Teacup Husky – The Truth About This Tiny Breed.

The Teacup Husky (AKA Mini Husky) is the smallest version of the Siberian Husky. They are an extremely cute dog breed, featuring a thick white and charcoal grey or black coat. These traits paired with their alert, outgoing yet gentle temperament, not to forget to mention their smaller size, are some of the reasons why Teacup Huskies are so popular.

If you are interested in Teacup Husky keep reading this article to find out the all the answers to your questions about this dog breed!

Cover Image Credit: @rebeccapetsitter // Instagram

Table of Contents

What Is A Teacup Husky?

The Teacup Husky, also known as the Miniature Husky, is the smallest Siberian Husky size. The “teacup” size is not a recognized size by kennel clubs however breeders do create them from time to time. Unfortunately, they cannot be registered with most dog clubs.

Technically, there is no such thing as a true “teacup” Husky as for a dog to fall within the “teacup” category they should weigh around 4 pounds – think a Teacup Chihuahua, Teacup Pomeranian or a Teacup Shih Tzu. While Siberian Huskies can be miniaturized, there is no way that they can physically be that small. They are actually called Miniature Husky however some breeders call them Teacup Huskies as a marketing tactic.

How Are Teacup Huskies Created?

The Teacup Husky (AKA Mini Huskiy) was created by Bree Normandin in the 1990s. She bred Siberian Husky runts together over successive generations until she consistently produced the smaller size. This smaller dog was called the Miniature Husky however it is also referred to as the Teacup Husky.

Unfortunately, the runts of Husky litters often have health issues and defects which is why they are so small to start with. The breeding practice to produce Teacup Huskies is therefore quite unethical as the offspring often suffer from health issues due to their exceptionally small size. That’s why there is so much debate about how ethical teacup breeds are.

If you are considering to get a Teacup Husky, do thorough research into the health issues they face and think twice before purchasing one. Often, the Siberian Huskies 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. Also watch out for breeders that are falsely advertising Alaskan Klee Kais as Mini Huskies as these two breeds look very similar!

The Appeal Of Teacup Huskies

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

Teacup Huskies require less exercise as they have lower energy levels than the larger sizes of the breed (don’t be fooled by their size as they are still a very energetic breed!).
Teacup Huskies take up less space so they are more suited to apartment living.
Teacup Huskies eat less as they are so small which can keep yearly costs down.
Teacup Huskies shed less hair than the average Husky due to their smaller size.

The Disadvantages Of Teacup Huskies

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

Teacup Huskies are at a high risk of developing health issues due to poor breeding practies.
Teacup Huskies have more vet bills over their lives compared to the average dog.
Teacup Huskies can easily get hurt as they are sometimes quite fragile.
Teacup Huskies are more expensive than larger sizes of Husky.
Teacup Huskies are not suited to families with young children as they can accidentally get hurt.

Teacup Husky Characteristics

Teacup Husky Characteristics
Size	13 to 17 inches (33.0cm to 43.2cm).
Weight	20 to 35 pounds (9.1kg to 15.9kg).
Temperament	Alert, outgoing, gentle.
Activity Levels	Moderate to high.
Exercise Requirements	30 to 60 minutes per day.
Lifespan	10 to 12 years.
Coat	Thick double coat.
Eyes	Blue or brown eyes
Shedding	Heavy seasonal shedding.
Apartment Adaptability	Moderate.
Good with Children	Sometimes. Teacup Huskies can be fragile.

Teacup Husky Price

Teacup Huskies cost between $2500USD and $4000USD. They are generally slightly more expensive than the standard Siberian Husky size as they are quite rare and take a long time to breed.

Teacup Husky Size

Teacup Huskies get to a height of 13 to 17 inches (33.0cm to 43.2cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 20 and 35 pounds (9.1kg to 15.9kg). They reach their full adult size around 10 months of age.

There can be a lot of variation in the Teacup Husky size as it is not a recognized size. It is up to the breeder to determine what they consider to be a “teacup” sized dog. That is why it is best to ask the breeder what the average size their Teacup Huskies are when they are fully grown.

