What's the difference?
 

I have read a couple posts recently from people who have very tiny little Yorkies that are sick - and/or passed away. How sad!

All things being equal -- tiny little Yorkies have more health problems and congenital defects than larger ones - plus very tiny little pups have an especially hard time fighting health problems or diseases that larger Yorkies can handle much better.

Yes - I know - many of us have healthy little Yorkies - but, a recent poster just lost her darling little Yorkie. She is devastated and it sounds like she didn't know much about Yorkies sizes and and only wanted a small dog and just thought she was buying a healthy little pet.

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I agree with everyone - if a tiny little Yorkie comes from two standard-sized parents - that's life and can't be helped - But to deliberately breed to get smaller and smaller little Yorkies is criminal and is usually done for no other reason than money.....because people want and are willing to pay more for smaller Yorkies.


It interesting - because we all say all the time - don't buy puppies that come from puppymills - because you are just encouraging puppymills to stay in operation.

However - many people go out looking for and buy these "tiny little dogs" --- and keep these unscrupulous breeders in business.

What is the difference!!!!!!


Carol Jean

You make a good point.

size
 

I like a small Yorkie as a pet...but as I posted on another thread, under 3 to 3 1/2 pounds and you have a pet that needs a savvy owner. Of course, I have seen some very tiny ones live a long life with little vet care..BUT they are not the norm.

I had a girl named "Little"..she was 2 pounds. I gave her away at 1 year...also a male who was 2 pounds at 2 yrs...I would not travel with them and leaving them for my daughter or friends to watch was a worry.
As I said...what would barely phase a 4 plus pounder can put a tinier one in the ER...

YorkieRose - I agree with you - what often can be handled by a 3 to 4 pound pup (although 3 pounds is very little) can't be tolerated by the even smaller little dogs. Some little Yorkies are 1 1/2 pounds - 2 pounds etc.

My neighbor has a 4 pound Yorklie and says that hers is very healthy - but the couple times he was sick, he was touch-and-go for a while because of his size. So - an even smaller dog - may well have succumbed to these same illnesses.

I do think we should discourage purchasing puppymills dogs -and also discourage purchasing extremely tiny little dogs (that have deliberately been bred small for $$$). I see little difference in the characters of these people.

Carol Jean

:clapsmile :clapsmile :clapsmile

Thank You Carol Jean and Pat
 

Carol Jean and Pat, thank you for sharing. It is easy for those of us who do not know to talk about the "I thinks", but is is REALLY GREAT to have the "I KNOWS" sharing real life experience.

I've been pretty vocal about breeding intentionally for tiny :thumbdown AND am totally outspoken about puppy Mills ( I probably get on peoples nerves) :( but I will will always do this - as long as there is someone out there who will listen.

I'm not an expert.... but after the last 3..almost 4 years on forums - I've seen way too many little yorkies die. It's heartbreaking.

The little tiny ones DO require special care and and and someone who really knows what they're doing...it's so sad to see any dog lost....but when it's a very very small dog - it seems they really can go from LIVING to Rainbow Bridge in a matter of hours.....:(

If someone can help people who is new to the breed or looking for a very small dog by sharing their own experience - then I'm all for speaking up.

No one can change someone's mind if they're intent on a very small dog - but people CAN help them know what to expect. There are too many breeders out there now breeding for tiny - and there are breeders out there who don't CARE what genetic problems are being passed onto their puppies - many of these same breeders are the ones who are looking at DOLLAR signs only. these are the people who are just as bad as MILLS.

I had a couple stop at my house this past weekend to meet up with someone that was at a family gathering at my home. They weren't staying, just a hello & goodbye. When they walked up the husband was holding a chihauhau that had to be under 1lb. Eveyone was oohing & ahing over this dog. I was not. I asked "How old is that dog?" They replied "Not quite 5 weeks yet, he's only going to get to three lbs." and they were beeming . It was 94 degrees and they where going to walk around a fair with it to show it off. That p'd me off. I said " My God. That pup is way to young to be away from it's mom. It's a bare minimum of 8 weeks but it should of been 12 before they let him go." The small crowd that was around got quiet and the couple just stared in silence. Then I turned and walked away shaking my head. I heard later they were fuming at what I said because their vet gave it a clean bill of health and I didn't know what I was talking about.These people bought this tiny dog without a clue of hypoglycemia or anything else about the care of this dog.I also heard back that the dog has to be fed with a bottle. They only bought it because it was "TINY & CUTE." I think about that dog every day with these morons and if he's still alive.

When I got Sissy, all I knew about Yorkies were they were cute and I wanted one. I also wanted one that would be 5 lbs or under. Although her parents are standard size, I bought her under the premise that she would be about 3 lbs. I knew nothing about hypoglycemia or any other special needs, though she did come with paperwork from the breeder about ALL Yorkie's being at risk for hypoglycemia. I got lucky - other than the upper respiratory infection she contracted shortly after she came home with me and Giardi - she has been very health. She is also now 4 lbs. I don't consider myself an unresponsible owner, I have had and cared for many pets in my lifetime.

That being said, I have learned a TON from this site and wish I had found it when Sissy first came home with me rather than 5 months later. I'm sure I'm not unique in that respect and I did several web searches on Yorkie information during the first few months I had her.

Had I known everything when I was looking for Sissy that I do now, would I have done things differently - maybe. But I fell in love with a beautiful little girl who stole my heart. She could be seriously ill or perfectly healthy and it wouldn't change my feelings. I am a better person for her being in my life for however long she will remain. I would like that to be a loonngg time, but none of us have any guarantees.

Sometimes a little compassion and gentle offering of advice will go a lot further than harsh criticism. Not all of us know everything, but it doesn't mean we aren't willing to learn and admit our mistakes.

I spoke the next day to the couple they met at my home and offered to call her and apologize and offer her advice on his care, because I did think I should have helped if I could, and I was told not to, that they were "no it alls" and no one is going to tell them how to rase their dog. I was told no advice would be appreciated nor wanted so I dropped it. Your dog was for love, these people where described as extremely materialistic,and the dog was for attention, they where not purchased for the same purpose

Like Villette I have been on here for a while and read a lot of threads about tiny yorkies. I am blessed with 4 yorkies, two are under 3 lbs. They both came from standard parents. Polly is 1 year 5 months and has been very healthy, Sprout is 9 months and has also been very healthy. They don't know they are tiny. I have read many threads about sick puppies tiny and large. I did a lot of research and got a lot of great info from the site before I got any of mine. I feel the health of a yorkie tiny to tea pot has to do with where it comes from.