Note:

The foregoing article is a position held by many people. It does not take into consideration that at a certain time, several years ago, people did use the term "Teacup" and people then knew what the meaning was. The "Teacup" term that people use to describe the smallest Chihuahuas came into being in the 1950's when ads could be found for "Teacup" puppies, indicating they were the very tiny ones. Since the breed registries do not recognize the size difference of the Chihuahuas, the school of thought now is there is no such thing as a "Teacup" and most of the people who aren't from that era will argue that point. It's not to say they are wrong, and it is not to say we old timers are wrong, either!

There's one point in the following Chihuahua Club of America's statement about "Teacup" Chihuahuas I do not agree with. The tiniest puppies are not necessarily premature. For the past 20 years that I have been breeding Chihuahuas, I have litters from lines that have consistently produced the very tiny puppies each and every time a litter was whelped, all puppies in the litter of a consistent tiny size and all healthy. That's when genetics, not health or premature birth, are responsible for the puppies' size.


Buyers Beware:

The puppies being advertised and sold now as "Teacups", "Pocket Size", or "Miniature"  usually weigh  5lbs or more when they are grown. I have seen  huge puppies that were sold as "Teacups."  I have also seen puppies that were weaned at 4 weeks or less, claimed by the breeder that they were 8 weeks or older and sold for "Teacups." Then the puppies become ill because they have been weaned too young and their digestive tracts are not accustomed to solid food.
The very tiny puppies are not normally as hardy as the stronger, bigger puppies. They do require more care and more attention. They ARE NOT good pets for small children, simply because they are so fragile and get stressed so easily.

As to the monetary value of the "Teacups", most breeders ask more for the really tiny puppies because of the extra time, expense and effort it takes to get them to the point where it is safe to let them go to a new home, normally not before they are 12 weeks old and stable from weaning and shots. Working double and triple shifts to insure the puppies remain healthy gets a little pricey!

Geraldine Whitaker

Sponsored by The Chihuahua Club of America


The official A.K.C. Breed Standard describes the Chihuahua as a small dog that comes in two varieties or coats types. The differences in coat type (the Long Coat or the Smooth Coat) is the only official description used to identify a difference within this breed. Our Standard does not categorize the Chihuahua by size.

For the purpose of showing and record keeping, the American Kennel Club includes the Chihuahua (along with 17 other breeds) in the Toy Group. Therefore, irrespective of their weight or physical stature, ALL Chihuahua registered with A.K.C. are considered to be a toy breed of dog.

As with all living things, there will be a size variance between individual dogs within this breed. Look within the human family - brothers and sisters will differ in height and in weight, as well as other physical attributes. They are described as humans, male or female, and there is seldom if ever a need to break the description down further. The same holds true in regard to the Chihuahua; they are Chihuahuas-Long Coat/Smooth Coat, Male/Female.

Unfortunately, the additional adjectives used to describe the size differences and physical appearances are many; and have been misused for so long they now seem legitimate. Teacup, Pocket Size, Tiny Toy, Miniature or Standard - are just a few of the many tags and labels that have been attached to this breed over the years. The Chihuahua Club of America is concerned that these terms may be used to entice prospective buyers into thinking that puppies described in this way are of greater monetary value. They are not; the use of these terms is incorrect and misleading.

Occasionally, within a litter, there may be a puppy that is unusually small. That pup is a small Chihuahua and any other breakdown in description is not correct. To attach any of these additional labels to a particular pup is to misrepresent that animal as something that is rare or exceptional and causes a great deal of confusion among those new fanciers who are looking for a Chihuahua.

The Chihuahua Club of America does not endorse or condone the use of any of these terms and would caution the perspective puppy buyer not to be misled by them. We recognize that many Chihuahua fanciers do want the very small puppy. While they are adorable, and can be perfectly healthy, the buyer should be cautioned as to the extra care that may be required with regard to the general health and well-being.

The TEACUP puppy is, in reality, a premature puppy. Most females are bred on the ninth through the fifteenth day of their heat cycles. Eggs can be fertilized for up to 72 hours after any of these breedings. Therefore, it is possible to have puppies conceived up to a week or so younger than the puppies first conceived in a litter. However, when the first puppies conceived are mature and ready to be born, labor starts and all the puppies will be born, no matter when they were fertilized.

This explains why you have some bigger and some smaller puppies in a litter. There are no "runts" In a litter, merely younger puppies. These younger puppies may not be fully developed. Their problems may be hidden until later in puppy hood.

Some of the problems that may be encountered are heart or lung problem, luxating patella's, or hydrocephalic or "water" on the brain. Some of the smaller, yet just as serious, problems that may occur are hypoglycemia, (low blood sugar) or seizures.

©The Chihuahua Club of America

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