Teacup Pugs What You Need to Know About This Small Breed

What are teacup Pugs and are there anything you should know about them? Pugs are extremely adorable and these miniature pets are extremely adorable. I’ve decided to find out everything you need to know about this small breed to help you with your decision.

This miniature breed is not recognized by the American Kennel Club. ‘Teacup’ is the term that is referred to as the size of the dog. Meaning that Fido can fit in your tea-cup. Due to their small size, they are more prone to health complications than regular sized Pugs.

What Are Teacup Pugs?

There are breeders who breed these small dogs because they know that their small size is appealing to pet owners.

It’s not hard to find plenty of adverts for teacup Pug puppies for sale and pictures of them online. Most of the pictures will be of a dog sitting in a teacup to show you the actual size of the dog.

These small canines exist because pet owners are willing to pay for these small dogs.

Here’s one that I found just by spending a few minutes browsing online.

teacup pug

Image Source Flickr

This is an all black Pug with some mismarks. Teacups can be found in several different colors.

While these mini Pug puppies look adorable, there’s a lot you need to know about them as a prospective pet owner. I’ll share more on that in a bit, but first, let’s take a look at the other smaller version of this breed known as “The Chug.”

The Chug (aka miniature dog) is a cross between a Chihuahua and a Pug. The crossbreeding results in a dog that resembles a Pug but with a slightly longer snout.

chug

You can automatically tell that this dog is not a purebred. They resemble a Pug and the Chihuahua, which is how this designer dog is bred.

Teacup Vs The Chug

Both of these pooches are smaller than the average dog and both breeds are not recognized by the ACK, KC(the Kennel Club) and other major dog breed clubs.

It’s important to NOT confuse the miniature Pug with the teacup, which is easy to do. However, there is what you need to know to help you understand the difference.

The Chug

A cross between a Chihuahua

Referenced to as Pughuahua or a Chugg

The full-grown adult will weigh 3 – 10 pounds

Prone to multiple health issues

Life expectancy of 10-13 years

The Teacup

A hybrid between a teacup Chihuahua

Referenced to as a Teacup or Dwarfism

The full-grown adult will weight 2-5 pounds

Prone to multiple health issues

Life expectancy of 6 – 10 years

As you can see, there is quite a difference in these breeds. Both are small and adorable and today, we’re just going to be looking at the teacup version.

Related: Pug Chihuahua Mix What You Need to Know About This Dog

Physical Appearance of This Small Dog

Now let’s take a look at how this small pooch compares to their average sized cousin. They fall into the brachycephalic category, which means that they have a “shortened head” which can lead to several health issues. (we’ll discuss the health issues later on)

What Do Teacup Pugs Look Like?

Watch this video to see how cute these puppies are. It will make you want one, but make sure that you keep reading to find out what type of health issues these tiny dogs can have.

Coat Colors

  • Black
  • Fawn
  • White
  • Silver
  • Brindle

Some of the most common colors on these small dogs include black and fawn, which is a light (greyish) brown. Just like their cousins, they have a double-layered coat, which means that this small pooch sheds a lot.

You’ll want to make sure that you are brushing them on a regular basis to try to control the shedding issue and maintain a clean, sleek coat.

Yup, these small canines are still heavily wrinkled. You’ll need to make sure that you’re cleaning the wrinkles on a regular basis to prevent infections.

Appearance

When you see a small dog like this, you’ll notice that they are small in stature, but have the same compact, muscular, square frame as the average Pug.

They have the large round head, big dark eyes with a wrinkled brow. A full-grown adult will weigh no more than 5 pounds and will fit comfortably inside of a teacup.

Their weight classification is less than the Toy group of dogs. Unfortunately, these canines are in high demand and this is what causes breeders to breed these pups and charge insanely high prices.

Just like the full-grown breed, these small dogs have the common black face masks, velvety soft ears, short black muzzles and the small teeth that produce the common under bite trait they are known for.

Temperament

This small pooch has a happy-go-lucky attitude. Pet owners will love the loyal, loving and affectionate attitude they display.

What you will not like is the strong mind they possess which can make them challenging to train. However, with consistent training and patience, you can teach them to behave properly.

It’s best to use positive reinforcement training, to get the best results. Pugs are sensitive to the tone of your voice and want to please their owners.

These dogs get along well with cats, dogs, adults, humans, and babies. They love attention and it won’t be long before you have your own personal shadow following you around the house.

Excessive Barking

Unfortunately, this pooch tends to love the sound of their own voice and barks a little too much. Maybe, it’s because they are bred with a teacup Chihuahua?

It’s best to start training your Pug’s desire to bark while they are still puppies. Don’t worry, it’s easy to train your pooch to not bark so much.

We trained Mindy our black Pug to stop barking so much. Eventually, instead of barking, she would make a dove sound to let us know about something or if she got too excited.

Just know that when a dog barks, it’s usually because they want to get your attention. So be sure that you understand your pet’s language before you train them to stop barking.

Adaptability

This dog will be happy living in an apartment in town or a house out in the country. Their small stature makes it easy to provide them a loving environment regardless of where you love.

Just make sure that you’re giving them the proper amount of exercise. Like their full-grown cousins, they require at least 30 minutes of daily exercise.

You won’t be able to take them on long 2 mile walks, but you can take them for short walks. Make sure you have the proper harness to keep them from running off and getting hurt.

Health Issues of The Teacup

This tiny package comes with their own health issues that every pet owner should understand. They are classified as a brachycephalic breed, which means that they are going to struggle with certain health issues.

Since they are crossbred with teacup Chihuahuas, they can inherit the health issues that affect Chihuahuas.

