"Teacup" Discussion - YorkieTalk.com Forums

sierrareef · 01-03-2008, 08:33 PM

I've learned there are hard feeling about Teacup Yorkies. I know the Yorkie standard does not disqualify Yorkies that are too small, but does mandate that they be under 7 pounds. I know the YTCA Code of Ethics discourages breeding small Yorkies and I've read why they do that.

I'm curious why the YTCA doesn't change their standard to reflect their code of Ethics with regard to small yorkies.

More importantly, I'd like to hear from owners who have Yorkies under 5 pounds. Have you experienced the increased problems? If you had it to do over gain, would you repeat the decision and get a smaller Yorkie.

I hope I can get honest answers. I worry that some small yorkie lovers will decline to post because they fear suffering attacks from folks who condemn the breeding/purchasing/selling of small yorkies. Even if your reluctant to post here, a PM would be appreciated and i'll keep your comments private.

MyFairLacy · 01-03-2008, 08:40 PM

I posted this in the other thread, but I honestly don't know why YTCA doesn't have a minimum for the standard. Maybe a YTCA member like Mardelin or Brooklynn can give you an answer to that. I know some breeders will occasionally have a tiny puppy born in a litter - I personally don't think I'd be comfortable having a yorkie under 3lbs as an adult, and even three pounds is pretty small...I think I would prefer my next yorkies to be between 4 and 6lbs as adults. I know there are a lot of members with very small yorkies here. I hope you get a lot of responses to this thread as it will be good information for all.

I have a friend with a yorkie that is right at 3lbs. She had some kind of genetic issue with her spine..can't remember what it was called. But she started to fall over and couldn't walk by the time she was a year old. She had to have major surgery and has pins in her neck. She is so tiny and fragile that it scares me to hold her sometimes. You have to be extra extra careful with her, especially because of her neck. I wouldn't even let her jump off something a foot high.

But I have other friends with yorkies that are somewhere between 3.5 and 4lbs that don't scare me like the above one does. They aren't quite so fragile although I still feel like you have to much more careful with them compared to my 7lb yorkie. That's my main concern with the tiny ones is their safety. What's safe for a 7lb yorkie might be fatal for a 2lb one. You just have to be so much more cautious with them.

And I couldn't help but think of sweet little Natalie when I read this thread..she was such a tiny girl. I hope Dena will post on this thread and share her experience (although I know she is still grieving for her sweet baby). Natalie was such a tiny little girl.

BamaFan121s · 01-03-2008, 08:45 PM

I can't answer the questions about the YTCA for you..but I understand your point.

As far as the other question. I own a smaller male...3 pounds. By all accounts, he should have grown bigger. Never gained an ounce after about 6 months. He ended up being the smallest out of the litters his dam/sire produced. His litter mates and older siblings all ended up in the 5 lb range.
I wouldn't trade him for the world. He's never had any health issues, but we do have to be more careful with him. He stepped off ONE stair wrong once and injured his knee. It's fine now, but something just that simple was a danger. Just a freak incident. We have to put him in another room or crate when cleaning. He can't jump on and off furniture like the others. He just has to have special care and handling that the others don't is all. It was not something we'd planned for and we had to learn to adjust. But it is something that you learn to manage and work around.

So for me, I can't imagine why that would be something you'd WANT to deal with or why you would WANT one that required such special treatment, but that is just my opinion. I just can't understand why size alone would be viewed as the most important factor...over temperament and good breeding...and for some people that is all that matters.

CoCo Puff Stuff · 01-03-2008, 08:48 PM

If you are getting a 6 pounder that is within standard. I hope it all works out for you and sorry for your wifes health problems. It is not reputable for a breeder to "specialize" in tiny yorkies. If one happens then of course they must deal with it. They should be striving to breed to standard. I would like to know what is healthy about this obsession with small?

MyFairLacy · 01-03-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoCo Puff Stuff

If you are getting a 6 pounder that is within standard. I hope it all works out for you and sorry for your wifes health problems. It is not reputable for a breeder to "specialize" in tiny yorkies. If one happens then of course they must deal with it. They should be striving to breed to standard. I would like to know what is healthy about this obsession with small?

