Teacup French Bulldog – The Truth About This Mini Breed.

Teacup French Bulldogs are all the rage due to their cute squished faces and tiny size that is so small they could fit into a designer purse. While it may seem advantageous to own such a small dog that can be taken anywhere and doesn’t consume large quantities of food, Teacup Frenchies are predisposed to many health issues and have undesirable traits due to their tiny size.

If you are interested in Teacup French Bulldogs keep reading this guide to find out the answers to all your questions about this tiny breed.

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Can You Get A Miniature French Bulldog?

Yes, you can get a Miniature French Bulldog. There are many names for Miniature Frenchies such as Teacup French Bulldogs, Toy French Bulldogs, Mini French Bulldogs, Miniature French Bulldogs, Micro French Bulldogs and more. While you can get a Miniature Frenchie, there are many concerns surrounding their health and how ethical it is to miniaturise French Bulldogs which we go into depth about in this article.

What Is The Smallest French Bulldog?

The Frenchies that stay small are either Micro Frenchies, Teacup Frenchies, Toy Frenchies or Mini Frenchies. They have been bred to stay small through selective breeding.

While some argue that the Micro French Bulldog is the smallest French Bulldog, Micro, Teacup, Toy and Mini French Bulldogs are actually all the smallest French Bulldogs as they are all the same size.

What Is A Teacup French Bulldog?

Teacup French Bulldogs are the smallest Frenchie size however they are an unofficial size. They originate from a cross between two French Bulldogs that are on the lower end of the normal size range. These are usually the runts of two unrelated French Bulldog litters and breeders mate them to create smaller and smaller sized Frenchie puppies until they consistently get the teacup size.

Alternatively, breeders take two French Bulldogs that suffer from chondrodystrophy, a type of dwarfism, and breed them together to create a Teacup Frenchie. Chondrodystrophy causes the French Bulldogs to have narrow pelvises and oversized heads. Another method is to cross another smaller dog breed into the lineage however these Frenchies are not purebred dogs.

As it is an unofficial French Bulldog size, there are many different names breeders give the smallest size of Frenchie. Some breeders call them “Micro French Bulldogs” while others call them “Teacup French Bulldogs”, “Toy French Bulldogs” or “Miniature French Bulldogs”. These are all the same size dog. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and other kennel clubs do not recognize Teacup French Bulldogs as there are concerns surroundings the ethics of breeding dogs this small.

Overall, the breeding practice is unnatural and many breeders do it to have a marketing edge. Often, the French Bulldogs that are selected for breedings are smaller than normal because of a medical condition or a birth defect, leading to further health risks with each successive generation.

The Appeal Of Teacup French Bulldogs

Besides Teacup French Bulldogs being extremely cute there are a lot of perceived advantages of owning a Teacup dog. Some reasons include:

Teacup Frenchies require less exercise as they have lower energy levels than the larger sizes of the breed.
Teacup French Bulldogs take up less space so they are highly suited to apartment living.
Teacup French Bulldogs eat less as they are so small which can keep yearly costs down.
Teacup Frenchies shed less hair than the average French Bulldog due to their smaller size.

The Disadvantages Of Teacup French Bulldogs

In more cases than not the disadvantages of owning a Teacup Frenchie outweigh the advantages. This is because:

Teacup French Bulldogs are at a high risk of developing serious health issues.
Teacup Frenchies have more vet bills over their lives compared to the average dog.
Teacup French Bulldogs can easily get hurt as they are so fragile.
Teacup Frenchies can not socialize with larger dogs as they are so fragile and are usually also quite fearful.
Teacup Frenchies are more expensive than larger sizes of French Bulldog.
Teacup French Bulldogs are not suited to families with children as they can accidentally get hurt.

Are Teacup French Bulldogs Healthy?

Teacup French Bulldogs, along with other Teacup breeds, are not very healthy due to their extremely tiny size. They can suffer from health issues such as poor bone density, heart defects, heart murmurs, dental & gum problems, liver shunts, kidney problems, hypoglycaemia, patella luxation, hip dysplasia, hydrocephalus and seizures etc. They are also very likely to suffer from bone fractures as they have low bone density. Teacup Frenchies also suffer from poor heat regulation and are more susceptible to heatstroke.

Teacup French Bulldog Characteristics

Teacup Frenchie Characteristics
Height	Under 11 inches (27.9cm).
Weight	14 and 22 pounds (6.4kg to 10.0kg).
Temperament	Affectionate, playful and friendly.
Activity Levels	Low.
Exercise Requirements	30 to 60 min per day.
Lifespan	8 to 10 years.
Coat	Single coat.
Eyes	Brown or black.
Shedding	Low.
Apartment Adaptability	Can live in an apartment if given enough exercise daily.
Good with Children	Yes.

Teacup French Bulldog Temperament

Teacup French Bulldogs are super affectionate and friendly, making them a great companion dog. While they are so friendly, they are not a great match for families with children as Teacup Frenchies are quite fragile due to their small size. They are also a good breed for apartment living due to their small size and low energy and exercise requirements.

Teacup French Bulldog Size

How Big Do Teacup French Bulldogs Get?

A Teacup French Bulldog gets to a height just under 11 inches (27.9cm) at the shoulder and weighs between 14 and 22 pounds (6.4kg to 10.0kg) when fully grown. As it is an unofficial size, some Teacup French Bulldogs are taller or shorter than this range and/or may be heavier or lighter. They are the same size as Micro French Bulldogs, Toy French Bulldogs and Mini French Bulldogs.

