My mother's tea-cup poodle died at 14 years of age last September. She was an exception to the rule, and it makes sense considering the circumstances of her breeding.

She was bred by a professional breeder my mom was friends with. Her dogs where all champion poodles, huskies, Samoyeds, and cocker spaniels. The poodle was a gift for my mom, and was given to her because she was the runt of the litter and, at her size back in 1997, could not compete adequately in the toy division. This is Chile, btw, but even back then, there was awareness within experienced breeders that dogs at that size are unhealthy and do not live till long. We named her camellia and she was a caramel color. I grew up with her, and she was just a regular dog. She barked and had the attitude of a fighting pitbull up until the very end. She died of multiple tumors, and in her last year, she completely lost her eye sight and hearing. I did't cry when she died. I am now, but I didn't then....

Be careful with the dogs you purchase. A regular mut from the pound is sometimes better than the "pure breeds" you find. Camelia's survival was due because two entirely different bloodlines where mixed, not like the "tea-cup" breeders now, who will breed related litters to get smaller and smaller and "cuter" dogs. It's a shame really, that such a fad has caught on...