Teacup dog

A teacup dog is a dog that is smaller than those classified as toy dogs.

For example, a toy Maltese is four to six pounds fully grown while a teacup Maltese is under four pounds.

Some breeders argue that there is no such thing as a "teacup breed"—that they are just small toys —and that the whole concept of the "teacup" is nothing more than a marketing ploy to charge exorbitant prices for puppies. However, many dog owners rejoice in the surging proliferation of these tiny dogs which, while requiring much more attention and care, also require a lot less space.