YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community - View Single Post

SoCalyorkiLvr · 05-22-2005, 11:52 PM

Hi and welcome to Yorkie Talk! You came to the right place to ask your questions! The tinies, or teacups as some refer to the smaller size, are becoming more expensive because they are not all that common and they are in demand. I am sure you ahve already figured that out! I saw my "dream puppy" this week but she was $10,000!! Mostly because she is so perfect that the breeder (a show breeder btw) doesn't really want to sell her.

I own three smaller yorkies and I love them, but it is hard to tell the smaller ones from the standard in a lot of ways, because they are all within a lb or two of each other. In my opinion, structure should be the determinant for adult size rather than weight. You can have 2 yorkies that are 5" high and 5" long and one can weigh 2 lbs and the other 4. It depends on whether they are delicately boned or densely boned, whether they are fat or thin, etc.

I think you can find a small baby doll faced 4 lb yorkie and be perfectly happy.

The most popular "pet look" right now is the shorter snout, smaller ears, thick coat, big eyes, dome head and wide face if all that makes sense. Some of these things aren't evident to an inexperienced person before 9-12 weeks of age so it is best not to purchase a puppy earlier than this. In my opinion, it is best for tinies to stay with the breeder until 16 weeks at least. You might want to find an experienced breeder or other disinterested, but knowledgeable person who will go with you and help you. You could offer to pay them for their time. This would be ideal. Afterall, you are choosing a dog who will be yours for 15 years most likely. Maybe someone from the local chapter of the YTCA would be willing to help you out.

Breed health problems to look for include luxating patellas (slippping kneecaps), open fontanels(growth plates in head not fully closed), overbites(upper jaw longer than lower jaw), hernias, liver shunts, etc. None of these can be prevented by the breeder necessarily but you can ask about the parents and the grandparents, however this is not a guarantee that the puppy won't have the condition.

Good luck in your search!

05-22-2005, 11:52 PM	#4
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	Hi and welcome to Yorkie Talk! You came to the right place to ask your questions! The tinies, or teacups as some refer to the smaller size, are becoming more expensive because they are not all that common and they are in demand. I am sure you ahve already figured that out! I saw my "dream puppy" this week but she was $10,000!! Mostly because she is so perfect that the breeder (a show breeder btw) doesn't really want to sell her. I own three smaller yorkies and I love them, but it is hard to tell the smaller ones from the standard in a lot of ways, because they are all within a lb or two of each other. In my opinion, structure should be the determinant for adult size rather than weight. You can have 2 yorkies that are 5" high and 5" long and one can weigh 2 lbs and the other 4. It depends on whether they are delicately boned or densely boned, whether they are fat or thin, etc. I think you can find a small baby doll faced 4 lb yorkie and be perfectly happy. The most popular "pet look" right now is the shorter snout, smaller ears, thick coat, big eyes, dome head and wide face if all that makes sense. Some of these things aren't evident to an inexperienced person before 9-12 weeks of age so it is best not to purchase a puppy earlier than this. In my opinion, it is best for tinies to stay with the breeder until 16 weeks at least. You might want to find an experienced breeder or other disinterested, but knowledgeable person who will go with you and help you. You could offer to pay them for their time. This would be ideal. Afterall, you are choosing a dog who will be yours for 15 years most likely. Maybe someone from the local chapter of the YTCA would be willing to help you out. Breed health problems to look for include luxating patellas (slippping kneecaps), open fontanels(growth plates in head not fully closed), overbites(upper jaw longer than lower jaw), hernias, liver shunts, etc. None of these can be prevented by the breeder necessarily but you can ask about the parents and the grandparents, however this is not a guarantee that the puppy won't have the condition. Good luck in your search!