[Poshible]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Lindsey,

I was reading your past posts and read that you have a young child. And in reading this I read other's made mention of reluctance of breeders placing a pup in a family with young children. I will say I am one of those breeders, but with a caviat.

Last year I had a mother and son family contact me for a pup. My initial instinct was to say no. What I did do is ask her to come visit and bring her son for the initial meet and greet. When they arrived and what I witnessed over the hour they spent with me and the pups, taught me a new lesson. When mother and son entered the house, the son removed his shoes without being asked, so did his mother. I then led them to the area where the pups could be viewed and interacted with. Without being asked the boy immediately sat on the floor and flattened himself out so the pups could climb all over him. He went into a fit of giggles, handling the pups ever so gently. At one point one of the pups grabbed on and nipped him. He never screamed or yelled, just looked at his mom and asked her to get the pup loose. The came back for several visits and needless to say I let one of my pups go home with him.

Every breeder has a set of rules to insure their pups go to the best possible homes. But, each set of circumstances is unique in itself. If I had of held fast and firm to my rules, little Jedi (the young boy is a Star War's fan) would have missed out on the perfect home, where he is smothered with love and given the best possible care.

Yes, I do have a 4 year old. But I can not defend breeders that willingly let Yorkies go to homes with small children either. Let me make sense of that:

We had to bring him to the breeders house to pick up Selphie as well. Sad story, I have a 12 year old little sister and when she was 3 threw our little boy Jacob down a flight of stairs (He was a yorkie). He made it, but had brain damage. My parents rehomed him with my grandmother. I, myself would not let one of these pups go home with a family that has kids because of that. Which is why I could never breed :-) and teach my son valuable lessons of treatment to anything and everything from animals to his toys. He knows how to handle his emotions at 4 years old. When he is mad, he breathes and responds softly for example...it is so adorable. But-he is a rare example of children. His friends do not act this way. Nor did I as a child.

When I was looking for Selphie I made sure the breeder asked me several questions. If they were not iffy upon hearing about my son, I was not interested in them because for all they knew he could be a heathen, and freely letting such a small baby go with him is not what I believe in. Luckily he is not. When we got there he asked to pick up a puppy, then sat down next to her and the mommy pup and called them to him instead of grabbing for them. They had him spend time with the dogs while we watched from the other room to see if he would act differently and he did not, he was trying to teach them "sit". My son, again, is a rare example though, because of his lifestyle I trust him. He has raised our farm animals with me since being born--he bottle fed them right beside me. That does in no way make me think that it is suitable for a Yorkie to be homed with children. It is by circumstance.

Hope that explains a little bit :-) I have pictures up of him with my animals as well.