Pomeranians have been one of the nation’s favorite breeds for decades. Fluffy, loyal, and cute, the Pomeranian looks just like a teddy bear and is suitable for apartment living and smaller homes, making them appeal to a wider number of people. Recently, however, owners have started to seek an even tinier version of this already toy-sized pup – introducing the Teacup Pomeranian.
The Teacup Pomeranian is a breed surrounded by much controversy, with people dubious of the breeding practices and related health issues. They’re not a registered breed with the American Kennel Club who does not endorse the Teacup breeding – period. However, this doesn’t mean they’re not a highly sought-after and popular pup.
In this feature, we’re going to look into all the aspects of the Teacup Pomeranian, including ancestry, breed information, and what you can expect if you’re to bring a pocket-sized Pom into your home.
What is a Teacup Pomeranian?
The Teacup Pomeranian is the smallest Pomeranian you can buy. They’re small, adorable, cute, and fluffy, and regardless of your feelings on their size, they have increased in popularity significantly over the last ten years. You should expect to pay a large sum of money to adopt one of these pups, but to balance – general upkeep is relatively inexpensive.
The Pomeranian is part of the Spitz family, and the delicate breeds actually came from large, Icelandic sledding dogs. Poms grew in popularity in the 1600s, when they became the dog of choice for members of the Royal Family.
There is no exact way of breeding a Teacup Pomeranian. This is an important consideration for anyone looking to buy a Teacup Pom.
If you do find a breeder who only produces Teacup Pomeranians, then they could be breeding crossbreeds or substandard dogs – possibly breeding runts with runts or small sickly dogs with other small sickly dogs. And, this is why the American Kennel Club does not endorse them.
Another thing to look out for is online puppy scams. It can be all too easy to see a tiny puppy online, believe it to be a Teacup, and go to purchase him straight away only to find out a year later you have yourself a standard-sized breed. As with any puppy hunt, ensure you see Mama dog, the living situation and ask plenty of questions – responsible breeders will expect this.
The Teacup Pom shares many traits with the slightly larger Pomeranian; they have larger-than-life personalities and are brave, strong-willed, and very playful. They’re happy to live a mostly indoor life, but if not properly trained, it can be challenging to assert dominance with these pint-sized warriors!
They’re very sociable dogs and love people, not so much other dogs, so early socialization is key. The Teacup Pomeranian requires regular grooming, with particular attention paid to the eyes, which should be cleaned daily.
Teacup Pomeranian Quick Facts
Average Height:
Male: 8-10” (20.32cm – 25.4cm)
Female: 6-8” (15.24cm – 20.32cm)
Average Weight:
Male: 2.5 – 3lbs (1.13kg – 1.36kg)
Female: 2.0 – 2.8lbs (0.90kg – 1.27kg)
Average lifespan: 12 – 15 years
Origin: Germany, England, and The Arctic Region
Alternative names:
Pocket Pomeranian
Miniature Pomeranian
Teddy Bear Pomeranian
Mini Pomeranian
Toy Pomeranian
Dwarf Spitz
Teacup Pomeranian Characteristics
- Alert
- Playful
- Feisty
- Intelligent
- Jealous / Territorial
- Courageous
- Loyal
- Affectionate
Where is the Teacup Pomeranian From?
Many people believe that the Teacup Pomeranian originates from Pomerania, but this is, in fact, not true. However, Pomerania is the place they became household pets. Before this, the much larger Spitz-type dog was a working dog entirely and certainly not a lap dog.
Teacup Pomeranian Physical Appearance
The Teacup Pomeranian, for all intents and purposes, looks like a shrunk-down version of the Pomeranian. They are a compact, short-backed, active toy dog of Nordic descent, with a heavily plumed tail being one of the main characteristics of the breed.
Poms have a double coat which consists of a dense undercoat and harsh-textured, longer outer coat. Their coats require intense grooming, including brushing around three times a week or more with a specialized detangle brush to prevent matting.
They have an expression that may be referred to as fox-like, denoting the intelligent and alert nature of the breed. Their eyes are almond-shaped and set well into the skull. Eyes should be brown or black/brown with black rims. The Teacup Poms ears should be carried erect, mounted high, and of small size. They have a short, straight muzzle, free of lippiness, with a black nose.
Teacup Poms can come in a variety of colors, including; black, merle, chocolate, cream, sable, orange, white and red.
Teacup Pomeranian Exercise and Training
No dog is comfortable or happy inside a handbag, and dogs treated as though they’re an accessory are going to be far from a well-rounded, happy hound. The Teacup Pomeranian may be tiny in size, but he is still a dog, and all dogs require mental and physical exercise.
