Handling the teacup issue

[Cirlonde]

I've not yet been asked if Chloe is a teacup (though she has finally hit the 5lb mark, yay!) but I do get asked often if she's a puppy. I just answer that with her age (a little over a year). Like several others have said, most people aren't interested in a lecture on the myth of teacups and you're aren't going to be able to teach them anything in a five second conversation. If asked, I'd probably just say "Nope, she's just a Yorkie!" with a smile.

Chloe is her own anti-touch advertisement, which sometimes I hate because I feel sorry for the people who are just trying to be friendly. She'll acted interested in strangers until they kneel or hold out a hand toward her and then she'll lay her ears back, cower, and skitter away behind me. Which I don't guess I blame her for...we are all huge compared to her! However, even my brother and his wife get the cold shoulder from her and she sees them at least once a month! I know it just breaks my sister-in-law's heart that Chloe isn't friendly towards her...she tries so hard to tempt Chloe's affections!
-C

[deanfam5]

My yorkie is very tiny also. I get the same thing "is she a teacup?" I just say" there is no such thing as a teacup dog it is a horrible marketing stratagey!" And I dont let anyone hold her if I do not know them She is very delicate People dont know any better and they really dont mean any harm I blame the breeders who market their pups as "teacups"! Bottom line if you are in the market for any dog you should always do your homework and educate yourself about the breed before hand

[Sookie]

I stopped saying anything to people who call Sebi a teacup. It really is just a waste of my breath and I've found that they will argue with you - so it's not worth it. Most people who stop me are doing so to admire him anyway.

[Leesha]

Originally Posted by bribunny

Well, I had no clue when I got Bri that I would have a really tiny baby. I took her to petsmart today and a few little boutiques around town. I was amazed at the people who came up trying to take her from me and hold her. But, what made me even more mad was the "is she a teacup?" I kept saying no, that there really isn't a teacup yorkie, but that she should be a smaller breed. One guy tried to convince me I was wrong!! How do you handle this? Does anyone have anything to say that gets the point across and isn't too mean?

I tell people that my baby is teenie and that teacup is just a description of size. They are Yorkies.

I also let people know I don't want them holding her cause if she were to fall she could be killed. So that is the line I use.

[AddieandMiaMom]

Originally Posted by Cirlonde

I've not yet been asked if Chloe is a teacup (though she has finally hit the 5lb mark, yay!) but I do get asked often if she's a puppy. I just answer that with her age (a little over a year). Like several others have said, most people aren't interested in a lecture on the myth of teacups and you're aren't going to be able to teach them anything in a five second conversation. If asked, I'd probably just say "Nope, she's just a Yorkie!" with a smile.

Chloe is her own anti-touch advertisement, which sometimes I hate because I feel sorry for the people who are just trying to be friendly. She'll acted interested in strangers until they kneel or hold out a hand toward her and then she'll lay her ears back, cower, and skitter away behind me. Which I don't guess I blame her for...we are all huge compared to her! However, even my brother and his wife get the cold shoulder from her and she sees them at least once a month! I know it just breaks my sister-in-law's heart that Chloe isn't friendly towards her...she tries so hard to tempt Chloe's affections!
-C

Have you had your brother and SIL walk in the door with treats (a special one she only gets from them and/or strangers, never from you) or a toy she likes? Then they can give them to her. She will eventually warm up to them. We had to do this type of training with Mia as she was so terrified of people, when one of my friends picked her up (after I told him to leave her alone), she pooped all over him and the floor. I was so mad, I told him he deserved it. He didn't argue.

[Cirlonde]

Originally Posted by AddieandMiaMom

Have you had your brother and SIL walk in the door with treats (a special one she only gets from them and/or strangers, never from you) or a toy she likes? Then they can give them to her. She will eventually warm up to them. We had to do this type of training with Mia as she was so terrified of people, when one of my friends picked her up (after I told him to leave her alone), she pooped all over him and the floor. I was so mad, I told him he deserved it. He didn't argue.

Oh that's hilarious!! Poor guy, but you're right...Yorkie defense mechanism I guess!

As to the treat/toy thing, I've tried it with a treat thinking that since Chloe is highly food motivated, that would work. But nope!! She couldn't have cared less. I've finally given up trying to force her into their company and she's slowly coming around to my SIL. My brother has a young chocolate lab that Chloe is scared of and I think she must smell the dog on them or something. Though I keep telling my brother it's b/c she can sniff out evil. He and I have a huge dollop of sibling rivalry!

Smelling the dog on them would make sense, except she behaved this same way the first (and only) time she met my husband's grandparents. She didn't want anything to do with them at all!! I think it's just going to be a time-heals-all-wounds sorta thing. It took her over two days of near constant interaction with a couple of twin five-year-old girls that my mom babysits before she'd play with them. But once she did get used to them, she didn't want to leave.

But I wanted a "one (wo)man" dog and I guess that's what I got! I shouldn't be complaining, lol.
-C

[Fantastic49]

i've only had her since friday and it's already happened to me!! i can tell these are just terms they've been hearing... so i said "no, she's just small..." when people stop to admire, i just smile and tell them she's pretty skittish (which she is, she's straining her leash to get away from them and behind me)

when i have her in her bag and people try to touch, i turn my body so they can't reach her. it's like i would turn my purse away from you if you were trying to reach in for my wallet (and her bag is like a purse, no one really knows the difference!!)

[Connie]

I don't let the word, teacup, bother me as it does most of you. It is so widely used...I've seen it in magazines, on TV, in patterns, etc. It's not just used by bad breeders. I just don't feel the need to start lecturing people who are only trying to be friendly. If someone asks if Faith is a teacup, I just tell them that she is smaller than my other two and leave it at that.