For many people, there’s only one thing better than the tiny, silky-haired Yorkshire Terrier, and that’s the even tinier Teacup Yorkie!
But how big do Teacup Yorkies get? A Yorkshire Terrier considered to be Teacup-sized generally weighs under 4 pounds in adulthood. But, some Teacup Yorkies stay as small as 2 or even 1 pound!
In this article, we’re going to be answering this very question, among others. So, read on to find out just how big Teacup Yorkshire Terriers can get, as well as more about the Teacup Yorkie breed!
How big do standard Yorkies get?
As a breed, Yorkies are already a pretty small dog. The average adult Yorkie weighs around 7 pounds. However, the Yorkshire Terrier breed shows lots of variances. Yorkies have been known to weigh anywhere from 3 up to 15 pounds!
But according to the breed standard, Yorkies ought to stand at 8 to 9 inches at the shoulder, and weigh anywhere from 4 to 6 pounds. Anything over or under these limits means that your Yorkshire Terrier will not be recognized by the Kennel Club.
What is a Teacup Yorkie?
A Teacup or Toy Yorkie is a Yorkshire Terrier that is smaller than a normal Yorkie. Teacup Yorkies are usually smaller again than the breed standard allows for! This means that you can’t show a Teacup Yorkie at a dog show since they are simply too small.
The term “Teacup Yorkie” mainly refers to a marketing gimmick that some breeders use in an attempt to market these Yorkies and make these Yorkshire Terriers appear more valuable. After all, “teacup” sounds better than “under-sized” or “runt”.
You may have heard that the Teacup Yorkie is its own separate breed distinct from and rarer than the standard Yorkshire Terrier. This is untrue, however. In fact, Teacup Yorkies aren’t even recognized by the American Kennel Club or any other kennel clubs.
In short, Teacup Yorkies are simply smaller-than-normal Yorkshire Terriers!
How do breeders produce Teacup Yorkies?
The Yorkshire Terrier breed is notorious for producing inconsistently-sized litters. Previously, we mentioned that you can find Yorkies with adult weights of 3 to 15 pounds. So, a litter may contain a range of these sizes.
Many Yorkshire Terrier litters have a very small dog in the litter, sometimes called the “runt”. Some breeders deliberately breed two runts to produce litters with smaller and smaller Yorkie pups.
This is looked upon as being unethical, however, because the tiny Yorkies produced in this way often face greater health problems than pups bred from larger Yorkshire Terriers.
That being said, many Teacup-sized Yorkies are produced as a result of breeding standard Yorkies, too.
Why do people like Teacup Yorkies?
One major aspect of the Teacup Yorkshire Terrier’s appeal is its neoteny. Neoteny is a term that refers to a dog that retains its puppy-like features into adulthood.
One of these neotenous features is the Teacup Yorkie’s extremely small size, of course. However, many Teacup Yorkies also have a flat brachycephalic face that people adore, coupled with the puppy-like mannerisms and outlook that standard Yorkshire Terriers have too.
All this helps to make the tiny Teacup Yorkie seem very cute and appealing to many dog lovers.
Are Teacup Yorkies expensive?
Teacup Yorkies are often sold at higher prices than their normal-sized littermates. But are Teacup-sized Yorkshire Terriers actually worth more than standard Yorkies?
I would say no – just because a Yorkshire Terrier is smaller than average, this doesn’t mean that the dog is actually more valuable.
In fact, since these dogs are so much smaller than the breed standard, you can’t show a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier at a dog show. Plus, many Teacup Yorkies have a whole slew of health problems.
This means that Teacup Yorkies really ought to cost less than standard Yorkshire Terriers, in my opinion, or at the very least, the price of smaller Yorkshire Terriers should be about equal to that of their larger siblings.
What Is a Teacup Yorkie Price
A teacup Yorkie price can range from $600 to $2,000. The average cost of a teacup Yorkie is around $1,200. Teacup Yorkies are not a separate breed from Yorkshire Terriers, but they are considered to be a size variation.
