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Teacup Pomeranian: Info, Pictures, Temperament & Traits

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By Nicole Cosgrove

teacup pomeranian on grass

Height: 6–7 inches
Weight: 3–7 pounds
Lifespan: 12–16 years
Colors: Black, black and tan, blue, blue sable, chocolate merle, blue brindle, blue merle, chocolate and tan, cream, cream sable, orange, orange sable, red, red sable, beaver, brindle, chocolate sable, white, wolf sable, beaver sable, tri-colored, black and brindle
Suitable for: Companionship, families, apartment dwellers
Temperament: Loyal, alert, intelligent, vivacious

Teacup Pomeranians are a miniature version of the Pomeranian breed favored by royals throughout history. With their foxy faces and tiny bodies with big personalities, Teacup Pomeranians offer the same desirable traits as the full-size version, including intelligence, alertness, and loyalty, but in a pint size.

The Teacup version of the Pomeranian isn’t a breed but a size. Beyond their miniature stature, these dogs are the same as full-size Pomeranians. Let’s learn more about the Teacup Pomeranian.

Teacup Pomeranians are produced by breeding the runts of full-size Pomeranian litters to get smaller versions of the same breed. They come in a wide variety of colors, from solid colors like black and brown to unique patterns like merle and brindle. Generally, the rarer the color or pattern, the higher the price for the puppy.

Teacup Pomeranian Characteristics

golden teacup pomeranian dog
Image Credit: Amy Devine, Shutterstock
Energy
Trainability
Health
Lifespan
Sociability

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The Earliest Records of Teacup Pomeranians in History

The earliest record of a Pomeranian as a breed is from 1764 in a diary entry of James Boswell’s Boswell on the Grand Tour: Germany and Switzerland.

Prior to the breed’s introduction in the UK, it lacked proper documentation, but it’s believed to have originated from the German Spitz, a similar-looking Spitz breed. The breed itself is thought to have been named for the area of Poland and Germany on the Baltic Sea, Pomerania.

Since then, the British Royal Family helped the breed evolve to what it is today. The Teacup version arose during the craze of teacup dog breeds, generally around the early 2000s.

teacup pomeranian puppy with a basketball on grass
Image Credit: thanai asawaroengchai, Shutterstock

How Teacup Pomeranians Gained Popularity

Small dogs have been popular for about as long as they’ve been around, but Teacup breeds became a big trend as celebrities and socialites began showing their pets off. After that, the general public became more interested in smaller versions of toy dogs that could fit in a designer purse, including the Teacup Pomeranian.

The full-size Pomeranian has been popular for much longer. With its elegant appearance and regal bearing, Pomeranians gained favor among royalty. Its popularity skyrocketed due to Queen Victoria, who fell in love with the breed on a visit to Italy.

Though the original Pomeranians were larger, Queen Victoria’s famous “Windsor’s Marco” only weighed 12 pounds. She exhibited him in 1891, leading Pomeranian breeders to select smaller dogs for breeding. During her lifetime, the Pomeranian breed decreased by 50% due to selective breeding.

Formal Recognition of the Teacup Pomeranian

After Queen Victoria, the Pomeranian gained its own breed club in 1891 with a full breed standard. The first member of the breed was registered to the American Kennel Club (AKC) in the US in 1898 but gained official recognition in 1900.

The first Pomeranian to win in the Toy Group at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show was Glen Rose Flashaway, which happened in 1928. It wouldn’t be until 1988 that the first Pomeranian, Great Elms Prince Charming II, won Best in Show.

The Teacup Pomeranian is not officially recognized as a breed or variety by any of the breed associations or kennel clubs, however. Though its conformation, colors, and markings may fall within the breed standards, it is not the appropriate size for show quality.

teacup pomeranian dog
Image Credit: thanai asawaroengchai, Shutterstock

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Top 3 Unique Facts About Teacup Pomeranians

1. Two Pomeranians Were Among the Three Dogs That Survived the Titanic

Several dogs were on board the RMS Titanic, which sank in 1912. Though many perished with their owners, two of the surviving three dogs were Pomeranians, including a Pomeranian named Lady owned by Margaret Hays.


2. Teacup Breeds Are So Named Because They Can Fit in a Teacup

Teacup breeds, including the Teacup Pomeranian, are created from toy or miniature dog breeds. They gained their “teacup” name because they can fit snugly in a teacup, even if they outgrow that cute image in adulthood.


3. Teacup Breeding Is Not as Cute as the Puppies

Teacup dogs are controversial for good reason. Ethical breeding is selecting the best specimens to produce healthy dogs with good temperaments or abilities, but Teacup Pomeranians are bred specifically for their small size. This can mean deliberately inbreeding runts to produce stunted puppies, intentionally starving puppies to inhibit growth, or breeding dogs with known health conditions.

close up portrait of teacup pomeranian puppy
Image Credit by: otsphoto, Shutterstock

Does the Teacup Pomeranian Make a Good Pet?

Teacup Pomeranians have similar traits to standard Pomeranians. They’re intelligent and easy to train, affectionate and loyal to owners, and good with children that understand how to interact with a small dog appropriately. For apartment dwellers or more laid-back owners, the Pomeranian requires little exercise and is a happy companion.

Unfortunately, Teacup Pomeranians are not bred for health or temperament, so they can suffer from health problems like seizures, hypoglycemia, collapsing trachea, respiratory problems, digestive problems, and blindness, particularly with the merle gene. Breeding practices can also contribute to a risk for liver shunts, which can be expensive to treat with a poor prognosis.

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Conclusion

There’s no doubt that Teacup Pomeranians are an adorable and popular breed, but that comes at a high cost, both in price and in health. Though these dogs can be loyal companions, it’s best to opt for a standard, but still tiny, Pomeranian instead.


Featured Image Credit: love_studio, Shutterstock

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