Should I Get A Teacup Puppy For My Kids?

By Cuteness Team

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Puppies and children often are ideal matches for companionship. That being said, however, not all children are well-suited to being around puppies, particularly very small, fragile puppies, such as teacups. Consideration of your child's age and responsibility levels can help make for a happy home.

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Teacup Information

There is no such breed as a "teacup" anything. These puppies just are very small specimens of whatever breed they belong to. As such, they tend to have many health problems and are particularly frail. Toy dogs and puppies in general aren't an ideal match for young children, although older children often do well with smaller dogs.

Hidden Dangers

Your children might not understand completely the care involved in having a puppy companion. A sad reality is that many teacups succumb to broken bones and death at the hands of unsuspecting children who are just wanting to "play" with the puppy. The small size of these tiny pups enables children to pick them up easily, play too rough or forget that they're around. Dropping teacup puppies and dogs can result easily in death. Older children who can understand the rules of playing with a very small puppy, and who can be taught the proper ways to hold and interact with pups may make for ideal companions to even the smallest pups.

Temperament

As far as their temperaments go, teacup puppies often have the same zest for life as their larger counterparts. They want to play games, snuggle, chew on toys and be part of the family. A young puppy has a great chance of getting used to children as opposed to a mature teacup dog who has never been around them.

Considerations

A teacup puppy who is raised with young children may very well become fearful of children due to the roughhousing and typical child behaviors. Young children, such as toddlers and preschoolers, don't naturally understand how to pet or play with a dog. Pulling on fur or tails, or jumping on a dog during play all are common behaviors, but are potentially dangerous nonetheless. If you decide to adopt a teacup puppy into your home, always supervise your children around these small dogs. Allow your puppy a safe place to go outside of the reach and noise of your children. Work with your children on the proper ways to hold and play with your puppy to help prevent tragedies