"Teacup" Discussion

[DianeW]

Originally Posted by Mybabyboymax

Max is a year old and 3 pounds he isnt tiny but is on the smaller side. He is healthy and full of energy. I havent had any health issues with him and god willing I wont.
I cant speak much on breeding for smaller yorkies but I can say that I originally wanted a smaller yorkie. If he would have grown bigger than 3 pounds I would love him the same but I did want a smaller yorkie. Health was number one priority of course. I dont have another dog to compare him to so I cant say if he requires more work but I dont find that he has problems doing what my friends 7 pound dog does.

I AGREE WITH YOU - I TOO WANTED A SMALLER YORKIE, HARVEY IS 3.5 LB AND THOUGH WE ARE VERY CAREFUL AROUND HIM, HE IS JUST AS ACTIVE AND PLAYFUL AS OUR OTHER LARGER YORKIE WAS. HE IS 2 IN A FEW MONTHS AND IS VERY HEALTHY - THANKFULLY. EVEN THOUGH I WANTED A SMALLER YORKIE, I WAS NOT SURE OF HOW BIG HE WAS GOING TO BE WHEN HE GREW UP, AND WE WOULD LOVE HIM ALL THE SAME IF HE WAS BIGGER.

I AM VERY INTERESTED IN WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK ON THIS ISSUE.....

[kezza]

My last Yorkie was around 6lbs and to me she was tiny...when i had to let her go, I knew i wanted another and that i wanted a small yorkie girl of around 4lbs or so, A good breeder was advertising a 'Tiny bitch puppy', 'too small to show/breed, to pet home only'. When i emailed the breeder, she told me: 'not to expect her to be more than 3.5-4lbs fully grown'. Well, Pixie is now 7 months, last time i weighed her (around 4 weeks ago) she was 2lbs 7oz, I'm going to weigh her this weekend, I'm hoping she will be getting nearer 3lbs. She is much smaller than i expected, but she is very happy, healthy and has a fantastic apetite, there's not much that she will refuse to eat! I really hope she gains more weight as she grows older and stays as happy & healthy as she is now for the rest of her life.

[cariblonde]

Gizzie only weighs 2.7 lbs and she is a 1 1/2 yrs old. Her brothers and sisters were twice her size she was just the runt, i havnt had any health problems with her at all, she is a little furry ball of energy.

[kezza]

Originally Posted by cariblonde

Gizzie only weighs 2.7 lbs and she is a 1 1/2 yrs old. Her brothers and sisters were twice her size she was just the runt, i havnt had any health problems with her at all, she is a little furry ball of energy.

Pixie had one brother, and he is double her size! Pixie must have been the 'Runt' too! she's small but oh so perfectly formed!

[fourdez]

I have 2 girls that are 6 lbs and one little boy who is 2.9 lbs. All three are healthy. My little boy runs, jumps and acts just like my bigger yorkies he is over a year old and I have never had any problems (knocking on wood).

[littlewhip]

My 5 range fom 3pds to 8 pds all healthy and happy I find that molly , my smallest is so much more a mamas girl, i think she know her limites as far as when they are rough housing, she does jump aroung like a wild child, but will back off sooner then the others, I hate when she jumps off the couch, I personaly would not want one smaller then her. and for those of you that do have the very very tiny, bless you for being so dedicated to there care

[Shelbies heart]

My sweet Mia is 2 years old and very tiny, she weighs somewhere between 3 1/2 and 4 pounds, she is healthy but I am always on guard when company is around because she is very fragile, one mistake and she could die from being stepped on or tripped over. I was so afraid to have her go under for surgery I waited longer then I should have to get her spayed. She went thru surgery fine but I was very scared. When Mia was a baby she would have died a few times had I not been home with her due to low bloodsugar because she was so tiny. I had an 11 pound girl for 13 years and thought she was wonderful so I love all yorkies big or small. I agree with the last post, I think Mia is a momas baby and wants me to hold her ALL THE TIME because she knows she is so small.

[Doodlebug]

Originally Posted by drawlins27

I think that one sentence by Prestigeous pretty much says it all.

I have a little one, Lily. She is between 1.5 - 2.0 lbs and is 1 yr old today. She has a large open font, hydrocephalus, MVD, partial blindness, heart murmur, and mental retardation and that is just the tip of the iceburg. She cries all the time. It would break your heart to hear her.

Not only do I have her health issues to worry about, but her sheer size is a huge worry for me. Ever stumbled walking across a room or lean up in bed on an elbow? Imagine if Lily were underneath that elbow or that foot. Ever opened up the freezer or fridge and have something fall out? If it fell on top of her, it would kill her or break several bones at least.

She is a rescue and was bred by a breeder who specialized in so called "teacups". Their goal was to breed a yorkie as small as possible. Well guess what? They succeeded and Lily is the result. That is her in my avatar. Is she adorable? Yes, but look at the price she is paying. That's pretty much all I have to say on the issue.

Your baby is adorable. I am so sorry that she is so sick. She is so lucky to have you for a mommy.

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories. This thread has been very educational.

[nailcorner]

Our Peanut is a little one, just this winter making the scales hit 3lbs. I think that is due to all the snow and cold weather. She runs out to piddle, and hardly stops to go then flys back in the house, no running and playing.

Please, nobody throw tomatos at me when I tell you how I got her. Walked into a pet store to get a new bed for my little old lady Betsy....and BAM. .there she was...had to have her...so tiny next to her brother and sister...I just new she was ment to be mine!!!!!!

