November 6, 2008
I went to Toys R Us with the family today, and I was mildly shocked to see…?
that they were selling stuffed animals (dogs) labeled,"Teacup".
It really upset me! I know the people that are selling these toys probably do not know any better (along with the majority of people that ask questions on this website), but it still upsets me that so many people out there believe teacups are a real breed.
What can I do to educate the general public about the various dog breeding scams out there (teacup dogs, crossbreeds being a real breed, etc.)? And are the opinions stated in this forum really what the general public believe? Meaning do the majority of people really want "Labradoodles" and "Teacup Chihuahuas" or "Miniature Pomeranians"?
Are the majority of dog owners truly that ignorant? I'd also like to hear of any similar experiences you may have had.
@ Vintage Collies:
I really enjoyed reading your answer. That really is a great suggestion. I think I'll send them an e-mail.
@ AmStaff:
I actually saw plenty of dogs in baggies there, and they were adorable just like the "teacup" dogs they were selling, but it really sends the kids the wrong message at such an impressionable age.
Short answer, yes. It's sickening how often you see people (not just on here, I have YEARS of it in grooming and working as a tech) of people who will argue until they are blue in the face that their dog is a "teacup pomeranian" because their breeder told them so, or a "miniature collie" instead of a sheltie. These are the same people that get taken in by their "purebred morkie" breeders and that all multi-doodle breeds are hypo-allergenic (when they are just flatly NOT.) You and I and no doubt several educated people on here are only drops in the sea in trying to educate misinformed people, but all we can do is keep trying. If I were you, I would write toys r us, and the makers of the toys, to inform THEM they are supporting BYB by titling their toys "teacups". It might make no difference…but maybe someone, somewhere along the line will learn something from your letter - and someday tell someone else….ripple effect.
Good luck
Vintage Collies
ETA: Great!!! Keep me posted as to their responses. Don't expect much, but on occasions these companies surprise us 
Filed under Miniature Teacup Chihuahua by Sandra Dean
Comments on I went to Toys R Us with the family today, and I was mildly shocked to see…? »
No. I didn't. If they do it's not distrubing in any way. Even though ..
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I would far rather see people buy stuffed toys that look like "teacup" sized dogs than the real live version. Because that's basically what a teacup is - a toy or accessory you carry around in your purse. It's a very expensive substitute for a hamster. Having stuffed animals actually does convey the right message, I think!
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Who cares people associate "teacup" as tiny not as a breed. I myself like large dogs. I have a mutt that i would'nt have a clue what he came from and he's the best dog i ever had. He's large, I guess i'd consider him a "BIG GULP"
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i don't know ANYONE that thinks like that. People just know that it's small, not a breed. A teacup Yorkie is just an extremely small yorkie. I think it just might be you and a few others that think like that. teacup is mostly just a term used to sell dogs because guess what, LOTS of people like small dogs, especially girls.
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I think most people with a general education know that those breeds don't actually exist. If they don't, they'd probably be smart enough to go look it up before speaking about them.
- Seeker
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Short answer, yes. It's sickening how often you see people (not just on here, I have YEARS of it in grooming and working as a tech) of people who will argue until they are blue in the face that their dog is a "teacup pomeranian" because their breeder told them so, or a "miniature collie" instead of a sheltie. These are the same people that get taken in by their "purebred morkie" breeders and that all multi-doodle breeds are hypo-allergenic (when they are just flatly NOT.) You and I and no doubt several educated people on here are only drops in the sea in trying to educate misinformed people, but all we can do is keep trying. If I were you, I would write toys r us, and the makers of the toys, to inform THEM they are supporting BYB by titling their toys "teacups". It might make no difference…but maybe someone, somewhere along the line will learn something from your letter - and someday tell someone else….ripple effect.
Good luck
Vintage Collies
ETA: Great!!! Keep me posted as to their responses. Don't expect much, but on occasions these companies surprise us
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Oh, it's not just Toys R Us. I've seen dogs in purses, too- and I told my daughter who wanted one "No, that's silly- dogs don't go in purses!"
At Petco and Petsmart, they have books and magazines– "Labradoodles for Dummies" and "All About Cockapoos." *yuck*
ADD- oh, I have emailed a few advertisements for those too.
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What a touching sweet & totally deluded display of underestimating human intelligence has been shown in previous answers.
Yes,most people *are* that ignorant & pandering to that is disgusting….but also completely human.
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It's a toy and it's for a kid. Does it really matter if a stuffed animal is right or wrong?
It would be a different story if real dogs were being sold under a wrong title. We had a neighbor that had a Labradoodle and I wish we could have taken that dog from them because it was not given the proper attention it needed.
People who know what they want in a breed of dog usually have done their research and know what to look for.
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I do think many people are misinformed about breeds, especially these new "designer" breeds that some unscrupulous breeders get big bucks for.
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It's just that the manufacturers are ignorant when it comes to dogs…they just want to sell a cute toy-they don't know any better. I just got a toy catalog in the mail advertising dogs of the world: it listed the "Shar-Pei from China", the "Poodle from France"—everyone with basic dog knowledge knows that Poodles are German dogs-but these people put out toys, not real dogs. The ones to be mad at are the breeders who put out these too small dogs with fake labels like "teacup"-not the toy stores. You could e-mail the Chain's headquarters to let them know that you don't like them perpetuating the false nature of the "teacup" varieties, and enclose some information on the scams perpetuated by the breeders of such dogs and maybe some information on the life threatening health conditions the dogs face…you never know, it could be a fellow dog lover who opens your letter…you have probably a 50/50 chance of them doing something about it.
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