"I want a teacup" ... "oh is that a teacup..." What do you guys say back!
 

So, I can't count how many teacup posts there are on here... I think it would be fun to hear how everyone replies to this... while I must admit I don't have the will power to (I tend to be more educative) I would love to look at them and say, "All of my teacups are in my cupboards..."

Can't wait to hear the responses...

I can see why people love the smaller ones they are adorable but there is something to be said about a dog being big enough to be a dog. Otherwise its just a pet to show off because of its small size

I just tell them that there is no such thing as a teacup and that Ally is just small for her age.

:aimeeyork:aimeeyork:aimeeyork No one ever asked us that about Maxine. Then again, no one ever asked that about Carlo either.

"Is she a tea cup?"
"No.. I thought it was quite obvious that she is a dog?"

Just according what mood I am in and if the people seem like the type that really wants to listen. I don't see why people get so bent out of shape over a word. They are people that don't know any better. I could see getting smart with them if they said it in a way to put down the dog but they just don't know.

Since I don't think most mean any harm, I try to reply as nice as I can. I just say, "well there aren't any official "teacup" designations, some people just say that because they have small Yorkies. Some even say it when theirs are larger! There just isn't any guide for it. I don't mind the term unless breeders are using it to risk the lives of their small females trying for smaller pups." I keep smiling at them cause in most cases, they have just heard the term and are making conversation. Now if it is a breeder saying that her dogs are teacups -- I don't smile much. ;/

(Actually it depends on how much time I have to talk too -- sometimes I just say --Yorkies don't really have a teacup designation and mine are average size. and off I am to whatever I seem to be in a hurry to so often???) :D

To tell the truth, I think the term is not going away anytime soon, so why not just be nice about it unless some unscrupulous dealer is trying to charge more because they are endangering the lives of small females. I don't even think it would be that bad to actually have the term -- we could say dogs less than 3 pounds are teacups. That might take the wind out of the sails of so many breeders that say theirs are teacups when they are pushing the upper limit of the standard. But it would have to come with the caveat that teacups should NEVER be bred. Cause some sure would try!

I have had people ask if mine are teacups and others say that they have teacups at home much smaller than mine. So it is all in the minds of the individual people now. Any size can be a teacup in their minds.

I'm kind of blunt and say " there is no such thing as teacup that is just a 'fancy word' used by unethical people to sell the runt of the litter" (usually for more $$$)

I'm usually close to this as well. I try to make it clear that they don't exist. But boy would I love to use some of those snarky remarks. but everyone is right, the general public just don't understand.

My response depends on the tone in which it's said. If someone asks nicely "is she a teacup?, I'm likely to tell them that no, she's a normal sized yorkie and that there is no such thing as a teacup designation. If they are snotty about it, I'm much more likely to say "I'm so sorry that a bad breeder used a marketing term to sell you a dog that didn't meet standard." :p

I was in a parking lot not to long ago, Bailey and Jesse were in their car seats, A lady walked over and knocked on my window and asked "Are they teacups?" I wanted to reply "No, They are saucers " :D..Nah, she was a nice lady :D I just explained to her that they were just tiny yorkies, there is no such thing as a teacup, etc. Some people just don't know the difference, at one point in time, I didn't know myself!

I usually just get "THAT'S a Yorkie?!" when they see 15lb Jackson. So I've never had a teacup issue, LOL.

I just say...."Um, there's no such thing as a teacup," or "You do know there is no such thing as a teacup, right?"

I would have loved to see her face if you said saucers! :p

Funny how I've gotten asked that with a larger boy. Granted, it's not very often that I get asked if my 7 lb boy is a teacup. But, I do often get the "what is he?" and "he's too big to be a yorkie." If the person asking says it in a snarky tone my standard answer to both those questions is, "he's a yorkie pitbull puppy mix. I can't wait till he grows!" :devils2:

I don't think most people who asked is my dog a teacup are mean-spirited,rude, or trying to cause the yorkie breed harm...just possibly curious. If I have the time I usually tell them there are no "teacup" yorkies. I explain the AKC standard weight limits but also say there are so many that fall out of that range. I usually use the poodle as an example of three size varieties that are acceptable but there are no variations like that with yorkie. Most of the time I take this as not only an opportunity to share what I know about my babies but an opportunity to show kindness to someone.
If you are rude or sharp with someone who is ignorant on any subject, they won't really remember anything other than how you treated them. There was a time when researching the yorkie I asked questions that were probably considered lame too :).
I have learned to hold my tongue after years of cutting people down with it. I'm still a work in progress!! I just wake up every morning grateful for another day and use the day as an opportunity to show kindness to whoever I come into contact with.