Canines Perfect for Tiny Dog Lovers

If you want a puppy but don’t want them to grow up into a big dog that takes over your home, you can get a forever puppy by adopting a micro dog! Teacup breeds are extremely popular as they stay very small for their whole lives, some never getting bigger than 5 or so pounds.

Here are our top teacup breeds!

Shih Tzu

• Height – 9 Inches
• Weight – 9 pounds or under
• Life Expectancy – 10-16 years

You may think of divas when you think of Shih Tzus. However, they are extremely athletic making them top choices for agility training. They have muscular bodies under their long, soft hair and they are actually closely related to wolves. However, their flat faces can make them more susceptible to breathing issues and overheating.

Chihuahua

• Height – 5 Inches
• Weight – 6 pounds or under
• Life Expectancy – 15-20 years

Besides being known as the ultimate purse dog, Chihuahuas make great family pets for small dog lovers. They need proper training and socialization as they have a tendency to get fearful or defensive around strangers.

Yorkshire Terrier

• Height – 7 Inches
• Weight – 7 pounds or under
• Life Expectancy – 7-9 years (teacup) or 13-16 years (toy)

Yorkies were already popular before their teacup counterpart rose in popularity. They can weigh as little as 2 pounds but don’t be fooled as these dogs tend to have big personalities. They can be vocal, protective, and confident as well as loyal and loving to their families.

Maltese

• Height – 7 Inches
• Weight – 7 pounds or under
• Life Expectancy – 12-15 years

The Maltese are one of the world’s oldest dog breeds as they originated over 3,000 years ago. They can weigh as little as 2 pounds and because of their low energy levels, they make great cuddle buddies for families.

Beagle

• Height – 15 Inches
• Weight – 20 pounds or under
• Life Expectancy – 12-15 years

For tiny dog lovers who want a big tiny dog, a beagle is a great choice. They are extremely friendly and have lots of energy. They can be stubborn when it comes to obedience training but they respond well when you make training fun with treats and games.

Poodle

• Height – 10 Inches
• Weight – 6 pounds or under
• Life Expectancy – 8-15 years

Poodles are great dogs known for their intelligence, athleticism, and sociability, making them fantastic family dogs. Standard poodles can weigh up to 70 pounds but the toy poodle weighs much less at as little as 4 pounds. They are low shedders due to their curly hair.

Pomeranian

• Height – 7 Inches
• Weight – 7 pounds or under
• Life Expectancy – 12-16 years

Early Pomeranians weighed as much as 30 pounds and were bred to be working dogs, meant to herd animals and pull sleds. Now, they have gotten much smaller and these little lapdogs are perfect for tiny dog lovers.

When looking for small dogs, avoid teacup breeds as they have a much higher chance of having health issues that cause them to perish before making it to adolescence. Toy breeds have a much higher likelihood of being healthy and you will be able to love them for longer.