| As a breeder of" toy breed" (Bichon Frise, Yorkie, | | | | children who play the piano or have mastered golf at |
| Maltese, Havanese) puppies for over 30 years I am | | | | age three. These are the rare exceptions too, not |
| truly bewildered by what is going on out there. I find | | | | the rule. Even most adults are not aware of how |
| the "TEACUP" phenomenon mind-boggling. | | | | much of a commitment an abnormally tiny dog is and |
| "The Teacup," The AKC recognizes no such thing. | | | | how often they die. |
| Teacup isn't a variety or a classification. It is a term | | | | Sadly, most often one of two things turns out to be |
| coined by some sellers to indicate an extremely small | | | | the case; at a severely inflated price, the |
| dog. Unfortunately the customer rarely ends up with | | | | unscrupulous seller sells you a puppy with physical |
| the tiny dog they expected when they bought it. I | | | | problems, and hence it is very small because it isn't |
| have trouble actually accepting that there are people | | | | growing normally. Frequently it needs costly medical |
| out there that believe it, when the pet shop | | | | attention or it dies. Secondly, more common, they will |
| salesman tells them this "baby animal won't grow." | | | | sell a young baby from a big litter that is small for its |
| BABIES OF ALL SPECIES ARE BORN SMALL AND | | | | age and when you get it home and feed it well and |
| GROW. At one year old you can safely assume a | | | | care for it well it grows to be a normal size dog. I |
| dog will no longer grow. Tiny dogs, under 5 lbs, are | | | | hope most people are in the second category, they |
| very delicate and definitely not a good choice in a | | | | may have spent more money but they at least end |
| household with children. Yes, I know there are | | | | up with a healthy pet. |
| exceptions but these are very rare. There are | | | | |