Age to adopt...

[Poshible]

Hi everybody! I am about to adopt a new little baby. She will be 8 weeks on October 11th. I am a little bit confused because I always thought you should always wait 10-12 weeks. Is that right?

Also, I do not want this puppy to have any defects, she has 20 champions in her bloodline, but to me that does not mean much, she is AKC registered and everything, but I do not want her coat, teeth, ears, anything wrong. Are there things I can ask the breeder to make sure that none of that will be a problem?

Thank you

[yorkieusa]

I'd ask her why she isn't keeping them until they are about 12 wks of age.

[Poshible]

Exactly, I told her that if she wanted to wait until she was 12 weeks it was fine with me and that I would even give a deposit as to be sure she knew I was going to adopt her. She was the only baby born in the litter too, does that mean anything? Size wise?

[cally930]

Hi and welcome to YT. Congratulations on getting a new baby, but you will see from looking over this site a little, that the recommended age to pick up a puppy would be 12 weeks - and not 8. There still is a lot of learning the puppy does from remaining with its mother and littermates till age 12 weeks. Although the legal age (I believe) is 8 weeks, it certainly is too soon. You will be better off, with a much happier puppy if you wait to pick him up at 12 weeks.

Good luck to you and to your new puppy.

[Poshible]

Exactly. I told her I would wait, and offered a deposit. Just seemed off that she was offered up at 8 weeks. She was also the only puppy in the litter, does that make a difference size wise?

[FlDebra]

Originally Posted by Poshible

Hi everybody! I am about to adopt a new little baby. She will be 8 weeks on October 11th. I am a little bit confused because I always thought you should always wait 10-12 weeks. Is that right?

YES, that is right.
Also, I do not want this puppy to have any defects, she has 20 champions in her bloodline, but to me that does not mean much, she is AKC registered and everything, but I do not want her coat, teeth, ears, anything wrong. Are there things I can ask the breeder to make sure that none of that will be a problem?

Inspect the puppy yourself after familiarizing with breed, get a good health guarantee and take to a vet within 2 days of purchase.
Thank you

I would be leery of a breeder wanting to let them go to new homes at 8 weeks. So many think this is fine, but especially with a toy breed those few extra weeks are very important to have with mom and siblings. It will make a difference to their personalities. I took a pup early years ago and she was always on the timid side. Ones who spend longer with their birth family seem to be more confident and well adjusted. I did not let any of mine go until at least 12 weeks and most had to stay longer as I also wanted them to weigh 2 pounds if possible.

[BamaFan121s]

Yes, 12 weeks is the preferred age to release pups to their new homes. If you have seen the dog's parents and studied the blood lines well, then that is as much as you can do to ensure that your pup will ultimately be what you want. Either that or get an older dog that is closer to being an adult.

[Poshible]

The breeder offered me her vets number because I asked around 20 questions regarding what the parents where checked for, the pedigree line, the health guarantee and so on a so forth. She was very willing to answer my questions and all came up good. I just know certain problems can exist. This is the 4th litter she has had, she had 6, 5, 6 and 1 in the final litter, which is my Selphie. She did not intentionally breed this litter either, thought cycle was done too soon.

Does is mean anything to go from such large litters to a single litter? I already have a Yorkiepoo, he is 2 so I am not worried about her socializing, but I am a bit worried from the jump in litter size. Does that mean anything at all? Am I being finicky?

Because I already have the Yorkiepoo, while I love him, I want proper representation of the breed this time around.

[Ladymom]

The Yorkshire Terrier Club of America requires breeders to keep Yorkie puppies until they are at least 12 weeks old. A breeder who will sell a puppy before that is either ignorant of the 12 week rule or doesn't care. Either way, it's a huge red flag.

Breeders who don't follow the YTCA's 12 week rule probably don't follow other rules like carefully screening the parents for genetic conditions that they could pass onto their puppies.

Did you know that Yorkies are 36 times more likely to be born with a liver shunt than all other breeds combined?

Portosystemic Shunts FAQ

That the Orthopedic Foundation of America ranks Yorkies #3 in cases of luxating patellas?

OFA: Patellar Luxation Statistics

That 39% of Yorkies are born with Legg-Calf-Perthes?

Health Survey 2007

Unless you want to risk spending a fortune in vet bills and possibly have your heartbroken, it is very important to get a puppy from a reputable breeder.

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ead-first.html

[Poshible]

This is a copy of the e-mail I sent regarding the puppy.

Just a few questions I am sure you have gotten before. I am probably going to seem like a big pain in the behind, but I am very interested in the baby and want to be sure she is the one for me and I will not have any complications.


1st litter and only 1 baby?

I will be receiving a written contract of bill/sale stating all terms of sale? approximate weight full grown, and put into writing in the bill of sale.

Weight of both parents?