Thank God, she has never had any health problems. She will be 4 this spring. She just runs the roost around here. EVERYONE wanted me to breed her so they could have a pup.....NO WAY! She came through the spadeing surgery just fine. The discription that comes to mind for her is an old saying that I can remember my mother saying...."she is full of piss and vinager"! (I really dont know what that means, but can remember people using that term about 45 years ago...lol)

I was sooo lucky with her, that I am scared to get another Yorkie now.

Kathy & Peanut and U.B and Betsy

[mk97]

My little Piper is 2.8 lbs at 14 months old--she has been this weight since she was about 6 months old. I bought her from my boss, she was intending to use this booger as a breeder-but she never grew, so I bit the bullet and paid $1200 for her. She included the spay in the price, as she is a vet. I know that Piper's full litter sister is total oppisite--she is silver and weighs about 5.5-6 lbs. She's bred the parents together again recently, and the puppies from that litter(the girls) both were at 2.6lbs at 6 months of age---she doesn't purposely breed to get the little ones, her lines I guess just throw that. One of my friends/coworker bought one, and she stayed under 2 lbs--she had no medical problems--was just tiny. I know my Piper has a collapsing trachea and a luxating patella--but otherwise is fine.

[rontiss1]

Originally Posted by Mybabyboymax

Max is a year old and 3 pounds he isnt tiny but is on the smaller side. He is healthy and full of energy. I havent had any health issues with him and god willing I wont.
I cant speak much on breeding for smaller yorkies but I can say that I originally wanted a smaller yorkie. If he would have grown bigger than 3 pounds I would love him the same but I did want a smaller yorkie. Health was number one priority of course. I dont have another dog to compare him to so I cant say if he requires more work but I dont find that he has problems doing what my friends 7 pound dog does.

My newly acquired yorkie, Gina, is 3lbs,4oz. She was given to me from a former tenant who used to live in this complex. All I had to do was to pay shipping charges. The only problems I have had with Gina is that her right eye was scratched when playing with boobah. That was taken care of with clamomax. She got spaded about 2 days ago. She is convalescing now in her crib. Other than that, she abounds with energy, runs as fast as a mouse (sometimes I cant catch her!)LOL! My other yrokie, boobah weighs in at 6lbs,9oz. She will be 1 year old on February 16!!God willing I will have my yorkies for a long long time!P.S. Since we've had these rainstorms, Gina and Boobah love looking out the window watching the rain come down! Gina, believe it or now has become so compatible with her big sister! (With the exception of scratching her eye!)

[journey826]

I have two that are 4.4lbs and the girl looks smaller because she has a shorter more compact body structure.I also love the tinies and one day I would like a tinier one than 4lbs yes yes I know.although with careful observation I think what I really like is the ones that are compact with short legs.my boy is even in length and height but he is just bigger than the girl though they weight the same.I think the longer body make the dog look bigger and that is why people are wanting a tinier one when all they really want is a compact structure.so in the future that is what I will look for compact parents that will have compact babies no matter what size.

[cj125]

Originally Posted by makemepretty

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.

Our Black Lab lived to be 15 years old before we put him down.

[CPG]

I have a 2 pound Chi-Poo, a 2 1/2 pound Yorkie and a 7 lb Yorkie. They are all 3 healthy, strong, full of life and have not had any Health problems. I think a lot of it depends on their breeding. To me animals are just like people, some are smaller than others. I think if your dogs are bred from a long line of small parents, they will be small, most of the time and vice versa. As long as their ancestors were healthy, hopefully, they got those healthy genes.

When my dogs were babies, we were extra careful with them, watching not to step on them, drop them, etc. Now they get out of the way before we have to think about it.

It's interesting that the 2 lb. Chi-Poo runs the show. I was really afraid of having him neutered, but the Vet assured me it was not a problem and it wasn't.

I recently learned that all puppies and kittens are neutered or spayed at the Animal Shelter at 6 weeks. Now, I think that's scary.

I have a friend with 2 Bichon's who was really worried about the expense I was going to have at the Vet with my 2 little ones because of their size. Both of her 14 lb. dogs have had leg problems and have required $1000surgeries each, so it just goes to show you that you never know.

Unfortunately, I think it's just like me or you. I was just diagnosed with high blood pressure. People are going to get sick and dogs will get sick.

Oh, and by the way, I would get another tiny dog as long as I could see the parents and it's siblings. They are easier to transport, cost less to feed, etc.

I forgot to mention, we also have a 15 Lb. Bichon, who we love dearly, I would also not have a problem getting another 15 lb. dog. She's actually the sweetest furbaby we have! No health problems from her either.

[WidsMom]

I've had several 'tiny' dogs. All chihuahuas. I have found in my experience, that you can have two different two pound furbabies, and one will be frail, and the other tough as nails. I had one that was 2.10 lbs and constantly reactive to any change in his environment. A nibble of food=bloody poops. A change in temperature=blood sugar issues..etc etc. Now, Figgy is 2.6 lbs and incredibly hardy. He eats with the 'big kids', plays with them, sleeps with them..not an issue. Of course, I always am aware of him simply because he's little and can't get down off furniture like everyone else, and can also squeeze into places nobody else can. BTW, he is also my resident 'talker'. He barks his little face off at any perceived intruder! TAKE THAT! LOL...and he's also very loving.

Personally, I wouldn't chose a dog based on size. At least not entirely. More importantly: personality and that 'click' you feel when you know it's right.