[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by ranant12

In my opinion, a BYB basically begins breeding like this. Oh gosh, I paid $500 dollars for this CKC registered yorkie female and now she's in heat (I think). My friends neighbor has a male yorkie that she wants to breed to my female so off we go to get the deed done(no concern for genetics, or testing).... Weeks later, OH CRAP! she is pregnant (I think...I mean her belly is getting big). I guess I need to try to find out what to do so I don't lose any of these little precious puppies. I mean they are worth at least $400-500 each!! Go to yorkie talk and ask the most basic questions like 'how long are they pregnant for?' Then get offended by any answer that doesn't praise you for bringing a new litter into the world. Then you wake up one morning to find that your precious darling has managed to give birth all alone while you were sleeping to 3 little babies (in her kennel of course). You are so relieved, I mean that little bundle should bring you over a $1000 dollars profit. 6 weeks later, those little money bags are taken from their mom and sold through the local paper to the first people to show up with enough money.(shots and worm med. were purchased at the local farm supply. vets are too expensive and cut into your profits.) No interviews, no home checks. It was such a great and profitable experience you now think you may get another female and start your own "yorkie business!!"

Reputable breeders, have generally owned yorkies for a long time and know almost everything there is to know about the breed. They research for a long time everything that is involved in breeding and usually have experience with breeding from another reputable breeder. They spend time finding a female that meets the AKC standards of a yorkie and a male that meets the same standards. Then both dogs are tested for every genetic problem that yorkies are prone to in order to avoid passing faults on to puppies. Then they wait until, in the vets, opinion the female is old enough and healthy enough to breed. Breeding is done under close supervision. The breeder closely monitors the female's pregnancy and knows all the signs to look for to ensure things are going well. They know well in advance when to expect the new litter and have emergency medical supplies ready and the vet on stand-by in the event of problems. They spend the last week of the pregnancy monitoring temperatures and basically sleeping next to the expectant mother. Birth is monitored closely with the reputable breeder sitting next to the new mom (no bathroom breaks, no sleeping, cramping legs and all). As soon as the pups and mom are rested, they are off to the vet for a thorough check. The pups stay with mom for a minimum of 8 - 12 weeks and new homes are interviewed thoroughly. Once the litter in new homes, the mother is not bred again until she is physically recovered (usually a year).

Both litters were born at home. Both litters are yorkies, but the difference is the quality of the dog you purchase. Both breeders are new at this, but one is in it for the money and one is in it for the breed.

This is exactly right .