Guarantee for the health of the puppy? (at least 1st year)

Have you had the parents checked for such things as Luxating Patella's, Cardiomyopathy, or Hypothyroidism?

Incorrect Bites, Toplines or Coats, in either bloodline?

possible hereditary faults in the family lineage either side?

Vacination record?

Pedigree record along with completed AKC paper work and care sheet-what she is eating, and how many times per day?


She answered and offered up the vets number and a reference who happened to be the DA of San Fransisco. It all seems okay but the 8 week thing throws me way off as well as her being the only puppy in the litter.

[Beamers Mom]

Originally Posted by Poshible

This is a copy of the e-mail I sent regarding the puppy.

Just a few questions I am sure you have gotten before. I am probably going to seem like a big pain in the behind, but I am very interested in the baby and want to be sure she is the one for me and I will not have any complications.


1st litter and only 1 baby?

I will be receiving a written contract of bill/sale stating all terms of sale? approximate weight full grown, and put into writing in the bill of sale.

Weight of both parents?

Guarantee for the health of the puppy? (at least 1st year)

Have you had the parents checked for such things as Luxating Patella's, Cardiomyopathy, or Hypothyroidism?

Incorrect Bites, Toplines or Coats, in either bloodline?

possible hereditary faults in the family lineage either side?

Vacination record?

Pedigree record along with completed AKC paper work and care sheet-what she is eating, and how many times per day?


She answered and offered up the vets number and a reference who happened to be the DA of San Fransisco. It all seems okay but the 8 week thing throws me way off as well as her being the only puppy in the litter.

She only offered up the vet's phone number and a reference?? What about the items your asked her to put in writing?

As Judge Judy would say "if it is not in the written contract it doesn't exist".
Insist on those items in writing. If she is reputable she would have no problem complying with the request.
Or is she putting it in writing and the vet's number and reference are just additional?

[Ladymom]

Are you buying this puppy online from an unknown breeder?

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ead-first.html

[Poshible]

She said that a written bill of sale, including information on shots, vet check papers and a the pedigree, along with AKC papers. I contacted a breeder through the AKC website, who lives in the same town as me, she had no puppies but referred me to this breeder. But seeming how I do not know anything about her...and that people can be very very misleading.

I am just trying to be positive that I am receiving exactly what I want before my husband forks out the money for it (She is supposed to be my birthday gift). She has sent me several pictures...attached is one of her with her mother. The mom may be trimmed, but the coat concerns me a little bit, and the one I have received of the dad his snout looks a bit long...

Thanks by the way to all of you, you are very helpful. I would never purchase a pup online, I have trouble purchasing clothes online...just in case they do not fit the way I wish. Guess I am just that way with everything lol

[BonBon]

Originally Posted by Poshible

She said that a written bill of sale, including information on shots, vet check papers and a the pedigree, along with AKC papers. I contacted a breeder through the AKC website, who lives in the same town as me, she had no puppies but referred me to this breeder. But seeming how I do not know anything about her...and that people can be very very misleading.

I am just trying to be positive that I am receiving exactly what I want before my husband forks out the money for it (She is supposed to be my birthday gift). She has sent me several pictures...attached is one of her with her mother. The mom may be trimmed, but the coat concerns me a little bit, and the one I have received of the dad his snout looks a bit long...

Thanks by the way to all of you, you are very helpful. I would never purchase a pup online, I have trouble purchasing clothes online...just in case they do not fit the way I wish. Guess I am just that way with everything lol

I agree with what the others have said. You haven't been to the breeder's house or seen the puppies parents for yourself yet? You REALLY need to do that before paying out a dime. Look over the conditions carefully. How many dogs does she have? How many does she breed? Where does she keep them - inside the house or out in some type of kennel? Please give this a lot of thought....too many things are raising red flags for me about this 'breeder.'

Good luck! Oh, and welcome to YT!!

Bonny

[Beamers Mom]

Originally Posted by Poshible

She said that a written bill of sale, including information on shots, vet check papers and a the pedigree, along with AKC papers. I contacted a breeder through the AKC website, who lives in the same town as me, she had no puppies but referred me to this breeder. But seeming how I do not know anything about her...and that people can be very very misleading.

I am just trying to be positive that I am receiving exactly what I want before my husband forks out the money for it (She is supposed to be my birthday gift). She has sent me several pictures...attached is one of her with her mother. The mom may be trimmed, but the coat concerns me a little bit, and the one I have received of the dad his snout looks a bit long...

Thanks by the way to all of you, you are very helpful. I would never purchase a pup online, I have trouble purchasing clothes online...just in case they do not fit the way I wish. Guess I am just that way with everything lol

But the written bill of sale doesn't mean she is going to do a written contract.
Maybe if you post in the breeder section and ask about the particular breeder someone would know about her and if she is reputable.

I have to purchase my clothes online, but never had a problem. On occasion I have had to do a return and get a different size, but that is rare. I also buy my shoes online