Teacup Poodle Care

The Teacup Poodle: Tiny. Fragile. Active. And expensive. The Teacup is simply a smaller "sub-variation" of the Toy Poodle, and like the Toy Poodle, the care needed for these little dogs is quite time-consuming. And though they normally weigh less than five pounds, owners everywhere are more than willing to learn how to take care of a Toy Poodle of this size.

Below you'll find plenty of details on how to care for a Toy Poodle: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more. For answers to your questions about Teacup Poodle care, read on!

As a breed variant, Toy Poodle exercise requirements aren't too extensive--and Teacup Poodle activity needs are even less so. The main idea to keep in mind in regards to exercising these tiny dogs is safety! It's recommended that you exercise your Teacup indoors--but if you must be outside, you'll need to closely supervise your fragile little dog at every moment.

Since this lively breed will fulfill much of its daily activity needs just running around being its busy-bodied self, Teacup Poodles will be fine with only 20-30 minutes of exercise per day; this you can accomplish with a couple of short walks and a brief play period. And you can start exercising your Teacup puppy at about 10 weeks of age by taking it on very short (5-minute) walks around the living room or den--then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

Some obvious precautions will need to be taken, though, when exercising your Teacup Poodle. First and foremost is that these minuscule dogs are extremely delicate, and can be injured by something as simple as a hard jerk on a leash. Puppies younger than seven months old shouldn't be taxed too much, and shouldn't jump, run, or climb stairs very often; doing so can cause serious injury. If you do walk your Teacup Poodle outdoors, use of a leash is a must. These dogs can be hurt easily, and are in danger of being harmed if they run off--but be sure to use the leash gently, and use a slow walking pace to ensure the dog can keep up with you! And finally: Teacup Poodles are very loyal and form strong bonds with their human owners, so they'll respond much better to exercises you perform together.

Safeguards aside, you'll want to exercise your Teacup Poodle a little bit every single day. These little dogs already tend to be fussy and high-strung, and a lack of activity will make those issues much more prevalent. Even if it's a walk around the yard and a brief game of Fetch the Toy in the living room, try to make your Teacup move some--both you and the dog will be better for it! Here are a few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 10-minute walks per day (indoors or out) is a good target
• Fetch: Can be as simple as throwing a toy around the living room
• Hide-and-Seek: Give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Yard Romp: Take your Teacup into your fenced yard for some horseplay
• Blowing Bubbles: Your Teacup Poodle will love "attacking" the bubbles you blow

It's a good idea to always give your Teacup Poodle access to several balls and toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy--which, chances are, it'll have plenty of! If possible, it's also good to exercise the dog at the same time every day, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs need little care. Toy Poodle shedding is minimal, and drooling practically never happens.

Poodle coats are tightly curled and medium in length--and one of the breed's best qualities is that Teacups, like the Mini, Standard, and Toy Poodle, shed very little. Owners won't need to bother with much hair cleanup, though they will need to groom their Teacups frequently to avoid tangles and mats.

And Teacup Poodles hardly ever drool. If your Teacup is drooling excessively, it's probably a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is necessary.

The Toy Poodle diet, like every breed, will need to include food that has plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. Premium dry food, wet or canned food, and fresh meats and vegetables are all acceptable Toy Poodle food--but make sure to feed your Teacup often, as these tiny dogs are prone to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if not fed frequently.

But how much to feed a Toy Poodle? As you can probably guess, it won't be much! The typical adult Teacup, depending on its age and activity level, will only need ½ cup of dry food (or less) per day, divided into three meals. Toy Poodle puppy food portions are even smaller: a five-month-old Teacup, for example, will only need 5-6 pieces of dry kibble per meal--but these pups will need to be fed four times a day (not three) until they mature. For further details on feeding these little dogs from puppyhood through maturity, refer to this Toy Poodle feeding guide (and for simplicity, dry food portions are listed):

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in 1-2 pieces of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a bit more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

Though the above-listed portions seem incredibly small, they're ample for these tiny dogs--so try and stick to them if possible. Owners are often prone to overfeeding their Teacups; a fat Toy Poodle this small will have major health problems and a significantly shortened lifespan. Try to control your Teacup Poodle's weight by feeding it on a regular schedule and avoiding "table scrap feeding." Unlike most other breeds, leaving food in your Teacup's bowl is okay due to these dogs' hypoglycemic natures--but be sure to monitor your Teacup's food intake carefully overall.

And with its small size, it won't be hard to tell if your Teacup Poodle is overweight! If the little dog is becoming fat, decrease its daily food consumption by a bit, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.

Opinions differ over what's the best dog food for Toy Poodles of this size--and while dry, wet/canned, and raw/fresh foods are all okay to feed these dogs, the most logical and nutritious choice is premium dry food, particularly the kind formulated for small breeds. This high-quality food, while more expensive and difficult to obtain, provides the balanced nutrition your Teacup Poodle will need to maintain its health in the long term.

Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Nutro are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of small-breed dry food.