The OP isn't trying to justify breeding tiny yorkies with this thread. I think they just want to hear of YT member's experience with the tiny ones. I think this could be a great thread....full of personal experiences, good things, bad things, and could potentially be very educational.

CoCo Puff Stuff · 01-03-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MyFairLacy

The OP isn't trying to justify breeding tiny yorkies with this thread. I think they just want to hear of YT member's experience with the tiny ones. I think this could be a great thread....full of personal experiences, good things, bad things, and could potentially be very educational.

I think you misunderstood my post. Just giving my own thoughts.

PrestigeousYT · 01-03-2008, 09:09 PM

Pros: They are adorable aren't they!
I think if we would all stop and think about this, how many times have you heard a dog is sick, vomitting and diarrhea and has lost a pound in a week.
If you have a dog that only weighs 2 pounds, you have no weight to work with. I have had several very small dogs over the years and I can tell you first hand, every thing matters with them, tempertare changes can stress them and they crash fast when they crash.
I am on edge anytime I have a small one.
Dosing medicine for a very small dog is no fun and I have even heard vets saying, well you realize the medicine could kill one this size.
I placed one at 6 months, I hadn't even thought of selling her, then someone saw her, and they asked me if she was for sale, I said no. They said WHY?
I said plain as day because I don't know from one day to the next if she will be alive or not.
I did place her with them because they were very experienced and show Yorkies, they just loved the little ones as pets.
She was spayed and it took 18 hours for her to come out of it. They thought she may not make it.
So people need to remember all of this when considering breeding for this size and when wanting to buy this size.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

Mybabyboymax · 01-03-2008, 09:18 PM

Max is a year old and 3 pounds he isnt tiny but is on the smaller side. He is healthy and full of energy. I havent had any health issues with him and god willing I wont.
I cant speak much on breeding for smaller yorkies but I can say that I originally wanted a smaller yorkie. If he would have grown bigger than 3 pounds I would love him the same but I did want a smaller yorkie. Health was number one priority of course. I dont have another dog to compare him to so I cant say if he requires more work but I dont find that he has problems doing what my friends 7 pound dog does.

MyFairLacy · 01-03-2008, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrestigeousYT

Pros: They are adorable aren't they!
I think if we would all stop and think about this, how many times have you heard a dog is sick, vomitting and diarrhea and has lost a pound in a week.
If you have a dog that only weighs 2 pounds, you have no weight to work with. I have had several very small dogs over the years and I can tell you first hand, every thing matters with them, tempertare changes can stress them and they crash fast when they crash.
I am on edge anytime I have a small one.
Dosing medicine for a very small dog is no fun and I have even heard vets saying, well you realize the medicine could kill one this size.
I placed one at 6 months, I hadn't even thought of selling her, then someone saw her, and they asked me if she was for sale, I said no. They said WHY?
I said plain as day because I don't know from one day to the next if she will be alive or not.
I did place her with them because they were very experienced and show Yorkies, they just loved the little ones as pets.
She was spayed and it took 18 hours for her to come out of it. They thought she may not make it.
So people need to remember all of this when considering breeding for this size and when wanting to buy this size.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

Your post just reminded me that I've wouldn't want one that was so small I would be afraid to put them under for surgeries. I want to be able to spay/neuter my pets. I wouldn't know what to do if I had one that was only 2lbs full grown...I'd be afraid to put them under - but not only for a spay...teeth would probably need to be pulled & other surgeries might be needed one day.

PrestigeousYT · 01-03-2008, 09:25 PM

I had a 2 lbs Chihuahua and she was never put under for anything.
We lost her in March of 06 and it about killed me, she was 8 years old.
Her mother is still alive and so is her father they are 12 years old.
So I am wondering if the smaller size also takes away from the life span
Would be interesting to hear of some golden oldies in the smaller size.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

PrestigeousYT · 01-03-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mybabyboymax

Max is a year old and 3 pounds he isnt tiny but is on the smaller side. He is healthy and full of energy. I havent had any health issues with him and god willing I wont.
I cant speak much on breeding for smaller yorkies but I can say that I originally wanted a smaller yorkie. If he would have grown bigger than 3 pounds I would love him the same but I did want a smaller yorkie. Health was number one priority of course. I dont have another dog to compare him to so I cant say if he requires more work but I dont find that he has problems doing what my friends 7 pound dog does.

