[brvid]

I've thinking of buying a teacup yorkie. I've just found out that she is not AKC registered. I believe she may be "American Dog Club" registered. I am not absolutely certain, but I remember there were approximately six registration categories at this kennel and mine started with an "A", but it was not AKC, so I'm assuming it was ADC.

Is this acceptable given the $2,000 they are charging for the dog?

Years ago, my mother bred collies and my mother told me they had to be AKC in order for them to have significant dollar value and be considered a pure breed. The kennel I am purchasing the teacup yorkie from says that AKC only registration status is a thing of the past and there are now several kennel registries that signify a purebreed dog.

I'd like to know I'm not spending an excessive amount of money on an animal that is not considered purebred.

Any information or feedback posters can provide would be appreciated.

A second question....what does it mean when they sell you the dog and they tell you they will not give you the registration papers until the dog has been spayed? Is this something I should be concerned about? I wasn't thinking of purchasing her for breeding purposes, but it would be nice to know I could if I wanted to considering the money I'm spending. Any insight on this issue would also be appreciated.

Thank you in advance for and information you can supply.

[Yogi]

First and foremost, there is NO such thing as a "teacup" anything when it relates to dogs. The term originated in the late 50's early 60's with a photo of a 6 week old Chihuahua in an over sized teacup in Life Magazine. The photo caption simply read "Teacup Chihuahua". People became idiots over the term and assumed that the dog was an adult. Since that time, ignorant breeders simply out to make a buck have bred runts to runts to try and create extremely small dogs in numerous breeds giving them the title of "teacup" this and that.
Unfortunately, people like you come along unaware and they have what they are looking for. Someone that sorry, but is gullible enough to pay 3 times what the dog generally can be purchased for and to compound it, a dog that in all likelihood will have health issues down the road all directly related to poor breeding just to appease the unknowing public. Simply put, unless this dog is show quality and comes with full AKC registration and is actually a purebred to breed standards which these undersized ones are not, it is not worth really anywhere near what she is asking. The only reputable registry in the US is the AKC. It requires both sire and dam be registered and will have pedigree information to support it. It is the oldest registry in the US by far.
Majority of the Yorkshire Terrier breeders I know, charge no more than $600 to $800 for their AKC pups. As for spay and neuter agreements. As a breeder I also require this unless I deem that breeding would be advantages meaning its structure, temperament etc will improve the breed. In those cases I charge an additional $250.00 for full breeding rights. In either case, there is an agreement in place signed and is a legal contract calling for those sold with AKC limited registration to be spayed or neutered and a copy ie: proof from the vet be provided. Failing to do so, the dog legally is required surrendered back to me. The papers go with the dog when the buyer picks up the dog. I do not hold the papers as I have the agreement and the AKC form has areas to block off information to avoid selling with full registration so even registering online would be redundant.
In this case, whenever you see a breeder advertising "teacup", you need to turn and look elsewhere. Reputable breeders who breed healthy tested dogs will breed to that actual breed standard. They do not breed down to meet a public demand for unhealthy undersized dogs.
This is my take and I have over 50 years in breeding, raising and rescue.
Always avoid breeders who will not turn over the registration papers when you purchase or want to charge you extra just to have the papers which by rights you paid for with the purchase of the pup as in nearly all cases, the breeder advertised purebred dogs for sale which the only document to prove this is the registration, failing to give them to you at the time is false advertising. The papers go with the dog.
As for AKC being a thing of the past, no that is far from the truth. Keep in mind that the dogs registered with them from the beginning can provide you with a pedigree that can go back 100 years. The registry that these people are claiming probably will not even come close. Based on this, what is to say when they first started that they just took breeders word for it, gave them registration documents and from that point forward have bred dogs knowing that the pups were in fact not purebred. With the number of breeds that share common ancestry it does not take much for anyone to pass off a mix as a purebred if you put the correct 2 together. There is a Miniature Pinscher breeder claiming to have Harlequin Pinschers for sale and claims they are registered. Unfortunately, Harlequin Pinschers have been extinct for over 100 years. As it turns out, she has crossed a Rat Terrier with a Miniature Pinscher
and is calling them Harlequins. The AKC as it turns out does not recognize the dog but the APRI (American Pet Registry, Inc) does as well as the CKC (Continental Kennel Club) and in their case all they need is any breeder and a vet to sign a form stating a dog is purebred and you can register it. The reason the AKC does not, it is a mixed breed.
There are many reputable registries in the world with the FCI which is the largest encompassing 80 countries with many breeds dating back centuries that have yet to even be seen or introduced in this country. But as far as the US goes, it is the AKC that is the most reputable and in no way is it a thing of the past unless you are one of those breeders in it to emphasize selling for profit. The truth is, any reputable breeder will be the first to tell you that there is no real profit in breeding. This is in fact the truth in addition, we do not ask an arm and a leg but then again we are not trying to cheat the public by trying to sell them something that simply does not exist. Now you need to ask yourself, is spending $2000.00 for an undersized dog that in fact you have no real proof is a purebred worth it. Not to mention, being that breeder is selling something that in actuality does not exist, what kind of health issues will I possibly be facing and how much of a cost will it be to address these issues? The choice is yours, you can be a dedicated dog owner who if wishes to purchase a purebred will seek out a reputable AKC breeder or you can be one of the gullible buyers who are taken in yearly by for profit breeders who sell things that do not exist....Good luck with your choice.

