A Teacup Goldendoodle is the most miniature variety of Goldendoodles, and you'll find these cute, cuddly puppies always smiling and ready to shower you with affection. Goldendoodles have become quite popular due to their low coat maintenance and allergen benefits. Teacup Goldendoodles are considered hypoallergenic because of their non-shedding coat. While their coats still produce dander, it is far less than most other breeds. A Teacup Goldendoodle is the perfect pet for an apartment in the city or--even better--for a senior companion. Even though these pups are considered low maintenance, they still have emotional needs. Your beloved friend needs proper mental health management to live a long, happy life. Calming Dog has a beautiful line of calming dog products that promote peace of mind in your pint-sized pet.
Teacup Goldendoodle: A Mixed Breed
A Teacup Goldendoodle is a mixed breed. Golden Retrievers and Miniature Poodles create a Teacup Goldendoodle. Goldendoodles and Teacup Goldendoodles aren't officially registered and do not have a designated list of traits by the American Kennel Club (AKC). When two breeds mate and create a new breed, the offspring will share both of their attributes. However, you are never guaranteed what features a Teacup Goldendoodle will express. This study suggests that mixed breeds are a random combination of both parents. So, to understand your Teacup Goldendoodle puppy's physical characteristics and temperament, you must learn about Golden Retrievers and Miniature Poodles. Getting to know Goldendoodles is crucial to providing adequate care.
The American Kennel Club explains the Miniature Poodle has the same features as the Standard Poodle but only much smaller in size. A Miniature Poodle reaches 10-15 inches in height, 10-15 pounds, and can expect to live 10-18 years. A Teacup Goldendoodle takes after its Miniature Poodle parent when it comes to its size. You can expect your pup to grow up to 10-15 inches in height and 15 pounds.
The American Kennel Club describes the Golden Retriever as highly affectionate, great with children, great with other dogs, very playful, and open to strangers. Golden Retrievers and Poodles are considered very athletic, energetic dogs. These breeds love to hunt and exercise with their owners. However, a Teacup Goldendoodle takes after their Miniature Poodle parent and does not need much exercise. Too much physical exertion in miniature breeds can cause joint problems and stress on your beloved friend. Therefore, Teacup Goldendoodles are perfect pets for those who cannot exercise or live in a small area.
Poodles are also fabulous with young children, other dogs, and are highly affectionate overall. Luckily, Teacup Goldendoodle puppies will share these same personality features. When you choose this mixed breed for your family, you're selecting a lifelong companion that will quickly become part of the family. Your children will be able to play without worry, and you will always have your lap warm. Just like Goldendoodles, you won't have to worry about accommodating other pets in your home—this pint-sized pup packs all the kisses and cuddles you could ever want. However, like any dog breed, it's proven that early socialization is key to a well-adjusted puppy. Without proper socialization, training, and attention, you might find your Teacup Goldendoodle exhibiting unwanted behavior.
Teacup Goldendoodle: A Toy-Sized Companion
Regardless of the genetic draw, Goldendoodles are likely to be friendly and loyal. However, you can also expect the typical features of a smaller toy-sized breed. According to the American Kennel Club, smaller breeds are often less obedient, more excitable, and more anxious than their large breed counterparts. A team of researchers determined genetic predisposition wasn't the only factor in the disposition of smaller breeds. The researchers studied how owners treat small dogs compared to large dogs. Their study found that small dogs had a much more severe reaction to inconsistent training, lack of activities, and punishment when compared to large breeds.
Smaller breeds often "get away" with more unruly behavior than large dogs. It's vital to remain consistent when properly training your Teacup Goldendoodles. Often owners of smaller dogs tend to avoid regular shared activities. Your Teacup Goldendoodle needs 1 to 2 hours of shared activities a day. This could involve obedience training, a game of fetch, or a brisk walk. It's crucial to remain consistent with your shared activities and exercise. Don't allow a certain behavior and then get angry whenever the behavior happens to become inconvenient. It is never appropriate to punish your Teacup Goldendoodle by jerking the leash, hitting, scolding, or harshly grabbing it. These behaviors cause stress and anxiety to build within your beloved pet, and stress and anxiety can cause unwanted and unruly behavior in Goldendoodles.
Stress in Your Teacup Goldendoodle
Healthline describes stress as a trigger for a biological response. Stress will send a surge of stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, coursing through your body. When in stressful situations, this release of adrenaline sends the animal into "fight or flight." Stress hormones work to make your heart pump faster, which increases your breathing and gets your muscles ready for action. This reaction is perfect in an emergency. When a Teacup Goldendoodle meets much larger, angry dogs, their stress hormones alert them to danger, and they will be able to either fight or leave quickly. However, constant stress in any animal's life starts to have adverse effects on their body.
