Teacup Maltese – The Truth About This Tiny Breed.

Teacup Malteses are all the rage due to their cute faces and tiny size that is so small they could fit into a designer purse. 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 Malteses are predisposed to many health issues that can be debilitating.

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

What Is A Teacup Maltese?

The Teacup Maltese is the smallest size of the breed. They usually have long, silky white coats on a body of a small stature however they can come in other colors. Teacup Malteses have rounded faces with dark button eyes and a dark nose. They also have short floppy ears and fluffy, curly tails. Most breeders call the size that is smaller than the Standard Maltese “teacup” however others call them “toy” or “mini”.

Teacup Malteses are created by taking the runt of the litter and breeding smaller and smaller sized Maltese puppies until the breeders consistently get the teacup size. There is a lot of debate about how ethical teacup breeds are as they are often suffer from debilitating health issues due to their small, fragile size. This is because the breeding practice is unnatural and many breeders do it to have a marketing edge. Often, the Malteses 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 Malteses

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

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

The Disadvantages Of Teacup Malteses

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

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

Are Teacup Malteses Healthy?

Teacup Malteses, 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 Maltese Characteristics

Teacup Maltese Characteristics
Height	4 to 6 inches (10.2cm to 15.2cm).
Weight	4 to 5 pounds (1.8kg to 2.3kg).
Temperament	Friendly, gentle, affectionate.
Activity Levels	Low to Moderate.
Exercise Requirements	30 minutes per day.
Lifespan	7 to 9 years.
Coat	Long, silky coat.
Eyes	Brown.
Shedding	Low.
Apartment Adaptability	Can comfortably live in an apartment.
Good with Children	No. Teacup Maltipoos are extremely fragile.

Teacup Maltese Size

Teacup Malteses get to 4 to 6 inches (10.2cm to 15.2cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 4 and 5 pounds (1.8kg to 2.3kg) when fully grown. They are the same size as a Toy and Mini Malteses which are all the smallest size of Maltese.

Once your puppy is fully grown you’ll need to start investing in dog products that you’ll keep for their whole life such as:

A full size dog crate so they have their own cozy den to sleep in – consider a dog crate pad to make it that much comfier!
An adult sized dog raincoat to keep them dry during wet weather
An adult sized dog life jacket to help with swimming in lakes and oceans
An adult sized dog jacket for cold winter weather
A dog cooling vest if you live in a hot climate
High quality no-pull dog harness to reduce stress on their neck while walking
And other similar products

Comparison To Standard Maltese

	Teacup Maltese	Standard Maltese
Height	4 to 6 inches (10.2cm to 15.2cm)	7 to 12 inches (17.8cm to 30.5cm)
Weight	4 and 5 pounds (1.8kg to 2.3kg)	Approx. 7 pounds (3.2kg)

Teacup Maltese Temperament

Teacup Malteses have a very similar temperament to Standard Malteses however they are sometimes described as being more sensitive, anxious and fearful. This is mainly due to their extremely tiny size that may make them more suspicious of other people and dogs than the typical Maltese.

A downside of Teacup Malteses is that they can suffer from separation anxiety. This is especially the case if they are left at home for extremely long periods of time. Malteses crave companionship and may express their dissatisfaction through barking or chewing up things.

Unfortunately, Teacup Malteses have a poor reputation when it comes to intelligence. Malteses are ranked as the 111th smartest breed for obedience and working intelligence. While their obedience and working intelligence is low, they excel in emotional intelligence which is why they make such a great companion dog.

Overall, Teacup Malteses are friendly, gentle and affectionate.

Teacup Maltese Price

Teacup Malteses cost between $2500USD and $5000USD. Despite their high risk of suffering with serious health issues due to their small size, they still sell for exorbitant prices as they are a designer dog breed. Another reason why they are so expensive is because there are so few of them in each litter.

Teacup Maltese Lifespan

Teacup Malteses have a lifespan of 7 to 9 years. They have a very short lifespan because they suffer from many health issues due to their tiny size. They are also highly likely to suffer from a fatal injury as they have very fragile bones and not much muscle mass to support their skeletal system.

Are Teacup Maltese Hypoallergenic?