Teacup French Bulldog Lifespan

How Long Do Teacup French Bulldogs Live?

Teacup French Bulldogs have a lifespan of 8 to 10 years. Their lifespan is shorter than a Standard French Bulldog as they are more susceptible to health issues due to their tiny size.

Teacup French Bulldog Price

Teacup French Bulldogs sell for prices between $3000USD and $10000USD, making them one of the most expensive dog breeds on the market. There are many factors that influence the cost of a Teacup Frenchie however coat color generally has the greatest effect. Rare coat colors such as merle are significantly more expensive than common coat colors.

Where To Buy A Teacup French Bulldog

Hardly any breeders sell Teacup French Bulldogs or Mini French Bulldog puppies and if they do, they are likely to be an irresponsible breeder or puppy mill. It is a better idea to get a standard-sized French Bulldog as they are generally healthier and will live longer.

If you are looking for a French Bulldog breeder, consider PuppySpot where you can use our discount code for $300 dollars off any dog! Check out the adorable Goldendoodle puppies that are currently available here!

PuppySpot is a dog adoption website that connects breeders with prospective pet owners. They have a zero tolerance policy for puppy mills which is why they screen every breeder annually! They have placed over 200,000 puppies in homes and offer various trusted, USDA-certified transportation options to deliver your puppy to your home safely! You won’t regret having a look at their Frenchie puppies here as they are so cute!

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Teacup French Bulldog Colors

The most common colors for Teacup French bulldogs are brindle, cream, fawn and white. They can either have solid coats of these colors or have patches of them. Rare colors include blue, lilac and merle. These colors are already hard to find for standard Frenchies so you are even less likely to find them for Teacup French Bulldogs.

Blue Teacup French Bulldog

Blue Teacup French Bulldogs have a blue-tinged gray coat. Their coat can also be described as a silver color. Many blue french bulldogs have a white patch on their chest and either light grey or pale pink in their ears. They often have blue or green eyes. You can read our full guide on Blue French Bulldogs here.

Cream Teacup French Bulldog

Cream Teacup French Bulldogs feature an off-white coat that can range from an almost white color to a rich yellow. Cream Frenchies usually have pink inside their ears and have light brown noses. Their eyes are usually dark brown or a greyish-brown color.

Fawn Teacup French Bulldog

Fawn Teacup French Bulldogs have a coat that can range from light yellowish tan to a dark tan color. Their muzzle’s usually feature a darker brownish-grey and this coloring may extend above their eyes giving them the appearance of eye browns. Many Fawn Teacup French Bulldogs have blue eyes however others have grey or green eyes. The insides of their ears are usually a pale pink and their noses are the small color as the fur on their muzzle.

Brindle Teacup French Bulldog

Brindle Teacup French Bulldogs have a tiger striped coat that usually features tan and black. Usually the base of their coat is tan and there are faint black stripes over it. The stripes are quite subtle and blend into each other so they sometimes look like a dark brown dog.

Lilac Teacup French Bulldog

Lilac Teacup French Bulldogs have a pale greyish brown coat. They have blue, light grey or amber coloured eyes and a pink tint on their muzzle. The lilac coat color is a result of a mutation in the MLPH gene codes for a protein called melanophilin that results in a dilution of color. You can read our full guide on Lilac Frenchies here.

Merle Teacup French Bulldog

A Merle Teacup French Bulldog carries the merle gene which dilutes certain sections of their coat resulting in mottled patches of different colours and patterns. It also affects eye colour and skin pigmentation on the nose and paws. The most common merle coat colors are Blue Merle or Red Merle.

brindle teacup french bulldog — Brindle Teacup French Bulldog via @my_frenchie_coco

Teacup French Bulldog Names

Teacup French Bulldog Boy Names	Teacup French Bulldog Girl Names
Bruno	Gigi
Gus	Rubes
Kobe	Daisy
Ollie	Chloe
Rocco	Bella
Charlie	Zoe
Blu	Penelope
Thor	Frankie
Gizmo	Piper
Simba	Phoebe

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting A Teacup Frenchie

Owning a Teacup breed comes with a lot of responsibility. Before getting one ask yourself some of these questions:

Can you take care of a Teacup Frenchie?
Is everyone in the family on board and ready to welcome a tiny dog breed into the house?
Are your children responsible and old enough to live with a Teacup breed?
Can you afford the medical bills if your Teacup Frenchie becomes sick?
Do you have the flexibility to work from home and spend time observing your dog for health problems?

How To Find A Responsible Breeder

While a lot of breeders produce Teacup French Bulldogs unethically, some breeders do take the necessary steps to ensure that they are producing litters that are as healthy as possible. Here are some steps you can take before buying a Frenchie from a breeder:

Check their credibility. Go to the breeder’s social media or website and read as many reviews that you can. This will help you establish whether they are credible or not.
Ask to meet the litter before purchasing. While the breeder may provide photos and videos of their past litters on their social media accounts or website, you never know if they are real. It is a good idea to go meet the litter before you buy the dog to check out their health and wellbeing.
Assess the breeder’s responsiveness. It’s unrealistic for a breeder to respond to your queries within a few minutes of asking but they should get back to you in a reasonable time about your questions.

Be wary of breeders that:

Pressure you to make a decision about purchasing immediately.
Do no allow you to visit the puppies, pick them up in person or have a video call if you can’t personally pick up the dog.
Repeatedly suggest that you and their Teacup French Bulldog are a perfect match.