How does stress affect our bodies? Stress can affect your weight, sleep patterns, blood pressure, mental clarity, cause diabetes or osteoporosis, and result in a weakened immune system. Stress has the same effect on Goldendoodles! Constant stress can lead to anxiety and anxious behaviors in your pet. If you are coming home to a ransacked apartment, your Teacup Goldendoodle is likely suffering from stress-induced anxiety.
Not all stress is bad for you or Goldendoodles. Being able to function at a higher level of alertness and physical strength during a traumatic experience is a biological advantage. However, it's essential to manage stress and not let anxiety rule your pet's life. The heightened awareness from stress increases your cortisol levels, and higher cortisol levels are responsible for these adverse health impacts.
What does this mean for a Teacup Goldendoodle? Due to their size, this breed is prone to hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia left untreated can have adverse effects on your beloved puppy's health. Too much stress on your pup will cause unstable blood sugar levels because of the rise in cortisol levels. Either the dog is refusing to eat, or the increased heart rate is affecting their blood pressure. The health risks of stress and anxiety in a Teacup Goldendoodle are life-threatening. Toy-sized dogs have trouble storing adequate amounts of glucose and need to eat regular small meals to maintain their health.
Luckily, the solution to this is simple. The American Kennel Club suggests feeding your toy breed bite-sized chews regularly to ward of glucose imbalances. Making sure your Teacup Goldendoodle eats regularly sounds easy enough. However, under stress, high glucose levels cause bellyaches. The bellyaches can cause Teacup Goldendoodles to refuse food. Calming Dog has created the perfect bite-size treat for your toy-sized dog. Calming Zen Chews are a homeopathic option to maintain glucose levels and double as a calming agent. These pet-safe and natural chews are a mixture of Chamomile, L-Theanine, and L-Tryptophan. The peanut butter flavored treat is undeniable to Goldendoodles. Make sure to give your pup a Calming Zen Chew before a stressful situation to avoid the stressful release of glucose. This preventative measure will keep your dog happy and healthy.
What Causes Stress in Your Teacup Goldendoodle
You might be asking what causes your Teacup Goldendoodle to act anxious? According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, the stress in Goldendoodles is a direct result of fear or worry. Fear triggers can be other dogs, unknown people, loud noises, and unwanted places (veterinary clinic or groomer). Signs that your dog is experiencing fear of some kind include lowered ears, tucked tail, panting, and drooling. When the feelings of anxiety expose themselves to Goldendoodles at an early age, they begin the road to an anxiety disorder. Fear looks different in smaller dogs because they are unable to run away. Most larger dogs can run away from the situation and hide or escape. A Teacup Goldendoodle would not fare well out in the world on its own.
Fear is a normal response to stimuli, but stress as a response to fear can create anxiety disorders in your pup. Healthline describes anxiety as a natural response to stress. Anxiety in animals represents itself through panic attacks, phobias, separation anxieties, and trauma-related anxieties. There are trained professionals that monitor and diagnose anxiety disorders when they start to affect daily functioning. However, it's your responsibility as the pet owner to manage pet anxiety.
As the U.S. National Library of Medicine explains, all animals express a stress response like anxiety. However, constant stress on any animal is detrimental to their physical health. Goldendoodles need help managing their emotions, so they are not a danger to themselves or someone else. If your Teacup Goldendoodle is so frightened and anxious it is trembling, it needs your help! If your beloved pup destroys your new shoes or wakes the neighbors with their barking, it might be time to invest in your Goldendoodle's mental health. Calming Dog's Calming Cuddle Blanket Plus+ offers your Teacup Goldendoodle the comfort to help them relax. Miniature Poodles and Golden Retrievers are known for being cuddly dogs, so your Goldendoodle puppies will love to snuggle. These snuggly blankets come with a signature Calming insert of an expert blend of essential oils. The Valerian Oil, Vetiver, Sweet Basil, and Clary Sage work together to assist your Goldendoodles in calming down safely. Investing in your dog's comfort with a cuddle blanket is another great way to show them you care about their mental health.
Is your Teacup Goldendoodle sensitive to loud stimuli? Does it bark, howl, or perform other unwanted behavior during a thunderstorm or the Fourth of July? The Calming Cuddle Blanket Plus+ also works as a comforting tool when your puppy is scared by loud noises. This blanket works wonders in preventing lousy behavior like whining during a storm.
