I personally know a breeder that breeds for tinies. She knows that her girls will require a C-section but, does it anyway because of the market demand. She keeps a very clean kennel and the dogs are taken care of. Need I say why I wouldn't sponsor her for YTCA when she asked

I had never been so frightened with my first hypoglocemia puppy going down at 9weeks 14oz, I kept him until 8 months, there was no way I would have passed the responsibility on to a pet owner at 12 weeks even though he never had another attack. Happy to say he is happy healthy 4lber, you all might now know him as "Baby" AKA Zoom Zoom...then their is Miracle, every day is a celebration she lived, BTW both were conceived from normal size parents...

what many of you dont know us breeders go through helping these pet owners, specially if we have a website, our exposure is greater and its easier to call a stranger than their own breeder or their own breeder isnt available "EVER" once they get the pup and the breeder gets the check many think their responsibility is OVER!!!

I receive phone calls and emails constantly asking for help, picking up the pieces from irresponsable breeders, consoling the sad, crying pet buyers because all the wanted was a tiny only to have it die prematurely, there in not enough money out there to repair that pet buyers broken heart. I know all I can offer is a shoulder and a kind word.

It irresponsible for any one to being do this no matter what...my mother in the 60's bred teacup poodles where I saw first hand at a young age what breeding down a breed does to them...many didnt live past the age of 2-5 years, many were retarded, many had limited eye site, many couldnt eat on their own, some even walked into walls...

What is the purpose of breeding anything if you cant take responsiblity giving it a full wonderful loving life!...

2 years ago, we went to Myrtle Beach, they were having this dog contest going on(where the dogs dressed like their owners, etc), anyway, there were dogs everywhere..I saw a lady with 3 little yorkies, the smallest one she was holding..I said ahhh, how cute of a puppy, she said well, shes actually a year old and a pound, and she's pregnant..I opened my big mouth and said you know that could kill her? She said well, the vet is going to do a c section..this broke my heart, I thought how irresponsible!
I have always wondered about that precious little baby..And someone else said about the not being able to jump when they're so small..as I said, my son has the brother to my little girl..Now Ginger jumps up on the couch with no problem, and her little brother can't even get 1/2 way up..I love my little grandpup, but, I keep hoping and praying that he gets bigger to where he can jump and play like ginger does..whenever he's over here, I worry about him..now, he growls and barks and plays rough, but, I still worry about the little guy..My poor son called lastnight as I was getting ready for bed, he was so worried..He said mama, Teddy got a hold of a peanut m&m and ate it, he was so worried it was going to kill him...I said he'll be fine Scot, he said but he ate the whole thing..I reassured him again, one peanut m&m wouldn't kill him, but, it did make me happy that he was concerned..:)

I have Marcel (3 pounds) and Wylie (7.5 lbs). Wylie has LP but is otherwise very healthy. Marcel is totally healthy, other than some food allergies. I didn't think Marcel was even going to reach 3 pounds bc he was on track for 2 - 2.5 at the most for the longest time. I'm so glad he reached 3.

Marcel comes from an excellent breeder who happend to have a "tiny" in her litter. I think with tinies, you must EXPECT more vulnerability (in every way), more vet bills, more worry, and more overall care. Not bc of health issues that are specific to being small - but just the vulnerability that comes with it. When they get sick, things go bad much quicker. You have a tendency to err on the side of going to the vet rather than "let's wait a day". You have a tendency to do more tests - "let's do bile acids etc bc he's small".

You have to alter your home life - ie, they should wear a bell, you need special steps for the bed/sofa, you need to watch them on the bed/sofa or any place high. You have to watch them closer when visitors are in your home.

I wouldn't trade Marcel (or Wylie!) for the world and I would do it again - but I wouldn't go any smaller than 3 pounds. He's vulnerable enough and I don't think I could take the pressure/worry of him being any smaller. It really takes some add'l attention and commitment to own/care for a tiny - and MONEY (vet).

I think what is most important in finding a dog of any size is that you learn what defines a good breeder - and then find one. Don't compromise.

I believe it is okay to have a small yorkie if it was not intentionally breed that way. I personally prefer a dog around 6-7 pounds because they just seem less fragile. Carlos is 3 pounds right now and he is just over 4 months old. I think he might end up being a tea pot! lol

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Tinies happen..and they are well within the standard as long as they do not exceed 7 pounds....I don't have to use a tiny bitch and stud to get a tiny puppy...nice solid 6 and 7 pounders can have wee ones...some of my smallest came from big fat mama's....it just happens.
Tinies are wonderful, had many, but they are not for the busy owner who can not devote lots of time and attention to them..

I completely agree and it makes me furious to see breeders breeding strictly for small size and big bucks with no regard to health. It also makes me furious to see ignorant people breeding their 10 pound yorkies for a quick buck with no regard to health. I guess I was pointing out that is goes both ways. Little does not automatically equal sick and big sure doesn't guarantee healthy.

