1st yorkie pup! Please help. Any advice on undocked tails or Parti coloring?

[kaydelongpre]

My question in short: Would you buy a yorkie w/o a docked tail, or a parti colored yorkie?

My question in full w/ the background info:
I recently met a yorkie and was petting her and cuddling her and had none of my usual allergies, so I realized yorkies might be the perfect breed for me. My friend & neighbor has always had yorkies and her last one just passed away a few months ago. I was getting mine from this really nice breeder and was going to look at the pups who are super tiny, and to interact with them and the mothers so I could test my allergies once more. My friend decided to come with to meet the pups because she wanted to get a new one with me.
This breeder was clean, her pups were AKC registered and super sweet and very small. She had 3 females. 1 retired/spayed after having 2 litters. 2 having their second (and last) litters. She explained she only wanted to do it twice to each one to keep them as healthy as possible. She had great vet references, I actually met the vet who is right down the road from her and did all the pup's shots already and does all the housecalls to check on the mommas. She seemed great to me.
We left the breeder after meeting the available puppies who were still too young to go home and just as I was about to say "wow I loved her, I'm definitely going to bring her a deposit and pick one of the pups for her to hold for me tomorrow", my friend says "I'm glad we didn't already pay because I would never get a puppy from that woman." Her reasons were that one of the mothers was the tri-colored Parti coloring, my friend swears those cannot be purebred and the documents must be forged and that they have no value. Another reason was that one of her breeding females (the spayed one who is now retired) had floppy ears. The breeder showed that all the puppies have perfectly standing up ears, but said her one mom just never had them stand up and she decided she was fine how she was and chose not to tape the dog's ears since it was her personal pet and not a puppy she was selling. Lastly, my friend was upset that the woman doesn't crop the puppies' tails. She explained that she thought docking an animal's tail was barbaric and cruel, and said it was even illegal in the UK. She says they're going to be people's beloved pets, so why do tails matter? She said putting her puppies in pain when it's not necessary would be terrible for her.
I tended to agree with her that cutting an animal's tail was pretty cruel, and I probably wouldn't force my dogs ears to stand up if she was just my own pet and not in shows either. But my friend is adamant that this woman is not a good breeder and her pups are worthless because they may carry the Parti gene and have full tails.
I'm now trying to figure out if any of this is a legitimate reason not to get my puppy from her. She seems great in every other field to me. Is my friend being a snob or is she right? Would YOU by a yorkie with an undocked tail, or a parti colored yorkie?
Sorry if this is a dumb question. Like I said, this is my first yorkie. Thanks so much. xoxo

[maxdog]

I am no expert but unless you are buying a dog to show, these pups sound like a good fit for you

[gemy]

In a heartbeat everything else checking out I would buy a puppy with an undocked tail. Buy a Parti Yorkie - no not for me as I want to support breeders who breed to the Standard of the YTCA and the AKC.


You did not elaborate on what health testing she does or other facets of her breeding.


For me that would be very important.

[smelcerk]

Excellent post and I want to credit you for doing your due diligence. I am going to answer your question about what I would do for me but it is only for me and not necessarily what you should do. I love the parti yorkies and have no issue with them whatsoever. Even so, I would not buy one. I also love all dogs and their beautiful long tails. I would not be surprised if there does not come a day when people in the US no longer dock their tails. In the meantime, I fell in love with the Yorkshire Terrier Breed and I was specifically looking for a dog that fell within the standard and have actually decided to try to enter the mysterious world of yorkie showing. For that reason, I look for a dog that epitomizes that wonderful yorkie look and personality that is considered the ideal. Having said that, you are not looking for a show dog. You are looking for a wonderful pet to love. You do not need one that fits that perfect standard. You met this woman and she pinged your radar as a loving caring breeder. The things that your friend pointed out do not seem to preclude that. The price should however reflect the fact that these are not show dogs.

[Lovetodream88]

We'll hear is the thing reputable breeders are supposed to only breed prefect examples of the breed and erect ears are part of the standard. Again because it's part of the standard reputable breeders will have the tails docked. You mentioned tiny dogs. If the mother is under 5 pounds that would be another thing to show she is not reputable. How far back does this person know the lines of her dogs? That's is another big thing to show whether she is reputable or not. What is her health guarantee like?

[MauiGirl]

There are many members on YorkieTalk who have Parti Yorkies, and also some that have undocked tails. They are beautiful, and I personally would not object to those traits at all.

[maxdog]

If you are looking for a perfect show dog, look somewhere else. If you are looking for a perfect companion, they come in all shapes sizes and colors. I don't know if Max and Sasha are perfect by show standards (and I don't care) but I know they are perfect by my standards. Due your due diligence as far as health and breeder history goes and then get ready to have your heart stolen.

