Teacup Poodles are the crème de la crème of miniature dog breeds. They’re fluffy, cute, and affectionate, making them an irresistible addition to the family. They offer ample amounts of loyalty, joy, and companionship, and they’re intelligent to boot. What more can you ask for?
In this post, I’ve answered everything you need to know about Teacup Poodles. This includes their intelligence level, train-ability, and more!
For an in-depth look at this breed, be sure to read our post, Teacup Poodles: Breed Information, Behaviors, Training, and Health
How Long Does a Teacup Poodle Live?
Teacup Poodles have a long life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, which is beyond the average lifespan of most dog breeds.
The world’s oldest Toy Poodle, Uncle Chichi, died at roughly 25 years old and is considered one of the oldest dogs in the world. Toy Poodles are about two to three inches taller than Teacup Poodles, but have just around the same lifespan, give or take a few years.
Teacup Poodles can live up to 18 years if given a good quality of life.
Is It Hard to Take Care of a Teacup Poodle?
Compared to Standard Poodles, Teacup Poodles are incredibly easy to take care of.
Since they’re so small, they don’t require a lot of physical activity to stay healthy. They only need about 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day, as opposed to Standard Poodles which require 45 to 60 minutes of exercise.
Teacup Poodles can be a bit high maintenance when it comes to grooming, but no more than their bigger cousins. They need to be brushed at least three times a week to prevent matting and trimmed once every four to eight weeks.
Bathing a teacup poodle should be done no more than once a month unless your Teacup has a tendency to roll around the mud.
Is a Teacup Poodle a Good Pet?
Teacup Poodles make incredible pets for older families and families living in small apartments. They’re remarkably intelligent and sweet, so they don’t take much effort to take care of.
Given how small they are, Teacup Poodles aren’t suited for families with young children or multiple dogs, as well as active households. Toy breeds like Teacup Poodles often suffer from physical trauma due to accidental injuries from being stepped on or dropped.
Are Teacup Poodles Hypoallergenic?
Teacup Poodles are hypoallergenic dogs. Because of this, they’re a suitable choice for those with allergies and other hypersensitivities. Their coat is thick and curled, so they only shed a few strands of hair at a time. This shedding can further be reduced by brushing their coat at least once a week.
Teacup Poodles shed minimally because of several reasons:
- They’re single-coated, meaning they have only one layer of hair. As a result, they don’t shed seasonally like double-coated dogs like Huskies and Golden Retrievers.
- Their coats are wiry, dense, and curly, so dead hair tends to get “trapped” with the coat. The only way to get rid of the dead hair is by brushing it out.
- They have a longer hair growth cycle than other dogs.
Are Teacup Poodles High Maintenance?
Teacup Poodles are high-maintenance dogs. They have thick, curly hair that requires regular upkeep to keep in good condition. They need to be bathed at least once every three weeks and trimmed every four to six weeks, depending on how thick you want their coat to be.
That said, Teacup Poodles are much easier to take care of than Standard or Miniature Poodles.
They’re incredibly small, around six to nine inches tall. Therefore, they don’t take a lot of effort or time to groom. At most, they take roughly 15 to 30 minutes to fully groom (bathe, brush, and trim).
In comparison, Standard Poodles can take up to two hours or more to groom, depending on the cut and coat.
Do Teacup Poodles Bark a Lot?
Teacup Poodles are less noisy than some other miniature breeds, but they can be quite vocal if they aren’t trained at a young age. They express their displeasure when unhappy or when they want something.
Households that don’t tolerate barking can train their Teacup Poodles out of the habit with calm yet firm commands.
You might like to read out post, Poodle acting Crazy, Hyper, or Out of Control?
Can Teacup Poodles Be Left Alone?
Teacup Poodles have clingy and needy personalities, so they can’t be left alone for extended periods. This is especially true if they’ve gotten used to constant human companionship at a young age. They can become overly dependent on their owners, which can lead to severe separation anxiety.
The good news is that Teacup Poodles can be trained to be left alone and cope on their own until their owners come back.
The best way to go about this is to let them get used to being alone for one hour per month of age. With consistent training, you should be able to leave them alone for up to nine hours by the time they’re nine months old.
You might like to read our post, Leaving Your Dog Home Alone: (8,12, or 24-hours)
How Long Can a Teacup Poodle Be Left Alone?
Technically speaking, Teacup Poodles can be left alone for as long as they can hold off going to the bathroom. We don’t recommend a dog being left alone for longer than 8-hours.
Teacup Poodles shouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time as they tend to develop separation anxiety.
Teacup Poodles should be trained to be left alone from as young as one month old. This will help them from feeling anxious and scared when they’re left by themselves.
How Often Should You Wash a Teacup Poodle?
Teacup Poodles should be washed once every three to four weeks unless they get dirty. Teacup Poodles have sensitive skin, so you shouldn’t over-bathe or under-bathe lest they develop skin problems.
You might like to read our post, Bathing a Poodle: How often should it be done?
Over-bathing depletes the natural oil of their coat, leading to flaking, itchiness, and dry skin. It also reduces its sheen and luster. Under-bathing, on the other hand, can lead to clogged pores, fleas, matting, and bad odors. Because of this, you need to be mindful of the frequency of your dog’s bathing time.
