Teacup Yorkshire Terrier Information

History

• Yorkshire terriers were developed in Yorkshire, England. They originally began as working class dogs that were bred to chase and catch the rats that infested clothing mills. The dog gained popularity among the upper class, according to the American Kennel Club, and became a favored pet rather than a working animal.

Breed Info

• The Dog Breed Info Center describes Yorkshire terriers, commonly known as Yorkies, as being small dogs with steel blue and tan coloring. They have long, thick glossy coats with a great deal of hair on the top of their heads that must either be trimmed short or pulled up in a topknot to keep it out of the dog's eyes. The dogs have dark eyes, black noses and in the United States their tails are usually docked.

  Teacup Yorkies are identical to the other dogs in the same breed with the exception of their diminutive size. The Yorkie Info Center mentions that although many breeders breed Yorkies down to any size that they feel is appropriate, the American Kennel Club lists four pounds as the minimum size for a Yorkshire terrier.

Genetic Health Issues

• Teacup Yorkies suffer from a variety of health related problems. The My Yorkie Secrets website indicates that female Yorkies that weigh less than five pounds at maturity can have pregnancy complications that result in medically fragile puppies. The puppies can have gastrointestinal problems with diarrhea and vomiting, heart defects, skeletal deformities, abnormal tooth development, premature tooth loss and kidney problems. In addition, they are also highly susceptible to diabetes and can quickly die if their blood sugar becomes too high or drops too low. According to the Yorkies Corner website, teacup Yorkies can have a shortened life expectancy if their parents were too small or had medical issues themselves.

Additional Health Concerns

• The size of teacup Yorkies puts them at added risk for injury from being stepped on. The My Yorkie Secrets website explains that they cannot jump or fall without the risk of severe injury, so they must be trained to wait to be picked up or put down. They may also have size-related housebreaking issues and can be difficult to completely house train even as adults.

Behavior Issues

• Teacup Yorkshire terriers need a great deal of attention. The Dog Breed Info website warns that Yorkies often have issues with separation anxiety and can become destructive if they have to spend too much time alone. These dogs can be loyal and loving if the owners take the time to establish proper boundaries, but if not, they can become incessant barkers, snappish to strangers and aggressive towards other animals.