[marcerella02]

Thanks to the help of many YT members, I have compiled a list of question/information that is really helpful to know before you buy a yorkie! While the list may seem long and detailed- it is really important you read them all to ensure you are getting a healthy yorkie from reputable breeder. I hope this answers some of your questions and helps you in the purchase of your new furbaby!

Do's and Don'ts

- Do not buy from a breeder who will not let you in their house. If a breeder wants to "meet" somewhere, like a parking lot to show you your potential yorkie, no matter how "good" their excuse for doing this is, it is a red flag- they are probably hiding something

- Most reputable breeder will not let a yorkie leave until they are 12 weeks old. Any earlier and the puppy is probably too small and has a lot left to learn from it's mom and litter mates. Sometimes a breeder will let the dog go around 10 weeks if it is around 2 lbs.

- NEVER buy from a breeder who is telling a "teacup" or "toy" yorkie. These don't exist. A yorkie is a yorkie no matter their size. "Teacup" is a term used by non responsible breeders to charge more for a dog that is going to be small (around 4 lbs and under). The smaller the dog, the chances are they will have health problems- although this is not always the case. Regardless, "teacup" or "toy" should never be used in advertising of a Yorkie.

- Be wary of "breeders" or website that are offering 2 or more breeds. There is a possibility that it could be a puppy mill.

- If you can, visit the pup more than once and ask to see the puppy with its mother. If you can't- be suspicious.

- Always ask to see the vet card- puppies should be given their first set of vaccines before leaving - at 12 weeks- and no sooner- especially for toy breeds.

- DON'T buy puppies from a pet store. Despite what they tell you, these dogs DID come from a puppy mill. While you may feel bad for the dog, if you purchase it, you are only supporting the puppy mills.

- Do not fall for the "rare" color scheme. A yorkie that is blue, chocolate, golden or any colors that are not tan and black are not to the breed standard and should NOT be sold for more money. This is a scam. Blue yorkies tend to have large health issues. Chocolate and golden are products of a recessive gene and are usually completely healthy, however should not be a higher price than their litter mates.

Questions to ask your potential breeder

- Can I see the sire (dad) and dam (mom)?
- How long have you been breeding yorkies?
- What do you do as far as health screening?
- Will my dog come with a health guarantee? (usually it is a year)
- Have you had any genetic conditions in your lines? (ie. liver shunt, luxating patella - which can be genetic, but not always)
- Where do you keep your dogs? The puppies?
- How often do you breed your females?
- How many litters do you have a year?
- Do you require your puppies to be spayed or neutered? Do you give full registration or limited registration?
- What age do you let your puppies go to their new homes?
- Do you have previous buyers I can contact as a reference?
- Do you offer support after the puppy has come home?
- What is the price of your puppies? (note: usually males are cheaper than females- however, dogs should not vary in cost depending on their size)
- What do you feed your puppies/adult dogs?
- How much do the sire and dam weigh? (The dam, mom, should not be smaller than 4 lbs- this is irresponsible)


The breeder should also be asking you MANY questions: do you have kids, have you had a toy breed, do you have a fenced in yard, are you aware that they can be difficult to potty train....

Go with your gut- You do NOT need to ask ALL of those questions, however, do ask some and if something strikes you as odd- don't push it aside. Puppies that are bred indiscriminately and carelessly are more likely to:

- develop disease
- have temperamental problems
- find adjusting to family life hard
- be difficult to house train
- suffer physical defects and hereditary weakness