Teacup Goldendoodles 101: Size, Temperament, and Health Guide (2024)

Have you heard about Teacup Goldendoodles? These minuscule pups pack a lot of personality in that tiny package. In this article, we’re going to learn all about Teacup Goldendoodles – what’s good about them, what’s bad about them, and everything in between. Let’s dive in!

What Is A Teacup Goldendoodle?

A Teacup Goldendoodle is the smallest variation of the Golden Retriever-Poodle mix. Teacup Goldendoodles are usually created by using Toy Poodles in the mix. Although all Goldendoodles are very popular, the smaller Mini Teacup Goldendoodles are extremely sought-after thanks to their small size and equally amazing traits as their larger counterparts.

The Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA) categorizes Goldendoodles in the Standard, Medium, Miniature, and Petite range. As the smallest of the bunch, Toy a.k.a Teacup Goldendoodles fit within the Petite size range.

However, as the Goldendoodle isn’t an AKC recognized breed, there’s much room for debate about which sizes are exactly considered Teacup Goldendoodles or Toy Goldendoodles. People usually refer to Teacup Goldendoodles as these Toy-sized pups that fall on the smaller end of the scale.

Goldendoodle Generations

Like other Goldendoodles, the Teacup Goldendoodle can come in a variety of different generations. Here’s what each generation represents:

Those extremely mini Teacup Goldendoodles don’t tend to come in first-generation mixes. For health reasons, crossing together a large Golden Retriever with a Toy Poodle isn’t a common practice. Instead, breeders who specialize in smaller Teacup and Mini Goldendoodles usually cross F1, F1b, F2, or F2b Mini Goldendoodles back to Toy Poodles.

In fact, it’s fairly difficult to predict how first-generation Goldendoodles turn out. So, crossing Miniature Goldendoodles back to Toy Poodles gives us much more predictability in terms of their size and other characteristics.

Teacup Goldendoodles: Size

As we mentioned earlier, Teacup Goldendoodles are the smallest variation of the Goldendoodle crossbreed and they fall within the Toy size range.

Generally, Toy Goldendoodles weigh between 10 to 25 pounds and they’re less than 15 inches tall. However, many people consider Teacup Goldendoodles as those pups who are within the 10 to 15 pound weight range. Naturally, they’ll also be slightly shorter than larger Toy Goldendoodles.

Here’s a size comparison of all sizes of Goldendoodles:

As we can see from the size comparison above, there’s quite a difference between Standard and Teacup Goldendoodles. Even Mini Goldendoodles are considerably larger compared to the micro mini Teacup Goldendoodles!

Teacup Goldendoodle Personality & Temperament

Teacup Goldendoodles are very much similar to their larger counterparts. They’re extremely people-focused pups with boundless energy and the sweetest temperament. They make friends everywhere they go. Overall, just the perfect happy-go-lucky Dood!

These fun-sized pups are also extremely intelligent and praised for their trainability. Although larger Standard Goldendoodles make great therapy and service dogs, the mini Teacup Goldendoodle does not fall far behind with its wits and smarts.

Thanks to their affectionate nature and friendly demeanor, Teacup Goldendoodles are the perfect cuddly companions. They even look like real-life tiny teddy bears. This adorable Dood can get along with anyone and everyone, and they make wonderful family pets. Additionally, they also exhibit much of the same excitability. But thanks to their smaller size, they won’t be able to knock down children as easily as larger dogs.

On the other hand, it’s important to note that they usually they usually bond very strongly with their humans. As a result, they can develop separation anxiety. For this reason, leaving them alone for long periods of time is not the best way to go.

And just like larger Goldendoodles, the mini Teacup Goldendoodles are equally as energetic and active. However, as they’re considerably smaller and have shorter legs, they won’t have the same stamina as larger dogs.

Nevertheless, don’t think that Teacup Goldendoodles are just lap dogs that spend their days on the couch. They still require plenty of physical and mental stimulation throughout the day. In fact, if your Dood gets too bored and isn’t stimulated enough, they might become destructive or start exhibiting bad behaviors. In addition to your pup’s daily exercise, be sure to have plenty of enrichment toys and interactive games at hand.

Health Problems Of Teacup Goldendoodles

The great thing about all Doodles is that as hybrid breeds, they are said to benefit from hybrid vigor. To put it simply, crossbreeds have a more varied genetic pool, which makes them less susceptible to certain genetic conditions that are common in their purebred parents.

On the other hand, this does not mean that all Doodles are extremely healthy and never experience any health issues. They can still inherit certain conditions from either of their parents, especially if the breeder hasn’t done a thorough health panel on their breeding dogs. For this reason, it’s crucial that you only adopt your puppy from a reputable, ethical breeder that has done all the necessary health and genetic testing before breeding new litters.

So, just like larger Standard and Mini Goldendoodles, Teacup Goldendoodles are prone to similar health issues. These include hip and elbow dysplasia, eye diseases like progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) and cataracts, heart disorder called subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS), Addison’s Disease, von Willebrand’s Disease, hypothyroidism, and bloat.

Fortunately, Teacup Goldendoodles aren’t as prone to hip dysplasia nor bloat like their larger counterparts. However, like other smaller breeds, the Teacup Goldendoodle is at a higher risk of patellar luxation, where the kneecap moves out of its place.

