[JeanieK]

Well, like the rest of you I am aprehensive about putting in my 2 cents for fear of offending someone.

I believe both sides bring up valid points. First of all I agree with "elegantorchid" that most of the unwanted dogs in this country come from dogs that were gotten free and the people can't afford to spay or neuter so the dogs gets pregnant and then they don't know what to do so they give the puppies away, if they can, and that starts another batch of free breeders.

As for leaving the breeding only to experienced breeders; well all the experienced breeders were inexperienced at one time, unless they were born into a familly of breeders. We all have to start somewhere.

As for why anyone would want to get into it. I guess I am the perfect one to answer that because I am wanting to get into it. That is why I am here, to learn all that I can from experienced breeders and from the mistakes of inexperienced breeders. I am doing my homework and studying all I can about the breed, the genetic flaws and how to choose dogs that will compliment each other.

My reason for getting into it is for a hobby. We are retired and our children are grown and we love Yorkies. Breeding is not just a science, it is also an art and with yorkies, it is a whole lot of luck.

Yorkies are not like any other breed, because they came from mating different breeds of dogs and inbreeding until they got the desired look, and the right color and texture of coat and out breeding to get rid of the undesired traits.

But because the genes, that produce the desired qualities, are recessive genes, it take the right pair of dogs to get the right look. Add to that, the fact that different breeders and judges prefer different looks, and it makes Yorkie breeding even more of a challenge.