I just asked a question on buying an undersized, disqualified colored Doberman, and was told that it was a really bad idea. However, people are on here every day looking for a "teacup" or "imperial" Shih Tzu (or other toy breed) and that is just fine! Why is that? These breeds are toy breeds anyway, why would you want them several pounds UNDER standard anyway?
Is it not just as bad having a small dog over bred for undersized results? Are breed standards ONLY important for large breeds? Please, fill me in! I don't understand this double standards.
2007-12-23 05:50:06 · 13 answers · asked by Katslookup - a Fostering Fool! 6 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Def: Imperial Shih Tzu by a "breeder" -- Imperial Shih Tzu have a short backs, straight legs, no eye white, baby doll faces with tiny button noses on gorgeous heads and sweet, loving expressions. We strive to maintain the same quality as the Standard Shih Tzu except we prefer ours smaller, shorter backed and less nose.
However, I like this explanation better:
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-5138.html
2007-12-23 06:09:17 · update #1
Another link about "Imperials"
http://www.shihtzu.org/Info/imperial.asp?menu=Info
2007-12-23 06:12:46 · update #2
It's not fine. When people breed solely for size, they are not considering the important things like genetics and conformation. And we end up with more and more Shih Tzus with luxated patellas and dry eye and skin problems, etc., etc., etc. because of course these puppy pimps don't spay and neuter their Frankentzus.
It's even worse when people want one from a rescue. "Must be less than 8 lbs" my butt.
2007-12-23 08:35:47 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Why do people, as in the first answerer, insist that teacups are the runts of the litter? No, they are not, they are bred to be too small resulting in unhealthy dogs. My Doberman was the runt of the litter and she is now proper size and by the time she was 8 weeks old, she weighed the same as her litter mates. Runts usually catch up to the others and are still the standard size. Almost all litters have a runt and they are NOT teacups and are usually just as healthy and well bred as the rest of the litter.
Any dog purposely bred to be smaller than standard is NOT okay, regardless of breed and regardless of what you decide to call it.
2007-12-23 13:56:16 · answer #2 · answered by Shanna 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you aren't reading the responses that they are receiving but they too are being told that it is unwise to purchase a dog from someone who breeds undersided "runts" and tries to sell them for more than a dog bred to fit the standard. The bottomline is regardless of the breed is that reputable responsible breeders breed dogs that fit the standard for their breed. Will they sometimes get a dog that is undersize, oversize, the wrong color or something else? Yes it happens but when it does they sell the dog at a reduced price on a neutering contract, they don't try to claim that its defect makes it rare and charge a premium for it. The folks who do that are simply backyard breeders and puppy mills and to be perfectly blunt the rest of us resent the fact that their irresponsible actions give all breeders a bad name and for those of us who do rescue work we get tried of picking up after them.
2007-12-23 14:45:06 · answer #3 · answered by Cindy F 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It's not "just fine" and there is no double standard. Buying any dog from any breeder that intentionally breeds dogs to be drastically different from the standard is wrong. These "breeders" are in it for the money and usually sell their dogs for way more than a good pet quality puppy from a REPUTABLE breeder because they are "rare" or "special" somehow. In reality, they are not rare or special, they are poorly bred and that willingness to overlook one part of the standard (size or color for example) always comes with a willingness to overlook other important concerns such as health and temperament.
2007-12-23 14:03:36 · answer #4 · answered by ainawgsd 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In any litter, you can have a puppy that is smaller than the others, grows up to be a smaller dog than the others.. The people to avoid are those who are breeding for smaller version... ON PURPOSE.. You want to buy from someone who is breeding to the standard. TRYING to maintain the size requirement of the breed... Sticking to the rules and not breeding to please the market.. You can find breeders who have had litters, breeding to the standard, and just happen to have one that might grow up on the smaller side of the standard.. Just don't buy from people who purposely breed against the standard by breeding for super small or super big.
2007-12-23 16:49:35 · answer #5 · answered by DP 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't think Anyone should purposely breed Any dogs out of their breed standard. And I actually think it is worse to breed 'teacup' small breed dogs. They are already small enough, breeding 2 pound dogs creates So many health problems. So I disagree with breeding out of the breed standard all around, with any breed. If people want a unique dog, they should go to a shelter and find a unique mixed breed dog.
2007-12-23 15:13:36 · answer #6 · answered by Stark 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Have you not read the answers those looking for teacups are getting? They get the same flack you just did.
The idea behind not buying pups that against standard, is to dissuade disreputable breeders from breeding away from the standard.
You shouldn't be charged more for something that isn't up to par, and those that don't meet the standard aren't.
Most people who want larger breeds like them larger, as they are, not down sized.
If you want a smaller doberman, it seems perhaps it's relative the miniature pincher might would please you.
At either rate, as the proud owner of a 3lb chi, that by my definition is a teacup, and yet also meets the standard of AKC, I'm no one to judge. Just offering my opinion here.
2007-12-23 13:55:53 · answer #7 · answered by Ista 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
There is no double standard. Usually, when someone asks about getting a teacup dog here, they get 20 answers in the space of 30 seconds discouraging them from doing so, lots of info on the health issues often faced by such dogs, and the dangers of dealing with breeders who use words like "teacup". I don't know what Y!A you visit where they are considered "fine," but it isn't this one.
2007-12-23 13:54:42 · answer #8 · answered by Mandy 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'll disagree with your poster who said Dobes should be massive....
They should FIT THE STANDARD.. and be neither undersized nor oversized. It is just as wrong for a Dobe to be bred to be oversized as it is for it to be undersized.
It is also WRONG for a Shih Tzu to be bred to be out of standard (oversized or undersized).
2007-12-23 13:55:59 · answer #9 · answered by animal_artwork 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
See, it's only "ok" if it's a breed "they" want! (the stupid public, that is)....
Just what the heck is an "imperial" shih tzu???
EDIT: Dobes aren't a "massive" breed at all...tho in the past few years, there's been a "trend" to breed them as tall as giraffes with pigeon chests!
2007-12-23 13:57:45 · answer #10 · answered by zappataz ♠ Since 1999 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