Teacup Puppy Prices in 2024: Purchase Cost by Breed, Vet Bills, and More!

Teacup puppies are miniature versions of their standard-size counterparts. Tons of breeds now have teacup puppies to purchase, usually due to a breeder or two breeding smaller dogs in each breed. For instance, a teacup Pomeranian is a smaller version of the full-sized Pomeranian.

While these puppies are absolutely adorable, there are several negatives to purchasing one. For instance, they tend to be more expensive than other dogs, and there are some ethical concerns surrounding their breeding.

Keep reading to learn everything you need about teacup puppy prices and finding a healthy puppy.

How Much Does a Teacup Puppy Cost?

Teacup puppy prices vary widely depending on the exact type of dog. However, the teacup puppy prices generally range from $500 to $3,000.

Some breeds are commonly found in the teacup size and are much cheaper than rarer breeds. For instance, the Chihuahua and Pomeranian both fall in this category. On the other hand, some breeds, like French Bulldogs, can be exorbitantly expensive in their teacup version, costing as much as $10,000.

Plus, these dogs are also prone to health issues. Therefore, they’re much more likely to end up with higher vet bills. These puppies are more expensive all around.

Other Factors That Influence the Purchase Price of a Teacup Puppy

As we stated above, the breed is the biggest factor in the price of a teacup puppy. Some breeds are very common in teacup sizes and, therefore, less expensive. Some dogs don’t come in teacup size all that often, like Maltese, and they’re often more expensive.

The less available the type of puppy is, the more you can expect to pay for it. The rules of supply and demand also control the prices of puppies.

The lineage and pedigree of the puppy may also matter. However, because teacup dogs are often too little for showing, these factors play less of a role than in standard-size dogs. Still, many breeders will charge more for dogs that come with more desirable features or high-achieving dogs.

The breeder’s reputation also matters. Breeders who perform health testing and provide proper care for their dogs tend to charge more than breeders who don’t. This testing and caring cost money, and that extra cost often get rolled into the puppy’s cost. However, these puppies may be less prone to health problems, so you may actually save more in the long run.

Your location also matters to some extent. Areas with a high cost of living tend to have more expensive breeders. Traveling to a cheaper area may help you save money on a puppy, though you’ll also have to consider the cost of traveling.

Some breeders will charge more for unique markings or specific coat patterns. Sometimes, these markings or colors are seen as rare, which breeders may use to increase the price. However, many high-quality breeders do not do this.

Ironically, smaller puppies are often priced higher in breeders that solely produce teacup dogs. However, smaller puppies are also more likely to have health issues, making them more expensive down the line, too.

The Ethics of Teacup Breeding

While teacup puppies may seem very adorable, breeding and purchasing these dogs is complex.

When you miniaturize dogs, you often end up with serious health problems. To always, but very often. The most common problem is an increase in bone fragility. A dog’s bones are smaller, so they are also more likely to break. Small drops and bumps can be very serious for a dog that hardly weighs a pound.

Dogs are also more prone to hypoglycemia when smaller. This condition occurs when a dog’s blood sugar gets too low. Smaller dogs have smaller stomachs and eat less at a time. This fact leads to a faster decrease in blood sugar. You’ll often have to feed teacup breeds much more often than other canines.

Smaller dogs still have the same number of teeth as larger dogs, so their teeth tend to get crowded in their mouth. This leads to an increase in periodontal disease, which can be potentially serious. Teeth brushing and professional cleanings can help.

All of these problems lead to an increase in vet bills. Teacup dogs are rarely as healthy as their standard-size cousins.

It is possible to breed a healthy teacup dog, and many breeders argue that their methods allow these dogs to live a full lifespan. Very careful breeding and genetic testing can help prevent issues. However, the simple fact is that many breeders who produce teacup dogs aren’t doing so ethically.

When purchasing one of these teacup puppies, we highly recommend doing extra research on the breeder. Insist that genetic testing is done and ask how the breeding pair was chosen.

How Much Do Vet Bills Cost for a Teacup Puppy?

There are many veterinary services that will cost less for teacup puppies than standard-sized dogs. For instance, teacup dogs need less medication as they are smaller. These lower doses are cheaper than the large doses a standard-size dog would need.

Routine care is often about the same or cheaper for a teacup puppy. Vaccinations and other preventative care tend to be cheaper or cost the same. You can expect very similar office visit fees, as vets often don’t charge differently based on the dog’s size.

However, accidents and illnesses tend to occur more often and can be much more expensive. Smaller dogs often have more injuries and complications. Anesthesia is also hard to do with very tiny dogs, which can increase the risk and cost of surgery.

Medical issues are also more common, in general. Hypoglycemia can cost over $1000 to treat, while surgery for a broken leg may cost between $2000 to $5000. Be sure to include these costs when calculating your teacup puppy price.

Your location greatly impacts how much you can expect to pay in vet bills. Areas with a higher cost of living typically charge more for basic services, as the vet has higher overhead costs. Rural areas tend to be much cheaper.

How Much Does Food Cost for a Teacup Puppy?

Luckily, teacup puppies do not eat very much. Therefore, their food costs tend to be pretty inexpensive. However, finding a food that meets their nutritional needs and has small enough pieces can be challenging.

Like all dogs, teacup puppies need a high-quality diet to thrive. A small breed formula is absolutely necessary, as your average dry food will be too large for them to chew. Look for foods that are labeled as being for “mini” or “toy” dogs. Even then, very small dogs may need some trial and error before you find a food they can chew.

Because of this difficulty, many teacup dog owners choose to feed wet food. Because wet food doesn’t have pieces, it is much easier for your dog to chew. Many companies also make small containers of wet food that are more suitable for tiny dogs.

The cost of wet food for teacup dogs is often not much more than kibble, as these dogs eat very little.

Sometimes, teacup puppies need a special diet to control a health problem. If this is the case, you may spend even more on food.

Other Costs to Consider

Just like any dog, teacup puppies need a range of gear to thrive. Often, this gear is cheaper overall because it needs to be very small. However, finding gear that’s small enough for a teacup dog can be challenging and may even require some special ordering.

For instance, finding a collar and leash to fit on a teacup dog can be challenging. You’ll often need to purchase the collar off the internet, as most pet stores don’t carry collars small enough. That requires some extra planning on your part, as you won’t just be able to run out and purchase what you need.

Plus, these special items may be more expensive than the more generic options in a pet store. You often have fewer options to choose from when shopping for a small dog, too. Shopping around for a lower price isn’t always very practical. All of this special gear can increase teacup puppy prices during the first year.

Crates and beds are both also items that need to be smaller for your dog, as well. Many smaller breeds also have a hard time using dog food bowls, as they are often too tall.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Andi Berger/Shutterstock.com