[Mom2BabyNatalie]

Originally Posted by belindaY

you made a jolly good job of it. I just re-read everything and it looks like maybe Javier is being careful not to sell his dogs to trouble causers. I've met him and seen his dogs and this thread is truly amazing. It looks like he did offer to replace the puppy with the alleged bad knees. Do you think he should offer more? Also, patellas are a touchy subject anyway, and really can't be evaluated fully in puppies under 1 year of age. Most vets can't tell grade 1 from 2, and I've read where it's the grade 4 cases that are considered genetically defective.

I am not "bashing" Javier in the least.... he was very cordial to me and perfectly curteous until I told him that I decided to back out of our agreement to bring Lion home... At that time, he really became quite nasty.

I will say though, that he tells me that he has been harassed by several different people from "breeder groups" and when I started asking questions about the health of his animals, he thought I was attacking him as well. He has apologized for being rude and says that he can "somtimes make like a child".... which is fine, we all can.... all is well with Javier.

I made the decision not to follow through with the purchase of Lion - - yes, mainly based on the information brought to my attention about Lion's son with LP... (not just from a "report of a puppy from that kennle with LP" -Lion is this pup's sire) but also due to his coat being so light.... I was told by a couple of different show breeders to "just have him tinted and put him in there"..... frankly, this is - to me - a question of ethics... and not something I'm willing to get involved in.

I did ask Javier if he thought that Lion's coat would darken... or if some of the photos just made him "look light".... he said he really didn't know and that he would never be a "Make Trouble" but he is a lovely dog.

I just didn't feel 100% comfortable with the purchase. Whether my concerns are justified is really not the issue...

No, I wouldn't HAVE to have him shown... and yes... I'm certain he woud produce a lovely line.... but he also MAY produce puppies with LP and puppies with a lighter than standard coat..... which might be something I would be willing to risk with a 3000.00 dog that I wasn't interested in showing... but at 7k, (plus an additional 15k for a handler) I'm not interested in taking chances.

I am aware that ANY dog - even a World Ch - MAY produce undesirable offspring.... and there are NO guarantees.... but my feelings of indecisiveness regarding the purchase of Lion since the beginning, have been validated IN MY EYES - - whether you agree, is neither here nor there. And if you decide to purchase Lion - I wish you nothing but good experiences.

I'm not angry or bitter about the decision I've made....

I did ask Javier about genetic testing for LP, LS, etc on his breeding dogs... which he evidently doesn't do (from what I understand from him) - and I did ask him that IF I decided to proceed with the purchase of Lion as agreed ... and IF my veterinarian found him to have ANY severe medical problems, would Javier be willing to take the dog back in exchange for another dog. He replied "No", that he "didn't want to put his little Lion through that much stress"..... and that he "knows the quality of his dogs"..... which is great, but not much validation for me, personally....

I asked him about the warrantee of his animals... DNA testing, etc. and he avoided the subject... which is fine.... that's his right I suppose....

He seems to be a lovely man... very personable.... and a large part of the whole thing is very likely, my inexperience... and having no knowledge of the international import process (which in and of itself scares me)... and my fear of bringing in a stud, who I hope to base my entire breeding program on... who may have health issues and my having no recourse in the event that he does.

I haven't been raising Yorkies for 20, 30 years like many of you... I DON'T know "all there is to know"... not even close.... but I have raised other breeds over the years, and I do know that no matter what breed you raise, the goal is the same.... quality, well balanced animals of exceptional lines, giving you the best chance at producing offspring who most closely adhere to the standard of the breed.

I have SO MUCH TO LEARN.... and I'm enjoying the journey.... I'd hate for it to fall short prematurely because I put my whole heart, soul (and finances) into a dog who may be very lovely, but who I may have to "replace" in a year because of a few "bad traits".

I feel like I made the right decision not to purchase Lion.