Max is a cute boy, glad you haven't had any issues with him.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

Mybabyboymax · 01-03-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrestigeousYT

Max is a cute boy, glad you haven't had any issues with him.

Deana
Prestigeous Yorkies

Thank you

Im glad also

JaLaYorkieGirl · 01-03-2008, 09:31 PM

Deana you are absolutely right...they are so difficult to medicate and treat! Many techs and vets have trouble setting an IV in such a tiny dog and medications must be so carefully dosed. If they get sick it is harder on their little bodies!

Also those that breed for the smaller yorkies, use smaller yorkies...which I think is dangerous. I cringe everytime one of our 5-7 lbs females goes in for a c-section or any surgery...after my 5.5 lb female was on the brink of death during her last c-secion...I knew there is no way I could breed smaller yorkies, they are so small at 7 lbs as it is.

If you really want to own a smaller yorkie, I would recommend finding one from a responisble breeder who is breeding nice size yorkies and happened to get a smaller yorkie in their litter. Twice we have had smaller puppies produced, we kept both of those puppies until they were 2 lbs which was 7 months old before we even talked about placing them in new homes, both went for less than we normally sell our yorkies for!

This is just my opinion of course but it is based on experience working as a tech and breeding!

CC's · 01-03-2008, 09:32 PM

I don't recall anyone ever getting "attacked" for having a smaller Yorkie, or loving them.

They do need more care in general as they are more delicate. I have 1 that took a step wrong and broke her foot in 3 places. Just from twisting wrong. Her foot is only the size of a large grape.

Some have open fonts, some have organs to large for their bodies, some always have hypoglycemic problems, and some have liver issues. Some are also healthy and happy.

Breeding tinies are a completely different story. Just web search "teacup", yorkies for sale and look. You should be able to see the motive for breeding is income not to produce quality pups. It usually the persons lively hood.

Search just this site and you'll see why it can be dangerous to breed tiny females. IMO This is why its discouraged by the YTCA. Breeding tiny females, not owning them.

yorkiegirl83 · 01-03-2008, 09:34 PM

My yorkie is 4.5 lbs now and I'm just ecstatic about it! When I got her, she was 1.5 lbs. She's been through one heat cycle because I didn't get her in to be spayed in time and she's still a bit swollen so she's probably realistically about 4 lbs. Anyhow -- when she was a baby I was terrified because of her size. Honestly to me she still seems fragile, but she's filled out a bit more and has a little weight to her. I constantly worried when she was a baby about everything because she was just so darn small.

I have a friend who has a 2 lb yorkie and if she's sick even with a mild case of a stomach ache, it's a big deal. She can dehydrate easily. She can never be left alone because of how fast her blood sugar could crash. To me it's just very scary.

I think they are SO cute, but I just couldn't handle it personally.

01-03-2008, 08:33 PM	#1
sierrareef Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Carson City, NV Posts: 23	"Teacup" Discussion I've learned there are hard feeling about Teacup Yorkies. I know the Yorkie standard does not disqualify Yorkies that are too small, but does mandate that they be under 7 pounds. I know the YTCA Code of Ethics discourages breeding small Yorkies and I've read why they do that. I'm curious why the YTCA doesn't change their standard to reflect their code of Ethics with regard to small yorkies. More importantly, I'd like to hear from owners who have Yorkies under 5 pounds. Have you experienced the increased problems? If you had it to do over gain, would you repeat the decision and get a smaller Yorkie. I hope I can get honest answers. I worry that some small yorkie lovers will decline to post because they fear suffering attacks from folks who condemn the breeding/purchasing/selling of small yorkies. Even if your reluctant to post here, a PM would be appreciated and i'll keep your comments private.

