The smaller the better?
 

This is just something I've been turning over in my head... so if it seems random, just don't mind me :rolleyes:

So the more I read the more that theory seems to hold as legitimate. Why is that the smaller the baby, the "better" they're considered? Or perhaps not even better, but worth a higher price tag? I'm telling myself it's just a trend (that leads to the whole teacup craze) and there isn't anything better about them... kind of like society's manipulation that the thinner you are, the more beautiful....

I would think the AKC standard of the "picture-perfect" Yorkie (4-7 lbs) would call for the higher prices :confused:, and because it tends to be the smaller babies that have more difficulties it'd only make more sense to me that the pricing would be the other way around...

Am I just completely missing something right now? :eyebrow2:

I've been doing my research since I'm looking for my new furbaby and I would not want a Yorkie under 4lbs. From what I've read they are much more prone to health issues. Some people will charge INSANE amounts of money for a "TEACUP" (which doesn't exist.) And usually puppies that are bred for extremely small size are not bred for extremely good health.

Just my opinion. I'm sure their are many perfectly healthy "teenies" out there. But I don't know that I'd want to take my chances with that.

I'm not sure if Thor counts as a Teacup anymore because he tipped the scales at 4 lbs and 1 ounce at the vet the other day. :D I'm so proud of him. That being said, I have yet to see a yorkie that's smaller than him in my area.

I got to know Thor before I adopted him, so his size was not an issue for me either way. That being said, here are what I see as the benefits of a very small dog:

- Permanent puppy cuteness their entire lives.
- Small poops and pee.
- You can take them anywhere.
- They are very easy to control. I can put Thor on my desk at work, and boom, he's up there until I decide to put him back on the floor.
- Food is cheaper.
- You don't have to worry that your dog could hurt someone.
- You can keep them entertained in small areas. I took Thor to a baseball field tonight and he had the time of his life running back and forth across the diamond.

Here are what I see as the cons:

- Your dog is more vulnerable to other dogs, birds of prey, and being tripped over.
- Greater anethesia risk.
- Your dog may have trouble being a dog. I struggle to find things small enough for Thor to enjoy. Most bones are too big, even flossies. He can't make a normal dog toy squeak. Even in toy dog play groups, he's the runt and gets picked on.

I'm sure I've forgotten some pros and cons, but regardless, I love Thor just the way he is.

Very interesting thought. When I first started looking for my Yorkie, I had picked out a litter of puppies to go and view that came from a very large Yorkie Mom and Dad. Their puppies were priced at $1450. Then I saw Missy's picture and totally fell in love with her. Her parents are both tiny, and Missy cost me $995. So the smaller pups aren't always the most expensive. Maybe my experience isn't the norm? BTW, I picked Missy because to me she was the cutest, it had nothing to do with size :)

Chloe (2.5 lbs) would be considered a "teacup" I don't consider her better than a bigger Yorkie ( or my other bigger doggie) or less perfect than a smaller one. I just consider her my baby :) I do think however that the more uneducated a buyer is ( like I was ) the more likely they are to be taken in by the talk of the perfect "teacup" baby because you really have no idea that there are no teacups :rolleyes: They are pros and cons to having either size , but no matter the size they are all cute as can be :D

A lot of times smaller dogs are priced higher because they require extra care being so tiny. However, that is not normally the case when you come across greedy breeders (we like to call them greeders) who jack up the price because more people buy "teacups".

Oh wow! That's actually my first time running into the case where the smaller baby costs less. So I guess it's save to assume that it happens pretty often (where the smaller babies are pricier), but not all the time.... Orrrrr maybe your baby was actually pricier than her other brothers and sisters? :D

Kinda off topic, but when I used to have my first baby (she was extra teeny) my friend and I were outside with her and my friend's little boy and there was an owl around. It swooped down onto a lower branch and I swear my heart starting beating out of my chest. My first instinct was Mr. Owl was going to try and eat my baby. I never looked into it and brushed it off as me being the overprotective mommy. But I guess my anxiety was warranted after all.

But back on topic, do you mean food is cheaper (pro) because you end up having to by smaller amounts of food and that's less money spent or because you're feeding your baby a different kind of food?

