Do Teacup Poodles Shed?

If you thought Miniature Poodles are small, then you haven’t yet been introduced to the Teacup Poodle. This teeny-tiny dog is under 10 inches tall and weighs six pounds or less.

These Poodles make for an adorable, portable four-legged companion.

And just like other Poodle sizes, Teacup Poodles are incredibly low-shedding. They are even lower shedding than Miniature Poodles since they’re smaller.

That said, grooming a Teacup Poodle is a two-pronged challenge, as both its coat and its size make grooming difficult.

In this post, I’ll discuss more about the dog’s rate of shedding, what grooming a Teacup Poodle is like, and other traits and attributes to help you decide if it’s right for you!

Teacup Poodle Shedding

Poodles come in a multitude of sizes, from Standard to Miniature, Toy, and now Teacup.

No matter how big the dog is (or how small, in this case), the Poodle is considered one of the lowest-shedding dogs around.

So why do Poodles shed so little?

There are several factors at play, and most of them are related to the dog’s coat.

The main reason that Poodles don’t shed is that their coat never stops growing. This means it takes much longer for the dog to go through the four stages of hair growth compared to heavy-shedding dogs.

Put differently, their hair is more like human hair. Some hair will fall out (eventually), but it takes a lot longer than dogs that are constantly dropping hair everywhere.

Another reason for the lack of shedding is that Poodles are covered from head to toe in tightly-wound curls, and those curls can help trap the loose hair. So when hair naturally falls off the Poodle, as it will of any dog, the curls can catch and trap the hair.

As a result, when you go to groom your Teacup Poodle (more on that to come), much of the hair comes out in the brush instead of falling onto your floors and furniture.

To further benefit the Poodle, it has a single coat.

And this means they don’t blow their coat every summer and winter, creating a flurry of hair all over your house that lasts for weeks at a time.

Instead, the rate of shedding you’ll see from a Teacup Poodle is consistent and unchanging throughout the year.

Of course, issues with the dog, such as allergies or dietary deficiencies, can cause more shedding than usual. But generally speaking, Poodles shed at the same (low) rate all year around.

One final thing worth noting is that the smaller a Poodle gets, the less it sheds compared to the Standard Poodle.

And the reason is that a smaller dog has less surface area for shedding. Thus, a Teacup Poodle would technically be the lowest-shedding of all the Poodles since it’s the smallest.

Granted, the reduction in shedding may not make a significant difference, but it can potentially make some difference, especially compared to a Standard Poodle.

Grooming Your Teacup Poodle

While cleaning up loose dog hair in large quantities is not really in your future as a Teacup Poodle owner, spending lots of time grooming your dog is.

Poodles don’t only possess single, curly coats, after all. The hair is incredibly dense as well. That makes brushing through it a challenge.

I would suggest using a slicker brush for the job. The wire bristles are fine enough that they can reach longer or shorter areas of your Teacup Poodle’s fur alike.

Ideally, you could even use a brush designed for small dogs. The brushes are much smaller than usual, so you’re less likely to hurt your Teacup Puddle when combing.

Some Poodle owners opt for combing with both a bristle brush and a pin brush. If that’s what you want to do, you can find a small bristle brush per the link above as well.

Even though your Teacup Poodle doesn’t shed much, I’d still suggest brushing the dog close to every day and no more infrequently than once every two days.

The reason? That curly, dense coat is prone to matting, which can be very painful for your dog. And brushing regularly can help prevent and remove mats.

To keep your Teacup Poodle’s coat pristine, it’s also worth planning to bathe them at least every two weeks and possibly every week. You can go as long as a month if your pup doesn’t spend much time outside.

When bathing the Teacup Poodle, always use dog-friendly shampoo and lukewarm water. You can get away with cleaning such a small dog in your bathroom sink, or you can use a basin.

Trimming a Poodle is what the bulk of the maintenance goes into.

Poodles can have all sorts of cuts and styles that show off their personality. You usually see this with Standard Poodles, but Teacup Poodles can sport different cuts as well.

Here are some that you can choose from.

