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Toy Yorkies
Toy yorkies are not a separate variety of Yorkshire terriers. Instead, toy yorkies is just a name given by some breeders to puppies who are smaller than average, usually less than four pounds. Many of these breeders will overcharge for these dogs because potential buyers who haven't done their homework may be fooled into thinking they are a separate breed must like the standard and toy poodle.
 Many toy yorkies can be found in pet stores. The reason is that puppy mills often produce these smaller versions, not purposefully, but because the mother and her litter are so undernourished and poorly cared for that the puppies end up not growing as they should. These puppies end up developing severe health problems later and rarely live as long as yorkies who come from reputable breeders.
Whether you own or want toy yorkies now, these puppy mills are something you should be aware of. Puppy mills are large-scale breeding operations. Dozens of dogs, often from different breeds, are kept in small cages and are bred as frequently as possible to produce litters of puppies. Most of the females are mated during every heat cycle which is never recommended for any breed, particularly not toy yorkies. This overbreeding leads to an early death for the mother.
The dogs in these puppy mills do not receive adequate health care, so kennel cough, intestinal parasites, and worms are often running rampant in the facilities. The cages are not well-maintained, and the dogs usually do not receive adequate food and water. They cut these corners in order to make a profit, because proper breeding is rarely profitable and usually ends up costing the breeder money.
Puppy mills sell their toy yorkies to pet stores, and pet stores sell them to unsuspecting consumers who fall in love with the puppies in the windows. The problem is that every time you purchase a dog or a product from a pet store you are endorsing these puppy mills.
Because of the poor health of most pet store puppies, vets usually recommend that you purchase dogs from actual breeders. Ideally, these breeders would not be the ones you find advertised in the newspaper. These breeders are usually amateurs who are trying to make money off of their animals. If you do choose one of these advertised breeders, you must visit the location in person, examine both parents, ask to see vet records regarding the puppy, and check the papers of both parents.
The best choice is to find a breeder through word-of-mouth or through one of the breed clubs located around the country. However, if you do choose a reputable breeder who cares about the condition of the Yorkshire terrier breed, you won't be able to buy toy yorkies.
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