Fun Teacup Chihuahua Facts For Kids

The teacup Chihuahua, as the name suggests is one of the smallest dogs there is. It is not a breed per se. Small-sized Chihuahuas are referred to as teacups, mini, miniature, or toy Chihuahuas. The name Chihuahua comes from the Mexican state of Chihuahua. A common notion is that they are the descendants of Techichi dogs.

In 1908, the AKC recorded the first registered Chihuahua, a little boy named Beppie. The average weight of this species ranges between 2-4.4 lb (0.9-2 kg) with a height of approximately 6 in (15 cm).

Though this breed is small, yet their personality and temperament are a striking contrast to their physical appearance and are quite indomitable. Teacup puppies come in a large range of colors to choose from, ranging from brown, black, fawn, white, chocolate to golden colors.

The options do not stop there as you can opt for a combination of those primary colors as well.

The coats of this breed can be distinguished into two parts: long or short-haired coats. Due to their small size, you can easily carry a teacup Chihuahua in your arms, close to your heart.

For more relatable content, check out these wirehaired vizsla facts and Westiepoo facts for kids.

Teacup Chihuahua Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a teacup Chihuahua?

A teacup Chihuahua is one of the tiniest dogs in the entire world. They are actually Chihuahuas of smaller sizes and have been a popular pet for quite some time now. They are charming, compact dogs with immense personality and loyalty.

What class of animal does a teacup Chihuahua belong to?

They belong to the mammal class of animals and fall in the Canidae family.

How many teacup Chihuahua are there in the world?

Teacup Chihuahua is classified under the 'not extinct' category as they are bred globally round the year. They are a popular family pet, especially in North America. The litter size ranges from 2-5.

Where does a teacup Chihuahua live?

A small teacup Chihuahua falls under the category of a 'pet' dog and that too a popular one at that. Due to the above-mentioned reason, it is usually found in a house. They are considered a very popular ‘apartment pet’.

What is a teacup Chihuahua habitat?

Tiny teacup Chihuahuas are bred for a warm, indoor climate with enough space to play and release their energy. They are not comfortable in cold, harsh outdoor weather and might require a sweater to venture outside during a cold winter. They love occasional exposure to sunlight.

Who do teacup Chihuahuas live with?

As they are bred to be pets, they enjoy staying with people. They love to interact with humans.

However, due to their finicky personality and high temperament, they are not recommended in a house with very small children. They want to be the center of attention which they might not be the case when there is a kid in the house. During certain times they tend to get jealous and even attack little kids.

With bigger children at the house who are able to manage this active dog, you can definitely get them as a pet. However, you will still have to provide them with training.

How long does a teacup Chihuahua live?

It is said that small dogs live for a longer time, and a teacup Chihuahua is not an exception. Bred by reputed breeder, the average life span of this tiny teacups dog breed is 12 - 20 year old.

Good health is of utmost importance and meticulous attention should be given to the health issues from which this breed might suffer. Proper attention, detection, and treatment of diseases help in giving a better quality of life to the dog.

How do they reproduce?

Before starting the breeding process, any reputable breeder will hire a veterinarian to evaluate both the male and the female Chihuahuas. The reputable breeder should not breed them during their first heat as their bodies would still not be prepared to handle that.

They should be bred the first time during their second or third heat or before they turn three years old. When the female teacup Chihuahua dog comes into heat and approaches its end, she generally becomes receptive to mating.

A male and a female teacup dog need to mate several times, maybe within the course of a few days, for a successful breeding process. A female Chihuahua’s pregnancy generally lasts for 63 days.

What is their conservation status?

Teacup Chihuahua is currently Not Evaluated or listed on any conservation registry. This indicates that the population of this dog breed is stable and is not on the verge of extinction.

Teacup Chihuahua Fun Facts

What do teacup Chihuahuas look like?

A teacup Chihuahua is a small-sized Chihuahua dog. It is not a breed nor is it a version of a Chihuahua.

It is just the smallest dimension of an adult Chihuahua. These mini Chihuahua dogs have a distinctive and unmistakable ‘rounded’ look: a rounded apple head, big bulging eyes, long-haired, large erect ears, and a small body and frame.

The combination of the rounded look and the small structure makes them look extremely cute. There are generally two variations of the Chihuahua teacup dogs: the long coat and the smooth short coat.

These toy breeds also include the short-hair deer head and the short-hair apple head Chihuahuas. However, the current breed standards which can be registered with the AKC specify only the “apple-head’’ skull conformation.

This apple-head is the hallmark of the Chihuahua breed. The teacup-sized Chihuahua dog needs to be brushed 3-4 times a week so as to reduce shedding and minimize hair loss.

How cute are they?

Because of their tiny frame, teacup Chihuahua dogs look extremely cute. These long-haired dogs can  fit inside a teacup as the name suggests.

