Breed Spotlight: Teacup Yorkie

Coat Type and Colors

Teacup Yorkies come in four pairs of colors, such as:⁴

• Black and tan
• Blue and gold
• Blue and tan
• Black and gold

Drooling Level

Teacup Yorkies aren't known for drooling excessively.

Ears

Yorkie's ears are pointed, standing upwards. Their coat grows around their ears which can trap dirt and cause an infection. Be sure to keep their fur trimmed around their ears, even if the rest of their coat is kept long.

Shedding and Grooming

Teacup Yorkies are considered hypoallergenic due to their low shedding level. Their coats are long and shiny, requiring daily brushing and weekly baths. You should keep their coat trimmed, especially around the ears and eyes to avoid infections.

Behavior

The teacup Yorkie is bold, confident, and mischievous. Despite their size, they’re energetic dogs who love to play more than you’d expect. Yorkies, in general, are extremely affectionate towards their humans, but they can be cautious around strangers. Some Yorkies can experience separation anxiety if they’re left alone for extended periods.

Exercise Needs

Teacup Yorkies do need moderate amounts of exercise. A walk twice a day should be enough to keep their minds and bodies healthy. This breed does well in small apartments as long as they have plenty of toys and attention from their pet parents.

Are golden retrievers Good with Other Pets?

It depends on the personality of your teacup Yorkie. Some teacup Yorkies can be very territorial which can lead to them picking a fight with other dogs. Early socialization is key to avoiding doggy warfare in your home.

Trainability

Teacup Yorkies can be very stubborn compared to other toy dog breeds. They suffer from “little dog syndrome” and can become territorial over their homes. Training can prove difficult, especially if harsh methods are used. Take advantage of their attention-seeking nature by using positive reinforcement training to correct inappropriate behavior.

Are Teacup Yorkies Good With Kids?

Teacup Yorkies can be good pets for young children, but it depends on the individual child and dog. Due to their size, teacup Yorkies’ bones are very fragile and accidental injuries can occur when playing. There are other options for a good family dog if you have tiny humans who may not be very gentle.

Barking Level

Teacup Yorkies are yappy and loud. Some folks choose to take advantage of this behavior by training them as watchdogs. If this isn’t your goal, or if barking bothers you, a Yorkie may not be for you.

Teacup Yorkie: Fun Facts

Teacup Yorkies behave exactly like the Yorkshire Terrier: playful, loving, and full of energy. A full sized teacup Yorkie will stay at or below 5 pounds. Given that there isn’t an official “teacup” size, you may get a teacup Yorkie as small as 3 pounds!

The advantage of owning a teacup Yorkie — besides having a fashionable companion — is that they require less space than a typical dog. You won’t have to spend as much money on food, leashes, and other products to care for the animal.

However, experts warn that these advantages don’t outweigh major disadvantages: health defects caused by breeding runts of Yorkshire Terrier litters.⁵ Do your due diligence before bringing home your new puppy so you can know how best to care for the dog.