Tiny Yorkies

[Itspuppyluv]

Originally Posted by Princessyorkies

Right you are. Without the help of humans they would be what ever size. I heard yorkies started out being about 35 pounds and over time have gotten to where they are now. Not a fact just what I have heard and read in different places.
So who is to say with down sizing them over the years that that was healthy?

True. I'm certainly not the one to say.
My point was what happens in the wild involving these dogs anymore isn't a consideration.

[Princessyorkies]

Originally Posted by Breeze

I'm confused to which side of this you are on. Are you saying that it may not of been healthy to breed them down to 7 from 35 pounds? But also saying that since they have been its fine to breed them even smaller.

Even if "it was wrong" to breed them smaller in the past, if people now know the risks shouldn't they stop and do whats best for the breed and these poor tiny babies being bred and stop this?

I am on the side of this....I do not think it is bad to breed one smaller than 5 pounds. In every breeding we take risks no matter what the size is. If you indeed know if your dam is healthy enough to breed and you or your vet do not see any risks then by all means do it. But of course if there are risks do not do it.
About going from 35 pounds down to the sizes they are today, I am sure there were risks but it happened and things did not seem to work out for the worst here because if they did we would not have these loving fur babies that we have now. If indeed it was such a hugh risk to come down to where we are now then there would not be yorkies now. And if indeed it is a big risk to breed ones under 5 pounds then why are there smaller ones here now. Because through science all things are possible.
I would never risk the life of one of my fur babies and I do not breed just to get the tiny ones. I breed because I love the breed of these dogs and want others to be as happy as I am. I breed to better the breed not to make it worst.

[hunniebunnie]

Originally Posted by Princessyorkies

In the wild I wonder if the male says to the female...hey I can't do this because you are too big or too small...What did they do before humans came along and made the decissions for them? Makes you think doesn't it...

that's a very good point. it does put things into perspective like the fact that tinies exist in the numbers that they do is all thanks to humans and their breeding programs. if yorkies were ever to be in the wild, the smallers, more fragile, more delicate tinies would more likely die thanks to darwin and no c-sections, while the bigger, stronger yorkies will remain to continue to the population. in the wild, animals instinctively prefer to mate with one that is strong. sometimes males can refuse to mate with a female and vice versa because the other is perceived as weak and may not survive to perpetuate the species. females can refuse to nurse a runt because of the same reason.

it's because of human intervention and domestication of breeds that allows the tiny population to flourish because they're meant to be loved and pampered as pets, not to fight and survive in the wild.

imho, because the breed is meant to be a companion to humans, i have no objection if a pet yorkie is 3 lbs or 15 lbs. whatever range in weight you as the owner prefer, is just that, a preference. like i prefer a 4 door car and you prefer a 2 door car. ultimately it doesn't matter so long as it drives.

the standard is there to maintain a level of consistency for the breed. so that a yorkie you got 10 years ago should similiar charactistics as a yorkie pup you just got today. so that an unscrupulous breeder cannot push the limits of the wide range of characteristic variations and pass a mokie off as a purebred yorkie.

but i draw the line at activities that would put the yorkie in unnecessary risky situtations. this includes breeding a female too small to whelp naturally as well as teaching a yorkie to jump and clear a 5 foot wall. it's just too much of risk to the health and well being of the dog in my opinion. but each owner has their own ideas of what's an acceptable and what's an unacceptable risk. so to each their own, but if you truly love your furbaby, please do make a decision to length his/her life, not shorten it.

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by Princessyorkies

Who is to say about their well being other than their owner and vet?

I am sorry...I didn't mean to offend you. However, YOU were the one that made this general statement: "smaller ones need more attention because they are more fragile than the bigger ones" I will just leave it with the assumption you are only talking about your own dogs, since you have since made the above statement.

