"teacup" Puppies

[MegTheFish]

How am I supporting breeders who breed mixed breed when I adopt a dog from a shelter? The money would go to the shelter, not the person who breeds the dogs. Dogs at shelters are found homeless, or surrendered, a breeder can't go to the shelter and expect to get money for the dogs they surrender, so I am in no way supporting what they are doing. Actually, at our local Humane Society you would have to PAY $100 if you wish to surrender a dog.
It just pisses me off when I see "pups for sale" adds because I think if you are breeding you should have homes lined up for them BEFORE the dog is even pregnat. But thats just my opinion. And this post is suppost to be about those teacup dogs...and thanks for the link FreshwaterFishie.

 

[fraservet]

trying to breed animals for size - whether giant or tiny, always brings problems because these animals were not designed to be this way.

very small dogs suffer from a number of problems, particularly around the mouth - with the jaw/teeth not always shrinking as much as the rest of the animal.
the best example I can think of is very small dwarf breed rabbits. They almost always develop severe dental problems.

very large dogs suffer from joint and heart problems because their bodies didn't evolve to deal with the stress they are put under due to their weight.

Added to this is the problem that if you concentrate on breeding just for size, you invariably also select for a whole load of other undesireable traits.

these "teacup" dogs really are a step too far.

 

[SRC]

As a side note regarding mutts, while mutt puppies are definately a crapshoot... any puppy is. You may have a better idea of size, temperament, etc. if you go to a breeder... but then again, if you go to a CRAPPY breeder, you still don't really know. My dog came from a very lousy breeder, and is way too big for the standard, doesn't even look purebred, has a horrid temperament, and just about every health issue on the face of the planet.

See this is why you shouldn't buy from breeders who don't do health and temperment testing on the parents..and have the paperwork readily avaliable for the potential buyer.

If you take 2 dogs that have been tested with "Excellent" or "good" rated hips...9 times out of 10 you will get a litter each time that produces either "good" or "excellent" rated hips. (the other ratings are "ok" "poor" "bad")

This goes for all genetic problems in each breed.

Generally it is recommended that you go back 2 generations. Checking both grandparents and parents. If a breeder doesn't provide this documentation..it's simple...don't buy their dogs. You could be buying a ticking timebomb. (of course this makes the buyer do research before buying..meaning they will have to research the breed to know what genetic problems should have been tested for in the breed they wish to buy. Which is why BYB dont' do this testing..they know most people are too lazy to research before buying.)

Having this documentation can and does provide you with a feeling of security. Most dogs who come with such documentation also come with a 1-2 yr health guarantee..meaning if they come down with a genetic problem, that was tested for and found clean in the pedigree, they will either replace the dog or refund your $$.

It's not a "iffy" situation unless you make it one by not requesting/requiring said documentation, imho.

***************************

I stand by my earlier comments in another thread. I think breeder's should have to be:

1. Be both Federally and State licensed,
2. The breeding facilities should be periodically health inspected,
3. Breeders should be forced to obtain business licensing (just like anyone else selling a product to the public) to sell puppies (or kittens). Which would require the yearly purchase of business licenses and pay business taxes, and
4. Be registered with the BBB, so that others can look at their complaint history (if any exists).

 

[MegTheFish]

Ok, I'm going to change what I said before- I don't HATE purebreeds (I didn't even say that in the first place), I just wouldn't go out and buy one, if I had a choice between a purebreed and a mutt I would choose the mutt. Is this better? I shouldn't be picking on people who breed purebreeds, but to any person who breeds an animal when there is already lots of them, and when there are thousands of that kind of animal being put down every year...and I guess I've just had bad experiences with purebreeds. My friend/neighboor has a JRT thats a little devil, does NOT shut its yap, NEEDS to go to obeidence school, etc. But that is partly the owners fault, I just think that that breed of dog is not suitable for thier lifestyle. I've also met many golden retreivers that seem kind of...iffy. I wouldn't excatly trust them, to put it a better way. Another thing that bothers me is the fact that a lot of people who don't have an active life style decide to get a small dog because it doesn't need as much exercise! Pish! Thats the biggest lie I have ever heard...most small dogs (and even bigs dogs) are extremely hyper and need to be active. I've met mutts, too, that I wouldn't want as my own dog, but personally I've met more mutts that I've liked then purebreeds.

 

[RandomWiktor]

SRC - I wasn't arguing your points, I agree wholeheartedly. What I was getting at, and perhaps did not make it clear enough, was that if her friend was looking into a teacup, she was allready looking at irresponsible breeders. So in her case, getting an adult dog would be a surer shot. I don't know that someone looking to buy a dog just because it is "cute" would be willing to take on the expense and application process of buying from a reputable, responsible, registered dog breeder. So, I though I'd suggest an adult dog so she at least wouldn't get a cute, overpriced puppy and find out in 6 months that it has some fatal condition after she gets attached to it.

 

[SRC]

I know..I'm sorry maybe I came off wrong lol.

I just want people who want to buy purebreeds to know they need to look for that kind of paperwork..alot of people don't even realize that type testing exsists..or why it is necessary.

Although...someone who is willing to pay $1000 for a teacup (those dogs are not cheap..from anywhere) breed..should be willing to buy from a good breeder. That's alot of money to waste...should it come up terminally ill later on.

 

[JackDemp528]

Well I also love mutts, I'd rather have a butt with the positive things about two or tree different breeds, rather than just one breed, but I love all dogs. And with mutts, they tend to miss a lot of the breed sicknesses, and problems. I wish people would start looking for more mutts than pure breds. Our shelter has over 110 dogs right now, and people come out looking for that perfect dog, but dont' realize that you get the perfect dog by working with it not by just grabbing what ever one looks the nicest.