Hopefully, you’re aware that this breed has common health issues. When you start cross-breeding these pooches, there are even more issues they can face.

As a pet owner, it’s important to know what type of health issues these dogs can face. You’ll also want to make sure that you have pet insurance because you’re going to be making quite a bit vet visits.

Brachycephaly in Micro Pugs

The common characteristics of this breed, short muzzles, bulging eyes, and wrinkled skin is are the conditions that are associated with brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome. (respiratory problems)

Other health issues that will plague one of these micro breeds are:

  • Collapsing trachea seizures
  • Respiratory problems
  • Digestive problems
  • Blindness
  • Heart defects

This type of breeding can also lead to congenital birth defects that affect the liver’s ability to flush out toxins. Treatment for this condition can cost up to $6,000, so you’ll definitely want to invest in Pug pet insurance.

Patella Luxation

This condition accounts for 75% to 80% of orthopedic conditions that affect micro dogs. Patella Luxation is a condition when the dog’s knee cap slides when they walk. The patella (kneecap) is dislocated and causes that sliding movement.

This condition is also known as the “sliding kneecap” and can affect your pooches ability to walk. If your dog does suffer from this condition, you will notice that Fido will hold up their legs for a few minutes between each step.

When a canine suffers from this condition, they are more prone to arthritis.

Dental Problems

Little dogs have small mouths and unfortunately, this breed is predisposed to developing dental and gum issues.

Their baby teeth don’t always fall out on their own and it can cause their teeth to crowd together.

You’ll want to avoid feeding them sweets and clean their teeth on a daily basis to prevent dental issues.

Regular dental checkups can help catch any problems before they become too serious.

Pug Myelopathy

This is a neurological deficit that develops in the spine and is unique to Pugs. Pug Myelopathy is also referred to as “Weak Spine,” and affects the rear limbs of your pet.

The widespread problem can cause your pet’s rear legs to become weak, that will cause them to drag their feet, stagger or have trouble jumping. This condition usually affects the rear limbs.

Another condition that can affect your Pug is called Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), which has similar initial signs as Pug Myelopathy.

However, DM will eventually progress and lead to complete paralysis and death.

Both conditions occur due to spinal abnormalities that involve both the vertebral bones and compression of the spinal cord.

Brittle Bones

Due to their small size, they are extremely fragile and especially prone to bone fractures. They have small bones and teacups are known to suffer from osteoporosis, due to breeders stunting their growth.

This disease is caused by a deficiency of vitamin D or calcium, which results in brittle bones.

If they fall off your couch or bed, it can cause a fracture.

The best way to avoid fractures is to never leave them unattended when they are on the furniture or something they can fall off of.

Incontinence

Because of their small size and teeny bladders, your pooch will need more bathroom breaks. If your micro pooch becomes stressed, it can lead to incontinence or other types of anxiety.

Some of the signs that your dog may be suffering from this condition are skin redness or a rash on their body. You may also start noticing them licking excessively.

Set a timer to ensure that you’re giving Fido enough bathroom breaks. You may also want to consider house training them with a dog litter box or a turf potty patch to allow them to use the bathroom indoors.

Hypoglycemia

This dog must be fed throughout the day to avoid low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can cause seizures and can cause your dog to fall into a coma if it is not treated.

This condition is extremely common on small toy breeds like the Chihuahua.

Some symptoms to watch for if your furbaby is suffering from this condition are:

  • Seizures
  • Becoming very sleepy
  • Acting weak
  • Head tilted to one side
  • A wobbly “drunk” gait
  • Disorientation
  • Shivering, trembling, twitching, or shaking
  • Extreme unconsciousness that can’t be interrupted

The best way to prevent hypoglycemia is to ensure that you’re feeding your puppy on a regular basis. Micro dogs have trouble eating enough food in one sitting.

You’ll need to feed them several meals throughout the day to keep their blood sugar at a normal level.

The Lifespan of the Teacup Pug

As you can see, this breed is prone to several health conditions. The life expectancy for an average Pug is about 12-15 years. Teacup pugs, on the other hand, can live up to 6 years.

Of course, the lifespan of your pup will depend on how they were bred. Unfortunately, most of these dogs don’t reach 6 years of age.

Are they A Good Pet for First Time Pet Owners?

Now that you know about these dwarf pooches, you might be wondering are they are a good pet for a first-time pet owner?

Personally, I wouldn’t get one because of the size of the dog. Yes, they are cute and adorable and everyone loves small things.

However, there are a number of issues you need to address before you bring one home. Let’s take a look at what you need should consider before getting one:

  • Do you have the money to take them to the vet? There’s a good chance that they’ll need to go to the vet on several occasions.
  • Small children under 8 years of age, may not be a good fit.
  • Time to spend with them? This dog will require more attention than a regular dog.

If you’re looking for a family pet that everyone can love without fear of breaking, this isn’t the right dog for you. You’ll be much better off searching for a larger canine companion, that can live a happy and healthy life without worrying about hundreds of vet visits.

How do Do You Get A Mini Pug?

If you’ve read all this and are still wondering where you can get one, well it’s not hard. Go to Google and type in “where to get teacup Pugs” and you’ll find several breeders that sell these cute dogs.

You’ll need to be prepared to pay between $300 – $4,000 depending on where you buy them.

Make sure that you do your due diligence to find the best breeders that actually care for the pups.

Related Questions

What Do Teacup Pugs Eat? Teacup puppies should be fed a diet that is rich in fiber. Look for the best foods that contain ingredients like veggies, omega 3 fatty acids, eggs, fruits, and chicken. Make sure that the food you purchase contains Karo syrup, an ingredient that can help prevent low blood sugar.

References and Further Reading

 

Black Pug Site