Oh I totally get it... I just think it's funny LOL

:thumbup: totally true!

And Roxi is only 2.8 lbs, really small, and the funny thing is that my bf and I never even asked how big she would get... We didn't care!!! We just fell in love, and she's just small, and that's that!! But I do agree with Nancy1999, I think there is a BIG difference between using your living animal, your baby, a part of your family as an accessory, verses putting your dog in a sweater because he/she is shivering... They DO get cold VERY easily.. I learned that quick because at first I didn't put Roxi in clothes at all, now I have learned that she doesn't have an undercoat, in addition to being so small. I personally don't dig on the shoes and pants and doggles ect. I personally feel thats too much.. Roxi is limited to tank tops & hoodies in colder weather... When it's warm out, she doesn't wear anything!!!
But EVERYONE has the right to their own opinions, and to care for their yorkie the way they see fit!!

I work with a woman who's mother breeds Yorkies. From what I have "heard" about her breeding practices she is in it for the right reasons. She and her daughter both however refer to the smaller of the yorkies as teacups. I have never once corrected her or explained any of what is said her (and I agree with) about the selling of teacups for a larger price. Reason being is that they don't go by this so what is the harm in them calling them teacups? To them it is just a size description, they do not breed to get them as small as they can and they are using it as a descriptive word.. no more no less. I used to get irked when I would have people ask me if my girls were teacup yorkies, now I just don't care because I realize that not everyone is on the internet searching for yorkie information, or belonging to message boards about yorkies. To them we would probably be considered fanatics. LOL

I thought some of you might be interested to know the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America views on this subject: Yorkshire Terrier Club of America (Awards)

Notice it says that

" The YTCA’s Code of Ethics precludes the use of the words “teacup”, “tiny specialists”, doll faced, or similar terminology by its members, and for good reason."

So you see we are "fanatics" for a good reason! :D

I will just throw in my two cents here, there are a lot of opinions on this topic and I think always will be. I personally am not bothered at all by a breeder using the term "teacup", to me it is merely an adjective, just like "teapot" or "teakettle". It does not bother me as long as the breeder does not use it as a breed name, and preferably makes it clear that it is only an adjective. With this in mind, I prefer to see, on a website for example, "teacup size Yorkie" instead of "teacup Yorkie". By including the word size, it makes it clear that the term is referring to the size and not a separate breed. Or sometimes I will see them put the term "teacup" in quotation marks--I prefer this as well. I am slightly bothered by seeing Teacup Yorkie, capitalized like it is a title.

Thank you :) I was hesitant at first but because I knew that this thread was going to be started because I really needed a question answer and not to start any heated arguments I decided to post it. we have gotten some great responses huh (including yours;))

I have to disagree. Every reputable breeder knows that there is not such thing as a breed called a "Teacup Yorkie". So why in their right mind would they choose to call their puppies "teacup size Yorkies". I believe it should be the job of every breeder to educate their buyers on the issue, not further confuse them. The term needs to be eliminated.

The key word here is "reputable", no reputable breeder would use the word. As far as I'm concerned, I'm glad some use it; it's another way to weed out the lousy breeders. However, then have to warn people that this is a huge red flag, and threads such as this occur. Hopefully, someone learned something, and fortunately this thread wasn't as nasty as some I've read on the topic.

Since there is such a large variation of sizes in yorkies though, I wonder if at some point, there will be different size groups (like the 13 and 15" beagles) for them. I mean, look at how diverse the sizes are on YT alone. Not one size proving to be "better", its just a matter of opinion. I personally wish that AKC would consider different size groups in the future. :)

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I've been of the opinion for awhile that the AKC standard is too restrictive for Yorkies. I'd love to see two size categories. It seem that now many dogs are both too small and too large to show. What does that say about the breed and our current standard?? Why is there so much variation in color, coat, size allowed in some breeds but not in Yorkies? It can't be because the purists are trying to save the breed, because the current standard isn't even close to the original Yorkie.

