Purse Puppies?
 

I've read a lot about the use of the word "teacups" here on Yorkietalk, and learned that it's a very popular word to describe a very small dog; it has no real meaning as far as dog standards go, and each breeder uses the term differently, but I've been told to Stay away from breeders who use the word Teacups!!!

Now there's another new word that catching on, Purse Puppies! I'm totally against the use of this word by breeders and owners! I think it makes people think that their dogs will be quite content to live in a purse. A growing problem seems to be people buying dogs and learning that they require a bit more attention than they thought, so they just discard the dog. :mad:

Here's an interesting video, and I would just like to say Beware of the breeder who uses the term Purse Puppy!!!!

Its so sad that people get dogs to be an accessory... I wont deny that I have put Laci in a bag to carry her to and from places, but I didnt purchase her with that intent..Far from it.. She goes to the park often, I play fetch with her outside everyday rain , snow what ever.. She is a living breathing creature.. I personally despise the term " purse Puppy" it makes me sick!

Unbelievable! From one extreme to another! Very sad that such cruel terms are being used to promote the sale of a living creature! I will stick to money being the only thing in my purse!;)

Not surprising...we educate these greeders on what to say or not say ...so they just learn another word...and people don't do their homework and buy these dogs from people that do not have the best interest of the dogs.

I wish we could shut these types of breeders down.:mad:

I find it depressing that even the anchor/voice over used the term teacup. :(

I fully admit one of the reasons I was interested in the yorkie breed was that they would be able to travel with me on the plane. I previously had a 135 lb bullmastiff, and our vacations were limited to places we could drive and bring him along! That being said, I can't imagine having a dog that did nothing but hang out in a carrier. It depresses me to even think about it, and I will admit when I have been around SOME smaller yorkies they had no interest in doing anything but standing in their bag and shaking. I don't know if the owner never properly socialized them because they were a "purse puppy" or what, but I hate to see dogs who don't get to be dogs first, no matter what their size is.

She uses the word "teacup" but I thought it was in a negative way. I have nothing against smaller dogs, and taking them wherever you go, it's just that in certain areas like San Francisco the animal shelter are getting 2 small dogs daily, and I think it's because people don't realize that these dogs are not stuffed animals. I think breeders who call them purse puppies are adding to that misconception.

Wow, the greeders learned that Teacup is no longer the hip term so they made up a new one. I don't get it, even a 20 lb dog is still small so I don't see the need to label them anything other than dogs, because they are dogs! I've been to meetups where Kaji (almost 7 lbs and a 1' 1 1/2" tall:)) is a GIANT yorkie compared to the others. I will admit I carry in around in his carrier that looks like a purse, but only when we're being sneaky. I tend to choose to go to places where he can walk in on a leash.

I think alot of buyers have now caught on to the phrase ( tea cup ) So now the breeders are throwing another word out there to desribe smaller yorkies
for bigger prices ....and if your not educated, Sadly many first time owners will be giving to the greed :( JMHO.

Oh and I forgot to add, my longtime friend asked me the other night, "Is Kaji a teacup?" I just asked, "How much tea do you drink? It would have to be a mighty big cup for Kaji to fit!" :p

I think the "purse puppy" craze came from the like of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. They didn't really want a dog, they wanted an accesory. Ulike the stars, the average person has to then take care of the dog. with the stars, they leave all that to the hired help.

so once reality sets in and the that cute little purse puppy becomes an adult, they lose interest in them.

I would never sell to a celebrity no matter how much money was involved.

I completely agree. I just feel like anyone who uses the word without clarifying there is no such thing feeds into the misconception that yorkies have different classes like poodles or something (toy, miniature, standard). I wouldn't be surprised if some get dumped because they get too big for a purse either. It's exactly like the video said - it's almost like a fashion trend that has passed. :( I hope that no reptuable breeder would ever use the term purse puppy, but the more I see the more it seems there aren't many truly reptuable breeders out there. Not to say there aren't any, just that there are a very small percentage compared to all the "breeders" out there.

There's nothing wrong with carrying a small dog in a 'purse' or what is called a carrier - but there is something very wrong with using it to promote a dogs size.

I can't stand the term Purse Puppy - even worse is if a breeder is using it to gouge someone for more money - When I think about the ad's that tout 'Purse Puppy' and other catch phrases promoting size vs health and breed standard -I have a feeling many people who get sucked in that have no idea what having a very small dog really is like.

Besides - not all dogs like to be in Carriers. but hey - if you bought a 'Purse Puppy' then I guess you really don't care if the dog likes it or not right ?

I am offended that you would never sell to me. :( That really hurts my feelings. ;)

As for celebrities having dogs, I just read an article the other day saying Paris had more than 20 dogs! :eek: I HIGHLY doubt she does any poop scooping!

I heard that also, and the number is probably bigger according to the article I read. People like her don't spay and neuter so the pups she has breed on their own. No thought goes into the breeding other than puppy lust.

oops! double post.

I don't like any terms, teacups, purse puppy, micros, etc.. used to describe a dog!
In fact I don't like when any fuss is made over the size, PERIOD!
Yorkies should be within the breed standard, so I don't care if they aren't even using those buzz words, but just keep referring to "small size", "tiny" or whatever!

My personal problem with these terms is that so many people get caught up in the hype and truly believe that a "teacup yorkie" "purse yorkie" whatever are a completely different BREED or TYPE of Yorkie. I have had this phone call MANY times and while you try and try to explain that there is NO such thing, it has already been hard wired into their brains because of the advertising. I also feel this is in part the fault of celebrities who started this mess.

