[gemy]

Well in Europe where the first conformation shows began - and as dogs began to be classified into different groups for the competition - someone coined the name the *toy group* just like we have the working group, herding group, terrier group etc.


I think of toy as a small dog although in one sense all dogs at one point or another had a job to do.


Teacup is definitely a marketing term imo. And no breeder that I know refers to the wee or tiny ones as teacups. And the ones I know place these pups often when they are older and to carefully screened homes.