Teacup Havanese – Your Guide to The Miniature Havanese
The Havanese dog breed is already exceptionally small. The average adult Havanese dog only weighs between 7 and 13 pounds. And yet there is an even smaller breed known as the teacup Havanese.
The original Havanese dogs came from Cuba, where they were brought over from Europe in the 1600s – hence the name Havana-ese. Every Havanese dog is an ideal companion for seniors, children, and honestly for just about any household.
Havanese dogs are known for being cuddly, for having a silky coat, and for forming close bonds with their owners. Teacup Havanese are exactly the same. Even though teacups are not recognized as an official breed, they are still a real thing. They’re the same as their adult counterparts, just smaller and cuter.
Is the Teacup Havanese Real?
Is the teacup Havanese a real dog? A quick online search will yield pretty much no results, and so you’re probably a little confused. Havanese dogs are already considered to be a rare breed in North America, so it’s no surprise that there aren’t many teacup Havanese dogs running around.
However, anything can be bred smaller. By breeding Havanese dogs with smaller breeds of dogs or by selectively breeding the smallest dogs in a brood, it is possible to create teacup Havanese. These dogs are 100% real, they’re simply not recognized officially and you might have a very hard time finding one.
Why A Teacup Havanese?
Let’s say you can get your hands on a teacup Havanese dog. Why should you choose a teacup Havanese over a normal Havanese?
Well, the truth is that teacup breeds, also sometimes called miniatures, have become wildly popular. This is especially true for people living in the city who don’t have enough room for a large dog. Plus, a smaller version of an already adorable Havanese dog is going to be extra cute.
Secondly, teacup dogs are easier to care for. A miniature Havanese will require less space inside of a house or apartment, they eat less food, and they are easier to carry around. They can also be easier to train.
Then there’s the plain fact that a teacup Havanese dog is very rare, and this can always factor into a person’s decision. If you want an extremely rare and adorable miniature, you might want a teacup Havanese dog.
How Do You Make a Teacup Havanese?
Breeding a miniature dog is not easy. There are three methods used to make dogs smaller. You either mix the dog with a smaller breed of dog, you introduce the gene for dwarfism, or you breed over and over again with the smallest runts in a brood.
Breeding with Smaller Dogs
The Havanese dog is already a toy breed. It’s already very small. The only way to breed the Havanese with another dog to get even smaller puppies is by breeding a Havanese with something like a Chihuahua or a Yorkshire terrier. These are the two main dog breeds that can mix with Havanese to create smaller, designer dogs.
And to be honest, this is definitely the best way to make a teacup Havanese. Breeding is safe. Many people prefer mating between breeds because the puppies will have more genetic diversity and less risk of compounded health problems.
The downside with this method is that the teacup Havanese will not be a pure Havanese dog. Down the line, it will become increasingly difficult to trace the dog’s lineage. This often means it’s harder to identify and anticipate any type of medical or behavioral issues.
Breeding with Runts
Just like people, some dogs are naturally smaller than others. By selecting the smallest dogs out of a litter to breed together, it is possible to create even smaller dogs over time. It won’t happen right away, but over several generations the dogs will generally get smaller and smaller.
This is not an ideal way to breed a teacup Havanese dog. Breeding runts together can result in health problems for the puppies. Runts are often weaker, they often have health problems associated with their small size, and when you breed runts over and over again, these health issues become exacerbated.
If purchasing a teacup Havanese from a breeder who does this, you should be aware that some breeders purposely withhold nutrition for their dogs so that they never reach their full size, allowing them to breed the smallest dogs over and over. When raising these types of animals, you will likely experience much more serious health issues than you would with a standard Havanese.
Breeding with Dwarfism
Dwarfism is a gene that makes dogs smaller. A teacup Havanese dog can theoretically be made if both its parents carry the dwarfism gene. However, this method is complicated and hard to accomplish. The only way to know if adult dogs are carrying the dwarfism gene is to test their DNA.
But just like breeding runts, breeding dogs that have the dwarfism gene can result in puppies with health problems. Havanese dogs that suffer from dwarfism might be cute, but they often have spinal problems, breathing issues, and troubles with their joints. If possible, stay far away from breeders who are experimenting with dwarfism.
Should You Get a Teacup Havanese Dog?
There’s nothing wrong with adopting a teacup Havanese. You get all the perks of having an awesome Havanese dog, just a little bit smaller. The issue isn’t so much whether you should get a teacup Havanese dog, but whether you can even find one.
There are not many breeders who specialize in teacup Havanese dogs. These just aren’t popular enough. However, you could potentially find a Havanese breeder and request to adopt the runt out of their next litter. This would really be your best option, and also the safest and most responsible way to adopt a teacup Havanese.
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