I bet breeders do hear that all the time. I guess we all can be grateful no one's come up with the term "Live Fashion Accessory" because that IS what quite a few so called 'celebs' did to small dogs

not to mention - the bragging over the PET STORES where they purchased them. Oprah nailed it with her shows on puppy mills - I didn't see it because it aired when I was at work - but I wish 'celebs' would follow suit and start speaking AGAINST pet stores and I wish all these 'breeders' would quit with the catch phrases.

It's like there's a SIZE obsession going on and it's dangerous for the dogs. Some are meant to be tiny - like a Chi - but to intentionally go smaller and smaller with yorkies can only hurt the breed as a whole. Just look at all the LS and other devestating illnesses we're seeing so much of....The dogs suffer but it's not stopping people from trying to profit off the small breed craze

this made me cry :( i hate these people that treat dogs like toys and accessories. they are living creatures. they need love, excersize, health care, and much more than just being packed around in a hand bag. I hurt so much knowing now about puppy mills and pet stores. it's disgusting how inhumane and uncaring these people are that do those things. poor little puppies are so scared and then they get thrown out with the designer hand bags as soon as they aren't in style anymore...do people not have any feelings or heart anymore???

GREAT post, Nancy, thank you!! :)

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i agree with you. it's getting silly out there. no yorkie should be purposely bred to be 4 lbs let alone all the crazy people out there that are now going for a 1lb and under teaspoon yorkie. yes i've heard it all now :mad:

it makes me so mad. Sadie is about 4lbs. but that wasn't intentional. she never grew no matter how much i hoped she would. her parents were both about 5lbs or so, so she was bred to be standard, she just didn't make it. which no that she's spayed and eating a much more stable measured diet, she could tip the 5lbs someday, but anyways, i did not purchase her for a "teacup" dog...and i hate hate hate people that breed dogs her size on purpose...she's not standard, and therefore should not and will not ever be bred. why don't others learn more about the breed standard and work to improve and not destroy it???

That is just sooooo sad! I can't imagine living your life stuffed in a purse all the time. :(

I doubt if many dogs live that way, it's the fact that people get this impression that you can put a dog in a purse and he will be happy for hours at a time. When they learn this is not true, they dump the dog. Most yorkies will just bark their way out of the bag.

I didn't mean technically "living" in a purse but to me... spending a few hours in a purse per day is close enough to "living" in one, lol. I just don't think it's fair for a dog! That's all I meant by that. :) I understand how people buy them as accessories or don't understand it's a real living thing -- it's a terrible thing all around. Celebrities like Paris Hilton, etc, make dogs look like a fashionable item, then people realize they actually require exercise and hard work, and the poor dogs are the ones who suffer in the shelter.

That's terrible..that makes me so sad. Honestly I've put Bella into a bag before, but that is not the reason at all why I got her. Or even Rocco. And to be honest, I can't even remember the last time I ever put her in a bag.

Once my husband and I went to PetLand--for the sole intent of oohing and awwing over the puppies--and one of the puppies displayed was labeled a "pocket" beagle..These catch phrases are getting extremely old.

If anyone buy's a puppy for their purse it should be a stuffed toy puppy.

Hugs Shirl x x

For starters I did not watch the video.. so maybe I missed something. It would not load for me.

I don't use those terms but I do not take offense to it either. I know alot of the older breeders around here use teacup. They know there is not a teacup yorkie to them it is the same as saying it is small. They are not doing it to sell higher prices or try to mislead anyone.. I know that is not always the case.

As far as the purse puppy thing. I don't think anyone is saying they are going to live in a purse forever. I think it just describes that they will be small enough to take with you.

What I think is funny is the people buying these $10,000 purse puppies. They have all the resources to find these sites online so why don't they research a little more to find out about the yorkie breed.

I think buyer should start taking some responsibility.

I have got emails about my website and how bad I am for having my Dad's cancer page on there. I was told I was doing it to get sympathy buyers. I don't give a crap what anyone tells me I will not take it down. If people come to my site and think that they don't know me and I don't want them to have one of my pups ever..

I don't think any breeder should be labeled bad because of a word. Call and talk to them you might be surprised.

I'm sorry, but I respectfully disagree. I think the terms are used to garner sales and in a lot of cases get higher prices.
I think breeders should only state they breed for standard, that's what they should strive for.
Yorkies are small, the breed standard is small. So why do you need to point that out by using words like "teacup" or "purse puppy."

I do agree buyers need to take responsibility as well, they should be looking for the breed standard when buying a puppy!

Disagree with what the people in my area are doing it to make money? Some breeders I know are not even getting $500 a pup here..even their teacup ones. So I don't think they are doing it for money..If they are and didn't use that term they would have to give them away the economy is so bad. Like I said that is not always the case. Since the world wide web has came along things have change and ALOT of online people do it to make money. I am not disagreeing there. If the word teacup is the only red flag I just say call and talk to them if the pups look nice and they are resonably price.. you might be surprised.

I have had several people call me and say " Are they teacup" I tell them well they are standard 4-7 pounds. I don't even try to explain anymore because it is in there head and they think your full of it. Then next question is price and I get hung up on...:eek:

Unless I'm misunderstanding you, I think you are making my point!
You said some breeders are not getting $500, even their "teacup" ones and if they didn't use those terms, they would have to give them away with the economy!
That sounds like they are getting more for their smaller puppies and using those words to gain interest in them.
I'm saying if I were a breeder and a good one, my response would be what you said you tell people "standard 4-7lbs" and I would never say anything different. I would never want to attract buyers who are hung up on getting the smallest dog they can find!
Those words are not the only red flags, but NO, I wouldn't even contact a breeder who uses them to try and sell puppies. They might have nice Yorkies, but I'm already turned off by their sales tactics and I wouldn't go any further. Plus if a breeder has puppies that are under standard on a regular basis, then they aren't trying to stay with the breeding standard and that isn't what I would want!
I'm sorry, that's just my opinion!