Special needs was not meant in a derogatory way. Tinies do have special needs. You have to be careful with them... Jumping off of couches, getting stepped on, etc.

When I said they had special needs, that only means that you have to take special care with them. It has nothing to do with their awesomeness, so please don't read something into the statement that isn't there. :)

You cannot treat them like a larger dog. They shouldn't be around small children. They need more protection. They are more physically fragile. When they get sick, they have lower reserves and they go downhill much quicker than a larger dog, so you can't delay on vet visits if something seems amiss. They do indeed have special needs that a larger dog does not have, and they deserve to have a human that understands all of this and will not have any trouble providing it.

Tiny dogs do have special needs and anyone reading reading this thread that is even thinking about buying one had better know that.

I haven't read all the posts.. but what you say here make perfect sence to me. The use of special needs for a tiny is not the same as for a child. It just means more loving care and protection...

Exactly! It's not a value judgment, and it doesn't mean the dog is good or bad. It is just a fact, they do have special needs.

When I got Raelle, I was told she was a 'teacup'....yes her breeder is a byb, just out for money....before I found YT, I was offered her brother and was told he would be the same size as her....'awesome' so I thought! Well Raelle is a healthy (Thank God) 5-6lbs...and her brother is *ahem* 15lbs!!!
That is when I started searching and found out there is no such thing...and my two that I got from this breeder certainly are not 'teacup'! It was something she used it reel me in, obviously it worked, bc the two I got from her cost me big $$$! Again thank God they are healthy so far at now two years old.
When I realized that Orion wasn't stopping his growth spurt, I was cheesed!! Called the breeder, yah, you know how that goes...' she has no idea how that happened'....Funny I love the big bruiser just the same as I do my little diva....I learned and I am still learning from this site....that's how I got to know what to look for in a breeder, when I began my search for Diva2...Jersey! YT is the very first thing that comes up when you punch in anything Yorkie....for this I am most grateful

Damn all these post from morning?? I should have asked how many teeth should a "TEACUP" Yorkie have?? When I was asking about Moki teeth count

I hear that Mike....I left last night at page 6! Get in from work and we now have 19 pages...Wow!!

If she doesn't breed teacups and follows the ytca rules then there is no reason to trash her.

Mine had 7 extra that were pulled during her spay!! Lil shark is her nick name!:thumbup:

Mines 16 pounds and I have to be careful with her jumping off couches and things because he front leg sometimes over extends and the LP in the back legs. She also gets under my feet very easily and can still get hurt very bad if stepped on.

7 extra?? How many now?? Just one hijack :)

I honestly haven't counted them. And I didn't ask due to the german shepard that was checking out at the same time, and sniffing the carrier...I just wanted out of there safely! I'll ask tomorrow.

It is the general public that seems stuck on the T word. It seems any small dog they see they think is a Tea Cup. They see the term in classified ads and on the internet, not to mention the Hollywood types and others in the news that use that term. Very few realize the issues with tea cups because the term is so widely used in general.

I live in an area where most people have large dogs. I always get flack about how small Gracie is. You know the type: "Is that thing a rat or what?" It's usually some young girl that will ask if she is "tea cup.'

Gracie was also a tiny pup. She was a very slow grower and did not eat well when she was young although she was otherwise healthy. It was several months after her first birthday that she made it to 5lbs.

When she was a puppy I had to rearrange the furniture in most of our rooms just to protect her from herself. She was a tiny daredevil. I even took my bed off the frame and got a set of pet steps so she could safely get up and down off the bed. (I don't think that makes her "special needs" but it was a first for me even through I have had toy breed dogs for years)

I don't think people know what they are getting into when they go looking for a tiny. Gracie is considered normal and she almost made my heart stop on several occasions!:rolleyes:

I know it wasn't meant as derogatory way. But then I consider all of mine special needs regardless of size. I am way over protective.

Why is it that yorkie owners seem to be so overly concerned about the size of their dog? Winston is a yorkie, not a teacup or a teapot...he is a yorkie. Period. Do other breed owners worry about the size of their dogs as much as we do? Just wondered...

I know for me size doesn't make a difference, as I have had all sizes. I love them all.

Yes, other breed owners do the same thing. I have seen it on a muti breed board. LOL

Really? I always wondered this, because all I have had is yorkies.

Yes, really.You wouldn't believe some the discussions I have seen go on with the bigger breed owners.
:eek:

Yup, the big breeds all they talk about is how big their dog is. :rolleyes:

My daughter picks up her Great Dane puppy this Saturday. With Danes, it all about how big they are.

Better to be over protective then not. Mine I guess you could say has special needs and shes 16 pounds.....

Usually not the same if they are big and full of Muscle. Not fat. Tiny Yorkies alot of time are poor eaters and suffer form Liver shunts or something else that stunts there growth

Wow, bet that is a cute pup!!! But still, don't Great Danes have weight standards?

Because so many of the undersized tiny Yorkies that are such a popular size are very often prone to injury and illness and largely, the public doesn't know of the problems these little guys have until they have bought one of them. Others don't find out until their pup is an older dog and things like liver shunt/MVD, CT, LP and other medical problems begin to manifest. Google the term "problems with breeding teacup dogs" and terms similar to that and you will see the list of things the micro-sized dogs often face.

I have been around YT long enough to know the health issues a tiny may encounter in it's life...I would never knowingly purchase a "tiny". I simply wondered if other breed owners were as obsessed with the size of their dogs as we are, as a whole. I have said it before and I will say it again, I love all yorkies, no matter what size.

I personally love Peanut’s size. I wouldn't have him any bigger or any smaller. If I do get another one I will get under 4 pounds.

And do you purchase from a reputable breeder?

Well.. I will buy from what I think is reputable-

Awesome. Just curious! No judgement at all. My point being there are some dogs under 4lbs that come from reputable breeders and they shouldn't be looked at as a charity case. I'm sure you know all of the precautions of owning a tiny already so how would it make you feel if people threw all of these "facts" at you and bashed where you got your little one?