Teacup

Teacup may be a little wobbly on his feet, but don’t underestimate this gorgeous little guy. He has plenty of determination, a whole lot of affection to give and absolutely no intention of letting his differences stop him from enjoying life.

Teacup has cerebellar hypoplasia, commonly known as CH. This means the part of his brain responsible for balance, coordination and fine motor control did not fully develop before birth. CH is not painful and it is not progressive, so it won’t continue to get worse as he grows older.

For Teacup, it simply means he moves through the world a little differently.

He can be wobbly on his feet, occasionally knuckle over and sometimes sport his signature head tilt, but he has adapted incredibly well. He can navigate his environment, get around the house and can even manage stairs. He may not always look quite as graceful as other dogs doing it, but Teacup is determined to give everything a go.

And what he lacks in coordination, he certainly makes up for in affection.

Teacup is an absolute sweetheart who loves being around his people. Start giving him some attention and there is a very good chance he will roll straight onto his back, belly exposed, just in case you needed reminding that belly rubs are mandatory.

He is also super dog friendly and really benefits from having another dog around. Teacup watches other dogs closely and often copies what they do, which helps him understand what is expected of him. For this reason, we feel his ideal home would include an older, calm and confident dog who can provide him with some gentle guidance and show him the ropes.

Training Teacup may require a little extra patience. It can sometimes take him longer to work out exactly what you are asking, particularly with his neurological differences and reduced hearing. But once he understands, he will always try his very best. He isn’t a dog who gives up easily.

Teacup would be best suited to a home with teenage children rather than younger kids. He can display some resource guarding, so he needs a family who understands the importance of management, respecting his space around valued items and continuing positive training to help him feel secure.

What Teacup really needs is someone who can look beyond the wobble.

He doesn’t know he is different. He wants to play, explore, learn, cuddle, follow his doggy friends around and soak up every belly rub he can possibly convince you to give him.

Teacup has already had far too much change in his short life. Now he needs the stability of a home that will give him the time to settle, understand how he experiences the world and help him become the very best version of himself.

He may take a little longer to learn some things and he may wobble his way through others, but Teacup will always give it his best shot.

And we think that’s pretty special.