Breeding for Tinies

[3puppies4me]

I am not trying to be controversial here, really I am not, but I am wondering why there is such opposition to breeding tiny dogs? What would be wrong with trying to responsibly establish a separate breed type of Yorkie that is smaller than the current Standard? And I mean responsibly, slowly and with health, genetics and breed type kept in mind, over many generations getting a mini-yorkie? Poodles have 3 sizes in their Standard, so do Schanuzers, I believe, and all breeds deviated from a common dog in some way, why such opposition to a small yorkie, if the original, current standard is not compromised in the process?
PS I saw the most adorable giant yorkie at Petsmart today. His owner said he was 17 pounds, just never stopped growing. He was gorgeous!

[PinkMartini]

How much smaller do you want a yorkie? They already are tiny! A 1lb dog isn't a dog. It's a rat

[Gracy]

I might be wrong, but all the threads I have read about Tinie Yorkies are about the out of this world price tag. It also seems the high risk of medical problems.

To establish a new breed is a whole different ball park for me.

I breed to enhance and compliment the breed, within all the AKC Standards for Yorkshire Terriers.

Good Luck

[Gracy]

Originally Posted by PinkMartini

How much smaller do you want a yorkie? They already are tiny! A 1lb dog isn't a dog. It's a rat

A Rat!!!!!!!!!!
Now that's funny, Yorkie Rat! ha, ha, ha,

[MeganS]

they are already small! i don't want one any tinier!! everytime i step down i have to make sure tucker isn't under my feet (he seems to like it under there ) they can also have some health problems, it just isn't healthy!!

[3puppies4me]

No, I am not a breeder, and no, I don't want a yorkie rat either, I just see all the controversial threads on tiny yorkies, and they do seem to be in demand, (gauged by the exorbitant prices), I was just wondering why responsible breeders not try to breed for them? And again, I have zero interest in breeding, and I wasn't looking to be sarcastic or argumentative, just wondering if there is such a demand, why not supply it?

[Itspuppyluv]

Originally Posted by 3puppies4me

Poodles have 3 sizes in their Standard, so do Schanuzers, I believe, and all breeds deviated from a common dog in some way, why such opposition to a small yorkie, if the original, current standard is not compromised in the process?

Poodles and Schnauzer have 3 sizes but they are (Schnauzer) giant, standard and miniature or (Poodle) standard, miniature and toy. Basically, large, medium and small not toy, tiny and so teeny you won't be able to see them with the naked eye. I kid but seriously where do you draw the line? What are people doing with these dogs that they want them so small?
There is a demand for a lot of things in this world that should not be supplied. Not trying to offend you.

[Yorkie_Mama]

Hi ... um i think im reading this right back in the 60's akc had diffrent size catagories it was 5 pounds and under and over five but was not to exceed 12 pounds this is out of the complete yorkshire terrier by joan b Gordon and Janet E bennett *yorkie book of the early 70's
my vet says there are no aditional health risks by having smaller dogs ..but i dissagree my dog piglet had one litter and i fixed her after csection small ones can have more issues to gas also and hypoglycema i could sell piglets girls for tons of bucks but choose to put them on limited registration and have a hard core health screening and hard core screening of parents all my girls have to have a mom or dad who will take them with them to work with them or work out of home Tinys sugar drops so fast that by the time someone gets home from work the damage would be done !

[sylvan]

The existing yorkie toy standard IS ALREADY the bred down, tiniest size of this breed. The foundation size of this breed was much larger than the yorkies you see today. That is why you will occasionally see a throwback, larger pup.
There are ranges that are reasonable within a breed type. Below that range the optimum health issues are pushed sorely to the limits. People that attempt to breed smaller and smaller sizes are crossing litter 'runts' to 'runts'. As a general rule, the runt of a litter is not the healthiest specimen and will be more likely to have serious health issues.
Why did Poodle and Schnauzer breeders limit to a certain size? Have you seen a 1 1/2 lb Schnauzer? There are limits that make sense.
If you need to have a dog smaller than 3lbs, get a Chinchilla.
The biggest reason it is so disturbing to see the astronomical price tags on 'tinies', is the fact that in encourages unscrupulous people to breed down for big bucks. If it was a good idea to go smaller than the existing standard we would see divisions according to size already established within the standard.

