You get a Dachshund, you get a Dachshund, and you get a Dachshund.
Did you know there are three different sizes of Dachshunds?
There’s the Standard Dachshund, who has the ability to reach a commanding 32 pounds. Then there is the Miniature Dachshund, who only reaches the 11-pound marker at most.
But wait, there is another even smaller Dachshund, and today, they are the subject of our guide.
Meet the adorable forever puppy, the Teacup Dachshund. Coming in under 8lbs, these little guys are sure to catch the eye of many.
But hold on!
We have a big warning for you that you must consider before taking one of these special dogs under your roof.
This warning extends to all teacup and toy pups, so if you’re curious about them, this article is the perfect place to get you started down the world of toy dogs, and the Teacup Dachshund in particular.
Teacup Dachshund
The Teacup Dachshund is a miniature puppy that grows to be the size of a regular puppy. This makes them highly attractive because who doesn’t miss the puppy stage? Well, when it comes to their appearance at least, other aspects of the puppy stage can stay long behind. Moving on.
The Teacup Dachshund is a relatively recent designer breed, but in actuality, they have been around as long as the regular-sized Dachshund has. Teacup Dachshunds are simply regular-sized or Miniature Dachshunds that failed to get as big. In fact, it’s never guaranteed when getting a teacup puppy that it will stay teacup size.
So how does a dog become a teacup dog? Well, this can happen for a few different reasons. Some breeders will advertise the runt of the litter as a teacup; others will take the runt and breed it with another runt or one with the dwarfism gene. Then some will horrifically withhold the mother’s milk to keep the puppies purposely small. Not only is this cruel when it’s done at the moment, but it can have devastating lifetime effects on their immune system.
Most Teacup Dachshunds are Miniature Dachshunds, but not always. As long as they stay under 8 pounds, they are considered a toy dog. Not surpassing a certain size is really the only thing that gives a dog the crown of the teacup. It, of course, varies from breed to breed, but pretty much any dog under 10 pounds could be considered a toy dog.
Because Teacup Dachshunds are simply either a Miniature or Standard Dachshund that didn’t get very big, they are not recognized by the American Kennel Club as one of the official sizes.
Temperament
Loving and loyal to their owners, Teacup Dachshunds are never put down because of their size. This doesn’t always go in favor of the owner and others, however, and often results in some behavioral issues. Dachies of all sizes love to bark, and the Teacup loves giving the others a run for their money as the number 1 biggest barker.
As well, they tend to act aggressively toward other dogs. Often due to the tricky nature of socializing them with the average dog. Who tends to be a decent bit bigger and can easily hurt them on accident. But Dachshunds, in general, are known to be very people-oriented, so much so that they are prone to separation anxiety, and territorial issues.
While often cuddle bugs, most Dachshunds, including the Teacup, have independent streaks where they just want to be left alone.
Size & Appearance
The Teacup Dachshund is . . . small, tiny, minute, itty-bitty, petite, pocket-size, microscopic, and did we say very, very small? The Teacup Dachshund looks just like the standard and miniatures dachies. Really, he’s just a little smaller weiner is all.
They have a long body that’s supported on short stumpy legs which end with a short whip-like tail that just can’t stop wagging. They have a fairly long snout for their size that’s perfectly paired with large floppy ears that hug their face.
Coat & Colors
The Dachshund breed has three coat varieties. The smooth-and-short hair coat is the most common, followed by the long-haired, then the wire-haired. While coming in last in most places, the wire-haired Dachshund is the most popular variety in Germany.
The dominant color in the breed is red, followed by black and tan. However, the Dachshund can come in pretty much any natural color under the sun and display various, or none at all spotted patterns.
Grooming
With the Dachshund coming in one of three coat lengths, how much you’ll have to groom this breed varies. However, even with the Toy Longhair Dachshund, their petite size means grooming and shedding are always fairly light. A wire brush works well on the longer hair varieties, while a soft-bristled brush or even just wipes works for the smooth-haired Dachshund.
Training
Like all dogs, the Teacup or Toy Dachshund needs regular training and early socialization with both people and other animals. Due to their small size, care and caution should be taken when introducing them to other dogs, especially ones over 40lbs.
Toy dogs are more prone to injuries, so it’s a good idea to keep them around other small dogs or even dog-friendly cats.
However, just because there is an increased risk for injury doesn’t mean you can take a laid-back approach to training and socializing them.
If anything, expect to do more work training and socializing them when compared to a regular-sized Dachshund. When left untrained or poorly trained, many Dachshunds have issues with stubbornness and can be quite aggressive towards other dogs.
Health
While they are incredibly adorable and the idea of keeping your puppy looking like a forever puppy is hard to pass up, it comes with a cost. The standards for a dog to get classified as a teacup dog are causing notable health issues that stem past their already heightened risk of injury.
Which is already a concern with all Dachshunds. You see, all varieties of Dachshunds are at risk of Intervertebral Disk Disease — a hereditary disease that causes disks in the neck or back to rupture. 1 in 4 Dachshunds suffers the disease.
Veterinarians report seeing a myriad of health issues that are common in Teacup dogs including heart defects, hypoglycemia, seizures, respiratory problems, collapsing trachea, digestive problems, liver shunts, and blindness.
Dental and gum issues are also common due to their compacted jaws, to the point that many have to have their baby teeth surgically removed.
