Awww, you are the sweetest bunch of people. I was really nervous posting my comments, thinking I'd probably be receiving some "hate mail". But you're all such friendly and helpful people. I am really going to miss reading your posts. You've really got it together here and are so supportive to each other. I applaud you!
I reread my post and I hope it doesn't come across that money was the deciding factor in my decision not to get a Yorkie. It wasn't about money, it was about the health issues apparent to the breed, and the lack of heath guarantees from the breeders I contacted. As I mentioned, I am a worry wart and I know I would drive myself insane worrying that my Yorkie was sick all the time, and I don't need that stress. I so much wanted a sweet little Yorkie to love, to hold and cuddle with, to kiss on and sleep with, and to be my best buddy. I don't work so I would be home with the dog all day. Both my husband and I were so looking forward to having a Yorkie companion to enjoy. We STILL want one, as you can very well imagine. I just didn't know they had so many health issues until I discovered YT. This forum has been far more educational to me than any ten yorkie books I could read. Your honesty concerning your personal experiences has been so helpful in my decision that I shouldn't get a yorkie. I know I shouldn't get one, but that sure doesn't stop me from wanting one.
I actually contacted several breeders about puppies, but my original post was so long I didn't go in to all the details. Two breeders never responded to my emails. One breeder offered no health guarantee whatsoever. Another breeder breeds ACA registered Yorkies, yet has AKC pedigrees of her pups's grandparents and great grandparents posted on her website. That was an obvious indication to me that she's one of the people who bought her dogs on a limited registration, and then bred them anyway. I would never buy a puppy from a dishonest person like that. Another breeder I contacted had cute puppies, but only offers a guarantee against liver shunt. She admitted that she has had liver shunt in a couple of her puppies, but told me that LP was a very common problem in yorkies and she would not guarantee her pups against it. The real kicker was the show breeder who acted insulted when I asked to see pictures of the parents and their pedigrees. Sure, she can tell me that her puppies are out of champion parents, but I want to see it for myself. I didn't think it was too much to ask, especially with the prices she was charging for her puppies. I'm just not the type person to buy ANY dog without seeing the parents and their pedigrees first. I want to know ALL about any dog I buy, and NOT because I wanted to breed it. And how in the heck do you convince someone you don't want their champion stock so you can breed it??? I even considered telling her I would buy an older puppy and SHE could have it neutered first, but due to the research I've done on horses and large breed dogs, I've learned that by neutering a young puppy before the growth plates are fused, the dog/horse is going to grow larger than either parent. So I didn't want to do an early neuter on a puppy just to prove I didn't want to breed it, which it turn would cause it to grow to be a larger dog...
The new puppy I'm buying is a Rottweiler. Yes, I know.... A huge difference between a Rottie and a Yorkie. But I've owned Rottweilers in the past and they are incredibly wonderful dogs too, and if you've never been owned by one, you've missed out.
They're brilliant dogs, very easily trained, and normally house broken in less than two weeks. They are loyal and affectionate and protective of their owners, and a very robust breed. It's just not as easy to hold a 125# dog in your lap as it is to hold a 5# dog, and I certainly don't want to sleep with a dog that big, either. I truly wanted both breeds, but I wanted the Yorkie first so it would be older, and could be dominate over the Rottweiler.
One difference I've found in Rottweiler and Yorkie breeders is that a good Rottweiler breeder will test their breeding stock and have them OFA'ed before they breed them, to prevent the continuation of hip dysplasia in the breed. Isn't there a way that yorkie breeders can breed out the luxating patellas from their breed? Can't they be checked prior to being bred so this genetic problem can be eliminated from the breed? Being new to Yorkies, maybe it's just not possible to eliminate it. I haven't researched that answer yet. I just know I would never buy a Rottweiler or large breed of dog whose parents weren't OFA certified. I realize that due to the popularity of the breed, yorkies are being mass produced to supply the demand for the breed, which is so very sad since that can lead to the downfall of a breed. I guess there is nothing to be done to make breeders stand up and be responsible when there are just so many people wanting to buy Yorkies right now. I know I will be missing out on not being owned by one of these precious little dogs, but until the time comes when something is done to prevent many of their health problems, I will just have to miss out.
Thanks again for all your help in my quest to learn about these wonderful little dogs. You've all been wonderful.