Having said that, I do try to breed to the standard. But I think a little more flexibility wouldn't hurt.

Well a good breeder to me is one that sells them all for the same price.. this idea of making a killing on a tiny yorkie is really nuts...anne

I may be wrong, but I didn't think they had restrictions on what was too small to show. Since many show dogs are used for breeding, I thought that they just showed dogs suitable for that purpose. The yorkie is a relatively new breed as dog breeds go, but I can't see a real need for changing the standard. There doesn't seem to be a real need to purposely try to breed larger, the public seems to want smaller and smaller. Right now there is no limit on how small a yorkie can be, only a limit on what size a female yorkie can safely be bred. I guess I don't see the advantages to changing the standard, although I realize it is very difficult to achieve, but when you do get it, it is something really remarkable to behold.

AKC is 4 to 7 for standard.

No, the standard is "must not exceed 7 lbs."

American Kennel Club - Yorkshire Terrier

Your are correct, I don't understand why so many people think it's 4-7 pounds. I read that all the time here on Yorkietalk.

Teacup is a word nothing else. When I got my boy the breeder had a girl, my boy and a tiny, tiny boy. I wanted the tiny boy but she would not sell him. I told her I would pay $100.00 more if I could have him. I have a very strong nurturing sense (I have no kids) and I wanted to make his life the ultimate. She would not sell him to me for anything, she said he could not bark, was very fragile and she was afraid he would be hurt in another household. That is when I decided to buy my boy who is still only 3 lbs at 10 months. I don't care how big he is and I hope he grows some more.

A good breeder would be cautionary about selling small pups (fragility, breathing and kidney problems). People think that buying a "teacup" or a "tiny" is the deal but basically they are buying a lot of vet bills and a shorter time with their pup.

Melissa and Rambeau (I'm a big boy!)

To clarify, when I said some dogs were too small, what I was referring to was most people who show dogs don't want them too small. They apparently show better a little larger and with a little longer leg. I don't show, but have heard this said.

I respect your opinion that the term needs to be eliminated. My opinion is that it is not wrong to use the term in referring to SIZE. The term teacup originally referred only to the size, as in small enough to fit in a teacup. I see no reason why it should be wrong to continue to use it as a SIZE distinction. Any good breeder will talk at length with the prospective owner before placing a pup, and will use that time to make sure they understand the proper meaning. If "teacup" is wrong to use as a size distinction, then so should be "teapot" and "teakettle".

Again, I respect your right to have your opinion. Mine happens to differ. :)

i agree with yorkiechick
 

i agree with yorkiechick... the smaller ones are more work and prayer from birth... they are also more "rare" and as with anything "rare", more costly. i do know that the more i spend on something the better i try and take care of it... "tinies", "teacups", "bitties" or whatever the "seller" wants to call them will probably take a bit more attention. so i guess the rest of us just need to get over it.. :)

I love your style socalyorkiemom!!!

I think you should take great care of your pets no matter what the cost – to suggest that you take better care of your pets that are more expensive rubs me the wrong way. As far as "getting over it" there is nothing to get over, we are trying to educate people on the Yorkshire Terrier breed and how to select a good breeder, and a good breeder will not use that word.

I agree with you that money shouldn't determine how you care for your pet:) Unfortunantly that isn't the case for most people:( honestly you will have people who will get a yorkie for cheap and not treat it very well because it wasn't really that expensive and they don't care. But if you pay $2500.00 for a dog you best believe it will get royal treatment. It's a sad world we live in:( When i needed to rehome my lab the animal control told me DO NOT GIVE AWAY FREE!!! Because people do not value them and they will most likley be abused or end up at the shelter:( Again the word teacup doesn't really bother me it's the use of it for scalping uneducated buyers. However...... The word Micro Mini and Teaspoon bother me for some reason i just think it is absurd anyone using those words is definently out for the $$$.