You are so right...and it's predicated on indiscriminate breeding or not knowing what one is doing.

There are quite a few on here who have 3 pounders that aren't fragile at all. I adore small dogs and can't imagine having any other kind, but to each their own.

I think a sick dog can come in any size. My sister has spent more on vet bills with her English Bulldog! Now there's a breed that has some major problems.

I think a good breeder needs experience and to know their own dogs. I have no idea why people get so upset over the use of the word teacup. Teacup Poodles have been around for ages, what does it matter what word you use? I do wish that those that sold tinier dogs with the higher price tags would offer a partial refund if the dog isn't the size they say it will be. Wouldn't that be sweet? Oh, this dog is twice the size you said it would be...please give me back half my money bwahahaha.

I have a 5-6 pound chihuahua(I don't weigh my dogs all the time, heck I don't weigh myself either!) , a 3 3/4 pound yorkie(who gets much more closer to 4 pounds when the snacks are good) and my 2 1/2 pound puppy. None of them are fragile, have had ANY health problems. Before that I had a long haired chihuahua that lived to 15 with no health problems and a Pekingnese that lived to 12. Big dogs don't live that long.

This site belongs to one of our members with tinies. I think you will enjoy it and learn a lot from it. She has a section on tinies under the heading, "Think you want a yorkie?"

http://www.mylittlemia.com/

My puppy Logan is 5 months old, so I assume he's still growing. But, to date, he weighs 1 lb. 10 oz. When we got him almost 3 months ago, he weighed 1 lb. 3 oz., so he is gaining. His parents weigh 4 lbs. We did not intentionally get a small Yorkie, but we assumed he would grow to be at least 4 lbs. I do not know at what age they reach full growth, but I don't think Logan is going to make it to 4 lbs.

In the puppy training class we are in, there are two other Yorkies who are a month younger than Logan. But they weigh 3 times as much as he does already!

The advantage to having a small dog is that he is easy to travel with. I can carry him with me everywhere, and most people never notice. The disadvantage is that it's easy to accidently step on them. This has happened twice because I couldn't see that Logan was so close to the back of my feet. Also, he fell off the couch once and hurt his leg momentarily. Fortunuately, he was fine after about 5 minutes and did not break anything. So we have to keep a very close eye on him.

We have not had him for very long, so I don't know if there are going to be any health consequences as a result of his small size. So far, everything seems to be fine except that we can't get him houstrained. He still poops in the house - even after he's just gone outside!

When I got my pup I had no idea what to expect with her weight. I didn't know anything about "teacups" and I don't even know if she would be considered a teacup because she is more than 3 pounds.

Her mom was 6 pounds and her dad was 4 pounds.
I thought she would be about 5 pounds full grown.

She is 6 1/2 months old and weighs 3.38 pounds. She seems so little and I am always scared someone will step on her because she is always underfoot.

I am hopeful she will gain more and get to 4-5 pounds. We have had a lot of health care issues with her and I hope to stop visiting the vet every week, very soon. I don't even have my own doctors phone number memorized, but both my husband and I know the vets by memory.

Our first yorkie, Bandit, was about 3.5-4 pounds. He had liver shunt and died when he was about 4 months old. Now, he came from a puppymill, and I'm sure that had something to do with it, but I think he could've fought it if he was bigger.

Knowing what I know now, I would not get a dog expected to stay that small - unless I was getting Bandit again. :love:

My Tiffy is now at 2.5 pounds (a year and a half old) and although I would not change her for the world I so wish she could have grown more than that. I understand how many people appreciate a smaller baby looking furkid but I think that is mostly the people who do not have one. Sharing a home with a tiny takes alot of extra care - even with the simplest tasks such as cleaning or walking around - (I dropped the metal top of my cotton container last night and dove to it before it reached the floor next to my feet AKA Tiffy, ended up hitting me but who cares, I know this would have been fatal) I am in constant vigilance with her and her whereabouts and thank heavens we are in Miami where it became a bit cold last night at 40's and I had to sleep with her on a sleeping bag with a heating blanket since she would not stop shivering... :( You can't put a tiny on your bed or the furniture, you can't walk far with them and I definetely Never take her anywhere because I got so tired of people asking me when was I "going to breed her so I can sell them a puppy" :mad: So Absolutely no health issues as of today, but I have not gotten her neutered nor baby teeth pulled because of fear and it huts be everyday that I cannot because it may hurt her in the long run... :( that is my experience anyhow. I love her little furbutt to pieces but would just be great if there was at least a little bigger butt to love!! :)

Don't give up hope on her growing. Sugar was 2.8 lbs at a year and a half. At 2 yrs he was 3 pounds and I figured that was it. I just found out that now at almost 3 yrs he is 4 pounds. The vet said he isn't fat he just filled out so you never know.