Teacup Poms won’t need the same amount of exercise as larger breeds, and this is why they’re so well suited to older people, people with limited mobility, or in busier households. Often, a Teacup Pomeranian will be happy with less than an hour per day (split how you like) leash walking. A medium-sized yard will be adequate to cater to the rest of their physical activity needs.
However, the Pom is a highly intelligent dog, and so mental stimulation is essential. Consider placing some outdoor activity toys in your yard or garden and lots of puzzle toys inside to keep his mind occupied.
Pomeranians are clever but also known for having pretty short attention spans, so keep this in mind when you’re undergoing a training session. Training should be fun and fast, with positive reinforcement the only successful way to train this highly-sensitive breed.
It can be easy to ignore training and spoil this tiny breed, but despite their miniature size, they still have the exact needs and instincts as any other dog and should be treated as such to live a fulfilled and happy life. If they aren’t given regular training and routine, they can quickly develop ‘small dog syndrome’ and become quite troublesome to handle.
Behavior correction is essential, or this pup will rule the roost. Don’t be inclined to ignore poor behavior or to consider growling and acting out as cute and hilarious – picture a Rottweiler yapping and growling at all it sees, you would be quick to correct this, and it should be the same for a Teacup Pom. They can still snap, bite and cause harm to another dog or person without preventative measures put in place from the very beginning.
Teacup Pomeranian Breed Health
Teacup dogs, just like other breeds, also suffer from health conditions. Some of these include:
Cryptorchidism: This is where one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum.
Luxating Patella: Kneecap dislocation caused by genetics or trauma.
Black Skin Disease: Canine alopecia often linked to genetics.
Tracheal Collapse: Congenital respiratory condition.
Fatal Injuries: Due to the fragile, delicate bones of the Teacup Pom, a simple fall from a couch could be disastrous.
Unfortunately, the Teacup Pomeranian can be plagued with health issues, and many will be down to unethical breeding practices. As well as deep-rooted health problems, the Teacup Pom is susceptible to sudden death due to trauma – it doesn’t take a great deal to injure a dog this small severely.
Teacup Pomeranian Ancestry
As the Teacup Pom is not a registered breed, it is difficult to determine its exact parentage. We do know that the Pomeranian is part of the genetic makeup, so we will focus on this breed here.
Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is the smallest member of the Spitz family of dogs, including the Norwegian Elkhound, Alaskan Malamute, and the Samoyed, among others. Furry, feisty, and cute, the Pomeranian is intelligent and very loyal to his family. However, don’t let the cuteness fool you as these are bold, independent dogs with minds of their own!
Pomeranians are curious and alert and often nicknamed ‘’the little dog who thinks he can’’. Poms are small, but they don’t often seem to realize this and will challenge larger dogs as well as their owner’s authority without adequate training. They tend to bark if left alone for long periods and can suffer from separation anxiety.
The Pomeranian is inclined to overeat and so will benefit from a planned diet with few tidbits or treats. Poms are notoriously difficult to house train, and so crate training is usually recommended.
Pomeranians are suited to the majority of owners, including the elderly and city dwellers. Often people buy Poms as dogs specifically for children due to their small size being manageable on leashes. Still, their size is the same thing that makes them vulnerable to the roughhousing children often do with dogs, so supervision is essential.
Summary of the Teacup Pomeranian
Getting a Teacup Pomeranian is something you should do with caution due to the online scammers and no real distinction for the breed. You may end up with a poor puppy or a puppy that isn’t going to result in a miniature breed. Always search for a responsible breeder or consider your local shelter, where pups and dogs should have some background information and be healthy prior to adoption.
Teacup Pomeranians are prone to more-than-average health problems, but if you’re lucky, then you could end up with a dog that has a longer-than-average lifespan. This is why breeder research is again essential.
Asserting dominance is crucial, or you will have a feisty pint-sized creature ruling the home and its occupants – as well as being a menace in the local park. Training sessions should be structured, short, and fun. Although the attention span is pretty short, the Teacup Pom is a clever guy, and so mental stimulation is important.
This is a breed that loves to be around people and can be a very loyal companion. It can be tempting not to treat this tiny fluff ball as an actual dog, but that will undoubtedly result in a stressed, anxious canine with a worn-out owner. Implement the same training and home restrictions as you would with any other breed to prevent behavioral issues.
The Teacup Pom may benefit from a special diet due to possible weight gain because of overeating. You could consider weight control dog food to help with this.
It is recommended to wipe a Teacup Poms eyes daily, brush him three times a week, bathe him around once a month, and clip his nails every six weeks. Pomeranians don’t shed as much as other breeds, but their shedding can be significant because of their double coat.
Forrest is a lover of dogs, the wild outdoors, deep mysterious conversations… and coffee. He is the owner of several websites, including Canine Weekly. He resides in Austin, Texas.