other types of Shih Tzus are:
- Black Shih Tzu (the rarest of all, and it comes with solid black)
- Imperial Shih Tzu (small and coined for its being contrary to the purebred)
- Brown Shih Tzu (also known as Liver-colored)
- Brindle Shih Tzu (the Shih Tzu with a beautiful mixture of many colors)
- American Shih Tzu (a purebred, passing the standard of AKC)
- European Shih Tzu (another purebred, passing the standard of UK KC)
- Blue-Eyed Shih Tzu (the ones with blue eyes, having it as a genetic defect)
The types of Shih Tzus come from one of the same breed – the Shih Tzu. Thus, the traits and personalities are similar.
The main aspects that set them apart from each other are their appearance and health.
If you wish to know an in-depth take regarding this matter, you may read our article Types of Shih Tzu.
Summary
To sum up everything, I think we can all agree that Teacup Shih Tzus are small but adorable pets designed to be your best companion. Indeed, teacups are delicate and fragile. Thus, they need extreme care and handling.
Nevertheless, I don’t see it as a problem since they are so cute and adorable. Everyone that sees any teacup will surely fall in love, and you’ll undoubtedly care for them the best way you can.
