Teacups
 

Although I feel teacup was a word made up by bad breeders to make money I am going to share this for those who don't get why it's so bad and why to stay away from teacup breeders. Cuteness Kills: The Case Against Teacup Dogs - Terribly Terrier

Another reason ppl refer to tiny yorkies as "teacups" is / could be.....I was in Pet Supplies several weeks ago looking for sweaters / coats for Cody. In checking for sizes xs and xxs tag read for breeds and listed a few of the smaller breeds, Chihuahua, Teacup Yorkie. The hair on my neck stood up.

I have noticed it before too but I think that came after it starting becoming such a big thing.

As you know Galen is a smaller guy. He was the "runt" ( hate that term ) and did not even make his estimated size. I got him from a wonderful reputable breeder. I did my research.

Every time we go into the store. Someone goes I want one like him. . . Then I proceed to say no you don't. . . And give them the list of why. . . They can get hurt. Galen wears a little cat collar with a bell at all times when he is zooming around the living room and kitchen.

He is not allowed to use the stairs because they are too high for him going down and he can fall and get hurt. He doesn't jump up and down on the couch. No one is allowed to pick him up. Making sure he always eat. He is picky so it is even harder. Always have Nurtical on hand. I watch everything that goes in his mouth.

I am home so I can keep an eye on him all the time. But went I can't. He has a x pen that he goes in. To keep him safe. I worry about the weather too cold too hot. . . . Also going outside to potty. Birds of prey.

After I am done. . .they look at me and say wow. .l I didn't know that they are so much work. . . Yes they are. I also tell them a 6 lb Yorkie can still be put in a bag and carried around. And they are not heavy. They then say thank you for telling them. .

Galen is my best way to educate people not to get a tiny pup . . .

And you all know I love him to pieces !

:thumbup: he certainly has a good mom :)

Being with a rescue I have people telling me they are looking for a tiny all the time. I tell them the same things as you. No you don't. Hannah weighs just over 5 lbs. and is small enough for me. She and my Chi, Holly do not get to enjoy the outdoors like my other dogs because of hawks. I feel so bad for them but I can't even take a chance even on leash. My sister lives in a subdivision in Houston and had a hawk stalking her Chihuahua. She doesn't let her outdoors anymore. Some people just don't get it and don't realize how protective you have to be when you have a small dog regardless of the breed and where you live. I love my little Hannah and enjoy her too but she comes with a lot of worry. Having her is like having an infant in the house and some people are just not up to the task. I pay attention to everything and thank God I am able to be home with my girls! I might be considered over protective but when it comes to all of my baby girls I do everything I can to keep them safe. It just seems like Hannah requires more of everything because she is so small. I can just imagine what you must go through with Galen and how you stay in protective mode 24 7's! I'm lucky because I finally got to remove the cat collar with the bell from Hannah when she turned a yr. old.

:thumbup: like!

Here it seems like the hawks and birds of prey have gotten bigger. I'm not even comfortable with my 17 pounder outside when they are flying around and for some reason they like to circle the back end of our property.

NYC, Central Park about 10 / 12 years ago a woman walking her Chihuahua on A LEASH a Falcon swooped down grabbed the dog, the woman was able to pull the dog away from the bird leaving this little dog with horrible gashes on it's sides that needed surgery. Central Park had re-introduced Falcons and hawks back to the park to control the population of rodents. It was said the Falcon mistook the Chihuahua for a rat, the bird was captured for retraining. Never walk small breed dogs in an open fields, you just never know.

That sounds just absolutely terrible. Poor dog.

Yes it was terrible, it was on the front page of the NY post or the Daily News, news paper, pictures of the lil Chihuahua with talon gashes on both sides of this little dog. The woman was traumatized. I can't even imagine having to have witnessed this, a utter nightmare. My past dog weighed 17 lbs and I live in a heavily wooded area, so I never feared a prey bird swooping down in my back yard to many very high trees, also that would have to be some big bird to be able to carry off my 17 lbs dog. Cody is 12 lbs, ( to me he is small after having a 17 pounder lol) when I leash walk him in my area, not only are my eyes looking for stray dogs, or dogs that broke out of their yards, I look to the sky's also.

Thank you xoxo I try

The worse thing is that he thinks he is a Wolfhound lol . . . He is not afraid of anything. Your like me. Yes I am over protective. But I rather be that or see him hurt. When I am by myself he doesn't have the collar on. But I think the kitties do like it better when it is ;)

I love him and would not trade him for the world . . But if I can change one persons mind to not get a tiny pup . . :thumbup:

Just wanted to bump this

Just in the last week I spotted a Bald Eagle in my cottonwood! I was in awe of it but hope it won't be coming back here. My dogs go out on leash in my fenced in yard and I still look for coyotes...as they can jump a 6' fence with ease and also to the sky.