Teacup Shih Tzu Guide – The Truth About This Tiny Breed.

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

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

Cover Image Credits: @the.cocobaby

Table of Contents

What Is A Teacup Shih Tzu?

Teacup Shih Tzus are the smallest size of the Shih Tzu however they are an unofficial size. They originates from a cross between two Standard Shih Tzus that are on the lower end of the normal size range. Breeders usually take the runts of two different Shih Tzu litters and breed them together to create smaller and smaller sized Shih Tzu puppies until they consistently get the teacup size.

Teacup Shih Tzus are the same size as Imperial, Toy or Mini Shih Tzus however “Teacup Shih Tzu” is the most common name for this size. There are so many names for the same size Shih Tzu as it is an unofficial size and breeders use different names for marketing purposes. The American Kennel Club (AKC) and other kennel clubs do not recognize Teacup Shih Tzus as there are concerns surroundings the ethics of breeding dogs this small.

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

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

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

The Disadvantages Of Teacup Shih Tzus

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

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

Are Teacup Shih Tzus Healthy?

Teacup Shih Tzus, 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 Shih Tzu Characteristics

Teacup Shih Tzu Characteristics
Height	Up to 6 inches (15.2cm).
Weight	7 to 8 pounds (3.2kg to 3.6kg).
Temperament	Friendly, lively, lap-dog.
Activity Levels	Low.
Exercise Requirements	30 to 60 min per day.
Lifespan	7 to 9 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	Yes.

Teacup Shih Tzu Size

Teacup Shih Tzus get to a height of 6 inches (15.2cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 7 and 8 pounds (3.2kg to 3.6kg) when fully grown. They are the same size as Imperial, Toy and Mini Shih Tzus which are all the smallest size of Shih Tzu.

Did you know that you can estimate your dog’s full size with DNA test? Embark Vet offers a health test which will give you a predicted adult weight for your puppy.

Teacup Shih Tzu Temperament

Teacup Shih Tzus were originally bred as a companion dog so they are very friendly and lively. They love getting lots of attention and are often described as being a “look-at-me-and-love-me” type of dog. Due to their extremely small size Teacup Shih Tzus make excellent lap dogs.

They are also quite intelligent so training is straightforward. Nevertheless, there are a few things you need to start training them on straight away such as barking and being stubborn as they are known to be a vocal dog breed.

Teacup Shih Tzu Lifespan

Teacup Shih Tzus have a lifespan of 7 to 9 years. Their lifespan is significantly shorter than Standard Shih Tzus as 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.

Teacup Shih Tzu Price

Teacup Shih Tzus cost between $3000USD and $7000USD. Despite their high risk of suffering from 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. Additionally, not many breeders bred them so it can be difficult finding one.

Teacup Shih Tzu Breeders

If you are looking for a Shih Tzu breeder, consider PuppySpot where you can use our discount code PUPPY300 for $300 dollars off any dog! Check out the adorable Shih Tzu puppies that are currently available here!

PuppySpot is a dog adoption website that connects breeders with prospective pet owners. They have a zero tolerance policy for puppy mills which is why they screen every breeder annually! They have placed over 200,000 puppies in homes and offer various trusted, USDA-certified transportation options to deliver your puppy to your home safely! You won’t regret having a look at their Shih Tzu puppies here as they are so cute!

Teacup Shih Tzu Colors

Teacup Shih Tzus come in a range of coat colors including black, white, blue, red, silver, gold as well as bi-color and tri-color coats. The most common Teacup Shih Tzu coat pattern is a black, gold and white tri color coat.

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Black Teacup Shih Tzu

Solid Black Teacup Shih Tzus 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.

White Teacup Shih Tzu

Solid White Teacup Shih Tzus are even rarer than Solid Black Teacup Shih Tzus. They feature a solid pure white coat and usually have dark brown or black eyes and black noses. In most cases Shih Tzus will not be totally white and will have other colors in small patches on their coats.

Blue Teacup Shih Tzu

Blue Teacup Shih Tzus have a charcoal or grey coat that has a blue tinge to it. The blue coat is a result of inheriting the dilution gene which lightens a black coat into this color. Blue Teacup Shih Tzus usually have black eyes and jet black noses.

Red Teacup Shih Tzu

Red Teacup Shih Tzus have a light red or orange tinged coat. They usually have darker fur on their chin, muzzle and ears. Red Teacup Shih Tzus have jet black noses and dark brown eyes.

Silver Teacup Shih Tzu

Silver Teacup Shih Tzus have light grey coats that are almost white however have a silvery sheen to them. The fur on their ears, around their eyes and on their muzzle is usually a darker grey and the fur on their chest, legs and tail is white appearing.

Gold Teacup Shih Tzu

Teacup Shih Tzus hardly ever have a solid gold coat but rather have a tri color coat that features gold, black and white. The fur on their face is mainly white with a gold tinge around their eyes and on their ears. Their fur also has a gold tinge on their back. The tips of their ears and around their chin features black fur.

Teacup Shih Tzu Names

Teacup Shih Tzu Girl Names	Teacup Shih Tzu Boy Names
Bella	Kingston
Brooke	Remy
Gigi	Theo
Lilli	Charlie
Olivia	Jesse
Charlotte	Gabe
Poppy	Archie
Maddie	Cesar
Alicia	Ted

Questions To Ask Yourself Before Getting A Teacup Shih Tzu

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 Shih Tzu?
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 Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu Breeder

While a lot of breeders produce Teacup Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu 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 Shih Tzu are a perfect match.