Help in choosing a Yorkie *if we do*.

[yorky4ME]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

Terri is no longer living, but this is from her site. I suggest that you might want to look over her entire site and read it well. I'll post the link, too, but I will post the info about finding a puppy here:

http://www.shooterdog.com/alexfaq2.htm

Where can I get a Yorkie puppy and how do I find a good breeder?
Basically, breeders fit into six categories and like every business there are levels of desirability. The Well Known High Profile Professional, Well Known Professionals Who Exhibit and Advertise regularly, Dedicated fanciers, who do little advertising and are totally unconcerned about statistics, but regularly show up at Specialty Shows and who also regularly exhibit and finish dogs to their Championships generation after generation. Also there are the OK's, Not-So-Hots, and "I'll do or say anything to make a Dollar" breeders. It is important to stick with the first three groups and avoid the others.
First, it is important to distinguish between Professional Breeders and "back yard" breeders or so called "kitchen" breeders. The Professionals, be it hobby or commercial, make their living or part of their living by raising, showing and selling dogs. They usually have many years of study and experience in the art and science of creating the best qualities in the breed they are selling. The "kitchen" breeder or "back yard" breeder may breed their female once to show the kids how puppies are born, or may mate little "Fifi" with the dog down the street with no research or knowledge as to whether the animals or their pedigrees are compatible. They just "make puppies", and usually offer no replacement guarantee, etc.
Like the professional, the dedicated fancier also considers their reputation very important, has been in the same breed for ten years or more and is probably into their third generation of the breed. The fancier is not so much concerned about the price of the dog as they are about the "placement" of the dog, regardless of the price. However, make no mistake about it, dogs from the fancier will not be cheap either considering the high cost of veterinary care and consultation these days, as well as the high cost of quality food and other supplies. The fancier doesn't care about making a profit, but would like to meet the expenses of raising the dogs.
Although buying from a professional or fancier offers no guarantee of getting a quality puppy, as all living things mature differently, it typically is a lot safer than buying from an amateur whose experience is limited to breeding their own dog once or twice, like the "kitchen or back yard" breeders.
Finding a good breeder or fancier is probably as hard as finding a good anything. They are few and far between. However, since starting out with a well-bred dog will spare you more problems and save you more money than you know, it is always worth the time it takes to find one.
One rule of thumb is that the more a breeder seems to want to sell you a dog, the faster you should leave the premises. The best and most qualified breeders never "try" to sell any dog. They are too busy deciding if you are good owner material.
These people are in it for the long term and take their business, be it professional or hobby fancier, very seriously. They are not selling you a "product". They are letting you adopt someone they love. They will know each pup's name and the warm emotion in their voice as they describe each distinct personality will assure you that your future pal has been well taken care of, physically and emotionally.
Many breeders breed for show champions and have no interest in a dog unless they can add to the prestige and price of their breeding lines. They have been known to practically kick dogs out of their facilities, and have too many dogs for individual handling and attention; however, they may sell cheap just to "get rid" of their breeding excess. I strongly advise against buying a puppy or older dog from this kind of breeder because they are not really interested in YOU, either.
These people will try to wow you with a list of titles and awards a mile long. Their prices may tend to be higher than average if they want to prove to you that their dogs are something special, or really cheap if its something they hate and want to "get it out of there". If this latter breeder somehow feels like a "hype-job", believe it and move on.
Also, it is a good idea to remember that just because a dog is a show champion doesn't mean that he or she has the kind of temperament that fits in well with family life. Very often, these dogs have been neglected in household amenities, like paper training, or even abused by handlers who have no business being handlers and MIGHT BE temperamental nightmares.
The most important thing for a prospective owner to do is to learn everything they can about the breed they are interested in and then go out "shopping". The more Dog Shows you attend and Breeders you visit, the more you will appreciate the real thing when you find it. Also be honest with the Breeders about your intentions. Don't insist you only want a "pet" because you think that will be cheaper and then moan and complain later because you did not get a dog that you can "show and breed". AKC does offer the breeder an avenue of escape in the "limited" registration of the PURE BRED DOG. You can register this dog but no puppies from this dog can ever be registered with AKC unless the Breeder applies to AKC to reverse the "limited" registration when the dog reaches maturity.
Some basic things to look for as you visit Breeders are: that the pups and their surroundings are clean; how many puppies there are-- the more the merrier; at least one, but preferably both of the parents are on-site; there is a contract that spells out the breeder's liability and a guarantee on health and temperament; the price is competitive -- very expensive puppies are rarely worth it; don't rush it -- you are choosing a potential member of the family; trust your gut feelings. If it doesn't feel right, don't do it.
Don't take home a puppy under twelve weeks of age. Let the breeder get a couple of Immunization shots in that pup before you bring it home. Reputable breeders will be happy to take a deposit on a pup and keep it for you until twelve weeks. It will give your pup a better start. Don't meet your breeder at a local parking lot, restaurant, or other meeting place. Insist on seeing where your puppy lives. Remember that "one time" or so called "kitchen" pet breeders may not ever breed their dog again so your chances of getting your money back or a replacement puppy should something happen to your puppy are limited if you are dealing with this kind of breeder. Don't buy a puppy just to save it from a filthy life.. you're better off turning those people in and letting the authorities deal with them! The right dog and breeder for you is out there if you take the time to find them.

