Both YorkieRose and I have been breeding for years and I can tell you we both have had some very small puppies/dogs in our litters. I can also tell you that neither of us, nor any responsible breeder I know, have used the tearm "TEACUP" or T-cup to describe our tiny babies. They are simply tiny Yorkies who require more care as newborns, as adolescents and when placed in the proper home. I know when I get a call looking for a "t-cup" the first thing I do is educate the caller that teacup in my opinion is a marketing phrase that is used to put more money from their pocket into the buyer's pocket. There is no standard and a breeder can sell a puppy that is surely going to be over 5 pounds as a teacup. I know a breeder who does that..anything under 5 lbs she will try (and sometimes succeed) to sell as a teacup. Her breeding stock is very sub-standard and extremely over-sized with bad coats and markings and her puppies reflect that.
I know that the terms are being used on here in an effort to explain what each person means, and that is no problem for me. Since I have so few puppies these times, I see my breeding philosophy as one of educating interested parties about my beloved breed. I love this breed in all of it oddities whether I am discussing size, colors, genetics, personalities; in short, it uniqueness totally appeals to me. |