My Newan is going on 10 yrs. old now. He came from a back yard breeder before I knew any better about puppymills and such. He has had a collapsed trachea since about a year old or so. It's gotten worse since he's gotten older. He also has trouble with his hips since he was young and is a very neurotic boy. We are now dealing with a rare cancer in his foot pad, which our vet of 30 yrs. has never seen and neither has a well respected oncologist he consulted with. I can't say for sure but I really believe that the cancer is partly if not all due to his bad breeding. As far as weight goes he's 13 lbs. He's a bigger Yorkie. His disposition is wonderful and we love him but the health issues and the way the pups and parents of the pups are treated by these back yard breeders and puppymills is the big reason that people have to advocate to put an end to places like this.
Noel is now three years old and she came from a back yard breeder. We took her in as a rescue. She is 17 lbs. and had beens old as a full Yorkie, although we believe she is either Westie Yorkie or Poodle Yorkie. She has been very healthy thus far, but came to us abused and she is still very timid of people. She was prob. bred in PA on an Amish farm, and sold by a broker as this is where the person gets some of her pups from.
MOST of the pups with health issues come from places like this but that's not to say that even "Reputable" breeders don't produce pups that turn out to have huge medical bills. In so far as size that's difficult to judge and this is why I hate when I see breeders specifying how big a pup will be and charging extra for a pup that they "Think" will be smaller.
Jersey is 5 months old. Hubby and my boys got her for me for Mother's Day, after our Newman was diagnosed with cancer. I had taken it very hard. Jersey was born a few blocks from us. Her mom was only 3.5 lbs. (In my opinion to small to breed. Hubby didn't realize this) and the dad was just under 4lbs. She was supposed to be tiny - this is what hubby was told and someone not knowing that genetics, grandparents, etc. play a part would certainly believe that she'd be small, after all the parents are small. However, she is as I said 5 months old and she's not big but bigger then her parents. She weighs 4 lbs. 7oz. Still small to us and hubby was only charged $750 with AKC papers for her so we really have no complaints, but had he paid the price that some ask for what they think are going to be tiny pups I think I'd be a little upset. Bottom line is you really cannot promise a buyer the size the pup will be as an adult. Sometimes the smallest turns out to be the largest and visa versa.
Elaine |