• Teddy bear cut: Make your already adorable Teacup Poodle even cuter and more irresistible by giving them a teddy bear cut. This soft, rounded cut produces photo-worthy results.
• Modern cut: A modern cut features shorter body hair, while the hair around the tail, ears, and head is long. Your Teacup Poodle will look fluffy without being overly so.
• German cut: The German cut or German trim is all about creating angles to make the ears and body fur look shorter while the leg fur is longer.
• Continental cut: If your Teacup Poodle is someday destined for show dog status, a continental cut will prove it. This cut involves carefully shaving the tail (but only some of it), the feet, the throat, and the face. Then, you’d craft pom-poms of hair around the dog’s hips, ankles, and tail. It’s a complex cut, which is why it’s typically best to have a professional groomer do it, but it looks great.
• Puppy cut: The timeless puppy cut is always a strong choice for small dogs like the Teacup Poodle, as it brings out their most youthful visage.

Are Teacup Poodles Hypoallergenic?

Poodles are generally considered “hypoallergenic,” and since Teacup Poodles are the same dog but smaller, they would logically be deemed hypoallergenic too.

However, the reality is that no dog is 100% hypoallergenic.

Why?

Because as we explain here, the main reason most people have an allergic reaction to dogs in the first place isn’t so much the hair itself.

Instead, it’s typically the dog’s dander (dead skin flakes).

And since all dogs have skin (and produce other things that can trigger pet allergies, such as saliva, sweat, and urine), all dogs can trigger a reaction.

However, some dogs are deemed “hypoallergenic” if they produce less dander and shed very little hair. On that last point, the reason many low-shedding dogs are considered hypoallergenic is that dander sticks to hair.

So the less a dog sheds, the less dander they’re likely to spread around.

In any case, regardless of how you label it, Teacup Poodles are likely to be more tolerable among allergy sufferers than the average dog, but not completely. It really depends on the individual dog and how sensitive the person is to it.

So if you have any concerns, it may be best to speak with an allergist or doctor.

Is a Teacup Poodle Right for You?

Do you still have some questions about the Teacup Poodle as you debate whether you should adopt this dog? Here’s some info to help with your decision.

The Teacup Poodle is a designer dog, meaning it was bred for no other purpose than for its looks and personality. It’s one of countless dog breeds that has been miniaturized over the years.

Here’s a video of the too-cute Teacup Poodle!

Teacup Poodles are high-energy, sociable, alert, bright, affectionate, loving, and playful dogs.

They love sitting in the lap of their favorite person and relaxing just as much as they enjoy a rousing game of fetch or a run around the yard.

If you’re an apartment dweller, a Teacup Poodle is perfect for you. This dog is small enough that they won’t feel cramped, and you won’t feel like your dog is taking up too much valuable room. It’s a win-win!

You needn’t even have a very large park in the vicinity, either. All you need is a decently-sized stretch of lawn, and a tiny dog like the Teacup Poodle can tire itself out by running around.

How do they behave around other pets?

Poodles can usually befriend other dogs in the house through both early socialization and some behavioral training at their current age.

That said, not all dogs are the best matchup for the Teacup Poodle. Mid-sized and larger dogs can outmuscle the tiny Poodle and possibly cause injuries.

Teacup Poodles are more commensurately sized with cats, so they may have a more friendly relationship than you’d expect if you have felines in the house. That said, socialization is still key.

The high-energy quotient of a Teacup Poodle means the dog can keep up with your kids no matter their age.

However, I wouldn’t suggest a Teacup Poodle in a house with very young kids. The kids can roughhouse with the dog too much.

It may be worth waiting until the children are older and understand canines better before introducing a Teacup Poodle.

Toy Poodles can be surprisingly big barkers, too, and this trait extends to the Teacup Poodle as well. So you may have to train your dog early on to be quiet!  

Bottom Line

Poodles are among the lowest shedding dogs you’ll find, and Teacup Poodles are the smallest Poodles on the block, so they typically shed the least of all.

That said, you cannot get around the high-maintenance grooming requirements of a Poodle if yours is the teacup variety, and grooming is made even harder due to the dog’s small size.

Also, as with any dog that has hair, it is possible for Teacup Poodles to shed excessively due to health reasons. For example, dry skin, poor diet, fleas, and illness.

So if you are noticing shedding and have any concerns at all, it may be worth speaking with your local veterinarian just to be on the safe side.

In most cases, however, the shedding should be very minimal.

And given how adorable and affectionate Teacup Poodles are, they could be just the dog you’ve been looking for!