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Originally Posted by mambolady  Hello, I have been reading this thread with great interest. First I would like to ask how you know their pups have hydrocephalus. That is a very serious disease that I would think would be obvious. Your post about this came out of the blue from what everyone else has been saying.
My second question is about finding a reputable breeder in the Los Angeles area. I have been searching online and have found a couple of breeders; reputable or not is a question that I don't know how to find out if they are. Can someone tell me how to find this out?
And lastly, you have been saying a lot about Star stating their dogs for sale are Teacup of which there is no such thing. This I knew, but while looking for a Yorkie I have found many, many places that say their Yorkies, etc are Teacups. Could it be that it is just considered now a way to say they are a bit smaller?
Thank you for your time. |
Welcome to YT. I'll let Cpt Noonie answer your first question, but I will second the observation that the heads of the Yorkies on that site are not "right" and definitely not in line with AKC Standards.
As for finding a reputable breeder. First rule of thumb is "NO Petstores". Period. They get their puppies from mills. Some will use the line that the get them only from pirvate breeders, but no reputable breeder would sell to a store. To locate a reputable breeder, start by going to the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America's website:
Yorkshire Terrier Club of America
There is a breeder referral section. If those breeders do not have pups, they can help you locate another reputable breeder in the area.
Now for the teacups. No, it's not a new way to just say "small". It's a marketing term used by people trying to separate a fool from his money. The AKC recognizes only one category of Yorkies, Toy. This is a statement from the YTCA on "teacup", "doll faced", etc...
If you are interested in purchasing a tiny Yorkie, sometimes called a Teacup, Micro Mini, Teeny, or any other name that means “extra small”, there are several things you should consider. The YTCA’s Code of Ethics precludes the use of the words “teacup”, “tiny specialists”, doll faced, or similar terminology by its members, and for good reason.
All breeders may occasionally have an unusually small Yorkie (hopefully healthy),though no responsible breeder breeds for this trait. Many breeders prefer a general weight range of 4-7 pounds believing that size retains desired Toy qualities while maintaining optimum health. The Yorkie Standard states weight "must not exceed seven pounds" and as a prospective pet owner you should realize that even at 7 pounds, the Yorkie is still a small dog. (Females weighing less than 5 pounds are considered by most breeders to be unsuitable for breeding.)
Special circumstances often come with extra tiny dogs. They are extremely susceptible to both hereditary and non-hereditary health problems, including birth defects that may go undetected for a long time. Other common problems may include, but are not limited to, diarrhea, vomiting, along with extra and expensive tests prior to routine teeth cleanings and surgeries. Small ones are more likely to have poor reactions to anesthesia and die from it. Tiny dogs are more easily injured by falls, being stepped on and being attacked by other dogs. These health problems nearly always result in large veterinary bills.
Please take this into consideration and make purchasing a healthy pet your top priority, not size. The “novelty” is certainly not worth the pain, heartbreak, or extra expense. Remember, all Yorkies are comparatively small. The most important thing is finding a healthy puppy that will grow into a healthy adult, especially since you looking at an 11 to 15 year commitment with your Yorkie.There is much information on our web site. Please take the time to study it before buying a puppy. We wish you the best of luck.