Some breeders do charge more for the smaller ones but It doesnt make it right. I paid more for My Jewels because she was small. I didnt just want her because she was small she was just the one I fell in love with. She is now 6 lbs. When I got her she was 12 oz at 8 weeks. Just because they are small as pups doesnt mean they will be a small adult

My gizzie was the runt of the bunch and to be honest, I wish she was twice the size she is. She is 2.8 lbs but healthy as a horse! When I bought her I was told by the breeder she would get to 4.5-5 lbs..she just never grew anymore, I dont feel she is "better" than a 10 lb yorkie. I have to watch ever move she makes, if she goes outside I have to watch for owls and hawks, if she jumps off the couch I almost have a coronary..it is exhausting at times to be honest. But I love her no matter her weight;)

My Chino is 5.6 lbs and we swear he is part cat. He jumps off of everything, including stairs leading to downstairs. I about had a heart attack this last time when he jump clear over five stairs and landed on the bottom. So even us with the normal size yorkies have to watch our babies. I just could not handle below the standard yorkie, I would be a nervous wreck everyday.

Price I believe is really up to the breeder, I have seen some normal size yorkies cost just as much as the tiny babies. But I have also seen some breeders swear their "tiny babies" will stay tiny when they already have become a certain weight (2lbs @6 weeks) when both parents are 7-10 lbs. So I would do my homework prior to buying into the tiny craze if that is the route you decide to go.

Good Luck

Lola is a 5lb Yorkie She is a HARDY yorkie. Manolo stopped growing around 6 months old and now is 3 years old, last weight was 2.9. Pablo is 7 months and weighs 2 lbs. I have to be more careful with the boys because when they get sick they can go downhill REAL fast. Lola also is such a Agility dog. Strong and Athletic. Guess what Im trying to say for me it easier taking care of Lola.

Yes, unfortunately, Mr. Owl may very well have been looking to have himself yorkie snack! I think there's even an article on this site about an owl that tried to carry a yorkie off. The yorkie in that case was lucky to be a teapot, and was too heavy for the owl.

When I said food was cheaper, yes, I meant that a smaller dog eats less food. Thor eats about 1/3 a cup of dog food a day.

Teacups have the reputation of being sickly, but Thor is is in great health. If he falls off something, he bounces right up like he's made of rubber. However, he is only 2 years old, so I don't know if it will be like that when he's 12.

One thing that I find kind of funny is that he's usually following me so closely that I can't see him. If I have him off-leash, I have to turn around a couple times to see that yep, he's still there.

The breeder's I got my furbabies from all had 2 different price range. Male and female with the females being about $200 more than their asking for the males. size had nothing to play in their price:thumbup: My Yorkies are of different sizes too. Jeter is 16 months old and at his vet check up on Jan.14, he was 2 pounds 8 ounces. Axl is my bigger boy, he is 8 months old and just about 8 pounds:) and my girl Yumi is also 8 months old and she is 4 pounds 10ounces. Jeter is healthy and I have never had any major health issues with any of my Yorkies so far. Jeter's vet bills cost the same as Yumi's and Axl's do.

Yorkies are prone to certain ailments regardless the size.

My goal when getting a yorkie is to get one that falls within the AKC standard in everyway. I want her to be under 7 lbs, have the coat and look of a purebred yorkie.

The higher price of a smaller Yorkie is simple supply and demand. If there were fewer people searching for the smaller Yorkies they would not be as expensive. If the AKC Standard were the buying public's view of perfection they would cost more on average. Market forces are always the biggest factor. Passing judgment on a breeder for the prices he or she charges is senseless because they couldn't charge it if people weren't willing to pay it.

The idea that the public should be guarded from their own self imposed ignorance is kind of a stretch...isn't it? Shouldn't it stand to reason if you are about to spend the money that may have taken you a month to earn that you would spend a couple of hours educating yourself first? I mean we have publicly supported libraries where anyone can research before buying, and Google! I wonder how many prospective buyers have spent two hours Googling information on the purchase they are about to make? Wouldn't that be refreshing? That one thing would be the biggest blow to puppymills in recent history. While at the same time rewarding ethical breeders by increasing the demand for the puppy they produce.

