question

Question
Im thinking of buying a Yorkie in the next month or so, but i was curious which is smaller a teeny tiny or a teacup? and what the difference is?

Answer
Trish,

I have never heard of a "teeny tiny" and I am positive that the AKC does not have a category for that.  Also don't be fooled by the teacup title either.  The AKC recognizes the Yorkie as a toy breed and nothing else.  The other names are placed on them by people.  By definition a toy is a small dog usually anywhere from 6 to 2.5 pounds.  That is not to say that you can't get a larger or smaller Yorkie but by definition that is the standard.  Most people who advertise a teacup are telling you that the Yorkie is going to be under four pounds.  Yorkies can range in size from 2 pounds to 25 pounds depending on the blood line and the parents sizes.  When you are looking to purchase a Yorkie and you want a toy, teacup, teeny tiny or whatever you will need to know the following:

What to look for when purchasing a Yorkshire Terrier.

When you get ready to purchase a Yorkie you will need to look for some specific things.  The first thing you should ask the breeder is if both parents are on the premises.  I would not purchase a Yorkie puppy if I could not put my eyes on both parents.  The size of the puppy when it is full grown is going to be based on the size of the parents.  If the father is 2.5 pounds and the mother is 5 pounds then you will get a puppy that is 5 pounds or less.  If the father is 5 pounds and the mother is 5 pounds you could get a puppy that grows up to be 5 pounds or larger (up to 10 pounds).  The key is to find a litter of puppies that are born from small parents with the father being very small.

When it comes to purchasing a puppy it is buyers beware market.  Some people will tell you that a puppy is going to be small knowing that by the time you find out that it is actually going to be a big dog you are attached and it is too late.  Seeing the parents is crucial.  As an added security check you could request references from people who have purchases puppies from the person you are buying from to make sure that the puppies have turned out to be the size that you are being promised.

This approach takes a little longer and is harder than just going and buying a puppy that you have been told is going to be small but it lessens your chances of getting a dog that is not the size you wanted.

I hope this clears that up for you, and good luck finding the Yorkie of your dreams!

Sincerely,

Melinda