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

Teacup Morkies 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 Morkies are predisposed to many health issues as a result of their tiny size.

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

Cover image credit: @kaju.kiwi.luna

Table of Contents

What Is A Teacup Morkie?

A Teacup Morkie is a cross between a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier and a Maltese. They are one of the smallest Morkie sizes besides the Micro Morkie that is only slightly shorter. While many people are drawn towards animals that are cute due to their tiny size, you need to be aware that Teacup Morkies are often unethically bred. Their small size makes Teacup Morkies subject to size related health issues such as poor bone density, heart defects, heart murmurs, seizures etc.

The Appeal Of Teacup Morkies

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

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

The Disadvantages Of Teacup Morkies

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

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

Are Teacup Morkies Healthy?

Teacup Morkies, 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 Morkie Characteristics

Teacup Morkie Characteristics
Height	6 to 9 inches (15.2cm to 22.9cm).
Weight	5 to 10 pounds (2.3kg to 4.5kg).
Temperament	Affectionate, sweet, confident.
Activity Levels	Moderate.
Exercise Requirements	30 to 60 min per day.
Lifespan	8 to 12 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	Depends.

Teacup Morkie Size

Teacup Morkies are 6 to 9 inches (15.2cm to 22.9cm) tall and weigh between 5 and 10 pounds (2.3kg to 4.5kg). They reach their full adult size around 6 months of age.

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

Teacup Morkie Price

Teacup Morkies usually cost between $4000USD and $5500USD. They are usually more expensive than the standard size as the litters are smaller. Breeding them is much more intense as they are so delicate and can suffer from a variety of health issues due to their tiny size.

Teacup Morkie Lifespan

Teacup Morkies live for 8 to 12 years. While it is a general rule that a smaller dog has a longer life span, this does not apply to Teacup breeds as they unfortunately suffer from many health issues due their tiny size.

Teacup Morkie Temperament

Compared to the Standard Morkie, Teacup Morkies are a little more timid but that doesn’t mean they still don’t have a larger than life personality around people they know well. Teacup Morkies love being the centre of attention which is why they do best in single pet households as they can get quite jealous. They are quite affectionate to their owners however they usually pick a favourite person in the household. Teacup Morkies can be quite vocal despite their small size and are not afraid to bark. This can make them a good watchdog but they wouldn’t be much good being a guard dog due to their teeny tiny size.

Do Teacup Morkies Shed?

Teacup Morkies do not shed much at all. They are classified as a non to light shedding breed as they will only lose a few hairs here and there throughout the year. Both the Maltese and the Yorkie are light shedders so it’s no surprise that their offspring are the same.

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 Morkies Hypoallergenic?

Teacup Morkies are hypoallergenic as they are a low shedding dog breed and therefore they don’t release much dander (dead skin cells) into their surroundings that can cause allergies. Smaller sizes of Morkie such as the Teacup Morkie are considered to be more hypoallergenic than the standard size as smaller sized dogs tend to produce a smaller quantity of dander.

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Teacup Morkie Coat Colors

White Teacup Morkie

White Teacup Morkies feature a solid pure white coat that may have cream or caramel highlights on the tips of their fur. They usually have dark brown almost black eyes and black noses. White is one of the most common Morkie coat colors.

Apricot Teacup Morkie

Apricot Teacup Morkies have very pale red coats with a peachy tone. They usually have black noses and dark brown eyes. Apricot Teacup Morkies are also called Blonde Morkies or Gold Morkies as their coats are mainly white with caramel or yellow highlights on the tips.

Black Teacup Morkie

Solid black Teacup Morkies are quite rare. They feature a totally black coat with black eyes and jet black noses. They may have tiny white patches on their chest and chin however these are technically Black & White Morkies. This coat color can only be inherited from the Yorkshire Terrier.

Brown Teacup Morkie

Brown Teacup Morkies feature a mainly dark brown coat with tan patches. Their noses and eyes are dark or light brown. It’s extremely rare to find a solid brown Teacup Morkie as most have tan patches throughout their coats. The tan patches are usually located on their muzzle, their legs, their ears and above their eyes which gives them the appearance of eyebrows.

Silver Teacup Morkie

Silver Teacup Morkies feature a very light grey coat with white and caramel undertones. They are created by breeding a White Maltese with a Blue & Gold or a Blue & Tan Yorkshire Terrier and then breeding successive generations until they get the teacup size.

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting A Teacup Morkie

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 Morkie?
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 Morkie 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 Morkie Breeder

While a lot of breeders produce Teacup Morkies 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 Morkie 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 Morkie are a perfect match.