Missing a meal could be a death sentence as their blood sugar could drop to dangerously low and fatal levels. Food and table scraps also become significantly more dangerous.
While you should never give your dog onion or chocolate, a morsel that falls on the floor is unlikely to cause an average-size dog any issues. However, a single grape could potentially kill a teacup dog.
All-in-all, if you go the route of getting a toy dog of any breed, expect random medical bills that go into the thousands of dollars. These are very expensive dogs to own, and this one of the few times, where pet insurance can really pay off. Most often, setting aside a little bit of money each month for vet emergencies is the better idea.
Nutrition
Feeding a teacup dog like the Toy Dachshund is no different from feeding a regular-sized dog. They will consume less food, of course. Food scraps are largely off the table, no pun intended, as the high calories can quickly result in obesity.
“But my cat gets table scraps!” Yes, it’s perfectly fine to give the cat nibbles of your food from time to time without worrying about their waistline. However, a teacup dog will not have as fast of a metabolism as a cat of the same size.
Exercise & Living Conditions
Teacup Dachshunds need exercise just like any other dog. Lower intensity exercise for about an hour a day is recommended.
Setting your house up for a toy dog can be very stressful when a jump off the couch can result in broken bones. Bringing a toy dog into a house that already has dogs can be tricky but not impossible.
Don’t expect to be far from your toy puppers for long unless you have someone else watching them. Besides their high risk for injury, a toy dog’s body temperature can quickly drop, spelling disaster.
It’s recommended that you have a pet-safe heating pad for them, along with a very warm spot they can go to. If you live in an area that sees cold temperatures, you should consider heavily against getting a teacup pupper.
Teacup Dachshund Puppies
With their final size coming in around 5-6 inches tall and 7lbs, you can guess just how small Teacup Dachshund puppies are. But their tiny size brings an enormous price. When looking for a toy Dachshund puppy from a private breeder, expect to pay anywhere from $1200-2000 USD.
However, please reconsider spending this or any amount of money on a teacup or dog that’s from a private breeder. There is just no getting around the ethical issues that come with pushing these dogs to such a tiny size.
Many small dog breeds are already having enough trouble with health issues due to their size. No matter how cute they are like puppies, there is no healthy way to keep them at this size. If your heart is set on a teacup doggo, we recommended adopting.
FAQs
What does a miniature Teacup Dachshund puppy look like?
A Miniature Teacup Dachshund puppy looks just like the regular or standard Dachshund, just a good bit smaller in appearance. It’s pretty easy to mistake an adult Teacup dog for a regular-sized Dachshund puppy.
Where can I buy a Teacup Dachshund?
While nearly impossible, we really recommend that you try rescuing a Teacup Dachshund. The Teacup Dachshund can never be bred in good faith as pushing their size to teacup standards is extremely dangerous to their health.
Where can I get a Teacup Dachshund?
Teacup dachshunds are very rare and can be hard to find. You can try your local rescue, rescues that only rescue Dachshunds, or a private breeder.
What is life the expectancy of a Teacup Dachshund?
Unfortunately, because of the myriad of health issues and risk of injuries, Teacup Dachshunds have the shortest lifespan of the Dachshund breed. The Teacup Dachshund’s life expectancy is 10-15 years. Life expectancy for the Standard Dachshund is 12-16, while the Miniature Dachshund has the longest life expectancy of 13-17 years. The oldest known Dachshund lived to be 25 years old.
Teacup Dachshund Puppy
Great care needs to be taken with a Teacup Dachshund puppy, as they are very small. As well, if buying from a breeder, it is essential that you get the medical records for both them and their parents. Many times toy dachies are the runt of the litter, and that can increase their risk for health issues now and down the road.
Mini Teacup Dachshund
Did you know that there are two Crossbred Teacup Dachshunds. Meet the Dorkies and Chiweenies. Dorkies are a cross between the Dachshund and the Yorkie Terrier, who helps ensure the cross stays small. Chiweenies are the same concept; they are a mix of the Dachshund and the Chihuahua.
Conclusion
Tiny, but incredibly mighty, for being a pint-sized pupper, the Teacup Dachshund can often be a lot of work. From ensuring they are properly socialized to being able to afford a random medical bill that dives into the thousands of dollars, it takes a special kind of owner to care for these puppers.
While we aren’t pro-buying these dogs from a breeder, we wholeheartedly think rescuing them from a shelter, etc. is a wonderful idea. At Tindog, the most important thing is ensuring all dogs in the world are happy and healthy.
While we recommend rescuing over a private breeder, we acknowledge the pros that have from private breeding and aren’t inherently against it. However, we would like to see the practice of breeding for a certain look not come at the detriment of their health.
Unfortunately, at the moment and by default, breeding for the toy size is going to increase a dog’s risk of injury and health issues. Dogs simply can’t be this small, at least not through selective breeding. Dogs such as the English Bulldog and Pug already experience enough issues due to their size and shape.
Another thing is many like the idea of a toy dog because they seem easier to take care of due to their size, but this isn’t true. And you will likely have to spend more time and effort caring for them than pretty much any other type of dog.
If you’re set on a small dog, and how can one blame you, the Beagle, Poodle, Havana, and the Standard or Miniature Dachshunds are all great options who see few to little health issues.
“To his dog, every man is Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs.”
– Aldous Huxley
