The Teacup Poodle is a size variation of the regular Poodle. They are even smaller than the Toy Poodle and are most commonly found in the US. They are less than 9 inches tall and weigh less than 6 pounds. No one really knows where the Poodle originated although there are several theories offered. They need a lot of grooming, and despite being small, they still need a large amount of exercise and to understand firmly who the pack leader is. Otherwise behavioral issues will emerge.

Appearance

Teacup Poodles have a slightly square appearance with a rounded head and slight but very definite stop. Their muzzles are long and straight with dark eyes that are oval shaped and set quite far apart. Usually their eyes are black or dark brown. They have long ears that hang close to their heads and are flat. They have tails that are set high on their bodies and carried high too. They have oval shaped feet and arched toes. Their coats are usually curly or corded and comes in solid colours including black, blue, silver, grey, cream and brown.

Temperament

These tiny dogs are incredibly intelligent. It is thought that they are one of the very easiest breeds of dog to train as they pick things up so quickly and easily. They are very sweet and cheerful little dogs, always perky and friendly and wanting to be around people. They are very happy around children and other animals like cats. Even though they are small, they nonetheless make excellent watchdogs and will incessantly if necessary to raise the alarm. They need the right amount of exercise as otherwise they will not be mentally stable and there may be other problems like snapping and too much barking. They must know who the pack leader is and understand their position in the pack. If all the right conditions are in place however, they make wonderful family pets. They are loyal and responsive and a pleasure to be around.

Working and Tasks

In the past, Poodles were used in Germany and France as fun dogs and retrievers of waterfowl. They were also good at sniffing out underground truffles. The French also used Poodles as circus performers as they could be trained so easily. In the 18th Century, small Poodles like Teacup Poodles were popular amongst the Royals. Other attributes of the Teacup Poodle are agility, competitive obedience and performing tricks.