In addition to that, they’re also prone to skin sensitivities, allergies, food intolerances, ear infections, and general digestive issues. All of which are common in all types of Doodles.

Health Problems Associated With Unethical Breeding

Although Teacup Goldendoodles are wildly popular and so mind-blowingly adorable, the teacup size is a controversial one. Mainly because of the ethics and how breeders choose to produce this size.

Unfortunately, there are countless unethical breeders out there who aim to breed the smallest Teacup Goldendoodles by using irresponsible breeding practices. Many of them continuously breed together runts of the litters to produce abnormally small Goldendoodles.

Although there’s nothing wrong with adopting the smallest puppy in the litter, breeding together runts can result in unhealthy litters. It’s not uncommon for runt puppies to come with serious health conditions, such as heart problems or other genetic defects. As a result, when crossing together unhealthy dogs, it’s easy to predict that their litters will very likely inherit similar health conditions.

Additionally, unethical breeders and puppy mills don’t tend to take good care of their puppies. So, it’s not uncommon for the puppies’ growth to stunt, as they aren’t fed enough food and otherwise have no possibility to develop properly. Again, this can cause serious health conditions. And if someone would use these pups as breeding dogs in the future, their litters will likely suffer from similar disorders.

What’s more, some breeders also use dogs who have the dwarfism gene to produce super mini Teacup Goldendoodles. Doods with the dwarfism gene typically have shorter, stubby legs, but the rest of their body develops as normal. However, as you might guess, this can introduce a wide range of other health issues into the mix.

Commonly, the dwarfism gene comes with hormonal problems and can lead to hypothyroidism and issues with the reproductive system. They’re also prone to skeletal problems, which can lead to overall discomfort and pain, difficulty getting up and moving around, joint issues, difficulty breathing, and so forth.

Pros & Cons Of Getting A Teacup Goldendoodle

Teacup Goldendoodles are a great choice for people who love the temperament of the Goldendoodle, but prefer a smaller pup. Due to their size, they aren’t as full-on as the Standard-sized version either. They both have the same amazing qualities and personality traits, but smaller pups just fit it all into a tiny package.

Naturally, thanks to their small stature, Teacup Goldendoodles are perfect companions for apartment living. In contrast, larger Standard Goldendoodles would thrive best in a more spacious home with a fenced backyard, where they have plenty of room to romp around and spend all that excess energy.

Moreover, Teacup Goldendoodles also require less grooming, as you won’t be spending nearly as much time on your daily brushing sessions, regular haircuts, or even bathing. Additionally, they’re also easier to manage and control. You’ll likely have less issues with managing the leash and your pup won’t accidentally knock over a child when they get overly excited.

They also require less exercise, as their stamina doesn’t match larger Goldendoodles. However, this can also be a con for some people, as Teacup Goldendoodles won’t be able to keep up with you on long hikes.

In terms of other drawbacks that come with micro mini Teacup Goldendoodles, you’ll want to carefully consider their potential health issues and do extensive research before choosing a breeder. As we mentioned earlier, many unethical breeders don’t follow responsible breeding practices and oftentimes use unhealthy and abnormally small Goldendoodles to produce new litters.

In addition to that, Teacup Goldendoodles are extremely delicate and fragile. So, if you have young children at home, you’ll want to keep a close eye on their interactions at all times to avoid your pup getting accidentally hurt during playtime.

Teacup Goldendoodle Cost Estimates & Breeders

Teacup Goldendoodles usually come with a heftier price tag than their larger counterparts. You can expect to pay at least $3000 for a Teacup Goldendoodle, if not more. The prices can even go up to $5000. Of course, the cost is also determined by your location. For instance, reputable breeders tend to charge more in highly populated areas, where the overall cost of living is higher.

If you’ve decided to adopt your new puppy from a breeder and not a dog rescue or shelter, be sure to only look at reputable facilities that follow ethical breeding practices. In our Goldendoodle Breeders Directory you’ll find reputable Goldendoodle breeders in various states all across the US and a few of them specialize in Teacup Goldendoodles.

Is A Teacup Goldendoodle The Right Doodle For You?

If you’ve fallen head over heels with the Goldendoodle, but can’t commit to a larger dog, then the much smaller Teacup Goldendoodle might be the right fit for you. They’re equally as charming and friendly as larger Goldendoodles, along with the smarts they’ve inherited from their intelligent parents.

And even though smaller Doods need less exercise and you won’t have to spend as much time on grooming, they still have the same requirements as larger dogs. If you’ve decided to adopt a Teacup Goldendoodle, don’t forget that they also require their daily exercise and playtime, mental stimulation, and regular grooming to keep up with that demanding Doodle coat. Not to mention, as affectionate and social creatures, they’ll thrive on all the attention and cuddles.

Teacup Goldendoodles: Final Thoughts

We hope we managed to answer all of your questions about the adorable tiny Teacup Goldendoodle. Although they come with many perks, you’ll also want to consider the potential downsides, such as common health issues and unethical breeding practices. Above all, be sure to adopt your new puppy from a reputable breeder that only uses responsible breeding methods.By doing so, you’ll most likely get a healthy puppy who’ll enjoy a fulfilled life with you for many years to come.