The Teacup Puppy Phenomenon
As a breeder I am weary from taking phone calls asking me for a so-called
"Teacup" puppy.  Thus the reason I am writing this piece concerning my views
about the phenomenon of so many people wanting a "so-called teacup" puppy.

I'm also amazed at the number of young girls calling.  I guess they want to be like a
certain hotel heiress and carry a cutsie
little dog around in their purse.  

Puppies aren't toys, they are living breathing babes that need love and attention,
not to spend half of their life in someone's HOT purse!

Please take the time to read this and educate yourself as to what you are asking
us for!  The lives of many little dogs depend on the education you get from us as
breeders.  

Thanks for taking the time to educate yourself.

Molly

This is a topic that most assuredly needs to be brought to the attention of perspective puppy
buyers.

Let's start out by saying "THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A "TEACUP" PUPPY".

With that in mind let me say this;
It seems as though there is a plethora of people who are insistent on buying tiny puppies in the
2 to 4 pound range.  Also commonly referred to as a "Teacup puppy".

The word "Teacup" has been used to merely describe the size of a puppy, meaning it is very
small and will probably be under the standard size which is 4 to 7 pounds for the Toy Group,
Yorkshire Terrier breed.
We cannot imagine anyone wanting anything smaller then that!

Many breeders, while tacking a whooping price on a puppy, "claim" to breed so called
"teacups" as if they were a breed all their own. Don't be fooled! They are not a breed all their
own.  

If a breeder says they specialize in "teacups" RUN, RUN, RUN for the hills! Most "TEACUP"
puppies are in reality, a premature puppy.

Most females are bred on the ninth through the fifteenth day of their heat cycles. Eggs can be
fertilized for up to 72 hours after any of these breeding's. Therefore, it is possible to have
puppies conceived up to a week or so younger than the puppies first conceived in a litter.

However, when the first puppies conceived are mature and ready to be born, labor starts and all
the puppies will be born, no matter when they were fertilized.  

Some of the problems that may be encountered are both genetic and congenital in these tiny
babies and the list is a long one.

The risk of open fontanels, portosystemic shunts (PSS), hypoglycemia, cardiac problems,
collapsing trachea, luxating patellas, Leggs Calves Perthes disease, seizures, hydroencephaly,
blindness and digestive problems can be increased in these tiny babies.

Problems such as respiratory problems can remain or worsen throughout their lives. These
babies frequently are so fragile that they do not live more than a few years. There have been
several tiny Yorkies as adults who still had open fontanels and their owners had to carry
nourishment with them all the time. Their vets have felt it unsafe to give a full dose of vaccine so
the puppies had to get several injections to be on the safe side.

There is no such thing as a "tea cup" Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Poodle, or any other breed for
that matter.  They simply do not exist. "Tea-cup" is just a marketing phrase given by unethical
and unscrupulous breeders to drive up the price of their puppies!

So called "Teacups" fetch anything from $1000 to $10,000! This is ridiculous and shameful!
There are a lot of chronically unhealthy puppies because unscrupulous breeders and puppy
mills are inbreeding.  Some poor darlings only live for a very, very short time!

They take the little teeny tiny Yorkies and they breed 21/2 pounders with 3 pounders ... well they’
re playing with genetics. You should NEVER breed a female of any breed less than 5 pounds.

PLEASE educate yourselves before buying a tiny puppy whether it is a Yorkie or any other
breed.  You could be in for months or years of heartbreak not to mention staggering veterinarian
bills!  

DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!
IF YOU WANT A HEALTHY PUPPY, DON'T FALL FOR THE TEACUP ACT!

Molly Forman
www.cloverdaleyorkies.com