The Yorkshire terrier is a very popular breed, but there are still many people who get confused when they hear terms like 'Miniature Yorkshire terrier' and 'Teacup Yorkshire terrier', so here's some information on the latter:
Introduction
The Yorkshire terrier originated in Yorkshire, England as a working class dog that was bred to catch mice and other rodents and 'pests'. Over the years, however, it's gotten smaller in size due to selective breeding of the smaller sized dogs, and has moved on from being a 'worker' to a family pet and a breed that's also very popular with the upper class.
The average weight of a Yorkshire terrier or Yorkie is about 7 pounds. It has a tan and steel blue silky coat that can either be kept long and silky or trimmed, small black eyes, and a black nose.
Yorkshire terrier vs. Teacup Yorkshire
There are many opposing viewpoints as to what the Teacup Yorkie really is. For instance, many believe that this 'variant' is just a fancy term used by unethical breeders to lure people into thinking they are buying a unique terrier breed, when it is, in fact, a Miniature Yorkie. Others believe that the Teacup Yorkshire deserves to be recognized as a separate breed altogether because its physical attributes are not the same as a Yorkie.
The American Kennel Club or the AKC, however, does not recognize the Teacup Yorkshire as a separate breed or even a variant at all.
The Teacup Yorkie is basically a miniaturized version of the common or regular Yorkie. It's extremely tiny, weighing barely 3 pounds at most, which earned this variant its name. It resembles the Yorkie in all aspects, except that it is a pint sized version of the Yorkshire terrier.
Ethical Concerns
There are a few controversies and issues surrounding the Teacup Yorkshire, because many animal lovers and others insinuate that this variant is the outcome of unethical breeding which is mostly rampant in puppy mills. Additionally, there are allegations that the Teacup Yorkshire is nothing but a really small Yorkie that's been bred by way of mating the smallest dog from each litter, and is still promoted and sold as a fancy, unique breed.
Health issues
Since the Teacup Yorkshire is very undersized, it is prone to a number of health and genetic problems and also has a shorter lifespan than its larger counterpart. It can live up to only 3 to 7 years on average, and issues like heart and kidney defects, diabetes, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, skeletal malformations, and tooth problems are not uncommon in this Yorkie variant.
Apart from the above genetic issues, the Teacup Yorkshire is also highly fragile and more susceptible to injuries and fractures, so it needs to be treated and handled with extreme care.
Behavior
As in the case of the Yorkie, the Teacup Yorkshire is boisterous, playful, and tenacious, and requires a great deal of training. A well-trained Teacup Yorkshire is a wonderful companion and friendly dog.
