Teacup Maltipoo Guide – The Truth About This Tiny Breed.

Teacup Maltipoos 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 Maltipoos are predisposed to many health issues that can be debilitating.

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

Table of Contents

What Is A Teacup Maltipoo?

A Teacup Maltipoo is the smallest size of Maltipoo. It originates from a cross between a Toy Poodle and a Maltese where the breeder then takes the runt of the litter and continues breeding smaller and smaller sized Maltipoo puppies until they consistently get the teacup size. Therefore, Teacup Maltipoos are a multigenerational mix breed and you won’t find an F1 (first generation) one.

Teacup Maltipoos are also referred to as Micro Teacup Maltipoos. They are the same size dog. Recently it has become popular by breeders to use the word “Micro” in naming Poodle Mix sizes as a marketing tactic so it seems that they are selling a new, tinier dog size.

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

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

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

The Disadvantages Of Teacup Maltipoos

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

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

Are Teacup Maltipoos Healthy?

Teacup Maltipoos, 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 Maltipoo Characteristics

Teacup Maltipoo Characteristics
Size	6 to 7 inches (15.2cm to 17.8cm).
Weight	Approximately 5 pounds (2.3kg).
Temperament	Fun-loving, devoted, gentle and affectionate.
Activity Levels	Low to Moderate.
Exercise Requirements	30 minutes per day.
Lifespan	7 to 9 years.
Coat	Wavy or curly single coat.
Eyes	Brown.
Shedding	Low.
Apartment Adaptability	Can comfortably live in an apartment.
Good with Children	No. Teacup Maltipoos are extremely fragile.

Teacup Maltipoo Size

Teacup Maltipoos get to a height of 6 to 7 inches (15.2cm to 17.8cm) and weigh around 5 pounds (2.3kg). Their very small size makes them extremely delicate and fragile. It also makes them much more susceptible to size related health issues such as poor bone density, heart defects, kidney problems etc. This is one of the main issues of breeding dogs that are too small.

As the smallest size of Maltipoo, Teacup Maltipoos stop growing at the youngest age out of all the Maltipoo sizes. They usually reach their full adult size between 6 and 7 months. At 3.5 months they are about half their adult size.

Teacup Maltipoo Temperament

Teacup Maltipoos have an affectionate and gentle temperament. They are highly suited to apartment living due to their tiny size. While they get along very well with people, their sociability rating is low because they can’t socialise with other larger dogs as they are too small. They also can’t socialise with young children as they can be easily injured. Additionally, their ease of care rating is low because they suffer from many health issues due to their small size and thus require extra attention

Teacup Maltipoo Price

Teacup Maltipoos are the most expensive Maltipoo size. They usually sell for prices between $3000USD and $6000USD. Teacup Maltipoos have the highest price tag as they take multiple generations to breed and need much more medical attention than other Maltipoo sizes. They also only give birth to very small litters.

Teacup Maltipoo Life Expectancy

Teacup Maltipoos have a lifespan of 7 to 9 years. They have the shortest lifespan out of all the Maltipoo sizes due their high risk of suffering from size related health issues. Teacup Maltipoos can can pass away at even younger ages than seven if they develop health complications.

Are Teacup Maltipoos Hypoallergenic?

Teacup Maltipoos are hypoallergenic. The size of a Maltipoo, whether they are teacup, toy, miniature or standard sized does not affect how hypoallergenic they are. The generation of the breed has a greater impact. For example an F1b and other cross-back generations tend to be more hypoallergenic as they have a higher percentage of Poodle genes.

Do Teacup Maltipoos Shed?

Teacup Maltipoos 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.e

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

Teacup Maltipoo Grooming Styles

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

Teddy Bear Cut
Puppy Cut
Poodle Cut
Lamb Cut
Summer Cut

Teacup Maltipoo Colors

White Teacup Maltipoo

White Teacup Maltipoos feature a solid white coat. It may also be off-white or more of a cream color. Both Poodles and Malteses can come in white so White Teacup Maltipoos are quite easy to breed. They are the standard Teacup Maltipoo color.

Brown Poodle Guide – Everything You Need To Know!

Cream Teacup Maltipoo

Cream Teacup Maltipoos feature an off-white coat. In most cases it is a very warm toned coat with caramel hints. Cream Teacup Maltipoos feautre black noses or dark brown noses. Their coats are never pure white like White Teacup Maltipoos.

Red Teacup Maltipoo

Red Teacup Maltipoos 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. Only the Poodle carries the genes for a red coat so it is not as common as other standard coat colors like white or cream.

Apricot Teacup Maltipoo

An Apricot Teacup Maltipoo has a very light red coat which has a peachy tone. It is somewhere between a light red and a cream. Only the Poodle carries the genes for an apricot coat so they are not as common as white or cream Teacup Maltipoos.

Chocolate Teacup Maltipoo

Chocolate Teacup Maltipoos feature a coat that can range from a light to dark brown. Their coats can change color as they mature with most fading into a lighter coffee color that is often called ‘café au lait’. Chocolate Teacup Maltipoos are one of the rarest coat colors.

Black Teacup Maltipoo

Black Teacup Maltipoos 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 Maltipoos. Teacup Maltipoos can only be this color if the Poodle had a black coat as purebred Malteses are never black.

Teacup Maltipoo Training

Teacup Maltipoos are very intelligent so they respond very well to training. You should start teaching your Teacup Maltipoo 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 Maltipoo Names

Bear
Chloe
Daisy
Ella
Gus
Harley
Jack
Lucky

Max
Mia
Olivia
Panda
Peanut
Pumpkin
Sandy
Toby

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting A Teacup Maltipoo

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 Maltipoo?
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 Maltipoo becomes sick?
Do you have the flexibility to work from home and spend time observing your dog for health problems?

Teacup Maltipoo via @maltipoo.puppies.sweet

How To Find A Responsible Teacup Maltipoo Breeder

While a lot of breeders produce Teacup Maltipoos 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 Maltipoo 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 Maltipoo are a perfect match.