What would you have done?

[lindula]

I take Chloe and Dylan to Petsmart for training on Sundays. As we were walking out of the store yesterday a middle-aged couple approached us and complemented how cute Chloe and Dylan were. I noticed that the lady was holding a pink pet carrier and saw a very small yorkie. I asked how was she.....and the lady responded 9weeks! I almost fainted.....and asked and how long have you had her....she said a little over a week....and that she is a TEACUP! at that point my boyfriend was pulling me away....I managed to tell her to buy some Nutrical and come to YT for any advice and info on yorkies.....

As we were driving away, I was thinking about what I should have done differently...... tell her there no teacups, tell her her puppy was taken from mom way too soon.....ask her which store she purchased it from?

This lady seemed really nice, and wanted to know where I got the Kwigy-Bo carrier, but the whole experience still makes me feel uneasy..

What would you have done?

[MI Yorkielover]

I think you did the right thing. Hopefully she will come to YT and learn the things she needs to know. Also, I think mentioning nutical to new puppy owners, no matter what the pups age, is a good idea. I don't think you had a lot of time to get too much more info in at a chance encounter with stangers outside a store.

[Britster]

I frequent the dog park and get a lot of yorkie owners who tell me their dog is a teacup or try to explain to me how there are different sizes of yorkies, etc. Honestly, I have yet to tell someone their wrong. I know I should but I always feel like it's not my place to tell them. I should start but I don't wanna seem like one of those "know it all's." I dunno. Most people honestly have NO idea. The general public believes that teacups exist. Also, there are alot of vets who will allow ANY breed of dog to leave their mama at 8 weeks old. 8 weeks is acceptable for a larger breed dog, but most don't understand the needs of a small dog. It's ashame but since they already have the dog, there's not much we can do.

[Lee B]

You must be young(er) .

Once upon a time, I used to allow my mouth to move without putting my brain in gear. Got me in a lot of trouble a LOT of times . As I've gotten older, I like to think I've gotten wiser, too . Not always, but at least some of the time. I've also learned to bite my tongue until it bleeds.

If you had been able to engage her in conversation for a while, and if she had shown interest in learning more, THEN you could have given her the tea cup dissertation. And the one on taking babies away from Mommy too early (please remember, however, that in the overall scheme of things, MOST people get their puppies at 8 weeks of age. It's the accepted norm, and it's relatively rare that breeders exercise "due diligence" and keep them the extra month).

Giving her the YT website address would probably be OK.

However, most people don't want to be lectured by folks they don't know (most folks don't like to be lectured by people they DO know ). And, in this day and age, it can get to be downright dangerous to do so.

Now, having said all the above as a nice, responsible, reasonable, cautious individual, I very seriously might have opened mouth/inserted foot anyway. I need a few more years before I can be considered an eccentric old lady and get away with stuff, but I'm getting there. It just takes a little more time.

You have a good heart to be so worried about a stranger's pup.

[OwnedByJezebel]

You did everything you could have done, anything else would have fallen on deaf ears. Hopefully she will take your advice about joining Yorkie Talk, and she will learn something.

Aside from what you pointed out about the dog being a "teacup" and only 9 weeks old, I can't believe they had a puppy in a public place like that, where lots of dogs come and go, well before the pup had all of it's vaccinations. Are they ever asking for trouble, at the pup's expense.

[Britster]

Originally Posted by OwnedByJezebel

You did everything you could have done, anything else would have fallen on deaf ears. Hopefully she will take your advice about joining Yorkie Talk, and she will learn something.

Aside from what you pointed out about the dog being a "teacup" and only 9 weeks old, I can't believe they had a puppy in a public place like that, where lots of dogs come and go, well before the pup had all of it's vaccinations. Are they ever asking for trouble, at the pup's expense.

Petsmart has the Banfield vet's offices in there where a lot of ppl bring their puppies. That's the only reason I could think of for someone bringing such a young dog there.

[MI Yorkielover]

Originally Posted by Lee B

You must be young(er) .

Once upon a time, I used to allow my mouth to move without putting my brain in gear. Got me in a lot of trouble a LOT of times . As I've gotten older, I like to think I've gotten wiser, too . Not always, but at least some of the time. I've also learned to bite my tongue until it bleeds.

