[SET Yorkies]

I’ve really thought hard about whether or not I wanted to jump into the middle of this thread. I rarely become angry, but maybe it is just my situation today….I picked up a puppy yesterday from my vet being discarded by its “breeder” (someone who just had a pair of dogs) due to its overwhelming health issues most of which are genetic in nature.

Breeders on this forum are in a bit of a catch 22 as are the Posters. I think I’m going to fuss at everyone. We are all to blame.

I often read through threads that are full of redundant badgering by breeders who reiterate all of the negatives without offering the needed constructive criticism mixed with well appointed advice. I think I would really be afraid to ask novice question in fear of the backlash. So many breeders on this forum have a wealth of knowledge beyond most veterinarians and other individuals that these posters can turn to. If the dog is bred, we have a responsibility to the breed as a whole to give good sound advice. For those we gently assist will be much more likely to listen to us when we give the advice that certainly should follow any unexpected or intended pregnancy. A person who posts on this forum with an “oops” has a dog now in his/her care that deserves our attention. We are here for the dogs, not necessarily the owners. But, by giving the needed guidance, we can certainly assist making a bad situation better. As Breeders, sometimes we hold ourselves in too high of regard and come off bitter and just plain hateful. I really think we need to work on that. It makes the forum a place for Nastiness of all kinds and that is all too sad. We are better people than that and we can certainly extend the love we have for our dogs to the dogs of others regardless of the situation. We should collectively feel ashamed of a great deal of the reactions to some of the posts on this board; while working hard to think before we speak and avoid nasty comments at all costs.

Novices, you don’t get off easy however….To that point, I also understand the frustration those same breeders share due to the shear disregard by those who enter this forum with the same scenario of “my dog’s bred, now what?” There is NO excuse for carelessness in this age as research is at your fingertips. We are all well aware when a female comes into heat and to that end, that is exactly why “pet” owners should have their dogs altered. Overall, it promotes much better health in the dog and in the long run keeps situations like these at bay. I’ve had way too many calls over the years insisting they have no idea how their female was bred, overlooking the fact that two intact dogs are living in the same household. That is the first sign of irresponsibility. Those who do realize that dogs without the proper genetic testing have bred seem to be more concerned with going about the excitement of having puppies without ever considering the absolute strain now placed on their beloved family pet. Leave brain surgery to the surgeons and whelping to those properly trained. Not once have I seen the following advice taken: Within a 72 period of an unwanted tie, dogs can be taken to a vet for a vaginal smear to determine if pregnancy could be a possibility. Once complete, a vet can administer a “morning after pill” so to speak. After the 22nd day of pregnancy, a simple test for relaxin can be done and the necessary action taken by a vet. Termination of canine pregnancy in no way poses any greater threat than those associated with normal whelp or C section (which are all too frequent anyway thanks to the breeding of 3lb females). Some shutter to even consider this option, but never take into account the responsibly of the overall health of the female, nor the real chance for loss of not only the entire litter and the dam.

We very often like to place the blame for genetic faults like Liver Shunts at the feet of unscrupulous breeders and puppy mills. However, many who offer excuses like “oops,”…. “just wanted to see her have puppies once,”…. “really wanted to have at least one of her offspring,”…”my kids need to experience this”…. and others who make similar comments are absolutely as much to blame as the mills. The offspring are then discarded to anyone with a little cash with no spay / neuter contingencies and really no consideration for the puppy’s wellbeing into the already overwhelming pet population to continue spreading genetic faults which will eventually change the breed as we know it.


Guys, I’ve said this a thousand times, as an owner of any animal, you and you alone are completely responsible. Our pets, show stock, breeding stock, etc.. rely completely on our ability to make appropriate decisions for them. They are at our mercy. Those who simply refuse to or cannot take that responsibility to heart do not need intact dogs…. Period… We simply do not have “oops” here and for good reason. Intact males and females are absolutely never housed together. Cycles are carefully documented to determine when the time is close. All dogs are sold on spay / neuter contracts and many are altered prior to placement. These are easy considerations….. All too often I encounter those who truly have no real understanding of the intimate relationship and bond of reliability pets have with their owner. They absolutely need you to have their best care at the forefront of your thoughts.

I’m not pointing fingers…. Well, yes I guess I am. I am pointing them at all of us, myself included. We need to be a cohesive community providing good sound direction while gently fighting the ever mounting battle waged against our Yorkies. Without good breeders sounding off, the battle is lost for them.

I also wanted to touch an a subject brought up by Barbara, You are exactly right when you say that the newbies today are the possible show breeders of tomorrow. We all certainly started somewhere. However, there is a difference between one who begins researching when the deed is already done and one who plans and prepares. I am going to post again our humble beginnings as a reminder of our wonderful and agonizing this work can be. I am holding in my lap today the daughter of one the puppies from the litter described below. By some stroke of odd luck has made her way back to me.

“Every breeder on this board started somewhere…. I had an excellent mentor….. She was passing the torch of 25 years of knowledge and experience to me (how lucky was I?)…. My second litter was due being whelped by my most beautiful dog (not to mention that I was also attached to her as much as I was my children)…. Talk about a textbook pregnancy…. 42nd day ultrasound showed 6 very well proportioned, small puppies…. Delivery started…..no distress….easy labor on the first puppy… then nothing….and nothing… I was prepared…. I had read all of the books…. Not to fear, middle of the day, no emergency call…. We headed to the vet just to be sure (12 miles)….she died in my hands as I walked through the office door…. I called my mentor in horror and unbelievable grief….she said, “you’ll know in a few weeks if this is for you.” …. She said that because I had 6 very tiny puppies (5 saved through c/s) that needed to be nursed every two hours for weeks….I buried my Gizmo where our new kennel stands today and got started with her babies…..I would hardly close my eyes b/f it was time to feed again….two weeks into it, one just didn’t thrive….now I was at wit’s end….three days later one aspirated on the feeding tube….I was done, called my mentor and told her to come get them all… she said, “no, this was your choice”…. 20 or so weeks later of round the clock care, One by one, these tiny replicas of their mom, of whom I had become a surrogate mother, were picked up by new owners, placed under various Christmas trees….and absolutely delighted special families…. To this day, I still grieve for my Gizmo, to this day I still check up on every puppy I sell… I’ve shoveled truck loads of poop, dried gallons of pee, built kennels, torn down kennels, delivered puppies at 2:00 am on every holiday celebrated by man (even my kids birthday parties which I had to miss)….Breeding is a complete sacrifice of everything else when the moment counts b/c your female is counting on you for everything….If you bring puppies into this world they are your responsibility and yours alone. My mentor made that quite clear to me. If you do not have the ability to deal with the difficulties with the same passion as you delight in the rewards, keep you little girls as a pets….. If you do have the ability, this could be the blooming of a wonderful new career…one that I love more with every pooper scooper full….”