That was soooo beautiful! Well written and full of knowledge.
I say DITTO to everything she said!

[yougetthesmiles]

Originally Posted by NODAK

I've done a good amount of research on this on the internet, but there's no substituting for real-world advice from people who know.

I posted the other thread about our situation, and I really appreciate the feedback....I think she's going to end up working less in a little while, so perhaps then we'll have more time for the dog...also, it's POSSIBLE I could turn out to like having a dog and that'd work out even better.

My opinion on this, just like everything else, is that when you want to get something...you need to do it right. No cutting corners or getting cheated.

I absolutely cannot fathom spending over 1000 dollars on a dog....and we wouldn't care about "championship bloodlines" since we're not out to enter any dog shows. So we've seen quite a few classifieds that offer them for 500 dollars or so...AKC papers and all. Here's what I care about:

1) It's actually a Yorkie...no cross breeding. AKC certified.
2) It was treated right as it was raised...so no further problems arise due to mistreating.

So that raises these 2 questions....

If a classified ad says it's "AKC certified", and I receive the papers, is that all I need to know to tell me it's a real, 100 percent Yorkie?

And, what signs can I look for when going out and visiting these places to search for a dog??

That's it for my 2nd, and last, topic of the day...thanks so much.

you know the ol saying "you get what you pay for?" well that goes just as good or not better when you are buying a dog.

Even if you buy a $1000 dog, you don't know if your being ripped off or not! My friend was a prime example, she paid $1000 for a "tiny" yorkie and she got taken big time, not only was the dog deathly sick and almost died, but she put over $500 more dollars into it with vet bills.

If you are truly serious on buying a Yorkie, you need to find a reputable breeder and stay away from classified ads. Just because a dog comes with akc papers, it dosent mean squat!

Go to the wanted and forsale saction here at YT and find someone close to your area. Most people who sale Yorkies on here have great references and you can talk to other YT members who have bought from them.

Good luck to you and your g/f, I'm sure you both will make exellent yorkie parents, and who knows, you may even grow to love the little fellow.
I never thought my husband would, but I have 2 yorkies now and he loves them to pieces! Take a look for yourself! But if you ever asked him if he loves these dogs, he would deny it lol

[estaple]

I am not nearly as experienced or knowledgeable as many of the other YTers here, but I did adopt my first yorkie last December.

I got my puppy from a Yorshire terrier club of america member. It seems to me that membership in this group eliminates some of the back yard breeders, as the group works to monitor one another. I am also sure that seeking info on this forum will lead to great information.

Is there a dog show you can attend in your area? You may be able to meet a nice breeder in your area that way.


