Checklist for Buying a Teacup Yorkie

Know What You Are Buying

The tiny breeds are being bred much tinier to meet public demand, but the price tag for these little dogs is enormous.Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images

The breed standard for a Yorkshire Terrier is that it must not be over seven pounds. This means that the regular Yorkie is already a tiny dog. "Teacup" yorkie is slang for a dog that's below or at the lower end of the 4 to 7 pound standard. This fad towards tiny dogs has turned them into a commodity and a fashion accessory. A responsible breeder who turns out small puppies is not doing so on purpose. Hopefully, these tiny dogs will be healthy, but they are at greater risk for collapsed trachea, hypoglycemia (which can lead to sudden death) and broken bones. Find a reputable breeder by checking the AKC site or performing a search on the Internet for one in your area. You can also start with a Yorkie rescue group. Volunteers in breed-specific rescue groups are sometimes breeders or ex-breeders.

Teacup yorkies have a tendency towards broken bones. They are easily stepped on.Dean Golja/Digital Vision/Getty Images

Once you have found a reputable breeder of Yorkies, schedule a visit to meet at least one of the parents of your potential puppy. The AKC recommends you include this when choosing a breeder so that you can see the temperament that will be or has been bred into the puppy. Additionally, seeing the size of one parent may also help you better judge the potential adult size of your puppy. If any breeder appears to be hesitant in allowing you to interact with one or both of your potential puppy's parents, find a different breeder.

Teacup yorkies, small enough to be carried in a purse, are being treated as a fashion accessory instead of a living, breathing being.Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images

According to the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America, don' t take puppies from their mother until they are at least 12 weeks old. By waiting, you also ensure that the breeder of your Yorkie has been able to have a full veterinary health screening. This screening, because your puppy is old enough, should include the first set of rabies and distemper vaccines. The veterinarian should also provide the breeder with a certificate assuring that your Yorkie is healthy and vaccinated. The veterinarian can also help predict the adult size of your puppy, using height and weight charts for the breed standard.

Members of the terrier group, Yorkies are smart, energetic and friendly.BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images

Before you fall in love with your Yorkie, confirm that your breeder has a set of follow-up procedures to ensure that your dog gets the best home possible and you get a healthy dog that will become a member of your family. The AKC explains that a responsible breeder will take steps to maintain contact with you both before and after you take your puppy home. Your breeder should also be available via phone or e-mail for any questions you might have regarding your Yorkie. Your breeder should also provide detailed feeding, housetraining, grooming and sleeping instructions specifically for the Yorkie breed. Responsible breeders also require you spay or neuter your dog to help stem the pet overpopulation issue, increase your dog's lifespan and protect their kennel's reputation.

Yorkies require plenty of grooming and brushing to keep their coats from becoming tangled and matted.Evening Standard/Valueline/Getty Images

The rise in popularity of tiny, portable dogs is causing an influx of these dogs into shelters as people find out they are not without their significant health problems. The smaller the dog, the bigger the price tag, so try a rescue organization first. There are specific breed rescue groups for every breed and breed mix. If you are looking to bring a teacup Yorkie, or any other small dog into your family, perform a search under "teacup yorkie" in your area for a list of rescue organizations who adopt out this breed.