[txshopper73]

Originally Posted by sylvan

The existing yorkie toy standard IS ALREADY the bred down, tiniest size of this breed. The foundation size of this breed was much larger than the yorkies you see today. That is why you will occasionally see a throwback, larger pup.
There are ranges that are reasonable within a breed type. Below that range the optimum health issues are pushed sorely to the limits. People that attempt to breed smaller and smaller sizes are crossing litter 'runts' to 'runts'. As a general rule, the runt of a litter is not the healthiest specimen and will be more likely to have serious health issues.
Why did Poodle and Schnauzer breeders limit to a certain size? Have you seen a 1 1/2 lb Schnauzer? There are limits that make sense.
If you need to have a dog smaller than 3lbs, get a Chinchilla.
The biggest reason it is so disturbing to see the astronomical price tags on 'tinies', is the fact that in encourages unscrupulous people to breed down for big bucks. If it was a good idea to go smaller than the existing standard we would see divisions according to size already established within the standard.

excellent post. There are so many risk factors in breeding small dogs. I don't know how a breeder can live with themselves if their 3 or 4 lb female has to have a c-section every time they are bred. That is cruel and unfair. A female that small has a slim chance of delivering normally. Yes, people charge a lot more for the runts or tinies. We had one yesterday trying to sell a tiny for $8500 plus it had health issues. If a 5 lbs yorkie is too big for someone, they need to look to a different type of animal.

[red98vett]

Excellent posts all of you !! I get so sad when I hear about theses small females being bred so small just for profit. The caring breeders all know what they're talking about ...and anyone intentionally breeding tinies has ulterior motives for doing this....money

[StewiesMom]

Originally Posted by red98vett

Excellent posts all of you !! I get so sad when I hear about theses small females being bred so small just for profit. The caring breeders all know what they're talking about ...and anyone intentionally breeding tinies has ulterior motives for doing this....money

I agree with you Villette, but I wanted to add something. I am obviously not a breeder, but I TRULY appreciate those who uphold the breed standard. I like the feisty little dog that I have. I think that breeding for temperment and weeding out genetic defects is very important. Its hearbreaking (to me) to see people having litter after litter of dogs that they know nothing about. Sometimes when I see the parents owned by people who don't really give a $hit, I think that they are really screwing up the breed.

Tinies and 'extreme tinies' (as coined by one of our members) do not impress me. I have seen some adorable babies who are 3lbs or less, but I don't think that the entire Yorkshire Terrier breed should look like them nor should people be breeding for them -- Especially if they're going to breed 2.5 or 3lb dams.

[wnalegria]

Originally Posted by 3puppies4me

No, I am not a breeder, and no, I don't want a yorkie rat either, I just see all the controversial threads on tiny yorkies, and they do seem to be in demand, (gauged by the exorbitant prices), I was just wondering why responsible breeders not try to breed for them? And again, I have zero interest in breeding, and I wasn't looking to be sarcastic or argumentative, just wondering if there is such a demand, why not supply it?

The tiny babies happen enough in a normal breeding program. Talk to someone who has had a premature human child and all the problems they go through. Many of the tiny yorkie babies are just like that human child. The smaller they are the more health problems they can have, shorter life expectancy, immune problems and on and on. Are they more expensive? Yes sometimes due to the amount of extra time, money and care the breeder has put into raising them.


No thank you I would rather stick a watermelon up my nose then to try and just breed for the little ones.

[Gazou]

The Yorkshire Terrier is already a small dog , why having them smaller .

[Latuya]

Just walk away Chucky,,, just walk away. <~~~~ from rugrats. LOL That's what I am going to do with this one! Walk away!