Have you ever seen a tea
cup poodle? If you did, you might have thought you were seeing a
poodle puppy – they are so tiny that it is sometimes hard to
believe they are full grown adults. Let’s take a tour of the
world of tea cup poodles and what makes them so loveable.
Basic Info About Tea Cup
Poodles
Tea cup poodles (also know as
teacup poodles) are an unofficial size variation of the much larger
standard poodle. They fit within the toy poodle classification, but
they are smaller than the AKC toy poodle requirements. Consequently,
this name of “tea cup poodle” is the name given to these extra small
poodles by the breeders, but there is no universal standard at this
point.
What Do They Look Like?
Tea cup poodles look like
miniature poodles. They are less than nine inches in height, and
they weigh less than six pounds. They are the smallest type of
poodle.
For poodles, there are three
types of grooming clips – the “pet clip” where they are cut to have
short hair all over the dog’s body, the “English saddle” clip, and
the “Continental” clip, which is the one we tend to think of for the
traditional poodle look. That’s the one where there are bracelets
left at the ankles and pom-poms left on the tail and hips. That is
the clip required for show dogs – most others opt for the pet clip.
The tea cup poodle’s hair can
be curly or corded. It can be any one of many solid colors. Black,
blue, silver, gray, cream, white, brown, apricot, and red are
common. The tail is set high on the dog’s body and is usually docked
to about half its natural length.
The dewclaws on the feet are
usually removed. The feet are small and compact, oval, with arched
toes. They are webbed.
Ears lie flat and smooth next
to the head. Eyes are oval or round and dark, with a lot of
expression in them.
The head is round with a long
muzzle, and the neck is solid. There should be about the same length
as height at the withers (shoulders).
Temperment Of A Tea Cup
Poodle?
Tea cup poodles, like other
sizes of poodle, are smart, sensitive, and extremely trainable. They
learn tricks easily, and love to please their family. They want to
be included in all family activities, and will feel snubbed if not
participating.
Activities And
Expectations Of A Tea Cup Poodle
Tea cup poodles need plenty
of exercise – and indoor play is often not enough. They need to
walk! They enjoy daily walks and playing in the water is a favorite.
Without enough exercise, tea cup poodles can become high-strung and
nervous.
Without proper socialization,
tea cup poodles can be reserved with strangers. The efforts toward
training and socializing will usually pay off in the long run. The
owner needs to be certain that the poodle regards him as the pack
leader, or it may snap or growl at the least provocation.
Are They Watchdog
Material?
Like other poodles, tea cup
poodles can be trained to be watchdogs. Without any boundaries or
rules, they will be noisy, barking at the tiniest change or
difference. People walking past on the street will cause them to
sound the alarm – and they will become a neighborhood nuisance. Tea
cup poodle owners need to train their puppies from infancy, giving
them limitations right from the start so they will learn when to
bark and when to be silent.
The Health Of A Tea Cup
Poodle – What’s The Real Story?
There are many diseases that
poodles are prone to, primarily those of the joints and eyes.
Cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy can end in blindness.
Runny eyes and ear infections are also typical of the breed. Other
common diseases are diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, allergies,
and skin conditions. Brown poodles tend to get gray at an early ago.
Their life expectancy as 12 – 15 years.
Tell Me History – Or: Why
The Weird Haircut?
The origin of the poodle is
not clear. The most convincing story is that it came from France.
The name “poodle” is derived from the German word “pudel,” which
means “plays in water.” In France, however, this dog is known as the
“Caniche,” or duck dog. This makes sense, considering that the
poodle was used as a gun dog, to retrieve waterfowl while hunting.
The hunters would cut their dogs hair to make it easier for the dog
to swim. They left hair over the joints to keep them safe from the
sharp rocks and reeds underwater.
Attention: To discover how
YOU can have the Happiest, Healthiest and Best Behaved Poodle,
get a copy of this Poodle Guide
NOW!
