Honestly curious...
 

Why is it acceptable to call a larger Yorkie a "teapot", but generally people scoff if you call a small one a "teacup".

Now, I understand that breeders shouldn't use the term to up prices, that I get. I just don't understand why one is acceptable and one is not...as they are both size descriptions, not an actual recognized body type.

I would say that "teacup" has a stigma attached to it because, in order to achieve "teacup" size, there are breeding practices which have negative health implications for the dogs.


"Teapot", although relative to size, is more a deviation from breed standard that doesn't result in health problems for the breeding dogs or their offspring.


I think.

but some are just small, regardless of breeding practice. Even the best of breeders admit to getting small dogs occasionally. Just seems like a silly double standard to me.

I just call them Yorkies. I don't care what size they come, I love them all! ;)

Yes, but the best breeders do not tend to refer to their below weight standard dogs as teacups due to the aforementioned reasons.


I do get what you're saying, though!

Like TeresaM says, teapot is more a term used on YT in opposing to the marketing "teacup" term, as you'll not find breeders listing them as such normally because they aren't "ideal" in size. Teacup has been used as a marketing term by some breeders to increase their sales and to mention they are suppose to be below the average size. It's got a bad rap because alot of bad breeders are purposefully breeding for the size and health isn't always a consideration in the factor. Not saying there aren't more responsible ones, but the bad ones tend to get more spotlight. Teapot is more a term coined/used by owners (not breeders, normally) of larger than average sized and is more of a endearing joke/spoof.
A good reputable breeder wouldn't normally list them as either. Might say how much the parents weigh and the average growth sizes produced. The breeder I got my little girl from never mentions teacup or anything like that, only mentions that her full weight is an educated guess and told me both the parents weight. She's grown so fast and is a decent size with a tall frame, so I know she's at least gonna be about her mother's weight/size (at about 8lbs) but she's been spoiled a little too much in treats ^^;; so she's a little bit of a chunky monkey right now lol so I know that part is contributing to her current weight/size. Sad when your 8 yr old niece tells you "I can tell grandma just fed her." >_>

This, exactly. Teapot is meant in good fun / humor and leaves no harm in its wake when using it (that I can see).

Whereas Teacup has deeply hurt the breed...has resulted in terrible breeding practices and in unethical breeders who use the term to lure in naive buyers who don't know better yet. Look at how they're using teacup in the Korean market right now, and it's just deplorable. :(

:thumbup:

When I see breeders start advertising teapots, then I'll object to the term. Seriously, a lot of people really think there is a special subsection of Yorkies called teacups. That's just bad information, so that's why I prefer other words used when someone is referring to their tiny. Soon we'll have to have threads saying, there's no such thing as a "tiny." :D

Thought I replied to this earlier again, but apparently it didn't post :(

Wanted to say thanks for the replies. It makes more sense now, it had always puzzled me. I was referring more to when an owner refers to their own dog as a teacup originally, but I get the stigma behind it.

Just look at those tiny teacup Yorkie puppies for sale on any website, who are most often out of tiny, undersized females too delicate to have been safely bred to carry and whelp a litter, are all too often bred merely for size and puppyish qualities and nothing more. "Teacups" usually sell for highly inflated prices and all too often sold at 6 - 8 weeks of age, far before their brain imprinting is finished and before they begin to show symptoms of medical issues.

Their usually greedy breeders rarely, if ever, invoke careful study of genetics, lineage for confirmation and health of the ancestors or careful pairing of male and female with health certifications from the appropriate registries, with only AKC-standard, healthy puppies that stay healthy throughout life their goal. Teacup breeders never breed only to improve the breed per AKC standards, never vying only for correct confirmation, health and temperament when deciding which two dogs to mate.

Oh, no, the pair are bred only for their tiny size and ability to produce dogs with eternal puppyish looks alone, nevermind the dam has a history of hydrocephalus, LP and liver shunt in her immediate lineage or the father's pedigree which includes both LP, liver shunt and MVD from parents and grandparents.

"Teacup" often denotes a very costly, tiny, fragile dog who could easily fracture a leg just jumping off the couch and is likely going to face several medical issues throughout its lifetime.