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The word ‘teacup’ is used to describe the size of any puppy that will grow to weigh just 4 lbs or less as a full grown adult.

The word ‘toy’ is used to describe the size of any puppy that will grow to weigh just 7 lbs or less as a full grown adult.

No, there isn’t. Teacup puppies do exist. This claim likely stems from the fact that a teacup puppy’s weight will typically fall below the AKC’s standards for most toy breed dogs. However, just because a dog is too small to meet the show breed standards of a particular kennel club, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist! The Maltipoo isn’t recognized by the AKC either, but it surely exists! Remember, the word “teacup” is merely a term used to describe the size of a very small dog… and dogs weighing just 4 lbs or less do exist.

No. In fact, one breed that is often requested in teacup size is the French Bulldog. Unfortunately, these do not exist. In our experience, no matter how tiny a French Bulldog is at 2 months of age, it will always grow to exceed the 4 lb maximum weight of a teacup dog. Teacup sized dogs typically exist in the following breeds: Biewer Terrier, Chihuahua, Maltese, Morkie, Pomeranian, Poodle, Shih Tzu (Imperial), and Yorkie. Of course, some of these are more commonly found than others. The Teacup Poodle, Pomeranian, Maltese, and Imperial Shih Tzu are all quite rare.

All vaccines are up to date in accordance with the vet recommended vaccination schedule. A puppy’s first year vaccinations are typically completed by 4 months of age. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the vaccination schedule is just a general guideline. No two puppies are exactly alike, and a puppy’s individual risk factors may affect their vaccination schedule. Always discuss your puppy’s shots with a veterinarian during your regularly scheduled appointments.

Here is a generally accepted guideline of the puppy vaccination schedule for the first year:

6-8 weeks of age: 1st round of DHPP

9-11 weeks of age: 2nd round of DHPP + Bordatella

12-14 weeks of age: 3rd round of DHPP

12-16 weeks of age: Rabies

This is a very common misconception, but the answer is NO. Not all teacup sized puppies are sickly and unhealthy. They do, however, require a bit more care than larger breed puppies. Due to their tiny size and delicate nature, teacup puppies are very similar to newborn babies in the way that their immune systems are not yet fully developed. For this reason, they should be handled with extreme caution for the first few months of life – especially until all vaccines have been completed. It is more difficult for a teacup sized puppy to fight off a cold than it is for a larger dog – just as it is more difficult for a human baby to fight off a cold than it is for an adult. Public dog parks and exposure to heavily populated areas should be avoided at all costs at least until the last vaccine (Rabies) has been given. Parasites are easily transmitted through contaminated soil, and viruses may be spread from one dog to another. Within a few months’ time, their immune system grows stronger, and they’re just as healthy as any other dog. It is also crucial for a teacup sized puppy to eat every few hours, as their bellies are much smaller and, as a result, hold less food. Inadequate nutrition may lead to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), which can be fatal if left untreated. Hypoglycemia is easily avoidable, and each customer will receive information on the prevention and treatment of this condition during orientation. The health of our puppies is of the utmost importance. Here at the boutique, our in-house veterinary technician performs regular fecal examinations and ensures that each and every puppy is happy, healthy, eating properly, and up to date on vaccinations. In addition, a licensed veterinarian visits our boutique every Friday afternoon to perform full health examinations of our puppies. Every puppy will leave our care with an official health certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian.

We guarantee the health of our puppies for one year after the purchase date. This guarantee protects against any hereditary or congenital defects that were undisclosed or unknown at the time of purchase. In addition to hereditary and congenital defects, we also guarantee that our puppies are free of illness and any contagious or infectious diseases, including distemper and canine parvovirus, for 14 days after the purchase date. All of our puppies are up to date on vaccines and tested for parasites on a weekly basis. Each puppy comes with an official health certificate signed by a licensed veterinarian, ensuring that their heart, lungs, eyes, ears, and joints (among other things) were examined and free of disease or defect. 

Our puppies vary in age, but they must be at least 8 weeks old before they can go home. Ideally, a puppy spends the first 8 weeks of life being nursed by its mother and is ready to go when its teeth have come in and he or she is able to eat on their own.  It is not unusual for a teacup puppy to arrive a few weeks (or even months) later than the typical 8 week mark, as they’re still much too tiny and most breeders won’t release them until they’re sturdy and eating well enough on their own.

The average lifespan of a teacup or toy puppy is 10 – 15 years. In fact, the oldest dog to ever visit our boutique was a 21 year old teacup sized Poodle.

Probably not. Teacup puppies are extremely tiny and delicate. The consequences of a fall, or being accidentally stepped on, are all too often fatal. In addition to physical harm, being in a home with particularly rowdy children may also cause the puppy to stress, which can be detrimental to its health. Stressful situations may cause digestive issues, upset stomachs, loss of appetite, and even hypoglycemia – which can be fatal.

However… every situation is different, and it would be entirely dependent upon the particular puppy and the child(ren) in question.

Each puppy is individually priced according to breed, size, desirable traits, and pedigree. Our toy sized puppies typically range from $795 and up, while teacup sized puppies range anywhere from $1,095 to as much as $6,000 or more. If you are interested in a particular puppy, and you’re local to the South Florida area, please visit our boutique for pricing information. If you aren’t local to the South Florida area, email info@dianaspethome.com for pricing information.

All of our puppies come from our home. Where raise them in a family set up together with our children and other pets so the are well behaved and socialized.