The Teacup Poodle is a type of Toy Poodle shrunken down through selective breeding.

All Poodles come from the same bloodline and the Teacup is no exception. The Teacup is just an informal name for any Poodle less than nine inches tall and six pounds. The smallest Teacups can grow to be as small as six inches and only two pounds!

The Teacup name was given by breeders who arbitrarily decided to describe all Poodles under nine inches as Teacups.

Teacup dogs are quickly rising in popularity because of their irresistible tiny faces. Many people think their mini size and teddy bear-like faces are adorable, so aesthetics play a huge role in the breeding of Teacup Poodles.

Unlike what some breeders might lead you to believe, ‘Teacup’ is not a recognized type of Poodle. It is just a variation of the Toy Poodle.

The American Kennel Club classifies all Poodles shorter than 10 inches as “Toy.” There are no official breed standards that recognize the Teacup clarification. The Kennel Club only acknowledges three size variations: Standard, Mini, and Toy.

Just because it is not a recognized size does not mean they cannot be registered with The American Kennel Club. Most Teacups are officially registered as a Toy.

Teacup Poodles are one of the smallest dogs in the world. Their size is very convenient for the city dweller that lives in a small apartment, or the globe trotter who is going from new place to new place.  Their small size does not mean that they lose any of the Poodle’s personality and temperament. They are super smart, friendly, adorable and love to play. They are also attention seekers and need to be with their person or family constantly.