Teacup Husky Lifespan

Teacup Huskies have a lifespan of 10 to 12 years however some live longer. Even though there is a general rule that smaller dogs live longer, Teacup Huskies have a slightly short life expectancy that the Standard Husky as they are more likely to suffer health issues as they are often unethically bred.

Teacup Husky Temperament

Teacup Huskies are an alert and outgoing yet gentle breed. They are typically a very affectionate and friendly breed and enjoy spending time with humans if they have been properly socialized from a young age.

They’re also quite an independent dog so they can be a bit stubborn when it comes to training however which consistency and persistence they will learn commands. They’re very capable of learning the tricks as they are intelligent, it’s just a question of whether they feel like doing them!

Teacup Huskies generally do not bark but howl instead which goes back to their pack mentality and communication instincts. While they do howl from time to time, they do not make great guard dogs due to their size and also because they are very friendly and non-aggressive towards strangers.

Teacup Huskies can also have a strong prey drive. They like to chase small animals like rabbits, squirrels and cats so if you have any small pets, it’s important to introduce them from a very young age and properly socialize your Husky around them to stop this behavior.

Teacup Husky via @vonnab_vonski // Instagram

Teacup Husky Shedding

Do Teacup Huskies Shed?

Teacup Huskies shed like all sizes of the breed. They have a thick double coat and shed all year round. Their shedding is particularly intense twice a year at the change of seasons, especially when they get their summer coats. You have to brush your Teacup Husky daily to keep on top of their shedding fur during this time!

The best way to reduce the amount that your dog sheds is to regularly brush them. Slicker brushes are great for dogs with single coats and deshedding tools are great for dogs with double coats.

Are Teacup Huskies Hypoallergenic?

Teacup Huskies are not hypoallergenic. This is because they are heavy shedders which means they release a large quantity of dander (dead skin cells) into their immediate environment. Dander, along with saliva, are irritants for allergy sufferers.

That being said, people do argue that Teacup Huskies are more hypoallergenic than larger sizes of the breed as they are comparatively much smaller so release a smaller quantity of dander into their surroundings than the Standard Husky.

If you want a hypoallergenic Teacup breed something like a Maltipoo or another Poodle mix breed would be more suitable.

You can make your dog even more hypoallergenic by keeping up a good grooming routine as it will stop them from releasing allergens into your home.

Your dog’s grooming routine should include both brushing and bathing. A brush down with a slicker brush every other day is ideal to remove any loose hairs. As for washing, a bath with a gentle dog shampoo every 3 months will remove dead skin cells, dirt and debris.

This may not seem that often but you don’t want to over wash your dog otherwise their coat will dry out which will only cause flaky skin which is an allergy irritant.

Teacup Husky Grooming

Teacup Huskies do not need haircuts. They are a double coated dog breed that sheds throughout the year and also seasonally. They don’t need to go to the groomer to get their hair trimmed. This is why they are such a low maintenance dog breed!

Like all dog breeds, Teacup Huskies need regular brushing, nail clipping and need to be bathed every now and then. They generally do a very good job with self-cleaning so only need a bath if they are visibly dirty or smelly as bathing them too frequently will lead to dry, irritated skin.

As for brushing, it’s best to do it weekly. Most people use a pin brush or undercoat rake to brush their undercoat which they shed twice a year.

Teacup Husky Training

Teacup Huskies are an intelligent breed so they’re very capable of learning new tricks. Nevertheless, they are known to be very independent so they may choose to follow your directions selectively which can make training difficult at times.

When you begin training, you should start teaching your Teacup Husky basic commands such as their name, sit, stay and come from the moment they arrive home. 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 Husky Exercise Needs

Teacup Huskies are smaller than Standard Huskies so they don’t need as much exercise each day but that does not mean that they don’t need anything.

Despite their small size, Teacup Huskies are still a high energy dog and need between 30 minutes and an hour of exercise each day. They enjoy going on walks, playing games and are particularly fond of running as that’s what they were originally bred for.

Mental exercise is also required so they don’t get bored and destructive. Many people love to give their Huskies Kong toys which they can fill with special treats like peanut butter!

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting A Teacup Husky

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 Husky?
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 Husky 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 Husky Breeder

While a lot of breeders produce Teacup Huskies 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 Teacup Husky 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 Husky are a perfect match.