Teacup Goldendoodle Guide: The Truth About This Tiny Breed

Teacup Goldendoodles are all the rage at the moment due to their cute faces and size that is so small that they could fit into a designer handbag. While it may seem advantageous to own a pocket sized dog that you can take anywhere and doesn’t consume large quantities of food, Teacup Goldendoodles are predisposed to many health issues that can be debilitating.

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

Table of Contents

What Is A Teacup Goldendoodle?

The Teacup Goldendoodle is one of the smallest Goldendoodle sizes (with the exception of the Micro Goldendoodle that is an inch or two shorter). A Teacup Goldendoodle is usually a multigenerational breed created by breeding two very small Toy Goldendoodles together. They usually breed two Toy Goldendoodles runts to create an increasingly smaller and smaller Goldendoodle size. Therefore, Teacup Goldendoodles are a multigenerational mix breed and you won’t find an F1 (first generation) one.

Overall, the breeding practice is unnatural and many breeders do it to have a marketing edge. Often, the Goldendoodles 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.

Teacup Goldendoodle via @timber.creek.doodles

The Appeal Of Teacup Goldendoodles

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

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

The Disadvantages Of Teacup Goldendoodles

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

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

Are Teacup Goldendoodles Healthy?

Teacup Goldendoodles, 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, hydrocephalus and seizures etc. They are also very likely to suffer from bone fractures as they have low bone density.

Teacup Goldendoodle Characteristics

Teacup Goldendoodle Characteristics
Size	8 to 13 inches (20.3cm to 33cm).
Weight	7 to 10 pounds (3.2kg to 4.5kg).
Temperament	Gentle, loving and sweet.
Activity Levels	Low to Moderate.
Exercise Requirements	30 minutes per day.
Lifespan	7 to 10 years.
Coat	Wavy or curly single coat.
Eyes	Brown.
Shedding	Low.
Apartment Adaptability	Can comfortably live in an apartment.
Good with Children	No. Teacup Goldendoodles are extremely fragile.

Teacup Goldendoodle Size

Teacup Goldendoodles get to 8 to 13 inches (20.3cm to 33cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 7 and 10 pounds (3.2kg to 4.5kg). They are one of the shortest and lightest Goldendoodle sizes with the exception of the Micro Goldendoodle that is slightly smaller.

Teacup Goldendoodles stop growing between 7 and 9 months of age. They reach their full adult size and weight very young as they are such as small dog breed.

Teacup Goldendoodle Temperament

The Teacup Goldendoodle is a gentle, loving and sweet dog breed that is highly suited to apartment living due to their tiny size. They are a very friendly dog breed however their sociability rating is low as due to their small size as it is too dangerous to socialise them with other dogs. They are an extremely fragile dog breed so they aren’t suited to families with children.

Teacup Goldendoodles quickly tire and therefore do not need much exercise daily. Their tiny legs means that they can’t walk long distances and paired with their small organs makes them at risk of respiratory and cardiovascular issues etc.

Teacup Goldendoodle Price

Teacup Goldendoodles are priced similarly to Micro Goldendoodles as despite the different name, in most cases they are a very similarly sized dog. Teacup Goldendoodles cost between $3000USD and $4500USD.

Teacup Goldendoodle Life Expectancy

Teacup Goldendoodles have a life expectancy of 7 to 10 years. While smaller dogs generally live longer than large breeds, this does not apply to Teacup breeds. Teacup Goldendoodles typically have a shorter lifespan than all other Goldendoodle sizes as they unfortunately suffer from many health issues that correlate to their tiny size.

Are Teacup Goldendoodles Hypoallergenic?

Teacup Goldendoodles are hypoallergenic as they are a low shedding breed and therefore do not release much allergy inducing dander into their surroundings. Teacup Goldendoodles that have a higher percentage of Poodle genes such as F1b Teacup Goldendoodles are even more hypoallergenic than 50/50 Poodle to Golden Retriever mixes.

Do Teacup Goldendoodles Shed?

Teacup Goldendoodles are classified as light to non-shedders. They only drop a little bit of hair here and there throughout the year and do not go through heavy seasonal shedding like other breeds.

It is important to realise that there is no such thing as a totally non-shedding dog and that Teacup Goldendoodles along with other Poodle mixes are the closest to this definition.

Teacup Goldendoodle Haircuts

There are many different haircuts that you can give your Teacup Goldendoodle. Some popular ones include:

Teddy Bear Cut
Puppy Cut
Poodle Cut
Lamb Cut
Summer Cut

Teacup Goldendoodle Colors

Red Teacup Goldendoodle

Red Teacup Goldendoodles come in a variety of shades from light red to dark red. Their coats can be anywhere from a reddish cream to a rusty brown color. Teacup Goldendoodles with lighter red coats are usually called Apricot Teacup Goldendoodles.

Cockapoo Size Guide (Teacup, Toy, Miniature & Standard/Maxi)

Apricot Teacup Goldendoodle

Apricot Teacup Goldendoodles have very light red coats with a peachy tone. They are somewhere between a light red and a cream. Only the Poodle carries the genes for an apricot coat so Apricot Teacup Goldendoodles are usually originally created by breeding an Apricot or Red Poodle with a light Golden Retriever. They are one of the most sought after Goldendoodle coat colors.

White Teacup Goldendoodle

Teacup Goldendoodles are never pure white, they always have an off-white coat. Some Teacup Goldendoodles have black noses while others have light brown or beige noses. White Teacup Goldendoodles are often mistaken for Teacup Labradoodles because they are so light in color.

Chocolate Teacup Goldendoodle

Chocolate Teacup Goldendoodles have a solid brown coat that can range from a very light shade to a dark brown. They inherit this coat color from the Poodle side. Brown coats were originally a result of a mutation of the gene that produces a black coat. It is a recessive gene so both parents need to carry it to get a Chocolate Teacup Goldendoodle.

Black Teacup Goldendoodle

Black Teacup Goldendoodles feature a solid black coat. They may have small white patches over their body like on their chest or paws however these as technically Black and White Teacup Goldendoodles. Teacup Goldendoodles can only be this color if they inherit it from the Poodle as purebred Golden Retrievers are never black.

Teacup Goldendoodle Training

Teacup Goldendoodles are very intelligent so they respond very well to training. You should start teaching your Teacup Goldendoodle basic commands such as their name, sit, stay and come from the moment they arrive home. You can then progress to more difficult tricks and commands.

When training your dog it is important to use positive reinforcement techniques as dogs repeat good behavior when it is followed by a reward such as a treat or their favorite toy. Clicker training is another type of positive reinforcement training that is a good method for learning new tricks. You use a clicker device so your dog can associate a new behavior with a click and then a reward.

Teacup Goldendoodle Names

Luna
Charlie
Cooper
Teddy
Milo
Max
Rosie
Sadie
Bailey
Lola

Willow
Buddy
Penny
Rosie
Chloe
Harley
Moose
Nala
Simba
Lulu

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting A Teacup Goldendoodle

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 Goldendoodle?
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 Goldendoodle 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 Teacup Goldendoodle Breeder

While a lot of breeders produce Teacup Goldendoodles 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 Goldendoodle 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 Goldendoodle are a perfect match.