[topknot]

Thank you - thank you Lorraine for writing/starting this post!!

I think a lot of people had things wrong for so long! Here are my thoughts and what I have learned over time...many of the posters have already stated what I have to say.

Pups from show breeders do Not cost more. What you do need to know is that we have done testing on the parents and the pups before they leave and these tests are not cheap. Not to mention boosters - the pups usually have all their boosters, except rabies before leaving. I know of some pet breeders that actually charge more than what show breeders sold their pups for. So you have to check around. Also you may have to wait for a litter to be born from a show breeder. Many do not breed a lot, nor have a lot of yorkies. I have found that there are many people looking for a yorkie pup are spotanous buyers - they have to have everything now. I have known some people that did not want to wait and they bought any pup they were able to buy at the soonest moment. They did not check out the breeder, nor did their research and just bought the first pup they could get. Then I get the calls later from these people of what a mistake they made by buying quickly - that something is wrong with the pup or it does not look like a yorkie now that it is growing up. People need to realize this is a lifetime commitment and should never buy on a whim!

Show breeders show to prove the quality of their dogs. Yes, it can be fun, but it is also a lot of work, money, and dedication to our breed. They are very serious in what we are doing! And breeding should be taken very serious!

When show breeders make a match it is after great thought and research. Learning the faults of all the dogs and knowing the lines. No dog is perfect so they try the best they can to produce the best they can, especially since they are wanting to keep a pup for themself from this match. They are not fortune tellers and do not have a crystal ball, even though they wish they did. So not all litters may turn out as they hope, but at least they are not just playing Russian Roulette and putting any two dogs together.

I have found too that the longer the pup stays with its breeder the more socialized it is. This is from my own experience. So the show breeder gets to see how the pups are developing and how the match is working out - and the pet buyer gets a well socialized and sometimes well trained pet puppy. Show breeders Cannot keep every pup in the litter. Usually they are keeping only one to hold on to for show. I have seen many of a Good Looking pup go to good pet homes.

Yes... I will babysit for free any of my pups I have sold - but never thought about grooming too. That is great Mardelin! I do get a lot of photos or stop overs to show me. I love seeing my babies come back to visit! I feel like a grandma!! Love it!

Yes, show breeders are very picky!! But we need to be. We love our babies and we take this very, very serious. We are totally responsible for our babies, since they cannot speak for themself. So we have to be careful for where they go and we want to make sure it is a lifetime commitment. :-)

T.