Teacup Schnauzer Guide – The Truth About This Tiny Breed.

Teacup Schnauzers 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 Schnauzers are predisposed to many health issues due to their tiny size.

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

Table of Contents

What Is A Teacup Schnauzer?

Teacup Schnauzers are the smallest possible size of Schnauzer. They originate from a cross between a small Mini Schnauzer and another small Mini Schnauzer where the breeder then takes the runt of the litter and continues breeding smaller and smaller sized Schnauzer puppies until they consistently get the teacup size.

Teacup Schnauzers often suffer from size related health issues due to their exceptionally small size. They are very fragile due to their tiny frame and like other Teacup breeds are highly susceptible to life threatening health issues. Do proper research into the health issues this breed faces and think twice before purchasing one as there is a lot of debate about how ethical it is to breed and own these teeny-tiny dogs are. Often, the Schnauzers 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 Schnauzers

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

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

The Disadvantages Of Teacup Schnauzers

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

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

What Is The Difference Between Toy And Teacup Schnauzers?

The main difference between Toy and Teacup Schnauzers is size. Toy Schnauzers are slightly larger than Teacup Schnauzers. Toy Schnauzers get to a height of up to 10 inches (up to 25.4cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 8 and 12 pounds (3.6kg to 5.4kg) while Teacup Schnauzers get to a height of 6 to 8 inches (15.2cm to 20.3cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 3 and 8 pounds (1.4kg to 3.6kg).

Both Toy Schnauzers and Teacup Schnauzers are bred by taking the runt of Miniature Schnauzer litters and continually breeding smaller and smaller sized dogs. The difference is that breeders continue this process for a longer time period for Teacup Schnauzers to get the even smaller size.

Are Teacup Schnauzers Healthy?

Teacup Schnauzers, 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 Schnauzer Characteristics

Teacup Schnauzer Characteristics
Size	6 to 8 inches (15.2cm to 20.3cm)
Weight	3 to 8 pounds (1.4kg to 3.6kg)
Temperament	Alert, feisty and playful.
Activity Levels	Moderate.
Exercise Requirements	30 to 60 min per day.
Lifespan	9 to 12 years.
Coat	Wiry double coat.
Eyes	Brown or black.
Shedding	Low.
Apartment Adaptability	Can live in an apartment if given enough exercise daily.
Good with Children	Yes.

Teacup Schnauzer Size

Teacup Schnauzers get to a height of 6 to 8 inches (15.2cm to 20.3cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 3 and 8 pounds (1.4kg to 3.6kg). They are the smallest Schnauzer size however it is not an official size. Toy Schnauzers are slightly larger but they are also an unofficial size. The next biggest is the Miniature Schnauzer which is an official size.

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 Schnauzer Temperament

Teacup Schnauzers have an alert, feisty and playful temperament. They are very extraverted despite their small size and love to be in the middle of the action at all times. Teacup Schnauzers are super affectionate and love cuddling. Even though they are quite energetic, you’ll often find them wanting to sit on your lap or sleep right next to you. Teacup Schnauzers are also very intelligent which makes training quite easy however they can be a bit stubborn and feisty at times.

They can at times display signs of small dog syndrome such as being overly excited, jumping on people, being yappy as well as growling at other people or dogs out of fear. They can also be possessive of food or toys and may snap if someone tries to take it away. This can be trained out of them at a young age through proper socialization and positive reinforcement training.

Teacup Schnauzer Lifespan

Teacup Schnauzers have a lifespan of 9 to 12 years which is the shortest lifespan out of all Schnauzer sizes. There are many factors that may influence the lifespan of a Teacup Schnauzer including genetics, health conditions, lifestyle and nutrition. If you want to give a Teacup Schnauzer the best chance of living a long life, make sure you exercise them each day and also feed them a well balanced, healthy diet.

Are Teacup Schnauzers Hypoallergenic?

Teacup Schnauzers 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.

Teacup Schnauzers are just as hypoallergenic as Miniature Schnauzers. Miniature Schnauzers are thought to be more hypoallergenic than Standard or Giant Schnauzers. This is because the Miniature size was originally created by breeding Affenpinschers into the lineage which is a very hypoallergenic dog breed. Therefore, Teacup Schnauzers may be more hypoallergenic than Standard or Giant Schnauzers as they are originally bred from Miniature Schnauzers.

Mini Goldendoodle Generations (F1, F1b, F1bb, F2, F2b, F2bb, F3 etc.)

Do Teacup Schnauzers Shed?

Teacup Schnauzers do not shed much at all. They are classified as a light shedding breed and will only lose a few hairs here and there from their undercoat throughout the year.

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 Schnauzer Colors

Black Teacup Schnauzer

Black Teacup Schnauzers feature a solid black coat. They have jet black eyes and black noses. Black is one of the most common coat colors as the genes responsible for the black coat are dominant for Teacup Schnauzers.

Black & Silver Teacup Schnauzer

Black and Silver Teacup Schnauzers feature a bi-color coat that is manly black with grey or silver patches. The silver patches are located on the ends of their legs and paws, on their chest, their eye brows and under their muzzle. Another name for a Black and Silver Teacup Schnauzer is a Phantom Teacup Schnauzers.

Salt & Pepper Teacup Schnauzer

Salt and Pepper Teacup Schnauzers have a coat that features a mix of silver, grey, white and black hairs. As there are no distinct patches of color and all the hairs are randomly mixed through, the coat has the appearance of salt and pepper. That is how the coat got its name.

Teacup Schnauzer Price

Teacup Schnauzers cost between $3500USD and $5000USD. They are around the same price as Toy Schnauzers and Miniature Schnauzers but often sell for slightly higher prices as the teacup size is rarer. The small size of a Teacup Schnauzer paired with their great temperament makes them highly sought after, fetching high prices.

Teacup Schnauzer Names

Teacup Schnauzer Boy Names	Teacup Schnauzer Girl Names
Winston	Zoe
Milo	Coco
Toby	Ruby
Bruno	Scout
Oreo	Millie
Jackson	Nala
Baxter	Ellie
Ace	Winnie
Remy	Poppy
Otis	Lulu

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting a Teacup Schnauzer

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 Schnauzer?
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 Schnauzer 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 Schnauzer Breeder

While a lot of breeders produce Teacup Schnauzers 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 Schnauzer 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 Schnauzer are a perfect match.