Teacup Chihuahuas
Teacup Chihuahuas are also known as miniature, mini, micro, toy or pocket Chihuahuas. Are they a different strain of chihuahua? Let’s find out.
Teacups have become very fashionable of late and can be seen peeking out of expensive handbags all over the world.
Teacup Chihuahuas – Is It A Scam?
The term ‘teacup chihuahua’ is largely an American name, coined by breeders.
- Only two types of chihuahua. There are, in fact only two types of chihuahua, the long-coat and smooth-coat, also referred to as short-hair. They vary considerably in size, height, weight and coloring, but despite these variations they are all considered to be Chihuahuas.
- Different shaped heads. Chihuahuas may have a deer head or an apple head, may be 2 pounds or 10 pounds and they are still a chihuahua.
- Selectively bred. The chihuahua is already the smallest dog in the world but some breeders have tried to push the envelope by trying to breed them ever smaller.
- Inflated price. Breeders have attempted to attach an air of rarity to extra small Chihuahuas so that they can push the price of the dog up.
Problems with Teacup Chihuahuas
Chihuahuas are so tiny to begin with that they have certain health issues. The smaller the dog, the more difficult these issues are to manage.
- Respiratory problems. Teacups have vulnerable chests and tracheas.
- Dehydration. Chihuahuas burn up energy fast, exposing them to the risk of dehydration.
- Fragility. Teacup Chihuahuas are very fragile and need to be handled with extreme care to avoid hurting them or accidentally stepping on them.
- Fashion accessory. Teacups are undeniably cute but must still be considered dogs. Some people might find this a difficult concept to grasp when confronted with a pint-sized canine that is more decorative than doglike.
- Obesity. The teacup chihuahua has specific dietary needs. It needs to be fed small, nutrient rich, frequent meals to maintain its high metabolism and prevent hypoglycemia, to which it is prone. The problem is that many people tend to over feed them. As they have a limited capacity for food this is not difficult to do.
- Low body temperature. Chihuahuas are too small to generate enough body heat to keep themselves warm. Obviously the smaller the dog, the more pronounced this will be.
- Questionable breeding. Purebred dogs tend to have more problems than their hardier non-pedigree counterparts that have a bigger gene pool to draw from. These problems are only exacerbated by unscrupulous breeders who breed for financial gain rather than for the love of the breed.
The Cuteness Factor
Chihuahuas, especially teacup Chihuahuas are actually the perfect size for modern apartment living.
- Conveniently sized. They don’t take up any space at all, so for people living in tiny apartments they are a great choice of dog.
- Take them anywhere. Chihuahuas are the ultimate portable dog.
- Endearing. It’s a hard heart indeed that is not melted by the sight of a tiny Chihuahua.
Teacup chihuahuas are not for everyone. They are surprisingly demanding, high maintenance dogs but once they have stolen your heart, you will be smitten.
ebook!!
Join our Newsletter today and get a FREE eBook (usually $29.99)
Learn how to stop Chihuahua obedience problems: Stop Aggression, Digging, Barking, Biting, Jumping and more. Join our newsletter now and claim your FREE eBook in seconds!