01-03-2008, 08:40 PM	#2
MyFairLacy Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 11,003	I posted this in the other thread, but I honestly don't know why YTCA doesn't have a minimum for the standard. Maybe a YTCA member like Mardelin or Brooklynn can give you an answer to that. I know some breeders will occasionally have a tiny puppy born in a litter - I personally don't think I'd be comfortable having a yorkie under 3lbs as an adult, and even three pounds is pretty small...I think I would prefer my next yorkies to be between 4 and 6lbs as adults. I know there are a lot of members with very small yorkies here. I hope you get a lot of responses to this thread as it will be good information for all. I have a friend with a yorkie that is right at 3lbs. She had some kind of genetic issue with her spine..can't remember what it was called. But she started to fall over and couldn't walk by the time she was a year old. She had to have major surgery and has pins in her neck. She is so tiny and fragile that it scares me to hold her sometimes. You have to be extra extra careful with her, especially because of her neck. I wouldn't even let her jump off something a foot high. But I have other friends with yorkies that are somewhere between 3.5 and 4lbs that don't scare me like the above one does. They aren't quite so fragile although I still feel like you have to much more careful with them compared to my 7lb yorkie. That's my main concern with the tiny ones is their safety. What's safe for a 7lb yorkie might be fatal for a 2lb one. You just have to be so much more cautious with them. And I couldn't help but think of sweet little Natalie when I read this thread..she was such a tiny girl. I hope Dena will post on this thread and share her experience (although I know she is still grieving for her sweet baby). Natalie was such a tiny little girl. __________________ ~Magnifique Yorkies~ Purchasing from backyard breeders, pet shops, and puppymills perpetuates the suffering of other dogs. Educate yourself and buy from reputable breeders or rescue.

01-03-2008, 08:45 PM	#3
BamaFan121s Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 11,432	I can't answer the questions about the YTCA for you..but I understand your point. As far as the other question. I own a smaller male...3 pounds. By all accounts, he should have grown bigger. Never gained an ounce after about 6 months. He ended up being the smallest out of the litters his dam/sire produced. His litter mates and older siblings all ended up in the 5 lb range. I wouldn't trade him for the world. He's never had any health issues, but we do have to be more careful with him. He stepped off ONE stair wrong once and injured his knee. It's fine now, but something just that simple was a danger. Just a freak incident. We have to put him in another room or crate when cleaning. He can't jump on and off furniture like the others. He just has to have special care and handling that the others don't is all. It was not something we'd planned for and we had to learn to adjust. But it is something that you learn to manage and work around. So for me, I can't imagine why that would be something you'd WANT to deal with or why you would WANT one that required such special treatment, but that is just my opinion. I just can't understand why size alone would be viewed as the most important factor...over temperament and good breeding...and for some people that is all that matters. Last edited by BamaFan121s; 01-03-2008 at 08:48 PM.

01-03-2008, 09:18 PM	#8
Mybabyboymax Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: NYC Posts: 1,859	Max is a year old and 3 pounds he isnt tiny but is on the smaller side. He is healthy and full of energy. I havent had any health issues with him and god willing I wont. I cant speak much on breeding for smaller yorkies but I can say that I originally wanted a smaller yorkie. If he would have grown bigger than 3 pounds I would love him the same but I did want a smaller yorkie. Health was number one priority of course. I dont have another dog to compare him to so I cant say if he requires more work but I dont find that he has problems doing what my friends 7 pound dog does. __________________ Its SummerTime! Last edited by Mybabyboymax; 01-03-2008 at 09:23 PM.

