"Teacup" Yorkie
 

I don't want to start any arguments just a general question: Why do many people seem to get offended with the use of the word "teacup?" Many posts on here state that only irresponsible breeders use this to jack up the price, but I purchased a yorkie advertised as "teacup." She is about 10 months old 2.75 lbs and "knock on wood" excellent health. I see it as more of a guideline on how small the puppy is going to be (It's just like buying anything else fountain drinks are small, medium, large, trucks are regular, extended or crew cab, yorkies are teacup, toy, etc..). I just don't want new yorkie parents to think all "teacups" are bad and that all breeders advertising as so are bad. I love my "teacup" baby so much!

Yorkshire Terrier Club of America
 

CODE OF ETHICS
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1) A breeder-member shall strive to conform to the Yorkshire Terrier Standard as
approved by the American Kennel Club, to improve progeny, and to reduce faults
to a minimum.
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2) Members shall comply with the rules of the American Kennel Club concerning
record keeping and the registration, identification, sale, and transfer of dogs.
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3) Members shall refer potential puppy purchasers to other reputable breeders and
be helpful and courteous to those who request information about the breed.
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4) All stud dogs and bitches shall be screened prior to breeding for both infectious and
hereditary diseases using the then generally accepted and available techniques.
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5) A breeder-member selling puppies or offering stud services shall fully disclose to
potential clients any serious or disabling hereditary defects, including the reasonable
possibility of such defects.
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6) All contractual terms and conditions relating to Yorkshire Terriers shall be reduced
to writing and shall be honored by a member.
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7) An exhibitor-member shall not alter a dog’s natural appearance except as provided
in the Yorkshire Terrier Standard.
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8) A member shall not defame another member nor seek to impair a member’s
reputation, provided, however, a member shall report any serious situation that is
detrimental to the breed or is inconsistent with these principles.
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9) A member’s advertising:
- shall be professional in appearance and location;
- shall not refer to YTCA membership to attempt to enhance integrity or the quality of
stock;
- shall not contain any misleading photograph or other graphic materials; and
- shall not use terms as “teacup”, “tiny specialists”, doll faced, or similar terminology.
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10) A member shall sponsor an applicant for membership only if the member has
personally known the applicant for at least two years. At least one of the sponsoring
members must have visited the applicants’ facility at least once during the two years
immediately preceding the application date.

The problem is the fact that people use this term to sell their puppies. Why not say that this puppy may be smaller because in all honesty you never know what size a dog will be. I have seen people say they spent so much for a "teacup" and the dog ends up being 15lbs. Why give the yorkie a sub division when there is no such thing. They are a toy breed, and they are Yorkshire Terriers. They have a range limit for weight, just because they are above or below doesn't change that they are a Yorkshire Terrier.
To me that is like looking at a minature schnauzer and if they become large turning them into a standard schnauzer.

i love this!!!:aimeeyork:aimeeyork:love:

A lot of breeders do use the term to raise their prices. Why do you think an pup with an estimated weight of 7 lbs would go for maybe $900 and a "teacup" would go for $1200? Celebrities are out there "advertising" their little "designer" "teacup" breeds and regular people are wanting them smaller and smaller so breeders are breeding them tiny, calling them teacups, and jacking up the prices. While a lot of them are perfectly healthy, the risks of them being unhealthy and getting hurt are a lot greater than a bigger yorkie. Sometimes though, you do get a tiny one in a liter, but a breeder should not intentionally breed for them. They should be breeding for a weight between 4-7 lbs.

Also I have seen a few unethical breeders reported for selling "teacups" that they claimed were a few months old and were actually not even suppose to leave their mommy. (So basically when the pups were a few weeks old they would sell them claiming that they were a few months.) Just for the reason that people want "teacups".

You've gotten many good responses so far, but I just wanted to add to how misleading the "teacup" term is.
From reading here on YT, you can find how many MANY people were tricked into believing their baby would be super tiny by selling them a younger dog. Ex. saying the baby is 8 weeks old weighing in at xx lbs or ounces and will always be super tiny. It is all to common for me to read people giving these breeders bad reviews because when they recieved said puppy and took it to the vet not only were they a little larger (of course puppies grow;) ) but they were also a lot younger. Meaning, when the said puppy gets to 8 or 12 weeks old, it's weight is significantly different. It's also a way of overcharging people for something that is currently fashionable (having a tiny puppy or dog in your purse).
Just so you know, I have nothing against tiny dogs. But I do think the Yorkshire Terrier breed already falls in the small/tiny category without having to breed for "extra tiny teacups" that are more fragile, are harder to take care of healthwise (always needing to make sure they have good sugar levels to keep them active, there is always a danger when having to put your dog under for anything medical, etc) and it, in my opinion, markets to the wrong croud. It's like when people have extra tiny human babies, for the first few months or years, they need extra care to make sure they are developing correctly and their will be no problems in the future.

I'm sure their are wiser experienced breeders that can give you an entire list of reasons why that have not even been mentioned yet. I just hope I got my info right:)

"tea cups" are like runts of the puppies
so they're more suceptable to get sick and etc.
the "uneducated" public wants smaller dog because they are "cuter" or they can put them in purses or any other reason the demand is higher
and just like any product with higher demands, it costs more
hence irresponsible breeders will go against the breeding rules by mating tiny little dogs (that are too tiny to give birth or what not) in hopes to produce more tiny "tea cup" puppies despite their health to "jack up the price" because they're small to make more money.

That's what I meant in my example! I think I worded it all weird:jump28ib:

I also forgot to mention there is a link on yorkie talk that talks about it.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...uch-thing.html

I think a lot of breeders just use that term to raise their prices. Some dogs are just smaller then the norm. Just as some are bigger than the norm. I'd prefer a breeder to just use the term small yorkies then teacup.

Thanks for everyone's replies! :aimeeyork

As the owner of a small yorkie, I tend to agree with the OP. Everyone here calls the bigger yorkies "teapots", so I'd kind of like to call Thor a "teacup".

The most reasonable argument I've seen is that a small female will have a more difficult time birthing pups, so breeding for size would be hard on the dam... OTOH, I saw on 'Dogs 101' that French bull dogs cannot breed on their own, and all puppies are born by C-section! Talk about artificially keeping a breed going!

I've seen many people talk about small yorkies like they are constantly on death's door, which is not my experience at all, though granted, my experience is limited to one dog. Thor is a happy, healthy dog.

I know from this site that a breeder who uses the word "teacup" is probably not reputable, but I don't think there is any reason to breed to an completely artificial standard of what the dog is supposed to look like. Health, yes. Arbitrary aesthetics, no.

Just my opinion. I will admit I don't know much about breeding.

Also, I wanted to say, I've seen yorkies in the park with tons of "flaws" -- cottony coat, way over 7 #s, cobby, wrong coloring (one I saw was completely tan) -- and I think they are adorable. No, they are not show quality, but I don't look at them and think, "what horrible breeder created that monstrosity"?

I was asked just today if Missy is a "teacup" by a PETLAND employee of all people. (And no, I wasn't buying anything there. I refuse to give them a dime of my money) My daughter wanted to look at the stingray's they have there, she is obsessed.

Anyways, I think people get offended by the term "teacup" because it's really just an advertising gimmick. I wasn't offended by that employee today, I just responded with "I prefer to call her tiny". Then explained to the girl why. Then she went on to discuss how expensive Missy must have been. I borrowed another YT'ers response and said "actually I rescued her" HA! Such a lie! I'm bad, I know :p