When bathing your Teacup Poodle, use veterinarian-approved dog shampoo with natural fragrances, like aloe, lavender, or citrus. Avoid artificial fragrances and dyes as they can irritate your dog’s skin and eyes.
Human baby shampoo is a decent alternative because it’s gentle and free from harsh and irritating ingredients. Regardless, it should be avoided as it lacks a dog-appropriate pH. It should only be used if dog shampoo isn’t available in your local stores.
Do Teacup Poodles Like to Cuddle?
Teacup Poodles are one of the most affectionate breeds in the world. They thrive in human companionship, so they rarely say no to cuddles and kisses.
Teacup Poodles that have been socialized from a young age are more likely to enjoy cuddling and playing with their owners.
That said, it isn’t uncommon to encounter Teacup Poodles that refuse to cuddle. To them, the idea of being held close elicits feelings of anxiety and discomfort. These Poodles might not have been socialized when young or experienced a traumatic event that made them distrust humans.
If your Teacup Poodle shows signs of displeasure when being cuddled (i.e., growling, barking, trying to escape, or biting), don’t force them to cooperate. This will further instill an aversion to cuddling.
Instead, gently persuade them to cuddle by luring them into your lap with treats. Eventually, they’ll associate you with a positive presence and approach you of their own volition.
You might like to read our post, Does your Poodle love you? It’s Science!
Are Teacup Poodles Clingy?
Small breeds tend to be clingier than larger breeds, and Teacup Poodles aren’t an exception. However, it’s important to recognize signs of unhealthy attachment as it’s one of the most common symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs.
When a dog is hyper-attached to his owners, he becomes extremely upset when they’re not around. He’ll display destructive behaviors such as chewing, digging, toileting (peeing or pooping), howling, and escaping. This behavior is not only burdensome but potentially dangerous to the pup’s mental and physical health.
Teacup Poodles are entirely dependent on their owners, so they’re more prone to separation anxiety than other Poodles. Therefore, Teacup Poodles should be trained to be alone when young. Separation anxiety in older dogs can be difficult to treat without professional help.
Are Teacup Poodles Aggressive?
Unlike Standard Poodles, Teacup Poodles don’t have a high prey drive. Thus, they aren’t known to be aggressive. Yet, they can develop anxiety that may lead to fear based aggression. They can also be protective of their owners and attack when threatened.
Are Teacup Poodles Good for First-Time Owners?
Teacup Poodles are a wonderful breed for first-time owners. They’re highly intelligent and receptive, adept at learning new commands and tricks. They’re tiny, too, meaning they use and cost less than Standard Poodles.
In addition, Teacup Poodles only require 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day. Take them out in the garden to play fetch and they’ll be happy puppies.
That being said, Teacup Poodles require lots of owner input to take care of properly. First-time owners should educate themselves on the basic needs and care of these dogs to avoid potentially critical mistakes.
Is It Hard to Train a Teacup Poodle?
Poodles, whether Standard, Miniature, Toy, or Teacup, are among the easiest dog breeds to train. Poodles rank second among the smartest dog breeds in the world after the Border Collie, so they have high trainability.
Do Teacup Poodles Bite?
Teacup Poodles develop biting habits at a young age. They bite when they play and nip at their owners’ feet when being walked. This is entirely normal for young pups.
Nevertheless, owners shouldn’t encourage this behavior as it can grow into a dangerous habit. You’ll want to stop your Teacup Poodle from biting as soon as possible. The longer the behavior persists, the harder it’ll be to undo.
Teacup Poodles bite for a variety of reasons. This includes:
- Seeking for attention
- Teething
- Lack of exercise
- Fear
- Over stimulation
With proper training, you can eliminate a Poodle’s urge to bite. You can either enroll them in a puppy-training program or spend a few hours a day training your dog out of the habit. Teacup Poodles are easy to train, so you shouldn’t have many issues while doing so.
You might like to read our post, Puppy Biting: When does it stop?
Do Teacup Poodles Have Separation Anxiety?
According to studies, smaller breeds are more prone to separation anxiety than other larger breeds. Teacup Poodles are known to suffer from this condition because of their dependent and affectionate nature. This can lead to problem behaviors such as excessive barking, biting, destructive chewing, digging, and toileting.
Symptoms of separation anxiety in Teacup Poodles include:
- Poor digestion (frequent bathroom trips, loose stools, constipation, vomiting)
- Shaking
- Panting
- Freezing in place
- Hiding
- Frequent vocalizations
- Hypervigilance
- Drooling
- Unusual posturing (cowering, shifting weight forward, crawling, avoiding eye contact)
For many people, staying with their dog 24/7 simply isn’t possible. Therefore, puppies ought to be trained in how to be alone from a month old to prevent the development of separation anxiety. Just 10 minutes of practice a day goes a long way.
Is a Teacup Poodle Smart?
Teacup Poodles are incredibly intelligent. They’re bright, agile, and eager to please, so training poses little to no issues at any age.
Here are some other posts you might like to read about poodles:
Poodle Puppy Teething Stages: Timeline and Guide
Poodle Ear Care and Cleaning: (Complete Guide)
