More "Teacup" info - YorkieTalk.com Forums

ReconsMomma · 05-27-2005, 03:45 PM

I was just doing some more research on yorkies so I can be as knowledgable as possible when I get my baby and I came across this..... thought you all might like to check it out.

Teacup Yorkshire Terrier/Maltese

One of the most frequently asked questions that we get is "do you have any teacup Yorkies?". The simple truth is that neither we nor anyone else has a "teacup" Yorkshire terrier because no such classification exists. The same statement applies to Maltese as they have the same weight requirements. Let me clarify.

The official breed standard for the Yorkshire terrier calls for adult Yorkies to have a weight of no more than seven(7) pounds.

To be exact, the breed standard states: "Weight: Must not exceed seven pounds." This definition was approved on April 12, 1966. To review the breed standard for Yorkshire terriers, check at www.akc.org.

Why then, you may ask, do so many breeders advertise teacup Yorkies? There are only two reasons:

Fraud.
Some unscrupulous breeders advertise teacup Yorkies to take advantage of those people who are not very familiar with Yorkies. By telling someone that they are getting a "teacup", they make the buyer feel that they are getting something special (as if one get much more special than a Yorkie at all:-)). Beware, many of these people also advertise "toy" and or "standard" Yorkies with weights up to 10 or 12 pounds. As stated above, a standard Yorkshire terrier must weigh no more than 7 pounds.

Ignorance.
Sadly, there are people out there breeding Yorkshire terriers who simply aren't knowledgeable enough about Yorkies to know that there is no such thing as a "teacup". One can only image their general breed knowledge and the quality of their puppies.

I was told of a breeder recently who allegedly has Yorkies weighing less than two(!!) pounds all the time. The person writing wanted to know if we had puppies of that size. I must point out that as of 2002, the smallest dog in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was a Chihuahua who weighed just under 2 pounds at 1 lb. 14 oz. For someone to claim that they regularly have adult dogs weighing less than 2 pounds is a stretch to say the least.

One must also be cautious regarding the time at which a weight is taken. A breeder could happily tell you that a dog weighs only 4 pounds. If that weight is taken at 12 weeks of age, however, that puppy will probably weigh about 8 pounds as a fully grown adult.

On average, Yorkshire terriers weigh between 5 and 7 pounds as adults. There are, of course, smaller Yorkies born that will weigh less. Most Yorkshire terriers that you see participating in the show ring tend to be 6 to 7 pounds. A dog weighing 3 to 4 pounds is considered very small and often requires special care. Dogs this small should not be handled by children except under strictly controlled conditions. Children are clumsy by nature--not intentionally--and dogs weighing less than 4 pounds are fragile, with easily broken bones.

I found this at:
http://www.moonlightkennels.com/teacups.php

They have some decent info.

natalie · 05-27-2005, 03:47 PM

Thanks so much for sharing this information with us! I just hope people out there that don't know about dogs know that "Teacups" don't exist because than, they won't get jipped on their money.

SoCalyorkiLvr · 05-27-2005, 03:59 PM

Not to disagree with Moonlight kennels, but just to play "Devil's Advocate" and see what you all think...

I think a third category has to be added to the list because the
term "teacup" is sometimes used by perfectly honest people to describe "size". It is true that it is not a "classification" by AKC but it is usually defined as a yorkie whose adult weight will e under the breed standard of 5 lbs. as an adult.

I have noticed recently that some doggy clothes designers are using the term as a size on their clothing and they include yorkies as one breed who may fit the Teacup size. Target is one example. They are not using the term for purposes of fraud or out of ignorance.

Some of the same people who don't approve of the term "teacup" also don't like "tiny" or "mini". To me they are just words or semantics and it does not offend me but i think it's because I grew up with teacup poodles.

Lady of Yorkies · 05-27-2005, 04:52 PM

I, myself, think that something needs to change. My Pirogue is 9.8#, when I read the standard for Yorkies, it sounded so strick that I wondered what my baby was called if not a Yorkie. Even the Poodles are Standard, Miniature and Toy. It's been a long, long time since I had anything to do with Poodles but I think I remember Teacups. Granted the Standard Poodle is HUGE compared with a 10-15# Yorkie but I think the wide range of sizes for Yorkies needs some clarification. Sylvia

SoCalyorkiLvr · 05-27-2005, 04:57 PM

Sylvia!

I agree with you! There are teacup poodles. I will have to check to see if they an AKC classification, but I think they are. And the fact that the "breed standard" is 5-7 lbs does not mean that a 4 or 10 lbyorkie is any less a yorkie!

It would be nice to give more classifications for people who like to "show" n conformation too!