My husband "let" me get a dog, but says that the dog is not his and he doesn't want to take care of it. I do the majority of the dog care. However, he gets up earlier than me on the weekends and I hear him talking to her and playing catch with her all the time. She recently had stomach problems and my hubby was the one taking me to the store to get her supplies and who was about ready to take her to the emergency vet. He is totally taken with her and would run her to the vet is she were sick, but still claims she is not his dog!

As long as your girlfriend does the majority of the care I don't think you will mind stepping in and doing a few things in her care, as walking the pup every once in a while and feeding him/her leads to getting a special wag of the tail when you walk through the door!

[mojo]

Originally Posted by yougetthesmiles

you know the ol saying "you get what you pay for?" well that goes just as good or not better when you are buying a dog.

Even if you buy a $1000 dog, you don't know if your being ripped off or not! My friend was a prime example, she paid $1000 for a "tiny" yorkie and she got taken big time, not only was the dog deathly sick and almost died, but she put over $500 more dollars into it with vet bills.

If you are truly serious on buying a Yorkie, you need to find a reputable breeder and stay away from classified ads. Just because a dog comes with akc papers, it dosent mean squat!

Go to the wanted and forsale saction here at YT and find someone close to your area. Most people who sale Yorkies on here have great references and you can talk to other YT members who have bought from them.

Good luck to you and your g/f, I'm sure you both will make exellent yorkie parents, and who knows, you may even grow to love the little fellow.
I never thought my husband would, but I have 2 yorkies now and he loves them to pieces! Take a look for yourself! But if you ever asked him if he loves these dogs, he would deny it lol

Oh what a cutie, and the yorkies not bad either

[twalla]

Originally Posted by mojo

Oh what a cutie, and the yorkies not bad either

LOL thats what I was thinkin

[Mz_s3ski_Kitt3n]

Originally Posted by yougetthesmiles

you know the ol saying "you get what you pay for?" well that goes just as good or not better when you are buying a dog.

Even if you buy a $1000 dog, you don't know if your being ripped off or not! My friend was a prime example, she paid $1000 for a "tiny" yorkie and she got taken big time, not only was the dog deathly sick and almost died, but she put over $500 more dollars into it with vet bills.

If you are truly serious on buying a Yorkie, you need to find a reputable breeder and stay away from classified ads. Just because a dog comes with akc papers, it dosent mean squat!

Go to the wanted and forsale saction here at YT and find someone close to your area. Most people who sale Yorkies on here have great references and you can talk to other YT members who have bought from them.

Good luck to you and your g/f, I'm sure you both will make exellent yorkie parents, and who knows, you may even grow to love the little fellow.
I never thought my husband would, but I have 2 yorkies now and he loves them to pieces! Take a look for yourself! But if you ever asked him if he loves these dogs, he would deny it lol

awww how sweet is that !!

[suzysmitt]

Definetly ask the breeder a lot of questions, and visit to look over the situation. There are a lot of excellent breeders out there, and some of them will be willing to work with you on price if you're not looking for a pup to breed or show. They might have a pup that may be a little bigger then standard size that they would be willing to sell you for a better price, or one that's a little older. It never hurts to ask.

[Yorkieluv]

Make sure you get a 1yr health guarantee against congenital defects...Ask lots of questions and be prepared for the breeder to ask you questions as well. A reputable breeder wants to know that their pups are going to the best possible home, and they will ask questions about your lifestyle and a bunch of other stuff. That's a good sign that they care about their pups. It's best to get a pup at 12 wks, no younger than that. Good luck! Keep us posted!

[myla57]

You did the right thing by researching first. My friend wanted a Yorkie so bad but she didn't want to spend a lot of money. So someone told her about a person who had one with no papers for 100.00. I thought that sounded awful cheap. At that time I didn't have my Yorkie, but I had just paid 500.00 for my Westie. Anyhow, I went with her to pick up this puppy. The man showed us two Yorkies and stated they were the parents. They were Yorkies and they were really cute. After a month or two, I saw the dog she bought and OMG it didn't look like a Yorkie at all. I didn't know how to tell her, but I said "I think Phoebe is not full blooded." My friend took her to the vet and sure enough he told her she was more Chihuahua than Yorkie. They love her any how, but they don't have a Yorkie.