[Princessyorkies]

I think it is to each person what they and their vet think about breeding. Not everyone is right and not everyone is wrong.
I have come to learn on here that there is a very STRONG problem with having yorkies to breed under 5 pounds. But all because they smaller ones are more fragile does not in my opinion mean not to breed them if everything else is well with them. I know several breeders all over the United States that do breed the ones under 5 pounds, but that does not mean they have to have a c-section, as a matter of fact none of mine under 5 pounds have had to have a c-section, but in fact my larger female who was 6 pounds at the time of breeding had to have a c-section.
So all I would say and it is not just from the size I breed but the size of many many breeders I have spoken to and know, is that at any given point at any size a yorkie could possibly have to have a c-section for one reason or another.
I enjoy reading the threads on here and all though so are bias with their opinions does not mean that I am not going to be on here anymore. You see this should be if it is not a place for everyone to come and talk and not get downed by others for what they believe. Who made the rules here on what is right and what is wrong? All because someone may have been breeding longer than I have does not mean they know everything nor does it mean by far that I know it all. I think we can all learn from each other on here.
Different opinions is what makes the world go round. Lets just not slame each other in the process of hearing others opinions.

[BamaFan121s]

Originally Posted by Princessyorkies

You see this should be if it is not a place for everyone to come and talk and not get downed by others for what they believe. Who made the rules here on what is right and what is wrong? All because someone may have been breeding longer than I have does not mean they know everything nor does it mean by far that I know it all. I think we can all learn from each other on here.
Different opinions is what makes the world go round. Lets just not slame each other in the process of hearing others opinions.

I agree with you...I was not trying to slam you...I was just trying to understand your point. But alas, it is Monday and my brain is not yet at full function capacity! This should be a place where we can all learn.

[Princessyorkies]

Originally Posted by BamaFan121s

I agree with you...I was not trying to slam you...I was just trying to understand your point. But alas, it is Monday and my brain is not yet at full function capacity! This should be a place where we can all learn.

I wasn't meaning that you in general were slamming me. And I am with you on the Monday thing as I don't think my brain functions till Monday night.
Any ways no problem here as honestly I would not want a problem with anyone. We just all need to learn from each other and consider each others feelings.

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

Originally Posted by Princessyorkies

I wasn't meaning that you in general were slamming me. And I am with you on the Monday thing as I don't think my brain functions till Monday night.
Any ways no problem here as honestly I would not want a problem with anyone. We just all need to learn from each other and consider each others feelings.

You are a breath of fresh air on this board and I, for one, am so happy you are here. Keep up with the posts...I love reading them.

[Princessyorkies]

Originally Posted by SoCalyorkiLvr

You are a breath of fresh air on this board and I, for one, am so happy you are here. Keep up with the posts...I love reading them.

Thanks very much and I do plan on being here a long while..I love it here.

[red98vett]

I heard something sad a while ago..... not about a breeder but a so called yorkie lover who gave away one of her yorkies because she wasn't small enough - we're talking about a family pet... who was susposed to live out her days in her own home....THAT is taking the tiny obsession too far in my opinion...

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

I try really hard not to judge others and I am sure there are lots of people who rehome their pets for reasons that I wouldn't agree with, but if the dog wasn't loved enough in that home then that owner did the right thing by giving her up to someone who would cherish her for who she was.

I bet some get rehomed because they end up being too small too and it is not a safe environment for them for whatever reasons.

[red98vett]

I didn't judge anyone - I know who this person is and it was SAD....(for the yorkie)

I agree - the dog is probably far better off.....but size is no reason to give up a pet when we're only talking a few pounds difference in a tiny and average size...

Edited to add - I should have said I know the person who took the yorkie after she was given up.

[red98vett]

Anyway...didn't mean to go off topic in my last post

this was an interesting statement below....

if you look at yorkies from WAY back you can see silky in them....actually they look like some purebred silkys of today look in some pictures...and I also think tiny females should not be bred or one day we'll be seeing yorkies the size of hampsters and that is so sad for this beautiful breed.

Originally Posted by cheryl000

I didn't say it was "okay" to break the breed standard. IMO it is WORSE to breed a tiny female and put her life in jeopary just to get tinies. I believe that lots of the bigger yorkies were the result of throwbacks more than people breeding 8+ dogs. Also, back in the day bad breeders used to breed yorkies and silkies together.

[diva pup]

Originally Posted by red98vett

I heard something sad a while ago..... not about a breeder but a so called yorkie lover who gave away one of her yorkies because she wasn't small enough - we're talking about a family pet... who was susposed to live out her days in her own home....THAT is taking the tiny obsession too far in my opinion...

That is just so so sad. That poor little dog. If that was the reason I have to question the term"yorkie lover". Call me judgmental if you will, but that is HARDLY a good excuse to give up a pet .

[YorkieShadow]

I would breed a female 5 lbs and over only if the vet states it would be ok. I would not breed any female under 5 lbs.