How the hell can i convince my friend "teacup puppies" DO NOT EXIST"?
I am very aware and after explaining to my mum and family friends that teacup puppies are simply the runts of the little and generally unhealthy puppies, they now understand when they see "teacup puppies" addvertised what they would be buying if they purchased one. But i have a very stubborn friend who always thinks she right. We were in a pet shop a few days ago because its the only place near were i can buy me dogs, dog food and my friend started saying she wanted a "teacup puppy". I tried explaining to her what teacup puppies actually were and off course, she thought she was right and said she knows people who breed them. (her and her mum actually bought one a few years ago that got stolen not long after they bought it home) and she wants another one.
How can i show her or explain to her that getting a so called "teacup puppy" is NOT a good idea?
Really she shouldn’t be getting any dog because she has no money (and yes i know this as shes a close friend who had to borrow a dollar to get home the other day), she also has a few other dogs that are old aged, that she wants to give to the pound to get this dog and they are quite skinny and live outside. If she takes them to the pound they will put to sleep but she doesn’t understand this.
I love my friend (as a friend off course lol), but i love animals more. I thought she would have realized the other day when she flipped out because we pay $95 for our dogs, dog food because its one of the highest quality brand. Apparently the home brand dog food is good enough? wouldn’t catch me feeding my dogs that crap.
How can i explain this before she purchases a dog she cant afford and worse a "teacup puppy" who will cost her thousands?
any advice?
Thanks 
@savy- im not trying to be right, if im wrong so be it, but im trying to warn her before she gets herself into something she cant handle.
and for the person who said teacup puppies are an actual breed you need to do some research poodles come in standard, miniature and toy.
Print out some stuff from the internet such as
http://www.barkrescue.net/teacup.htm
Print out some stuff from the internet such as
http://www.barkrescue.net/teacup.htm
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ok there is runts of the litter that are small but yes there is teacup puppys usually only in small dogs its a breed look up teacup chihuahua on google images there like a chihuahua but there a different breed thats smaller there also teacup poodles teacups are real but they are not runts 2 differet things
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been around dog all my life
I don’t know, I fuss about it all the time. Your right, she doesn’t need a dog. What she wants, along with most "teacup" fanciers and dog collectors, is a puppy that doesn’t grow up. Unfortunately teacup puppies grow up and are usually unhealthy.
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Good luck <g>
http://ezinearticles.com/?Teacup-Dogs—Some-Facts&id=3914776
If you know a vet have them talk to her
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Sometimes friends have to agree to disagree if you still want to be friends. This is a subject that the two of you may want to agree not to discuss if both of you are getting all worked up over this. Sadly there are some people that cannot be convinced of anything. Sounds like she may not be the best of pet owners at any rate. This is a pick your battles question.
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Show her information from the link Lorraine provided and show the breed standard of breeds such as Chihuahuas that clearly states breed standard size as "under 6lbs". There is no size distinction within the breed. I think the Yorkshire Terrier Clubs website has a whole page on "teacups" and why no one should buy a dog labeled as such as well.
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LMAO @ Ds86 & Kim – You really have no clue.
As for your friend, I know a couple of people like that. Treat dogs like old toys, its horrible. Your best bet is to not mention it again as she wont listen or try once more by printing off info that explains all about "tea cups". I never new until I came on yahoo answers, so not everyone knows but some people don’t listen to others and think they are right because they see Paris Hilton with one.
and another thing, friend or no friend I would report her for the way shes treating her current dogs.
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I’m afraid, with the best will in the world, you are probably going to have to let this friend learn by her own mistakes. I know there’s going to a puppy in the middle of all this, but there are some ‘as won’t learn, so they have to learn the hard way.
You’ve given her the best advice you can, so let it alone. You’ll only drive yourself nuts otherwise – I’ve been there!
Add @ Kim J. Yes, lamentably so-called ‘teacup puppies’ do exist, but in fact, it’s no different to people breeding Labradoodles etc. and hanging a made-up name on them. So in effect this question isn’t quite correct, much as the intent most definitely is!! I can’t imagine how the word teacup was arrived at mind you. Are they produced by saucers?
From Lorraine’s very good link…… "The word "Teacup" has been used to merely describe the size of a puppy, meaning it is very small and will probably be under the standard size which is 4 to 7 pounds for the Toy Group, Yorkshire Terrier breed. "
Add 2….. way to go Buzz. Excellent reply!
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You of course are right and so is Lorraine
Some people are just very ignorant and unable to see beyond their nose
@ DS86 I think you may want to read the link Lorraine listed You will be very enlightened LMAO
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Because of the very black and white very adamant explanations that you get here on Yahoo Answers you have been led to believe that "all teacups" are "runts of their litters"..
this is partially correct in the spirit of explaining it in a simple way, but…
The more accurate way to look at it is like this.
RUNT= Dog that is smaller than the breed standard, this usually comes along with a higher instance of sickness and genetic defects.
It’s a bit different when someone is actually breeding "teacup dogs"
A teacup dog is not technically the runt of a litter, but instead a dog that has been selectively bred by people breeding only the smallest stock they can find, until they have created a bloodline of smaller dogs.
This bloodline IS INDEED now compromised, because the smaller, below breed standard dogs are only selectively bred based on their size and not CAREFULLY selected stock of healthy genetically sounds dogs, that just happen to be on the small side.
So you see, those teacups aren’t really runts, they are the size they should have been. However, somewhere down the line they are the product of runts and now carry those poor genetics.
It’s possible to create a miniature of a breed correctly by slowly over time and properly and responsibly breeding for size. This is obvious in the Mini Dachshund and Mini American Eskimo and well as many other…
HOWEVER, these Backyard breeder teacup’s and toy and pet store (commercial) teacup’s and toy’s are the product of the former scenario explained above.
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Have her next to you and go to the AKC/UKC web sites click on breeds that have been advertised as having "teacups" and have her show you where they are listed in the breed standard.
But you have to realize there is really no way to overcome ignorance.
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teacup dogs do exist so you are clearly wrong … should they exist, that is a different question … and to say runts are unhealthy is also completely wrong … runts are just the smallest of the litter … my dog was the runt of her litter and is bigger than her brothers and sisters now …
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Ask her which kennel they’re registered to, what club they belong to. Every breed has a set standard and a club that sets those standards.
You can also find one of those sites that tells real stories of people who’ve bought teacups/doll faces/teddy bears.
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Teacups do "exist" simply due to the need for pocketbook pups perpetuated by people like Paris Hilton for example. They buy fads, and create fads. They help people that live in the fantasy land of make believe think that byb’s and puppy mills don’t supply the pet shops their sickly animals. They also keep their heads in a cloud as they continue to breed sub-standard pet quality animals and pop a name on it. P.T. Barnum said it best…there’s a sucker born every day. And to prove it, just look at the people willing to pay ridiculous prices for mutts given a fad name. It happens all the time. Unfortunately these are also the poor animals that usually never get the vet care because the people only wanted the cute pooch, not the associated expenses including the extra health issues. So to your friend, I would just keep on plugging away and hope she listens. Take her to a kill shelter and let her see where these animals end up. If all else fails, can you or do you actually want to call anyone "friend" that is capable of treating an animal like you say she does?
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