Properly Socialize your Teacup Goldendoodle to Reduce Stress
It's critical to start focusing on your puppy's mental health from an early age. The Merck Veterinary Manual determines the development period (neonatal period) crucial to proper socialization in pets. This period begins around two to three weeks after birth. Pet owners should handle their Goldendoodles early by holding them with their bare hands. Teacup Goldendoodles will fare much better when exposed to other dogs and stimuli during this developmental period. Proper socialization reduces stress and anxiety related to new people or pets.
Separation Anxiety in a Teacup Goldendoodle
One of the most common complaints from pet owners is separation anxiety in their pets. Goldendoodles exhibit this commonly because their parent breeds are companion dogs. Miniature Poodle and Golden Retriever breeds are loving companions that get very upset when you are away! Imagine being a lap dog, attached to your owner most of the day, then without their warmth when they leave.
ASPCA states that separation anxiety in dogs most likely results from your pup being left alone for four or more hours. When your dog is left alone, they begin experiencing emotions like fear and worry. The overwhelming amount of emotions results in anxiety. This anxiety leads to disruptive behavior. You might have seen this behavior in Goldendoodles by coming home and seeing they have been trying to escape, urinating, chewing, or destroying objects in the home.
When you prepare to leave the house without them, do you notice these disruptive behaviors in your Teacup Goldendoodle? Does your dog try to prevent you from leaving your house? Have you come home to a pair of boots or important documents shredded into a million pieces? These are all possible signs Goldendoodles showcase when they are suffering from separation anxiety. Separation anxiety also results from boredom. When you are away, Goldendoodles still need mental stimulation. The Calming Fountain Plus+ offers your Teacup Goldendoodle the freshest, coldest water using a triple filtration system. This automatic system allows your puppy to be mentally stimulated when you are away. Also, you will never have to worry about your Teacup Goldendoodle's hydration.
How to Manage Separation Anxiety in your Teacup Goldendoodle
The best way to manage separation anxiety in Goldendoodles is to teach them to be happy at home without you. Making a happy home for your pet sounds easy enough. Focus on making your household comfortable and calming. Calming Dog offers the perfect products to aid your pup in loving their home without you in it. The Calming Cuddle Bed assists in curbing unwanted behavior by comforting your puppy when you are away. This ultra-soft, cozy bed is an investment in your dog's mental health. Show them you care by spoiling them with a luxurious bed. The Calming Cuddle Bed comes in the perfect size for your smaller pup, with a variety of colors to coordinate with the style of your home.
ASPCA also suggests counterconditioning your pet companion to avoid separation anxiety. Use food as an excellent way to condition your pet to love their home with or without you. This type of conditioning allows the dog to associate positive feelings with being home alone. Therefore, when you leave, you will give your dog food. Calming Zen Chews are also a perfect yummy tool for counterconditioning Goldendoodles.
The Mayo Clinic promotes stress management for optimal physical health. One of the most successful ways you can manage stress is through meditation. Meditation can involve yoga, deep breathing, a deep massage, or tai chi. Since your Teacup Goldendoodle cannot perform yoga or understand tai chi, you need to help them practice stress management. Calming Dog offers a Calming Spray that is amazing at calming Goldendoodles under duress. Mist some spray on your Teacup Goldendoodle's Calming Blanket Plus+ or their Calming Cuddle Bed when you notice stress-induced physical responses. This Calming Spray is perfect for excursions with your Teacup Goldendoodle, like dining at an outdoor restaurant or going on pet-friendly transportation. These all-natural essential oils act as a prevention to stress responses. You can choose between Zen, Peace, and Tranquility scents to give your Teacup Goldendoodle peace of mind.
A Teacup Goldendoodle is the Perfect Fit for Your Family
Teacup Goldendoodles are just a miniature sized amount of fun. Standard Goldendoodles might be too energetic or rambunctious to fit your family's needs. If this is the case for you, then Teacup Goldendoodles are the perfect fit! These fluffy, adorable little puppies are excellent for those who want a low-maintenance best friend. Expect to fall madly in love and want to spoil your Goldendoodle. By showering this breed with love and attention, you're sure to keep them happy and healthy. If any obstacle were to get in the way of your pup's happiness, make sure to invest in the proper tools to get your puppy back on the right track. Be proactive in your beloved pet's mental health by visiting Calming Dog today!