I think Tea-cup is hard since there is a teacup poodle and yorkies are in the toy group so it's hard for some to understand that there really isn't such a class for them as tea-cup. I would consider a T-cup to be anything under 4 lbs to me that is acceptable, but i don't think they should be priced for thousands more. I do feel they cost more to raise and stay healthy so of course they will be more to recoup the cost the breeder has put into them.

I really doesnt bother me when someone uses the term teacup. Its just used to define size. I dont think its wrong for breeders to charge more for them either just not thousands more. That is taking advantage of people

Aaarrrggghhh!!!
 

AKC Standard - It's been mentioned, it's been linked. If you don't believe me, google AKC and look up yorkies. The standard is "Must not exceed seven pounds." That includes everything from 0.0 lbs to 7 lbs. The average of 0 to 7 would then be 3.5-4 lbs. So if 4 lbs is about "averaged" size (used very generally), I don't see how a 3 lb dog is "tiny" or "teacup."

Teapot - Clearly a play on "teacup". Used to refer to Yorkies over 7 lbs since they are technically above the AKC standard. I do not think I have ever heard anyone use teapot in a non-joking/endearing manner.

Teacup - I loathe this word. Tiny is almost as bad, except when someone says, "You're dog is soooo tiny." I've had someone ask me if mine is a mini-yorkie before. Seriously.

Here's my problem with teacup and tiny (and mini) - it's not an official breed (like with poodles and pinchers) and it's not used on bigger dogs, which in my mind defeats the argument that is simply a size descripter. When talking about a smaller than normal lab, it's not called a "teacup lab." It's called small or "tiny for a lab", but usually just small. I have no problem with small.

Also, teacup is most commonly used to refer to smaller than normal dogs (yorkies) whose main purpose is a fashion accessory for some vapid psuedo-starlet. Just as breeders falsely advertise "teacups" to exploit people's ignorance, I think those same people purposely bought teacups as a fashion statement/accesory/whatever because it's the cool thing and "so hot".

I didn't get my dog because I wanted to be in style or fashionable or cool. (I actually wanted bigger dog, and Harls was the compromise. Now she's daddy's little girl). And I don't want people who see her to assume I'm trying to just follow the latest hollywood trends because I have a small yorkie.

BTW, Harley is 2.4 lbs and 4 months old. I am hoping she gets to 5 lbs because of the health risks associated with the smaller ones. I don't dress her up, I don't put bows in her hair, and I don't carry her in a man-purse. But she does get cold and shakes real bad when its cold outside, so I am rethinking some clothes just to keep her warm (oh and if I can find it, a football jersey for september).

And knowing how these dogs really do get cold, I do not think all people who put clothes on their dog are hypocritical if they criticize someone for carrying them in their purse. I personally don't care if someone has a dog in their purse, so long as the dog is properly taken care of. I wouldn't do it, but it doesn't bother me if others do.

I agree. Have you seen the breeder sites that advertise teacups and they have these pups in a larger than normal cup? Come on how silly is that.

:thumbup: I LOVE this post!

Just to set the record straight, I happen to love different carriers, purses, whatever, my comment was about getting the yorkie as a fashion accessory. So lets not confuse this, otherwise, I would call myself a hypocrite. :eek: Here was the original statement.

Personally, I think people need to lighten up on the teacup term. I am 59 years old and have heard that term all my life....teacup poodle, teacup chihuahua, etc. My grandmother had a teacup toy fox terrier that would actually fit in a teacup. Breeders that use teacup as a marketing tool will not care what we say and continue to do it. Some breeders will quit using the term just because they don't want to be 'red flagged' but they will continue to breed Yorkies that are too small. I get calls all the time from people asking for teacup yorkies. Sometimes I will gently explain about the term 'teacup' but most I the time I just tell them what size my Yorkies will be. When we have new members coming here we should quit focusing on the term they use and focus on the issue at hand.....breeder education. If everyone jumps on a newbie all at one time then they feel cornered and they just run away. Anyone who sticks around long enough will soon learn so much about breeding if that is what they are really interested in and they can learn so much about yorkies in general and how to properly care for them.