[ironmike86]

If I'm buying a purebreed I want close to the standard as available. Saying that it depends on how much $$ and what health checks were done. If health checks were done and the price was inexpensive maybe. But if its $1500+ for me No. JMO

[Wylie's Mom]

I have a parti girl w/ an undocked tail and I have to say, her tail is just *beautiful*!! I'm so glad it was not amputated. I actually hope docking is someday outlawed here, as I believe it's unnecessary and cruel. Follow your heart!

[SirTeddykins]

My dog is purebred from world champion lines and does not have a docked tail. Presence of a tail, or lack thereof, does not denote quality of lines or responsible breeding. I would prefer a breeder who was against docking, actually, as I'm wholly against mutilating animals on the basis of 'breed standard'.


I don't know about a parti Yorkie because I already have a Yorkie and can't imagine having 2 - he's a lot of work

[JadeD]

I wish my Yorkie had a tail. If I was getting another Yorkie I would rather get a puppy that has a tail as well. I have seen pictures of Yorkies with tails and I LOVE the way they look.

I would buy a parti Yorkie as well, as long as the price wasn't crazy. I think they are really cute.

I am looking for a PET though, not a show dog. I am getting a Yorkie mix puppy for my daughter and although the Yorkie tails are docked the Chinese crested tails are not. I talked to my friend who has the puppies and asked her about tail docking because I did not want our puppies tail docked and she was not planning to dock any of the tails, I was so happy about that! I don't see the point in taking the tail off. Lots of dogs have tails and live happy and full lives. My Yorkie wags his stump at me and I wish all the time that he had a full tail to wag at me. He came to me as a 9 year old though so I didn't have a say in it.

If everything else checks out, I would buy from a breeder like that if I was looking for a pet.

[ColesMommy01]

Originally Posted by JadeD

I wish my Yorkie had a tail. If I was getting another Yorkie I would rather get a puppy that has a tail as well. I have seen pictures of Yorkies with tails and I LOVE the way they look.

I would buy a parti Yorkie as well, as long as the price wasn't crazy. I think they are really cute.

I am looking for a PET though, not a show dog. I am getting a Yorkie mix puppy for my daughter and although the Yorkie tails are docked the Chinese crested tails are not. I talked to my friend who has the puppies and asked her about tail docking because I did not want our puppies tail docked and she was not planning to dock any of the tails, I was so happy about that! I don't see the point in taking the tail off. Lots of dogs have tails and live happy and full lives. My Yorkie wags his stump at me and I wish all the time that he had a full tail to wag at me. He came to me as a 9 year old though so I didn't have a say in it.

If everything else checks out, I would buy from a breeder like that if I was looking for a pet.

If I was in showing or a member of YTCA I would not acquire a full tailed or parti yorkie. Since I'm not, I have to say I LOOOVE the full tails and "off colors". I actually looked for a parti when choosing my second yorkie, but there weren't any breeders whom I felt comfortable with and most charge outrageous prices for a pet without doing proper testing. If everything else checks out with this breeder I say go for it. The dog isn't for your friend, she's for you

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by maxdog

If you are looking for a perfect show dog, look somewhere else. If you are looking for a perfect companion, they come in all shapes sizes and colors. I don't know if Max and Sasha are perfect by show standards (and I don't care) but I know they are perfect by my standards. Due your due diligence as far as health and breeder history goes and then get ready to have your heart stolen.

It's not about a show dog but in order to make sure that your getting the puppy that has the best chance at being healthy as possible is to get one from a reputable breeder.

[matese]

Floppy ears does not mean they are not pure breed, I had 2 girls with floppy ears and 2 with stand up ears, all were AKC registered. It depends what your preference is.
Parti yorkies are beautiful, I would buy one in a heart beat if I was looking for another baby.
Un-docked tails, again does not mean they are not pure breed. Some breeders do not dock tails, does not mean they are not pure breed.
Again it's what someone's preference is.
Your friend is not being a snob, she doesn't know a lot about the yorkie breed is all.
All my yorkies weights ranged from 10 Lbs to 17 Lbs. that does not mean they were not pure breed.
Based on your post, I would not hesitate to buy a puppy off this breeder, you are looking for a pet, companion not a show dog.
The only thing I see missing from your posting was, what kind of health guarantee does she offer.
As another member wrote...
Follow your heart.......... Let your friend make her own decision.
Good luck

[Lovetodream88]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

My dog is purebred from world champion lines and does not have a docked tail. Presence of a tail, or lack thereof, does not denote quality of lines or responsible breeding. I would prefer a breeder who was against docking, actually, as I'm wholly against mutilating animals on the basis of 'breed standard'.


I don't know about a parti Yorkie because I already have a Yorkie and can't imagine having 2 - he's a lot of work

A reputable breeder breeds to the standard. Here the standard is still a docked tail so whether right or wrong it is the standard so until that changes reputable breeders will dock tails.