The round features of these little dogs help them look cuter. These small dogs' cute and tiny appearance makes them a very popular breed of family dog. It is impossible to not fall in love with this little dog when you see one.

How do they communicate?

A teacup or tiny Chihuahua dog communicates with people and other dogs through signals with intentions. They use a wide range of signals to communicate, be it playful, temperament, or aggressive, or fearful.

It is very important to understand those body languages for fruitful communication; which you can do by observing and training them. At times the signals take place in the blink of an eye, or they might use the same signal for different contexts.

It becomes difficult to understand those signs. For example, something as simple as the wagging of a tail can mean a lot of things.

When it becomes difficult to understand a particular signal, the other signals come to the rescue. All the signals when clustered together help you in getting the real idea behind the communication.

How big is a teacup Chihuahua?

A teacup Chihuahua is a tiny dog. They are actually Chihuahuas dogs who are very small in size, about the size of your palm.

There is no standardized size of these dog breeds. The average size of a miniature Chihuahua is approximately 6 in (15 cm) tall. Compared to this breed, a normal adult Chihuahua dog can grow as big as 9 in (23 cm).

There is not much of a difference in size between a male and a female dog. Terripoos are two to three times bigger than them.

How fast can a teacup Chihuahua run?

A tiny teacup breed dog can run at a speed of anywhere from 8-15 mph (12.9-24.1 kph). Their speed depends on factors like diet and the size of the body.

How much does a teacup Chihuahua weigh?

A mini Chihuahua is a really small dog and can weigh around 5 lb (2.3 kg). They are over 20 times smaller than Great Dane. They are also a bit smaller than Japanese Chin.

What are the male and female names of the species?

The male and female of the species do not have any separate names.

What would you call a baby teacup Chihuahua?

Baby teacup Chihuahuas would be called teacup Chihuahua puppies.

What do they eat?

Teacup Chihuahuas dogs are omnivores. Since they are very small in size they require less amount of food. They also tend to have a weaker digestive system when compared to the majority of other dog breeds. Their primary source of protein is the various forms of meat: chicken, beef, pork, fish, and lamb.

40% of their food should consist of meat. They get their vitamins and minerals from vegetables. Regular potatoes are better to be avoided from their food.

Are they slobbery?

No, they are not excessively slobbery. They can drool when they anticipate food, when they are stressed out, or when they are excited.

Would they make a good pet?

The cute little teacup Chihuahua dog is a charismatic and active dog. They thrive on attention and enjoy interactive games and training with humans and other dogs.

They must have proper training and social meetings so that they can become good family pets. They love pillows and blankets and enjoy making dens out of them and burrowing themselves into them.

No two small Chihuahuas are the same – their personality can range between feisty and energetic to timid and coy. Though these mini Chihuahua dog breeds are considered affectionate, yet they are not recommended in families with very small kids because of their high temperamental nature.

These small dogs have the habit of getting jealous and at times easily provoked. All dog owners should be instilling positive training techniques and spending quality time with your teacup Chihuahua is essential from the very beginning so that they can manage this temperament.

A teacup Chihuahua typically costs $2,000. These designer dogs are expensive and high maintenance so you need to be committed to their care before getting them.

Did you know...

Though the teacup Chihuahua has a lifespan that ranges between 12 - 20 years, yet they might suffer from a lot of health problems. The Chihuahua breed is prone to a number of health problems and genetic defects.

Some of the genetic or size-related issues which the breed faces are collapsed trachea, molera, obesity, cold, hypoglycemia, blood sugar problems, and eye injuries.

They also tend to suffer from heart diseases, epilepsy, patellar luxation, and hydrocephalus. It is hence, very important to monitor the health of your Chihuahua at regular intervals of time and take them to a vet regularly, even when they are still a chihuahua puppy.

Do teacup Chihuahuas bark a lot?

Yes, teacup Chihuahuas tend to bark a lot. They are high-energy dogs and without proper activities, they are not able to release their energies.

During such circumstances, they often resort to high-pitched, monotone bark to get rid of their excess energy. They generally need less exercise than other breeds of dogs.

It is a good practice to take them for 10-15 minutes of walk twice a day, even when they are just a tiny teacup Chihuahua puppy so that they can release their energies.

It also helps to indulge in short and stimulating playing sessions of around 15 minutes. Once they are able to channelize their energies, they will get better at handling themselves.

What is the difference between a teacup Chihuahua and a toy Chihuahua?

Both are the same. According to American Kennel Club, a teacup Chihuahua is not a breed. They are just small-sized species of the Chihuahua breed. Due to their small size, they are given the term teacup Chihuahua or toy Chihuahua.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! For more relatable content, check out these woolly mammoth facts and burmilla facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our Teacup Chihuahua coloring pages.