Having just "rescued" (for lack of a better word) my (yes, MY) senior yorkie, who weighs in at three lbs- I cannot imagine why anyone would want a very tiny, tiny pup. I would live in fear of stepping on them, bigger dogs, etc...
Now, I am a "big dog" guy, with most of my experience being with Pits and Border Collies. So Stanford looks very small to me. And he is unhealthily underweight. But to think that some people might find that attractive...yipes.
My opinion is that the closer to the original line, in form, tempement, and body presentation, the better. After all, Pits were called the "Nanny Dog" and were the number one household dog in the U.S. between roughly 1850 and 1920. But the last 30 years has done them in. And yes, the breeders messed around with them.
From what I can find, Yorkies were quite the hunters of rats, and had a reputation for being fast and fearless. Yet the majority of males (but not all) don't associate them with this--they see a "girly" dog, an accessory--not a brave and courageous animal. That was my issue, and why I avoided small dogs of any kind like the plague. But when I see Stannie give the neighborhood dogs "what for", and when he stares off into the horizon with that wide stance, sniffing the air, I can see the past.
I have never purchased from a breeder. I imagine some are impeccable, some are well-meaning but inept, and some are just out for the quick buck. But the latter two will continue to give us (the public) what we "want." And what we want is what we "think" we know about a breed, from the media, past experiences, or just ignorance.
So I applaud asking questions of breeders if you are going to use one, and using knowledge as a tool and a weapon.
Cannot back yard or inept breeding operations be shut down? Are there no standards, licensing procedures, etc...? I really don't know much about it at all.
It seems that the image of the "spoiled, yappy, rich girl" dog will persist until Yorkies are given their full due, especially in regards to their courageous history (which I am just learning about).
Off my soapbox now.
Sorry for the rant.