05-27-2005, 03:45 PM	#1
ReconsMomma BANNED! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Janesville WI Posts: 2,483	More "Teacup" info I was just doing some more research on yorkies so I can be as knowledgable as possible when I get my baby and I came across this..... thought you all might like to check it out. Teacup Yorkshire Terrier/Maltese One of the most frequently asked questions that we get is "do you have any teacup Yorkies?". The simple truth is that neither we nor anyone else has a "teacup" Yorkshire terrier because no such classification exists. The same statement applies to Maltese as they have the same weight requirements. Let me clarify. The official breed standard for the Yorkshire terrier calls for adult Yorkies to have a weight of no more than seven(7) pounds. To be exact, the breed standard states: "Weight: Must not exceed seven pounds." This definition was approved on April 12, 1966. To review the breed standard for Yorkshire terriers, check at www.akc.org. Why then, you may ask, do so many breeders advertise teacup Yorkies? There are only two reasons: Fraud. Some unscrupulous breeders advertise teacup Yorkies to take advantage of those people who are not very familiar with Yorkies. By telling someone that they are getting a "teacup", they make the buyer feel that they are getting something special (as if one get much more special than a Yorkie at all:-)). Beware, many of these people also advertise "toy" and or "standard" Yorkies with weights up to 10 or 12 pounds. As stated above, a standard Yorkshire terrier must weigh no more than 7 pounds. Ignorance. Sadly, there are people out there breeding Yorkshire terriers who simply aren't knowledgeable enough about Yorkies to know that there is no such thing as a "teacup". One can only image their general breed knowledge and the quality of their puppies. I was told of a breeder recently who allegedly has Yorkies weighing less than two(!!) pounds all the time. The person writing wanted to know if we had puppies of that size. I must point out that as of 2002, the smallest dog in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, was a Chihuahua who weighed just under 2 pounds at 1 lb. 14 oz. For someone to claim that they regularly have adult dogs weighing less than 2 pounds is a stretch to say the least. One must also be cautious regarding the time at which a weight is taken. A breeder could happily tell you that a dog weighs only 4 pounds. If that weight is taken at 12 weeks of age, however, that puppy will probably weigh about 8 pounds as a fully grown adult. On average, Yorkshire terriers weigh between 5 and 7 pounds as adults. There are, of course, smaller Yorkies born that will weigh less. Most Yorkshire terriers that you see participating in the show ring tend to be 6 to 7 pounds. A dog weighing 3 to 4 pounds is considered very small and often requires special care. Dogs this small should not be handled by children except under strictly controlled conditions. Children are clumsy by nature--not intentionally--and dogs weighing less than 4 pounds are fragile, with easily broken bones. I found this at: http://www.moonlightkennels.com/teacups.php They have some decent info.

05-27-2005, 03:59 PM	#3
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	Not to disagree with Moonlight kennels, but just to play "Devil's Advocate" and see what you all think... I think a third category has to be added to the list because the term "teacup" is sometimes used by perfectly honest people to describe "size". It is true that it is not a "classification" by AKC but it is usually defined as a yorkie whose adult weight will e under the breed standard of 5 lbs. as an adult. I have noticed recently that some doggy clothes designers are using the term as a size on their clothing and they include yorkies as one breed who may fit the Teacup size. Target is one example. They are not using the term for purposes of fraud or out of ignorance. Some of the same people who don't approve of the term "teacup" also don't like "tiny" or "mini". To me they are just words or semantics and it does not offend me but i think it's because I grew up with teacup poodles. Last edited by SoCalyorkiLvr; 05-27-2005 at 04:01 PM.

05-27-2005, 03:47 PM	#2
natalie Owned by Fred Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,352	Thanks so much for sharing this information with us! I just hope people out there that don't know about dogs know that "Teacups" don't exist because than, they won't get jipped on their money.

05-27-2005, 04:52 PM	#4
Lady of Yorkies YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,562	I, myself, think that something needs to change. My Pirogue is 9.8#, when I read the standard for Yorkies, it sounded so strick that I wondered what my baby was called if not a Yorkie. Even the Poodles are Standard, Miniature and Toy. It's been a long, long time since I had anything to do with Poodles but I think I remember Teacups. Granted the Standard Poodle is HUGE compared with a 10-15# Yorkie but I think the wide range of sizes for Yorkies needs some clarification. Sylvia

05-27-2005, 04:57 PM	#5
SoCalyorkiLvr BANNED! Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 8,246	Sylvia! I agree with you! There are teacup poodles. I will have to check to see if they an AKC classification, but I think they are. And the fact that the "breed standard" is 5-7 lbs does not mean that a 4 or 10 lbyorkie is any less a yorkie! It would be nice to give more classifications for people who like to "show" n conformation too!