Teacup Malteses are hypoallergenic as they do not produce or release much allergy inducing dander into their immediate environment. The size of a Maltese, whether they are Teacup or Standard sized does not greatly affect how hypoallergenic they are however some people believe Teacup Malteses are more hypoallergenic than Standard Malteses as they are smaller and therefore produce a smaller quantity of dander.

Do Teacup Malteses Shed?

Teacup Malteses 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.

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.

Teacup Maltese Grooming

Teacup Malteses need to be brushed two or three times a week, especially if they have very long hair that is prone to getting tangled. They should be bathed every few months or when they are especially dirty as over washing them will only lead to dry, flaky skin.

Teacup Malteses should go to the groomer every 6 to 8 weeks if they have a shorter haircut like the puppy cut. Otherwise their hair will keep growing, much like human hair, as they do not shed like other breeds. Professional grooming can get quite expensive so many people end up buying a DIY dog grooming kit and learn how to cut dog hair by themselves.

Teacup Maltese Haircuts

There are many different haircuts you can give a Teacup Maltese. Some popular ones include:

Standard Cut (AKA Show Cut)
Puppy Cut
Teddy Bear Cut
Maltese Bob Cut
Short Cut

Teacup Maltese Colors

White is a standard coat color for Teacup Malteses. In most cases it is a pure white coat but other times it may be more of a cream color. White Teacup Malteses may feature lemon or tan spots on their ears but it is not that common.

Teacup Morkie Guide – Everything You Need To Know About This Tiny Breed!

While some people claim that there are Black Teacup Malteses, in reality there aren’t. Black coats can only be introduced by another breed so Black Teacup Malteses are not pure bred. They are more likely to be a Maltipoo that’s genetic makeup is mainly Maltese instead of Poodle.

Teacup Maltese Training

Teacup Malteses do not have the best reputation for intelligence as they are ranked as the 11th smartest dog for working and obedience intelligence. Nevertheless, they are very emotionally intelligent which is why they are a great companion dog. They are also quite keen to learn which makes them trainable, especially with positive reinforcement techniques.

When you get your Teacup Maltese, you should start by teaching them basic commands such as their name, sit, stay and come. 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 Maltese Names

Teacup Maltese Girl Names	Teacup Maltese Boy Names
Lulu	Teddy
Chloe	Buddy
Bella	Charlie
Zoe	Milo
Coco	Ollie
Gracie	Bear
Stella	Oreo
Gigi	Tucker

Teacup Maltese vs Teacup Maltipoo

The main difference between a Teacup Maltese and a Teacup Maltipoo is their genetic makeup. Teacup Malteses are a purebred dog while Teacup Maltipoos have Maltese and Poodle in them.

In terms of size, Teacup Maltipoos are slightly bigger than Teacup Malteses. Teacup Maltipoos get to a height of 6 to 7 inches (15.2cm to 17.8cm) and weigh around 5 pounds (2.3kg) while Teacup Malteses get to 4 to 6 inches (10.2cm to 15.2cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 4 and 5 pounds (1.8kg to 2.3kg).

Teacup Maltipoos are generally slightly more expensive than Teacup Malteses as they are a designer cross-breed. Teacup Maltipoos usually cost between $3000USD and $6000USD while Teacup Malteses cost between $2500USD and $5000USD.

Both Teacup Malteses and Teacup Maltipoos are light to non-shedders and are hypoallergenic. Unfortunately, they both face similar health issues due to their tiny sizes. That is why they both have a relatively short lifespan of 7 to 9 years.

two teacup malteses — Teacup Malteses via @_._ettymit._hel

Teacup Maltese Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Teacup Malteses are highly suited to apartment living.	Teacup Malteses are fragile and can easily get hurt.
Teacup Malteses eat less as they are so small (lower food costs).	Teacup Malteses have a relatively short lifespan.
Teacup Malteses are hypoallergenic and don’t shed much.	Teacup Malteses are predisposed to many size related health issues.

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting A Teacup Maltese

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 Maltese?
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 Maltese 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 Maltese Breeder

While a lot of breeders produce Teacup Malteses 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 Maltese 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 Maltese are a perfect match.