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10-17-2011, 08:25 AM | #1 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: UK
Posts: 2
| Lifespan? Hi everyone, I am very new to all this! So please bear with me. I recently took on a 4yr old Yorkie bitch called Minnie. The lady I got her from said she was 'miniture' but now from what I have been reading it seems that miniture ones are not real!? To be honest my main question here is the average life span and how do I tell if she is too small and more prone to health probs? As of yet she has not been to the vet, but we are going on Saturday for a micro chip so then I should know her actual weight. I would guess at 4lbs tho, as I also have a Chihuahua who is 5.5lbs and Minnie is smaller than her, but I also think she's under weight. I have just been reading that the small ones don't last long, but by no means could I fit her in a teacup! Im all just a bit confused about it. On wiki it says 'teacup' only last 7 yrs ish. But how small is a teacup one? Basically I don't want her to die! I know I shouldn't look at it that way and should enjoy the time I do have her - but anyone who has lost a dog knows it's not always that easy! I lost my beautiful Whippet Tia in April and it's been awful. I still cry everyday about her! I know death happens and with 3 dogs and 8 cats - I know im in for it! I would just like little Minnie to be here for as long as possible. Anyway am ranting on now! If anyone can help me to clear up the teacup thing I would really appreciate it! I was told Minnie was not bred from as she never got big enough to do so. I don't really understand that either now Help! Amy & Minnie |
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10-17-2011, 08:44 AM | #2 |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Hi welcome to Yorkietalk! The teacup miniature thing is confusing. Certain breeds, like poodles, have three size classifications, the largest is standard, next miniature, and the smallest is toy. Many people call the smallest size, the toy size, a “teacup”, but that’s not an official name and has no real definition. Yorkies, however, have only one official classification and it’s called the “Toy”. The official standard is “Must not exceed 7 pounds, although many are much bigger. Since there is no real definition for teacup, and everyone has their own thoughts to it’s meaning, it’s not a good sign when a breeder uses the terminology, and some do it to suggest that their dogs are ultra-tiny, under 4 pounds. Good breeders will not breed a female under 5 pounds, and it’s not good to breed for tinies because as you shrink down the size of things, they don’t always shrink proportionally. For example, the jaw may shrink, but the teeth are still large. There are some tinies who are small because of genetics and some are tiny because of illness. So it just depends why the dog is so tiny. I personally would be fearful of getting a dog under 4 pounds, and they may have more health problems, but this isn’t always the case. Size is just one piece of the puzzle. Tinies often have more accidents because Yorkies are fearless, and they will jump off of furniture, so get steps and teach them to use them, or don’t allow them on furniture. It's certainly not true about the 7 year thing, we have many member with tinies whose dogs are 10 plus years. They should live as long as their larger counterparts, as long as they don't have illness that is making them tiny.
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals Last edited by Nancy1999; 10-17-2011 at 08:47 AM. |
10-17-2011, 08:44 AM | #3 |
I Love My Yorkies Donating Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Posts: 37,147
| Ive never heard any correlation about smaller yorkies living a shorter lifespan in the 6 yrs Ive been on here so I think you can relax. There also isnt any truth that smaller yorkies always have health problems. They can but so can a larger yorkie its more in their genetics. If shes 4 and she hasnt had any so far Id say shes pretty healthy. When you go to the vet they will do wellness bloodwork on her and that will rule out alot. Now one thing smaller ones are more prone to is broken legs and injuries and sometimes luxating patella so you need to not let her jump. You need to have some doggy stairs or a ramp at your couch and your bed and train her to use them. Now I say this but really everyone with a yorkie no matter what size really should be doing this because when they dont they are at risk of their dog developing Lp. Oh by the way the lifespan of a yorkie can be anywhere from 12 and up to 20 yrs. I hope my post put some of your fears to rest. Just enjoy your girl shes gonna be with you awhile
__________________ Chachi's & Jewels Mom Jewels http://www.dogster.com/?132431Chachi http://www.dogster.com/?132427 |
10-17-2011, 09:00 AM | #4 |
YorkieTalk Newbie! Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: UK
Posts: 2
| Thank-you Nancey1999 and chachi! Thank-you both for the info on jumping! Minnie wasn't a jumper but now she jumps on and off the sofa easily, she's not managed the bed as it's quite high! I do tend to just scoop her up most of the time but she has taken to wanting to chase the cats when they are running and springs off my lap before I have a chance to catch her! She is starting to learn this is not allowed tho! I will definatly look for something for her to use as a step or make my other half build a ramp - I have never heard of Lp so I will look in to that. I am assuming that is something all dogs can get? I think by the time I have fed her up a little bit she wil be around the 5lb mark. In her self she seems very healthy, she comes for a walk for about 40 mins a day and enjoys that. I know she had a couple of teeth removed - these were baby ones that didn't come out by their selfs, due to their small jaws but I have read this can be a common problem in Yorkies. Her conformation and gait all look very normal too. Minnie was spayed a yr ago by her previous owner so Im glad now from what you said that they didn't breed from her. Thanks again for the info! Amy. |
10-17-2011, 09:07 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Chessington, Surrey, UK
Posts: 5,062
| Good evening from a fellow UK-er!! And welcome, too! As we both know, the 'breed standards' between our 2 countries are completely different. As are the processes when we go to our vets! I've had many different breeds of dogs over the years - and what is 'normal' is never really set in stone, whatever one might read or be told. Harry is our first Yorkie though, so I am merely drawing on experience from my mother-in-law, who has always kept them. All of hers have been 'tiny' (we'll call them that, for arguments sake!! ). All of them have lived happy, fulfilling, energetic, totally wonderful lives - and they've all lived for 15+ years!! So please, please stop worrying - what will be, will be - and enjoy every moment of your little Minnie! Enjoy, and sleep well! Sally + Harry x |
10-17-2011, 09:10 AM | #6 | |
I ♥ Joey & Ralphie! Donating Member | Quote:
__________________ NancyJoey Proud members of the CrAzYcLuB and YAP! ** Just Say No to Puppymills – Join YAP! Yorkshire Terrier Club of America – Breeder Referrals | |
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