Great answers!!!

But - remember a lot of people in this world just aren't as dog saavy as a lot of us - in fact, a lot of people don't know a St. Bernard from a German Sheperd.

So -- for these people the term "toy" means nothing more than that it is a very little dog. This is a very harmless description for a tiny little dog - whether it is formally known as a "toy - something" or not.

And it certainly isn't something that we be bothered by. Friendly, very nice people refer to my little dog as a "toy something" all the time. I just agree with them that - yes, he is a very small little guy.

How would you like it if people jumped on you and put you down --- or even took offense - everytime you misnamed a breed of cat or a breed of horse -- animals that most of us aren't experts on (as far as different breeds go). I would hope that they would just let it go by or kindly correct us so that we learned something new - wouldn't you?

We have horses in our pasture. I have no clue what breed they are, but my granddaughter has decided that they are "race horses." Now - wouldn't a horse fancier have fun with that one?

Carol Jean

ALL that SUN in Alaska is going to your head ? :):p :p :p

I thought it was a good thread actually - With so many new members - someone is bound to learn something new here

genetics are funny things, they can result in different characteristics being passed on an offspring or have it transform to something different from the parents all together. yorkies, like humans can come in all sizes and physical characteristics. afterall, from a country where the average male height is 5'6"-5'7", you can get a 7'5" basketball player who is still full blooded chinese. so go figure that.

i think weight amongst other things, is one of the characteristics that makes a yorkie "pet quality" rather than "show quality".

I've always found it strange that Yorkie people are so against teriminology that simply describes a dog that is under the standard weight.

There are only three classes of poodles (toy, miniature and standard), but you also hear of teacup poodles and poodle enthusiasts are not threatened by the word like Yorkie owners are.

I think we should educate people as to the health risks which might be involved with a "teacup", but if the word lets us all identify what we are talking about, who really cares. Teacup is so much easier to say, than "below the standard in weight".

I think breeders dislike people asking for them because they are ethical and do not want to breed them knowing the health risks involved.

LacysMom - I agree. "Teacup" or "Toy" has nothing to do with marketing for many people. It just means "little."

I think it's okay to be disagree with using these terms as marketing terms. But, when they are used by "friendly passerbys" and "other regular people," I'll never know why it upsets so many people.

It's as if we are such "experts" that we just can't tolerate other people not knowing as much about these little dogs as we do.

I have seens posts regarding the people who use these terms as "stupid" or "idiots." Shame on us!

***** It's funny - we can't call them a "toy," but we can call them "children," "a baby" or a "daughter" or a "son." And, boy! No one had ever better critize us for doing this.

Life is funny! Everyone has their own rules..........

Carol Jean

Thanks for throwing me a bone, Villette. That's it. I'm not an idiot. I was trying to instruct new members!

I have to say that I agree with hunniebunnie and some others on here. The terms 'miniature', 'teacup', 'teaspoon' and all these other silly words are actually doing the breed a lot of damage from what I can make out. I don't think it's simply just another way of referring to the breed and that people should be allowed to use them willy-nilly. It's being used very specifically by both unscrupulous breeders and irresponsible buyers to define a specific size. This is having a huge impact on the health and quality of the breed

The reason I got Badger was because my girlfriend in Boston had the most gorgeous Yorkie that she referred to as a 'miniature' (he landed up six pounds full grown). When I came back to the UK, I called the Yorkshire Terrier Club here and received one hell of a dressing down from the Secretary of the club who told me in no uncertain terms that there was no such thing and that she was constantly having to put up with people calling for breeders of tiny Yorkies. Both the Kennel Club here and the YTC will not register breeders who breed from bitches under 4 pounds. My vet told me as well that they are getting an increasing number of young girls coming in with tiny yorkies that have got terrible health problems. The breeder I got him from told me that she had what they call a 'tiny'. She said they were rare and she was asked for them occasionally but she wouldn't breed them specifically. I spoke to a very good breeder in Yorkshire who told me that he gave away puppies that he felt were going to be under five pounds because in his 40 odd years of experience they were 'no good'

So I don't think it's as easy as just saying people should just call them whatever they like because they have a right to. The breed is being very negatively affected by this drive for what are nothing more than purse accessories. We are often stopped by young girls in the street who say they want one to carry around in a handbag and 'dress up'. I don't agree with that at all

I agree with the post above me! With all of the hype that smaller is better bad breeders are taking advantage and breeding below the standard or not caring about temperment(which doesn't sell as well) and only care about size. IMO anyone who breeds should fix their tinies BEFORE they find them new homes because many people want to cash in on their tiny little bodies. My vet has told me that a dog that isn't going to be used for breeding SHOULD be fixed because it can end up with health problems like cysts. So IMO tinies should be fixed.

Education is the Key
 

I'm definatly not bothered when someone asks me if my Yorkie is a miniture, but I do educate them. I just explain that Yorkies are one of the toy breeds, that the standard is between 5-7 pounds and that dogs much smaller than this can be predisposed to health problems. I tell them that if they are ever interested in purchasing a Yorkie that is takes a lots of research to find a good breeder with beautiful dogs that will be close to breed standard.

I've noticed soo many advertisements saying "teacup" or "miniture" yorkies, less than xlbs...Does the size of a yorkie really matter to any of you guys? To me, I just want a healthy loveable dog. Obviously I dont want something huge (already have a 70lb boxer), that is why I'm going for a toy-sized dog. I guess what I'm asking is if someone is a true yorkie lover, do they really think "the smaller the better".

I have a 10 lb yorkie and a 6lb yorkie and the next one I get I want it to be 4 lbs or less. I dont think there is anything wrong with people who want small yorkes. Alot of people have them on here and they dont have health problems.

Just to deviate from the whole teacup issue - I was wondering if Yorkies are in the Toy category because everyone always asks where the batteries go?:p

A little off topic, But I just wanted to say how happy I am to be a member of this forum. We all can usually disagree so very nicely and unless you look for the tittle or someone is way out of line, you don't even know who the moderators are. I am also part of a guinea pig forum that is horrible! Everytime that someone mentions shows, breeding, or anything that the others do not agree with they are ATTACKED, ESPECIALLY by the moderators who rule with an iron keyboard and find something wrong with most all posts (even banning children for bad grammar).
Anyways, thanks for keeping YT a pleasant place to waste...spend.... my day.

I don't think it is the average joe making the mistake that gets people upset, its the unethical breeders that use these terms to sell their "teacups" that cause the stir.

They compete in the toy group instead of the terrier group. They really are a terrier though they just have competed in the toy group for a long time.:animal36