One of my best friends is also a yorkie fanatic. She would probably have a yorkie now, but put off her yorkie purchase when she found out she was pregnant again. I've brought Olivia over there to see her and it can be stressful with the kids. Her 5 year old daughter (just turned 5) is so gentile and knows not to pick up Olivia. I do have to watch the younger ones a bit closer, though. Her children are very well behaved and "mind" her very well, but they've never been around a small puppy before. When she was researching breeders she went through the same thing that many face- as soon as they heard she had children they wouldn't sell to her. I'm kind of on the fence about this issue. While I sympathise with my friend and know that her children would be well-behaved, I think back to how small and fragile Olivia was at 12 weeks and I think of everything that could happen. I don't think that breeders should necessarily just automatically say "no" when they hear a potential buyer has children. I also think that there are probably many first-time toy dog owners that don't anticipate how small their babies bones really are- I know I didn't! When I'm at my friends, I also have to constantly supervise Olivia and make sure she hasn't picked up any small toys laying on the floor to chew on. Between the Legos, the Bratz clothes, Barbie shoes, etc... Olivia is in forbidden chew-toy heaven when we're there! I guess the more I think about it, the more I think that a yorkie (or other small breed) wouldn't be the best for really young children, IMO. But, I'd say that if I were a breeder, I'd meet a family first and then decide if they would make a good home for my puppies. |