[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Marilize

I have been a member of YT for more than two years and I have owned yorkies for that time. Every morning, I spend an hour or two researching yorkies and most afternoons, I am also on YT.

So, in two years, I want to start my own breeding program. I bought a beautiful girl earlier this year and she is very healthy at 5 months. The breeder I got her from knows that I plan to breed and she helped me pick out the best puppy. In hundreds of ways, June is the best thing that ever happened to me and I love her with all my heart.

I know that all YT members, especially the breeders, care a lot about their dogs and about the breeding practices of others, and I want to assure you that I feel exactly the same.

I really love yorkies and I want to start a breeding program to better the breed and to provide healthy, socialized puppies for caring people.

I have been reading about breeding for about 5 months and although I am nowhere near ready, I know about the risks and the precautions that need to be taken into account.

I would never breed a female under 5 lbs, so I hope June gets to be this size. If she doesn't, I won't breed her, I will just love her.

I am also passionate about home cooking and the organic lifestyle, so I want to raise the puppies on a healthy home cooked, nutritionist-balanced diet.

I have already put together an instruction sheet, my list for puppy care packages, recipes for home cooking, bill of sale and health guarantee.

Ok, so my question is: what do I need to do to be a good breeder? I want to show my dogs, breed ethically and responsibly. What should I do with regards to limited registration/spaying/neutering? I don't want one of my puppies to end up in a home where it is bred irresponsibly.

Another question: how long is the optimal health guarantee? 1 year? 2 years?

Feel free to quiz me on my breeding knowledge! I welcome any questions about my plan, my dogs, myself and my reasons for breeding. I really want to be one of the best breeders one day and I would really love the help of the great people of YT.

Any advice or questions will be greatly appreciated!

You're on your way to good start.

Read the YTCA code of ethics and conduct. Go to breeding and whelping seminars. Learn everything about the structure of the yorkie. YTCA has an illustrated standard of the yorkshire terrier that you can purchase. Study it. Investigate and study pedigrees.

A gurantee can be 1, 2, 5 or even a lifetime. What is more important is what is in the contract/gurantee.

There is an article that describes what makes a great breeder. There are different stages and some never achieve it.

Make sure that when you begin your breeding program that you begin with the best foundation your money can buy.

You mentioned showing and showing your dog is for the purpose of gaining aprroval of your breeding stock. I personally perfer not to breed a dog unless it has been Championed.

If you haven't already find a mentor, one that has a good track record in the dog world.

Some start breeding prior to showing and others don't breed until they've shown for a few years. I personnaly didn't begin until I championed 3 dogs.

But, as you say learn everything you can.