Anytime an ignorant public clamors for something while waving thousands of dollars in the air (just painting a word picture here) someone is going to step up and provide what they are asking for....who's at fault?

small baby
 

i must admit i have always wanted a very small dog, Angel weighs 2.2 pounds and is just about 9 months old... i can tell you i have had alot of dogs in my lifetime, and she is my favorite of all,,, why ? well it could be because she is so small, but i think it is because she sleeps by my neck, she sits on my neck in my chair, when i watch tv, she kisses me and loves me..... i do worry about her more than any other dog i have had, scared she will swallow something and get stuck in her throat, scared she will jump and break a leg or something, as for outside, she only is in my arms.... so what ever the reason, small or large i think it really just depends on your connection with the perfect little pet..... i feel like i paid a very fair price for her, i am in central illinois, maybe they are not as expensive, the breeder charged the same amount for the whole litter..
anyway after all that im just here to say i love my sweet little angelbaby

I agree the buyers are at fault but when breeders charge Extremely high prices for smaller ones they are also taking advantage of people

i guess it depends on the breeder you get your baby from...even some very good reputable breeders will charge a little more for the smaller ones because maybe they were hand feeding for the first 4 weeks or so? or maybe (other than the size) are closer representations of the breed (topline, earset, etc) but most breeders (good and bad) do charge more for girls than boys

i know of a great breeder who actually was charging more for a bigger girl because she was closer to the standard than one of her smaller ones :)

I think you are absolutely spot on with your sense of right and wrong. It is wrong to take advantage of another persons ignorance, or emotion, or circumstance. But when purchasing a puppy there are many opportunities to walk away, too often those opportunities are wasted.

If a person wants a smaller Yorkie and is willing to pay a higher price...it's improper to cry foul. Two consenting parties came to an agreement and money changed hands. I personally think the lottery is praying on the people who don't own a calculator...but it's their money.

I equate this to the person who is shopping for a $200 Yorkie and feeling ripped off when it doesn't turn out to be like the more expensive ones. Should anyone be surprised?

The educated buyer is the person who gets what they paid for.

We should be wary of the person standing in a prison they themselves constructed and crying VICTIM.

I don't think its the size it matters, its the quality. although some breeders do try to market the tiny ones as superior. honestly, I don't think most people think that way, at least not on here.

I do have a tiny one, a bit less than 3lbs, but I did not intend to get one her size at all. I wanted a yorkie around 5lbs, but Dolly's face was the first thing caught my eyes, so I asked her breeder, if she's got bigger one that looks like Dolly. her breeder told me Dolly's brother from the same litter looks like him, but he was not for sale. She told me the reason Dolly's for sale is due to her being too small to show(she was already 8months the time I got her). so in my case, its the smaller ones being inferior because they don't really fit into the standards:D

as far as health issues go, again, it really depends on the quality of the line rather than the size IMO, Dolly's been every bit as healthy as my 5 pounder. but here is the real concern, the tiny ones do have to be watched closely on where they are jumping on or off. but after owning a tiny one for two and a half years, I am so used to it!

Smaller is definately NOT better when it comes to Yorkies or any toy breed group for that matter. If a breeder or person tells ypou differently run from them and don't purchase. The smaller yorkies are more prone to health issues and can easily suffer injuries the standard sized ones wouldn't. A simple jump or fall can seriously hurt a tiny one not to mention being tripped over or stepped on. Remember there is NO SUCH thing as a TEACUP Yorkie. The Yorkshire Terrier standard is 7 lbs and under set by AKC and the YTCA.

:thumbup::thumbup: Very well said!

Missy's litter was all priced the same, and she was actually the largest of the 4 pups by 2 whole ounces :p

charlie is 4 months at a little over 5lbs..it is hard enough to take care of him and making sure he is safe..I can't imagine anything smaller than him. Sometimes, I can't even seem to find him around the house. I have even stepped on him a couple of times b/c i didn't know he was behind me. I am afraid to take him out to the park b/c of the big dogs. I got him as a gift from my husband. So I have no idea how much he spent. He purchased charlie from his coworker. He saw the parents first before making his final decision. According to husband, charlie's dad is small and his mom is a little bit bigger than he is right now. We are estimating him to be between 7-10lbs as an adult.

I'm right there with ya on that one! it CAN be exhausting and unless you are prepared to watch over these tinies during their every waking hour then it may not be for you! there are so many more risks....from being stepped on, fallen over, falling off furniture, being attacked by larger dogs..so many things to think about that you may not have to with a larger dog.