A teacup Yorkie price can vary depending on a few different things. The most important factor is going to be the size of the dog. Teacup Yorkies are very small, and as such, they typically cost more than your average Yorkie. Another factor that can affect the price is the coat color.
Some coat colors are more rare than others, and as such, they can command a higher price. Finally, the breeder’s reputation can also play a role in the price. If you’re looking for a teacup Yorkie, be prepared to pay a little bit more than you would for a regular Yorkie.
Are Teacup Yorkies healthy?
No – a Yorkie that is much smaller than average is at a substantially higher risk of developing various genetic health issues.
During their early puppyhood, a very small Teacup Yorkshire Terrier is at a high risk of hypoglycemia, to the extent that you will need to keep a close eye on the dog.
You will need to keep this Yorkie’s blood sugar stable, making sure that they never miss a single meal and by using a nutritional gel supplement any time they do.
Gel supplements for your teacup Yorkie
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How Long Do Teacup Yorkies Live?
Teacup Yorkies typically live for 10-12 years, though some may live longer. They are a small breed, and as such, are susceptible to health problems that can shorten their lifespan.
The most common health problems for Teacup Yorkies include congenital heart defects, tracheal collapse, hypoglycemia, and patellar luxation.
While there are steps that can be taken to minimize the risk of these health problems, such as providing a nutritious diet and ensuring adequate exercise, some health problems are simply unavoidable. As such, it is important to be prepared for the possibility of a shorter lifespan when adopting a Teacup Yorkie.
Due to their extremely small size, a Teacup Yorkshire Terrier often retains their susceptibility towards low blood sugar into adulthood, meaning that you will need to be close at hand with something sweet throughout your pooch’s life.
Get in touch with your vet if you are concerned about hypoglycemia.
Teacup Yorkies can often have docked tails to complement their size. Docking brings a whole host of other potential health problems to the fore, like problems with balancing, and complications from the wound healing incorrectly.
Can Teacup Yorkies Have Babies?
Yes, Teacup Yorkies can have babies! In fact, they are quite good at it and often produce large litters. However, because they are so small, Teacup Yorkies often require extra care when pregnant and during the birthing process.
Their tiny bodies can sometimes have difficulty carrying and delivering puppies, so it’s important to work closely with a veterinarian throughout the pregnancy to ensure a healthy delivery.
Teacup Yorkies may need to be delivered by C-section. Additionally, Teacup Yorkies may have difficulty nursing and may need to be bottle-fed.
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Should I buy a Teacup Yorkie?
The Teacup dog trade is a dubious trade. So, if you purchase a Teacup Yorkie from an unethical breeder, you risk reinforcing the Teacup dog trade. Therefore, make sure that you only buy a Teacup Yorkie from an ethical breeder.
If you do buy a Teacup Yorkie, make sure that you get Kennel Club papers from your breeder detailing which dogs your Yorkshire Terrier is descended from. These papers will give you information about the parents’ coat, health, and the dogs’ grandparents too.
Make sure that you also get health clearances from your breeder. A good breeder will have their entire Yorkie litter tested for all the common Yorkshire Terrier health problems, like patellar luxation, progressive retinal atrophy, and portosystemic shunt, amongst others.
Very good breeders will have done this for several generations of Yorkies!
The proper veterinary health testing and health clearances will contribute a fair amount to the cost of adopting your Teacup Yorkie, of course – for example, in the United States, a breeder can expect to pay anywhere from $300 to $500 to get a basic health clearance for their entire litter of Yorkshire Terrier puppies. But this is a necessary precaution.
So, how big do Teacup Yorkies get?
While Teacup Yorkies are certainly physically small, the Teacup Yorkie breed is definitely big in popularity at the moment. In this sense, the Teacup Yorkshire Terrier breed is one of the biggest around!
However, a Yorkshire Terrier considered to be Teacup-sized generally weighs under 4 pounds in adulthood. But, some Teacup Yorkies stay as small as 2 or even 1 pound! So, this is a truly small breed.
No-one is kidding about the Teacup Yorkie fitting in a Teacup either, standing at maybe a few inches high, max!
