Okay I'm NOT trying to ruffle feathers but I think this is a very important discussion for anyone in toys to think about. It greatly concerns me because a) the ring trend in the past few years has seen papillons decrease about 2 lbs and b) I intend to breed a toy breed in the far-ish future. It's been on my mind a lot with recent threads.
So how small is too small? Our standard is 9-12 inches without weight specified. The ring trend lately especially with American dogs is averaging about 6 lbs whereas paps used to average about 8 lbs. I know that doesn't sound like much to most people, but it's a LOT. Fortunately it's been discussed in the papillon breed club and magazine a lot and there is a concerted effort to bump the weight back up at least among most breeders I know. Still I see some 3-4 lb papillons showing and being bred when to me that is pretty much disqualifying them in my opinion from breeding.
Most papillon people I know agree that 3 lbs is the "safe weight" as far as hypoglycemia goes. And yet there are breeds where 3 lbs or even under is within standard. Is this right? I can't wrap my mind around it. That's not even getting into whelping issues that increase a lot the smaller you go. And bone structure. With people with large breeds it probably doesn't seem to matter that 2 or so pounds, but there is a large difference in how sturdy a 2 lb dog is from a 4 lb from a 6 lb, etc. Even taking Mia and Summer for example, Mia is just under 6 lbs and is smaller than I'd want a dog whereas Summer is almost 8 lbs. Just looking at their bone structure, Summer has much sturdier legs. I don't worry about Summer as much as I do Mia at all.
I dunno, just a jumble of thoughts but I really have to wonder WHY are we breeding dogs that are 2-3 lbs and why is this okay? You greatly reduce the health risks just by bumping up the weight 2 or so pounds. I don't think it's just teacup breeders that are breeding things too small.
Personally for my breed I want to see the average go back up to 8-10 lbs. I would never breed a dog that was under 5 lbs and under 6 lbs would be with serious, serious hesitation.
So thoughts?
So how small is too small? Our standard is 9-12 inches without weight specified. The ring trend lately especially with American dogs is averaging about 6 lbs whereas paps used to average about 8 lbs. I know that doesn't sound like much to most people, but it's a LOT. Fortunately it's been discussed in the papillon breed club and magazine a lot and there is a concerted effort to bump the weight back up at least among most breeders I know. Still I see some 3-4 lb papillons showing and being bred when to me that is pretty much disqualifying them in my opinion from breeding.
Most papillon people I know agree that 3 lbs is the "safe weight" as far as hypoglycemia goes. And yet there are breeds where 3 lbs or even under is within standard. Is this right? I can't wrap my mind around it. That's not even getting into whelping issues that increase a lot the smaller you go. And bone structure. With people with large breeds it probably doesn't seem to matter that 2 or so pounds, but there is a large difference in how sturdy a 2 lb dog is from a 4 lb from a 6 lb, etc. Even taking Mia and Summer for example, Mia is just under 6 lbs and is smaller than I'd want a dog whereas Summer is almost 8 lbs. Just looking at their bone structure, Summer has much sturdier legs. I don't worry about Summer as much as I do Mia at all.
I dunno, just a jumble of thoughts but I really have to wonder WHY are we breeding dogs that are 2-3 lbs and why is this okay? You greatly reduce the health risks just by bumping up the weight 2 or so pounds. I don't think it's just teacup breeders that are breeding things too small.
Personally for my breed I want to see the average go back up to 8-10 lbs. I would never breed a dog that was under 5 lbs and under 6 lbs would be with serious, serious hesitation.
So thoughts?