And I've noticed with the breeding for small dogs, that the smaller the breeder tries to get the dogs to get the more health problems there are. For instance, we have a tiny german shep puppy right now at the shelter. And he's so small but he's almost a year old, and his feet are small too. He's got tons of health problems that we're trying to help with. But they are trying to make those famous big breeds smaller so everyone can have one without the huge size. All they'e asking for is health problems along the line.

 

[catxx]

my cat would eat one of those thinking it was an over-sized rat.

as far as i'm concerned tiny toy breeds are yappy little rats on strings.
i'm scared of touching chihuahuas in case their eyes just POP out.

i really don't like toy breeds.
give me a big dog please.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

my cat would eat one of those thinking it was an over-sized rat.

as far as i'm concerned tiny toy breeds are yappy little rats on strings.
i'm scared of touching chihuahuas in case their eyes just POP out.

i really don't like toy breeds.
give me a big dog please.

really, i think that sort of argument is besides the point. while not as dangerous, the attitude of "all little dogs are bitey, yappy, disgusting imitation dogs" is essentially the same as "all big dogs are ferocious child-killers and should be shot on sight".

if you don't like a particular aspect of a dog's appearance or behavior, don't get that kind of dog. there's no need to foist your opinion upon others who disagree and like those aspects.

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

my cat would eat one of those thinking it was an over-sized rat.

as far as i'm concerned tiny toy breeds are yappy little rats on strings.
i'm scared of touching chihuahuas in case their eyes just POP out.

i really don't like toy breeds.
give me a big dog please.

really, i think that sort of argument is besides the point. while not as dangerous, the attitude of "all little dogs are bitey, yappy, disgusting imitation dogs" is essentially the same as "all big dogs are ferocious child-killers and should be shot on sight".

if you don't like a particular aspect of a dog's appearance or behavior, don't get that kind of dog. there's no need to foist your opinion upon others who disagree and like those aspects.

If you were also refering to my comment...I said yuck because they look sickly, and illly (Is that a word?) bred. It makes me made when people say not to get a certain type of dog because it is mean or yippy. And on TV they show Dobbies, Rotties, and Pitties guarding things and chasing people away.

 

[GuppyDude]

All i have to say is, if i wanted a tea cup dog, id buy a rat. i would think that they would be prone to many physical problems as they have obviously been bred down to such a small size. your talking about animals who's ansestors used to be pretty good sized animals, by shrinking them down like that you would be causeing many problems as they just arnt meant to be that small.

 

[wwestar2000]

I only read the first few but here's my opinion. It's a dog in a guinea pig body or a really big hamster. It has a personality of a dog. At least my friends teacup chiwawa does but they are extemely fragile. Not for little kids or dumb blond herises....lol I so spelled that wrong but you got the piont. So i think as long as it was responsible breeding with good selection of parents a teacup dog will be a good pet for someone who has the time to baby it and responsible enough to keep it safe aka kept away from children and paris hilton....

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

I only read the first few but here's my opinion. It's a dog in a guinea pig body or a really big hamster. It has a personality of a dog. At least my friends teacup chiwawa does but they are extemely fragile. Not for little kids or dumb blond herises....lol I so spelled that wrong but you got the piont. So i think as long as it was responsible breeding with good selection of parents a teacup dog will be a good pet for someone who has the time to baby it and responsible enough to keep it safe aka kept away from children and paris hilton....

The point is: there are NO good teacup breeders, the "teacup" is not even real, they are regular breeds that are bred runt to runt to get size not quality, they are not bred for health and so they usually have health issues. No toy breed is for children. (or Paris, she gave away her dog because it didn't fit in her purse!) Most children shouldn't live with a dog if they are under 6 yrs. old. They don't know how to treat them and will pull their hair, ect.
Overall, teacup breeds are not real or a good chose.
You CAN NOT baby a dog. It will turn out to be a brat when it is older. They snap and want there way. If they bite you should tell them NO, if they bark you scold them and squirt them with water, if they go to the bathroom and you catch them (short term memory...if you were gone, don't scold) you have to tell them NO and don't baby them. Toys, terriers, ect. shouldn't be babied, they will not hate you because you scolded them, but it will teach them. All dogs, old or young, toy or large, they need a firm NO or spray sometimes. Once they are taken away from the mother they are considered teens. You wouldn't baby a 15 yr. old would you? You would scold them and make them learn that it was the wrong chose. They can be fragile, but aren't baby. If they bark or they growl don't say, "It's OK, puppy" say, "No, bad dog, no growl!" Believe be, my aunt's dog is a total BUTT! She is a toy Poodle and was baby. It bit her kid in the face, because he didn't give her his cheese! He is 7, the dog is 4, and she told the dog it was OK! ACK!

 

[FreshwaterFishie]

Just to show you, Which one looks healthier and better bred:

Taken from: www.puppyluvkennel.com/TEACUPINFO.html

OR

Taken from: http/www.gotpetsonline.com/pictures/gall...chihuahua-0265/

Taken from: http/teacupandtoypet.com/photos/Maltese.html

OR

Taken from: http/www.yorkiebabies.com/pages/5/

Taken from: http/www.amherstacres.com/tom.html

OR

Taken from: http/members.aol.com/tcmsc/minschnauzer.html

(First examples are teacup *toy schnauzer* and second is a regular, nicely bred dog.)

 

[Cauchemar]

I could care less on appearance, to me all that counts is personality.