If you had been able to engage her in conversation for a while, and if she had shown interest in learning more, THEN you could have given her the tea cup dissertation. And the one on taking babies away from Mommy too early (please remember, however, that in the overall scheme of things, MOST people get their puppies at 8 weeks of age. It's the accepted norm, and it's relatively rare that breeders exercise "due diligence" and keep them the extra month).

Giving her the YT website address would probably be OK.

However, most people don't want to be lectured by folks they don't know (most folks don't like to be lectured by people they DO know ). And, in this day and age, it can get to be downright dangerous to do so.

Now, having said all the above as a nice, responsible, reasonable, cautious individual, I very seriously might have opened mouth/inserted foot anyway. I need a few more years before I can be considered an eccentric old lady and get away with stuff, but I'm getting there. It just takes a little more time.

You have a good heart to be so worried about a stranger's pup.

Well put, I agree.

[chandracz]

I agree!

Originally Posted by Lee B

You must be young(er) .

Once upon a time, I used to allow my mouth to move without putting my brain in gear. Got me in a lot of trouble a LOT of times . As I've gotten older, I like to think I've gotten wiser, too . Not always, but at least some of the time. I've also learned to bite my tongue until it bleeds.

If you had been able to engage her in conversation for a while, and if she had shown interest in learning more, THEN you could have given her the tea cup dissertation. And the one on taking babies away from Mommy too early (please remember, however, that in the overall scheme of things, MOST people get their puppies at 8 weeks of age. It's the accepted norm, and it's relatively rare that breeders exercise "due diligence" and keep them the extra month).

Giving her the YT website address would probably be OK.

However, most people don't want to be lectured by folks they don't know (most folks don't like to be lectured by people they DO know ). And, in this day and age, it can get to be downright dangerous to do so.

Now, having said all the above as a nice, responsible, reasonable, cautious individual, I very seriously might have opened mouth/inserted foot anyway. I need a few more years before I can be considered an eccentric old lady and get away with stuff, but I'm getting there. It just takes a little more time.

You have a good heart to be so worried about a stranger's pup.

[kelsie123186]

I think you did the right thing. I have come across loads of people who talk about teacup and we used to give people the whole speech blah blah blah only to have the people look at you funny and walk away. Most people dont want to be told their wrong. I think its easier not to waste your breath lol

[DvlshAngel985]

I think you did really good. I did laugh when you mentioned that your boyfriend was pulling you away, he knew what was going through your mind didn't he?
I have to agree with most posters that you really can't do to much without having the moment turn sour. I actually will take your experience and use it in my life. I have in the past tried to do the "no teacup" lecture, on my own boyfriend and friends who always ask if Kaji is a teacup (AT 7LBS!!!! ) and really, on people like that who have no interest in the breed I've learned to giggle and say something like "Where ever did you hear a thing like that?" which opens the door to further discussion. I've turned into the dog expert, even though Kaji is my first dog and my boyfriend has had dogs all his life! But for new owners and people who want to adopt a yorkie, I think you took the high route and asked her to join YT. I think when they get here they'll get a dose of reality and we have a chance of guiding them on what's best for their new baby.
I especially like that once we get them here we can pull from our available resources. YTCA website, experience yorkie owners and breeders are our biggest assets. Where else can you pull a detailed description of the things our pups learn as they grow? I know I can't memorize that and use it at the drop of a hat.

[Tessa Arnold]

i now know that you should not get your puppies until they are 12 weeks. i got Jackson at 6 weeks. don't yell at me, i didn't know, lol. hopefully their puppy will adjust as well as mine has. He is 4 1/2 months old now. He pees only on his peepads, most of the time, he knows his name, he knows "cheerios". he can sit and beg. he has his little quirks like they all do. i don't regret it at all, although its possible i have been very lucky that he didn't get sick or anything from being taken away from mom too early. i would have changed nothing. he was a little more difficult at first because he didn't get all the motherly advice from his mom, but fortunatly we have alot of time to spend with him. He's never alone for more than a couple hours at a time.

sorry this is so choppy.

as far as teacup, i don't understand what the problem is. not everything in this world has to be politically correct so to speak.

please no one blast me, i'm just speaking my mind.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Tessa Arnold

i now know that you should not get your puppies until they are 12 weeks. i got Jackson at 6 weeks. don't yell at me, i didn't know, lol. hopefully their puppy will adjust as well as mine has. He is 4 1/2 months old now. He pees only on his peepads, most of the time, he knows his name, he knows "cheerios". he can sit and beg. he has his little quirks like they all do. i don't regret it at all, although its possible i have been very lucky that he didn't get sick or anything from being taken away from mom too early. i would have changed nothing. he was a little more difficult at first because he didn't get all the motherly advice from his mom, but fortunatly we have alot of time to spend with him. He's never alone for more than a couple hours at a time.

sorry this is so choppy.

as far as teacup, i don't understand what the problem is. not everything in this world has to be politically correct so to speak.

please no one blast me, i'm just speaking my mind.

