[DBlain]

I keep on thinking of this phrase betterment of the breed. While I agree that is the ideal to strive for, it seems to be happening less and less. When I went to get a new dog about a year and a half ago I was horrified at how many awful down right ugly representations of the yorkie breed there are out there. Most were AKC but I would be embarrassed to walk them and be asked, "what kind of dog do you have" because so many looked nothing like the breed I fell in love with 25 years ago. My last three yorkies were from show breeders and the last one cost $1,850.00 7 years ago. Even though I could well afford to pay that or more I decided never again would I spend that much on a dog. I first looked into breed specific rescues in my area but without even meeting me I was turned me down for not having a fence. I checked off and on with a few of the shelters that I have done some volunteer work with and none had any yorkies or yorkie mixes that were fairly young to choose from. Not wanting to spend 2 grand and not wanting to wait two years for a high ender breeder like Taylor thinks is so great to "select" me as worthy I bought the old fashioned way from a someone that advertised in the paper and I purposely looked for a mix because I wanted some of the temperament that yorkies are known for to be tempered down. I actually thought I would look for a morkie, and then I saw Lola's picture. I still laugh that I bought her because Poms can be high strung and snippy much like the traits I was hoping to avoid, but I did and so far so good. I have friends that buy golden doodles or yorkie poo's for the same reason and so that is the reason they are bred, because people want them. Thankfully there is NO standard to worry about except the hope that you wind up with a healthy dog, as many of you know even buying from breeders you consider good does not guarantee a long life. I do not support pet stores or puppy mill but I am glad that small home breeders that have a litter or two exist, because Lola probably came from someone like the OP, and I am sorry that she was chased away by people who know nothing about her or the health of her adult dogs. If and when I have to replace Lola I would not hesitate to go the same route again, and I am lucky that buyers in America and the free world are able to make a choice between the type of breeder that works best for them.