01-03-2008, 09:31 PM	#13
JaLaYorkieGirl YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,079	Deana you are absolutely right...they are so difficult to medicate and treat! Many techs and vets have trouble setting an IV in such a tiny dog and medications must be so carefully dosed. If they get sick it is harder on their little bodies! Also those that breed for the smaller yorkies, use smaller yorkies...which I think is dangerous. I cringe everytime one of our 5-7 lbs females goes in for a c-section or any surgery...after my 5.5 lb female was on the brink of death during her last c-secion...I knew there is no way I could breed smaller yorkies, they are so small at 7 lbs as it is. If you really want to own a smaller yorkie, I would recommend finding one from a responisble breeder who is breeding nice size yorkies and happened to get a smaller yorkie in their litter. Twice we have had smaller puppies produced, we kept both of those puppies until they were 2 lbs which was 7 months old before we even talked about placing them in new homes, both went for less than we normally sell our yorkies for! This is just my opinion of course but it is based on experience working as a tech and breeding! __________________ Jackie JaLa Yorkshire Terriers

01-03-2008, 08:48 PM	#4
CoCo Puff Stuff Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: USA Posts: 126	If you are getting a 6 pounder that is within standard. I hope it all works out for you and sorry for your wifes health problems. It is not reputable for a breeder to "specialize" in tiny yorkies. If one happens then of course they must deal with it. They should be striving to breed to standard. I would like to know what is healthy about this obsession with small?

01-03-2008, 09:09 PM	#7
PrestigeousYT YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere Out there............ Posts: 1,742	Pros: They are adorable aren't they! I think if we would all stop and think about this, how many times have you heard a dog is sick, vomitting and diarrhea and has lost a pound in a week. If you have a dog that only weighs 2 pounds, you have no weight to work with. I have had several very small dogs over the years and I can tell you first hand, every thing matters with them, tempertare changes can stress them and they crash fast when they crash. I am on edge anytime I have a small one. Dosing medicine for a very small dog is no fun and I have even heard vets saying, well you realize the medicine could kill one this size. I placed one at 6 months, I hadn't even thought of selling her, then someone saw her, and they asked me if she was for sale, I said no. They said WHY? I said plain as day because I don't know from one day to the next if she will be alive or not. I did place her with them because they were very experienced and show Yorkies, they just loved the little ones as pets. She was spayed and it took 18 hours for her to come out of it. They thought she may not make it. So people need to remember all of this when considering breeding for this size and when wanting to buy this size. Deana Prestigeous Yorkies

01-03-2008, 09:25 PM	#10
PrestigeousYT YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Somewhere Out there............ Posts: 1,742	I had a 2 lbs Chihuahua and she was never put under for anything. We lost her in March of 06 and it about killed me, she was 8 years old. Her mother is still alive and so is her father they are 12 years old. So I am wondering if the smaller size also takes away from the life span Would be interesting to hear of some golden oldies in the smaller size. Deana Prestigeous Yorkies

01-03-2008, 09:32 PM	#14
CC's YT Addict Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 402	I don't recall anyone ever getting "attacked" for having a smaller Yorkie, or loving them. They do need more care in general as they are more delicate. I have 1 that took a step wrong and broke her foot in 3 places. Just from twisting wrong. Her foot is only the size of a large grape. Some have open fonts, some have organs to large for their bodies, some always have hypoglycemic problems, and some have liver issues. Some are also healthy and happy. Breeding tinies are a completely different story. Just web search "teacup", yorkies for sale and look. You should be able to see the motive for breeding is income not to produce quality pups. It usually the persons lively hood. Search just this site and you'll see why it can be dangerous to breed tiny females. IMO This is why its discouraged by the YTCA. Breeding tiny females, not owning them.

01-03-2008, 09:34 PM	#15
yorkiegirl83 Love My Furbabies! Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: somewhere Posts: 4,427	My yorkie is 4.5 lbs now and I'm just ecstatic about it! When I got her, she was 1.5 lbs. She's been through one heat cycle because I didn't get her in to be spayed in time and she's still a bit swollen so she's probably realistically about 4 lbs. Anyhow -- when she was a baby I was terrified because of her size. Honestly to me she still seems fragile, but she's filled out a bit more and has a little weight to her. I constantly worried when she was a baby about everything because she was just so darn small. I have a friend who has a 2 lb yorkie and if she's sick even with a mild case of a stomach ache, it's a big deal. She can dehydrate easily. She can never be left alone because of how fast her blood sugar could crash. To me it's just very scary. I think they are SO cute, but I just couldn't handle it personally.