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Originally Posted by MyFairLacy  The YTCA doesn't have a requirement on health screening but do say in their code of ethics that their members should be screening. I'm going to tell you though that many do not health screen like they should be doing. So ask lots of questions.
I'm like you...I don't want to just hear "no we havent had any problems" ESPECIALLY if they've been breeding for 20 years! I almost guarantee there has been some problem before. I'd rather hear "we had this problem and this is how we fixed it". Even the best breeders that do health screen may get a puppy with a problem, but it's what they do then that shows whether or not they are ethical. Do they lie about it and just act like it never happened or do they spay/neuter the dogs in the line and start over? I can understand why a breeder wouldn't want it to be common knowledge if they had certain problems because gossip is pretty rampent in the yorkie world, but they really need to be up-front with potential buyers. I want to hear the truth...
Good Luck in your search. It's a very very difficult one, I know. Even among YTCA members, there are a few that I would definitely not buy from. You've really got to be cautious. Ask to see proof of any health testing if they claim to have done it...don't just take their word for it |
I could not have said it better myself.
I want to hear the truth as well. I would much rather a breeder show his or her high morals and ethics by offering the truth and showing how they handled situations such as LP or Liver shunt in the past rather than pretend it doesn't exist if it is not mentioned. I also want a breeder that will be proactive and offer the most up to date health screening available.
The more breeders I speak with; the more clearly I am able to distinguish between who is breeding because they truly care for and are trying to improve the quality of Yorkshire Terrier Breed, and the breeders who could care less about what qualities they are breeding into their yorkies or what happens to the yorkie they are selling (for an outrageous amount of money) after it leaves their sight.
I care enough about the breed not to support someone that cares very little.