| About the "Tea Cup" Phenomenon |
| This article pertains to the Maltese. However, it can be associated with any and all of the toy breeds. Some Yorkies are smaller than others, but the breeds preferred standard weight recommended by AKC should be between 4 and 7 pounds. |
| Actually, “there is no such thing as a teacup Maltese ” quote by Daryl Martin a Maltese breeder in Highland Park, Illinois. “The whole teacup phenomenon is a horrible thing because the breed is already small, but the tiny ones tend to have many health problems, from water in the brain to liver shunts (abnormal veins that result in failure of the liver to metabolize toxins and brain inflammation)” “You will pay a lot of veterinarian bills,” says Ingela Gram, A breeder and AKC licensed judge in West Redding, Connecticut, who adds that the so called “teacup Maltese” often have the Chihuaha-esque, apple-domed skull and an open fontanel, a skull shape that isn’t conformationally correct for the Maltese. “They usually aren’t healthy, they have many problems” Gram says. “When you get a dog down to two lbs, nothing develops like it should. The heart is too small, the liver is too small. Do you want to end up going to the vet all the time? People forget about that,” Gram adds. “You wouldn’t see a so-called “teacup Maltese” in the show ring, because this super-small-sized Maltese weighing in below the preferred minimum of 4 lbs, is often associated with incorrect conformation, such as a skull that is too apple-domed.” (Quote taken from Ingela Gram Maltese breeder and AKC licensed judge) A Maltese may occasionally be born small, but a tiny size is no advantage, agrees Vicki Fierheller, a Maltese breeder in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Despite the health and other issues, some unethical breeders try to profit from the tiny dogs cuteness and rarity. Some unscrupulous breeders purposely breed for the “teacup” Maltese because they can sell them for much more money, but so often the wee ones have more health problems. There is no doubt these puppies are adorable, but I would be very cautious about getting one! Article taken from Popular Dog Magazine Volume 29 |