At least now you know why it's recommended that puppies stay with mom till 12 weeks. I bet it would of made your first weeks with Jackson a lot easier. As far as teacup, it's not that the dogs do or don't fit in the teacup that makes the word so troublesome. It's the fact that some people literrally think that yorkies should be this teeny tiny size and fail to realize that dogs are living beings and like living beings they grow and don't follow charts. When an unscrupulous breeder uses this teacup term, they mislead the public to believe that their yorkies will be "Paris Hilton" teeny purse dogs. (no bigger than 4 lbs I'm assuming) The more popular this notion became, the more these greeders bred for this type of dog without considering the dogs health and only focusing on size. However, tinnies do happen and there is nothing wrong with owning a tiny dog.
Just giving you the other side of the coin.

[Jennxling]

Originally Posted by Britster

I frequent the dog park and get a lot of yorkie owners who tell me their dog is a teacup or try to explain to me how there are different sizes of yorkies, etc. Honestly, I have yet to tell someone their wrong. I know I should but I always feel like it's not my place to tell them. I should start but I don't wanna seem like one of those "know it all's." I dunno. Most people honestly have NO idea. The general public believes that teacups exist. Also, there are alot of vets who will allow ANY breed of dog to leave their mama at 8 weeks old. 8 weeks is acceptable for a larger breed dog, but most don't understand the needs of a small dog. It's ashame but since they already have the dog, there's not much we can do.

It happens to be different for me. LOL I would have people come up to me asking if my little girl is a teacup yorkie and I tell them she's still a toy, but just smaller. I think it's crazy how everyone is SO influenced by advertisements...Well, I once was too myself so I understand, but noooope my little girl is just little, not a teacup

[spiritwings1202]

Originally Posted by lindula

I take Chloe and Dylan to Petsmart for training on Sundays. As we were walking out of the store yesterday a middle-aged couple approached us and complemented how cute Chloe and Dylan were. I noticed that the lady was holding a pink pet carrier and saw a very small yorkie. I asked how was she.....and the lady responded 9weeks! I almost fainted.....and asked and how long have you had her....she said a little over a week....and that she is a TEACUP! at that point my boyfriend was pulling me away....I managed to tell her to buy some Nutrical and come to YT for any advice and info on yorkies.....

As we were driving away, I was thinking about what I should have done differently...... tell her there no teacups, tell her her puppy was taken from mom way too soon.....ask her which store she purchased it from?

This lady seemed really nice, and wanted to know where I got the Kwigy-Bo carrier, but the whole experience still makes me feel uneasy..

What would you have done?

I think what you did was good, it wouldn't of helped her to tell her that there are no tea-cups. giving her helpful advice about the nutri-cal and YT was good advice!

[Jennxling]

Originally Posted by DvlshAngel985

At least now you know why it's recommended that puppies stay with mom till 12 weeks. I bet it would of made your first weeks with Jackson a lot easier. As far as teacup, it's not that the dogs do or don't fit in the teacup that makes the word so troublesome. It's the fact that some people literrally think that yorkies should be this teeny tiny size and fail to realize that dogs are living beings and like living beings they grow and don't follow charts. When an unscrupulous breeder uses this teacup term, they mislead the public to believe that their yorkies will be "Paris Hilton" teeny purse dogs. (no bigger than 4 lbs I'm assuming) The more popular this notion became, the more these greeders bred for this type of dog without considering the dogs health and only focusing on size. However, tinnies do happen and there is nothing wrong with owning a tiny dog.
Just giving you the other side of the coin.

WELL said!

As for taking pups home too soon. I knew 8 weeks is the MINIMUM, but i didn't know 12 weeks is the best until I joined YT. I am happy I took carmel home so soon (9.5 weeks) because the breeder didn't seem to put a lot time on the pups...Carmel eats POOP! obviously, the breeder didn't supervise them. However, if I were to take Carmel home later, he'd probably be easier to train like Emma.