How Small is Too Small?

[Fluffy Buffy]

well I will just take that chart out of my favorites folder... lol

[chachi]

I would use it its accurate for some people it just wasnt for me. I just wouldnt expect the weight to be exactly what it says. Genetics plays a role also.

[Patti]

When I got Cali I wanted a yorkie that would be around 5 lbs. I went to see her as she was the last of the 3 in the litter and fell in love. She was the runt of the litter born to 5lb parents. When I first saw her she was way smaller than her sisters at 6 weeks but when I went back to get her at 9 weeks she was almost as big as them. She weighs 3 1/2 at 6 months and hopefully will get to the 5 lb weight. She is so tiny and fragile looking that I worry about her all the time.

[Fluffy Buffy]

Aww. Thanks again ;D.

[Muffie's Mom]

If you're worried about her getting on the stairs, there are gates that swing open both directions. They are fabulous! No more climbing over gates. They come in 2 heights. They are made by "Four Paws" and called a walk thru metal gate. They are a little expensive but well worth it. We got 1 in both heights for different doorways. Just check the door opening size.

One of the websites that carries these is: http://www.petmountain.com/show_product/501107

[shelbysmom]

In my opinion there is a big difference between a 2lb. dog and a 3-4 lb. one. Under 3lbs. is very scary when it comes to the possibility of stepping on them etc. I LOVED Shelby's size after 3lbs. and now she is 3.5lbs. still love it but if she grows much more I may not be able to carry her with me everywhere. She is a great size right now b/c she can play with other Yorkie friends that are 5lbs. +, she can play rough with people that know her limits, she can run up the stairs like lightening, she can use her stairs and get off the bed etc. etc. but she is still small enough for me to take her everywhere. I put plastic sheeting to protect her from falling through the slats on the stairs.

I don't think there is really any way to know for sure the size a dog will end up. If I was doing this again I would do as others suggested and get on a list with a breeder you trust. Of course if they are good breeders you will have to convince them that you would be a good match for a smaller one. Finding a 5lb. dog is not difficult, finding a female under 4lbs. is tough.

good luck

[Fluffy Buffy]

Thank you Muffie's Mom! shelbysmom, thanks for the insight! I am going to be thinking about this while I am researching breeders!

[feminvstr]

the growth chart on my website is just a gage as it suggests on my page...

All bloodlines have different growth spurts, some have none, many kids stop putting on weight at about 6 months, some continue to grow up to a year.

Genetics plays an important roll. You may have a 5lb mom and a 3lb dad yet there back ground consists of 7-8 lb dogs. This can creep up in a breeding.

Good example breeding Bella 5.5lbs-Cappie 5lbs, their pups adult size about 4.5lbs - 5.lbs, one of their siblings was quite a bit smaller "baby" he just hit a bit over 2. lbs at 17 weeks old. I suspect he will be around 3.5lbs adult weight but I wouldnt bet if used as stud he would produce smaller than 4.5-5lbs puppies because of his pedigree.

hope this helps

[Fluffy Buffy]

Originally Posted by feminvstr

the growth chart on my website is just a gage as it suggests on my page...

All bloodlines have different growth spurts, some have none, many kids stop putting on weight at about 6 months, some continue to grow up to a year.

Genetics plays an important roll. You may have a 5lb mom and a 3lb dad yet there back ground consists of 7-8 lb dogs. This can creep up in a breeding.

Good example breeding Bella 5.5lbs-Cappie 5lbs, their pups adult size about 4.5lbs - 5.lbs, one of their siblings was quite a bit smaller "baby" he just hit a bit over 2. lbs at 17 weeks old. I suspect he will be around 3.5lbs adult weight but I wouldnt bet if used as stud he would produce smaller than 4.5-5lbs puppies because of his pedigree.

hope this helps

Do breeders give out that type of information before you purchase a puppy from them? Or even before considering them as the breeder for your future yorkie? I have seen pedigrees but I havent seen any that give the height and weight besides from the parents.

[shelbysmom]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Buffy

Do breeders give out that type of information before you purchase a puppy from them? Or even before considering them as the breeder for your future yorkie? I have seen pedigrees but I havent seen any that give the height and weight besides from the parents.

Not the good ones LOL. Good, reputable breeders are trying to get pups that will be 4-7 lbs. They are not trying to get tinies so they don't breed for that.

But sometimes it happens.

Some breeders do have longer leg vs. shorter ones but the only way to know who prefers which is to start going to Yorkie shows. (difficult to see on websites)

If I were you, not in a rush and wanting a beautiful, standard, but smaller Yorkie I would go to the YTCA website and contact breeders there. In the meantime watch this site for listings.

Why do you want a smaller one? Do you work fulltime outside the home? Will you be able to provide the extra time and care they require?

Just a sample of the many questions a reputable breeder will ask.

[Fluffy Buffy]

Originally Posted by shelbysmom

Not the good ones LOL. Good, reputable breeders are trying to get pups that will be 4-7 lbs. They are not trying to get tinies so they don't breed for that.

But sometimes it happens.

Some breeders do have longer leg vs. shorter ones but the only way to know who prefers which is to start going to Yorkie shows. (difficult to see on websites)

If I were you, not in a rush and wanting a beautiful, standard, but smaller Yorkie I would go to the YTCA website and contact breeders there. In the meantime watch this site for listings.

Why do you want a smaller one? Do you work fulltime outside the home? Will you be able to provide the extra time and care they require?

Just a sample of the many questions a reputable breeder will ask.

Oh I didnt mean for making super little puppies. I just meant that how on sites you can view the pedigree but if you want to see what the dogs on the pedigree look like and where they came from you have to do major google search. (Ive tried it lol) I am a student (in the morning) and I am home by 11:30AM. I wasnt insisting on having a tiny yorkie. We (My future hubby and I) just wanted a smaller one. If we found one within the breed standard even if slightly over, that clicked with us we wouldnt say no because its bigger than what we expected. Love is Love. Plus im only 21 and I dont having any plans on rushing into puppy parenthood, Im still going through the looking and reading part of finding a puppy. Or even an adult ;D

[teffiemoore]

Dorie was 1# 9 oz at 13 weeks and shes 14 months now and weighs 6lbs. Yogi was 1#8 oz at 13 weeks and now he's 10 1/2 months and weighs 4lbs. They are both just perfect whatever they weigh You aways think you have a picture of what you want your Yorkie to look like when you get one, and the truth is when you bring home your little furbaby, you will fall in love with him/her and their weight just kinda falls somewhere in the "it doesn't matter" category, LOL. Its those little faces that turn side to side when you talk to them that steals your heart.

[Kodiesmom]

I agree that there is a big difference between a 2lb vs 5lb pup. My kodie is a maltese and he is very fragile... hes only 3.5lbs... I see other maltese and they are soo much more strudy than my kodie.

[LvLaila]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Buffy

does anyone have stairs in their house? I live in a colonial (I think thats what it is called) with my parents and the railing for the stairs and the hallway to get to the stairs and that goes down the stairs has railing about with 2 1/2 inches of space in between. Is that going to problem? Our cat (RIP) never had a problem with the railing but there are alot of stairs. Would baby/doggy gates at the bottom of the stairs and the top solve this or should we do something about the railing as well?
Thanks again!

I have the same problem at my house, but baby gates don't exactly do the trick for us. I have gates, and Laila will just walk around and slip between the banasters to get up or down stairs. She is quite the little pistol. good luck!

[Fluffy Buffy]

thanks everyone ;D