[Breeze]

Originally Posted by Lorraine

Hitting a dog is never an option, they don't understand. The point of the dog marking was that it was being kept intact for breeding. You can't split the problem. I think the marking of territory has to be addressed when you are changing from a pet Yorkie to a breeding one. Whether it be male or female, there should be some knowledge on behaviour on the intact animal and the management required to go with it. It is far easier to have a pet than a breeding dog or bitch. If you think dogs are bad for marking territory, wait til you have to deal with a female that marks territory. You can't treat the intact dog or bitch like you would a pet. They think with hormones if they are not altered.
On the matter of knowing what you are doing when breeding, I am not the Yorkie police, I am just asking that people think about what they about to do if they are getting into breeding and do it in an informed manner. Why? As a pet groomer, I am the one owners cry on my shoulder when they bought a puppy from someone who didn't know anything about genetic problems, bred anyway, and my grooming client bought their baby only to have it die at a young age or end up with astronimical vet bills to keep it going with some quality of life -- With no guarantees that were going to be honoured by the breeder. Some did get healthy puppies thank goodness.
I am not saying this is what is happening in this particular thread, I am pointing out caution.
What about you? You say you have a stud dog? If you are offering him for stud services do you know about his background and what about the owners of any females he is breeding? What are their guarantees? Are the owners of either the bitch or dog that produced the litter keeping in touch with the puppy buyers to see how these pups are doing and if there have been any problems with health either genetic, congenital, involving heart, kidneys, knees etc.
Yes, I get a little short a little sharp a little impatient, because I see what can happen far too many times. I end up crying over the loss of that pet puppy right along with the owner, because the puppy was produced without much knowledge or thought or followup.
Yes even in the best breeding programs, something can go wrong. But a responsible breeder tries to be as sure as possible of what they are breeding in the first place and will provide and honour guarantees.

Great post!!