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Originally Posted by yorkpup  Hello to all from sunny southern California.
We have just decided that it may be time to add a new member into our family, and after some research we have zeroed in on yorkies.
Being new to dog-ownership/yorkshire, I have lots of question and was wondering if I could get some guidance.
1. Age: We are thinking that we should not get a pup that is too young so that the pup would be at least somewhat toilet trained. Is this right and what would be the recommended age?
2. Bloodline: We are not so picky on the lineage of the pup. We are just looking for one that is healthy, well tempered, and good looking. It seems that the AKC paperwork is quite high on the list of things to look for. Is it really important? If so, how would/should I (someone that knows nothing about Yorkshire bloodline or how a official document looks like) go about verifying it?
3. Source: It appears that YTCA.org is the recommended place to look for breeders. Are breeders the only safe place to look for a pup? The YTCA recommended breeder list is quite limited, is this the only safe place to look for a breeder? What are the things to look for to identify good/reputable breeder?
4. Price: I know that pups from certain bloodlines can get quite expensive. But being that bloodline isn't important to us, what is a fair/common price for a yorkie?
5. Gender: We are leaning towards a boy, but are there anything worth noting (i.e. look, behavior, personality) when comparing the two?
6. What-To-Look-For: When looking at the pups, beside the way the pup looks, energy level, and just the basic interaction between the pup and us, what are some other key things to look for? For example, are there any common things to look for to determine a healthy puppy? Or, if it's even a yorkie at all (  ).
Any other tips, recommendations, suggestions are very much welcomed.
Thanks!! |
Hi and welcome to YT!
1. Age - I'm going to actually start this advice with: Find a good, reputable breeder. Now, with that said, it is recommended that yorkies stay with their moms until about 12 weeks of age. So, this would be what you want to look for (no earlier than 12 weeks) for a pup. You may also want to consider a rescue of an older dog..especially if already potty trained is a big factor for you.
2. Bloodline - It's not important to get your own pup AKC registered but the breeders (back to my "find a good breeder" advice) who follow and adhere to AKC standards are the breeders who breed to promote the yorkie breed traits that are desired. You can verify AKC registering.
3. Source - The YTCA recommendations are best to look at first. With that said, I don't believe all breeders that adhere to AKC standards are listed on that list.
4. Price - An AKC pup can go on average anywhere from $1200 to $2500 based on my experience. I'm sure there are variances. If you want to look into a rescue in your area, it would be less expensive, but there will be a cost (helps cover the rescue expenses like vetting and such)
5. Gender - Temperment is something to look at and ask about. If you are going with a reputable AKC breeder, they might even test for that (some do from what I've heard). A rescue or any puppy of any breed - I would go and visit with the puppies and see which one comes to you and connects with you.
6. Look for: If getting a pup, make sure you see the parents (any good breeder will do this anyway). Ask about health testing on the parents and ask for documentation to see that they are clear of any known genetic health issues.
Others will have a lot more advice..this is what I can think of at the moment and on the fly.
Happy hunting and it's so great you are researching!!!