[brvid]

Thank you for your feedback. I genuinely appreciate it.

[Gusty Acres]

This is an extremely well written article. Very nice job.

My folks picked up a yorkie from a reputable breeder in Michigan for $900 and she came with full AKC papers. The information you received from this thread is very accurate.

[Yorkiepoo Babe]

APR (American Pet Registry) will register hybrids, but AKC only deals with purebreds. If you go with ACK you are guaranteed a purebred. APR also registers purebreds but a registered dog could be a mix. If they are asking that price i can guarantee you that you could find a better deal in the 600-900 range. Also I would be very weary of getting any dog refereed to as a "tea-cup" because they are runts or the results of runts bred together. Sickly dogs should not be bred together and while working as an assistant in a vets office, I can not tell you how many undersized dogs have been brought in for emergency surgery because they were to runty to deliver pups. As a smaller dog breeder i understand the attraction the small dogs have but i breed my dogs slightly larger because i see nothing healthy about a dog 2-3 pounds. i like to keep mine at least in the 6-10 range. A super small dog is just to fragile to play well and I've seen plenty that are nothing but decoration. If you are looking for a pet I would suggest in the upper single digits or even bigger if you live in cold weather. Plus, some of those super tiny dogs look so ugly once they have grown up. unless they have a little fat they seriously look like drowned rats sometimes! Keep in mind that I do breed Hybrids for the purpose of family pets so I may be a little biased on the whole size thing, so it somewhat depends what you are looking for!

[giamarie]

I agree completely with the two previous posts, I would like to add, that I understand how most people find dogs described as teacup appealing, they look like adorable puppies but this is a temporary phase eventually they grow up and are ill and deformed. Unfortunately there are times when you will have a runt or two in a litter its something that happens and they are perfectly fine as pets, but unscrupulous breeders take these small dogs and continue breeding them, putting their life and bloodlines in jeopardy. The most beautiful dogs are with in breed standards, they come from breeders that have kept to standards that have been in place for many many years and for good reason. Breed standards are studied and genetically sound guidelines that ensures the true breed temperament and conformation. You fell in love with a particular breed research the breed find out what a healthy dog of that breed looks like and request health testing. An undersized dog is a health challenge. Untill laws get stricter in regards to breeding we will always have these so called "teacups" and once a puppy is alive and here it should be cared for and loved, but purposely setting your self up for heart break just because it looks adorable is something that should be carefully considered. good luck.

[cigwyllt]

That is so well put. I find a lot of people here in the UK searching for "miniature" or "pocket" Jack Russells and are most offended if they are told that there is no such animal!

[Lara's mom]

Originally Posted by cigwyllt

That is so well put. I find a lot of people here in the UK searching for "miniature" or "pocket" Jack Russells and are most offended if they are told that there is no such animal!

It just sickens me that there are actually people out there who are horrible enough to keep breeding runts to runts until they come up with a miniature version of what the given breed is supposed to be. These so-called "teacups" are usually very unhealthy and from what I've heard from both my vet and my breeder, have all kinds of medical problems and don't even have a normal lifespan for their given breed.

As for Jack Russells, there are two types - the long legged and the shortys. The shortys have to be a minimum of 10 inches at the withers. They are NOT "pocket dogs." I would hope that a responsible person would not contribute to this madness by buying a so-called "teacup" puppy. You will be letting yourself in for a heartbreak and supporting a truly sick industry.