My Pixie is a little over 3lbs...and yes..I wanted a smaller yorkie around 4-5lbs..simply because I personally adore the little ones!..and I know I have the time and patience to care for one..I was lucky enough to stumble across an advert from a very experienced show breeder who DOES NOT breed for tinies...she just happened to get one in a litter..so she was sold to me because she would be too small to show/breed she 'guesstimated' that pixie would be around 4lbs but she only reached 3lbs...and she did not charge me extra just because she was tiny..and i believe alot of people WOULD have paid!..although I don't think there is as much of a demand for tinies here in the UK as there is in the USA? correct me if i'm wrong!;) she cost the same as all her other puppies regardless of their size.. I'm lucky that Pixie comes from a good hobby show breeder, and yes, she may be small, but she is the absolute picture of health and happiness and hopefully she will continue that way..:thumbup: I feel i'm lucky in that I get the classic show quality looks in the smaller 'package' that I love! lol..I love yorkies..all shapes and sizes..I do not think the smaller the better though..;)

To answer the original question:

I don't think that the it is a case of the Smaller the Yorkie the better, it is more of a buyer looking for a toy dog and runs across these Teeny Tiny Yorkie Babies that look like toys, some furry beanie baby come to life and they fall in love with them WITHOUT first researching the breed in general.

They purchase the pup go home and then start researching usually when something has gone wrong ( hypoglycemia, stepped on, etc.) however they have now FALLEN IN LOVE with this teeny tiny baby and would never dream of giving it up, so they do what any good doggy mommy or daddy would do... and that is WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP THAT BABY SAFE, ALIVE AND HEALTHY.

Then someone sees their dog and just adores it because it is so cute and teeny tiny and they want one too...now without asking questions or researching the breed the cycle begins again :(, Sadly.

Most times if they would have taken the time to ask questions, they probably would have realized a Teeny Tiny isn't the way to go. However, most people don't.. they just figure it's like any other dog just way way smaller and so adorable.

See when I first begun my search I too fell in love with the teeny tiny's, however I RESEARCHED a small amount and realized a teeny tiny wasn't for me.. so I searched for something mid range and found Gucci. He was supposed to be 3-4 lbs which was STILL WAY TOO SMALL NOW THAT I SEE HOW SMALL 5.6 Lbs is :confused:. But like said he has grown to be 5.6 lbs and will probably top out around 6-7 somewhere in between there :p I couldn't be happier with his size, health and everything!!!

Then there are those people who KNOW the consequences and still search out for a tiny.. THAT I CANNOT EXPLAIN NOR UNDERSTAND .. and I KNOW there are some of them on this board I'm sure... but I don't think it would ever be admitted :(.

I admitted in my post above that I wanted (and got!) a smaller Yorkie..:p

I know nothing at all about breeding etc, but, it always makes me wonder if they know what they are doing when someone advertises toy yorkies for sale. Yorkies are a toy breed. The little ones are darling but personaly I would be scared to death of stepping on it or having someone drop it. Kayla's mother and dad were 4lbs. She is a yr. and a half and weighs 8lb. The little bugger loves to eat. We said she is certainly in the right family. lol!!! But, they are so petite anyway that I had rather her weigh what she does and not have to be so careful. We are careful with her because even at that weight she is tiny but it would not be like having one reeeeel tiny. They are darling but I would be scared. I know they charge out ragious prices for the little ones. Some as much as 3500.00. We paid 800.00 for Kayla and I love her as much as if we paid a million.

Well to me anything under 7 lbs is tiny!!!! And I'll admit I went looking for just that!! However I would never have paid the ridiculous fees many breeders were charging for their yorkies...

I went to a couple breeders I was already familiar with and one had a small little girl...as soon as I laid eyes on her...I Bought her on the spot!! For me it was not just about size but it had everything to do with the face!!! I had looked at ALOT of yorkies before I chose Tulip... The fact that she is small (2lbs 4 oz at 6 mo.) doesn't bother me...she's been the picture of health since I got her at 12 weeks.. She is as hardy as Daizy..and seems to play rougher..lol Alot of times I have to pull her off of Daizy.. :eek:

However...I do NOT in any way think she's better than 10 pounders...but she's my baby..and I love her! And we are pretty sure she'll make it to 3 lbs.

To the OP:

Maybe it's the Public's perception that you are thinking about...not the individuals!!