hey all......
okay..... I will admit I am partial to smaller sized yorkies. I love the tiny ones with the little compact bodies... they look like puppies even when they are adults! In my opinion, there is no comparison.... I am a big fan of smaller sized yorkies...especially when they have a fiesty little personality. We lucked out with Jaya, and when it came time to get our second puppy, we just couldn't afford the prices for teacups ($2800+).
Jaya is almost 2 and half pounds, and will reach 3 lbs full size. She is a replica of her father who was exactly 3 lbs. Her mother was 8-9 lbs, and the other two puppies in that litter will max out at 4 and 5 lbs.
Jenna is a little over 2 lbs at 11 weeks and will max out 4-5 lbs. The other dog in her litter is bigger. The breeder had another litter born the same day and they are half the size of Jenna (that litter's parents were SO beautiful, and so healthy...both 4-5 lbs, the pups were all small because she had 4 pups which is unheard of for her size), but the breeder was selling those pups at a ridiculous price which pissed me off, but what can you do... right... they have to make a living too I guess. I bought both my pups from the same breeder...
Anyways!
With Jaya... she is such a sturdy dog...... very very outgoing... loves to run and attack everything... when I hold her, I can tell she is a strong and sturdy dog. I mean she bounds up and down the stairs in seconds, and her legs are very powerful. She is very slim, but she's all lean muscle.
Basically, what I'm saying is, you have to look at the parents and the way the pup is reared before you pick it up, as well as the build of the dog. Jaya was a sturdy puppy even if she was the smallest of the litter. I would not classify her as the 'runt' because she was not projected to be smaller than her father, but simply followed his genes.
What is worrisome about smaller yorkies, is if they are "runts" which I classify as those pups who don't get enough food and attention due to the other, more stronger pups in the litter. The runts are usually projected to be smaller than the parents (and grandparents) and they usually look weaker and frailer than the other pups in the litter. For a runt, small is not due to genes, but due to health, and those are the pups with health issues.
In regards to those breeders who purposely breed for size..... i don't know much.... When i was looking for yorkies, all the females were always over 6 lbs so I dont know much. That other litter that i mentioned earlier with the four teacups, the father was at least five lbs...the mother was smaller, but those two were bred for more "show quality" rather than pet quality.
There was one breeder who was selling a 4 month old pup who was a little over 1 lb, who was projected to weigh 2 lbs. I had to decline because his body was extremely compact and he just didnt seem to feel right...he was almost as wide as he was long! and the lady did not have the parents, so the alarm bells were ringing, and I had nothing to compare him with.
When a person is looking for a "teacup" or a yorkie that is 3 lbs and under, he or she must examine everything. But like I said earlier, there is nothing wrong with the small ones (i LOVE them)...... you just gotta know your stuff and you must must must! see the parents and the other pups of the litter. And never settle for a runt, just to get a "teacup"...its just not worth it in the long run. |