I have to take offense to this statement. Just because a dog is an "outside" dog, doesn't mean it isn't trained or the person was too lazy to train it! I have had outside dogs before and the dogs prefered to stay outside. The house was too warm for them. Alaskan Malamute is a good example of an outside dog. These are dogs that prefer the outside and love cold weather! Becareful what you say.:mad:[/QUOTE]

I highly doubt that this is the situation. These people get a dog because it is little and cute and Free and don't even stop to think that the dog is going to get big, and and chew on the children and require training. So they chain the dog outside and that is where it spends the rest of it's life. The people aren't enjoying the dog, and the dog isn't enjoying life.

I can just picture my yorkie chained outside to a trailer hitch.

I'm not a breeder...
 

...but as a person who is looking for a Yorkie, I would love to have a breeder ask me lots of questions. I have spoken with several breeders over the last few months during my quest to find my Yorkie girl and many don't care who I am. I would rather have someone ask me a million questions than none at all. That shows me the breeder really cares about their puppies and where they go and it would make me feel more comfortable with the breeder.

I still think that you should tell her the truth. I think that any and every good breeder would see the same red flags as you do and would not let her get one of theirs. If she lies, well.....I dont know, what can you do? But no matter what, she's not getting one of yours. If she doesnt lie to the next breeder, she may lie to the next. But it will not be your doing. I say, tell her your concerns. Or, just say that you dont sell your pups to homes with children.

OMG, me too! I have had many breeders basicly just tell me the price and if I'm good with that, then so are they. I wont get a yorkie from someone like this. Where are the questions? Dont they care how I live? Dont they care how the puppy will live???

It would be so hard to be a breeder, but I have to say that honesty is usually the best way to go because it gives a potential buyer a chance to really learn something. I love the idea of home visits if you are close enough you can really get a chance to see where the puppy is going, It would be kind of hard to lie about young children with a toddler bed and toys, or that fenced yard if there isn't one. They migh go somewhere else and buy a puppy but at least your pup would be safe, however it isnt always practical to see everyones home.

I ask those that call me if they have children, how old, fenced yard, swimming pool, where the dog will stay ect....If they have children under 8 I don't place into that home...if they have a swimming pool and it's not fenced so the yorkie can't get to it I don't place in that home either. I have pretty strict rules. I had one guy tell me his 5 year old twins were well behaved and I just had to tell him I'm sure they are but I'm sorry my rules for placing a puppy is with someone that doesn't have children under 8 PERIOD! AND if they are over 8 and come into my home and act unruley my puppies won't go there either! And all my yorkies go on a spay and neuter contract! NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

I keep seeing breeders and rescues always mention a fenced-in yard. I do have a VERY small backyard (I live in a townhouse) that is fenced in and lined with bricks. Lacy hardly ever goes out there and neither do I unless I'm grilling something...I mostly put those bricks in in case she accidentally ran out the back door (which she always tries to do) so she couldn't get out of the fence. But she's NEVER EVER allowed out there unless I'm standing out there with her. She wouldn't potty out there anyway since the yard is too small. I always put her harness & leash on her and walk her around my complex in the grassy areas to potty.

I understand asking if someone has a fenced in yard or not but isn't it safer to walk a dog on a harness and leash than to let it go out in a fenced-in backyard unattended? I've seen a lot of stories about dogs getting stolen out of their backyard or getting out somehow. Even if the owner is out there with the dog, what if part of the fence is damaged that has gone unnoticed or an animal dug underneath the fence leaving room for the dog to escape? What if something toxic was thrown into the yard and the dog goes over to it. With my dog being on a leash, she's never 4 feet away from me.

So why is it that some breeders and rescues will not sell to a family just because they don't have a fenced-in backyard? As long as the owner is responsible and states that they always take their dogs out on a harness and leash, isn't that good enough? I think I'm one of the most responsible dog owners I know & my dog is treated like royalty...so it doesn't seem right that I would be denied because I don't take my dog out in a fenced-in backyard.

I let my dogs out out the doggy door and I'm not always out there but I also have concrete dug about 2 feet underground that my fence sets on so they can't dig to get out and our fence is always checked for holes and they aren't allowed to go out unless we are home. Same could be said for those owners that let their dogs go out without a leash. You can't always say they will take them out on a leash to potty. I never said I wouldn't place a yorkie with someone that didn't have a fenced in yard but it's one of my questions that leads me to ask more questions if they don't have one. It's one of those questions that leads to more questions and so on and so on :) The more you know about who you place your yorkie with the better :)

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terries

Yes I agree that the more you know the better :) I know you didn't say you wouldn't place a puppy in a home without a fenced-in yard, but it just made me think about it. I don't know of any breeders specifically but I do know that rescues have turned people away just because they don't have a fenced in yard.

yards
 

If I required a fenced in yard, many Yorkies would have missed great homes. Quite a few of mine live in NY city..one in a penthouse and the owner has a dog walker just for her...a couple others live in ocean condos and are trained to pads.. fenced yards are not always possible or needed for a toy breed.

I think most rescues asked for a fenced yard because most big dogs become outside dogs and they don't want to risk the larger dogs to end up on chains in the back yard without a fence. I ask about a fenced yard due to the fact I do let my yorkies run through the doggie door outside to play. I feel that dogs need to experience outside to just run and play and I know my backyard is alot safer than a dog park persay....I think being able to run and play plays a vital part in overall health. They need the sunshine, the ability to run and exercise their muscles just like humans. Alot of people don't take their yorkies running or walking and treat them too much like babies. Carry them everywhere they go and not let them touch the ground. I think being able to run and play is so important to develop immunities to some airbourne viruses so they can handle it and socialization and also I think it makes them so happy to be able to just run and have fun. They are just like humans to me and I treat them as I would a child! They need that exercise and what a perfect way and have a fenced in yard. With a fenced in yard these babies can run and play and enjoy themselves. Of course I trust my neighborhood and if you didn't trust your fenced in yard then of course supervision is a must! Yorkies aren't as fragile as most people would think. They are hearty little guys and were bred as ratters in the fields.
JMHO

Donna Bird
Brooklynn's Yorkshire Terriers

I dont breed but if i did Id prolly be a big fat liar.....id be afraid they would come after me if I said I felt they are unfit.

OMG
It's not only heartbreaking to have to give your babies up but down
right dangerous at times to try and sell them:eek:

I think small dogs can get enough exercise in the house if it's large enough, but one day when I buy a house I plan to have a nice backyard for my dogs to run around in some too. I know Lacy would love to be able to play outside offleash.

My girlfriends and I are always saying we will all end up together retired in a nice trailer park in Florida :) I'm not sure that we all don't actually feel that way to a degree...lol.