Becki - good post!

I think we have a big gap with different types of breeders. We have the show exhibitor breeder that breed only for themself, do all the testing, know pedigrees/lines, and try to protect the breed.

Then we have an average pet person breeding. There is going to be a big diference, in my opinion. Many pet breeders I have run into that breed (not all but most) do not do testing before breeding and I am not just talking about the Burcelious test, but the full gambet. Nor do they know about lines. I have asked before about pedigree of their dog and they had no clue what I was talking about. I asked about their dogs flaws compared to the standard and they thought I was talking about the size, like toy, standard, etc..- like poodles have. LOL So if they have no clue and still breeding - what do you think your chances are of getting a nice yorkie that is healthy. Just because the parents seem healthy, does not mean there is not an underlinning problem that will show up later. Or could not be past on to theri pups and show up there.

Then there is the pet breeder that does know about lines and says they are thinking about showing to get a nice show prospect puppy and then decides not to show and is just breeding it to get as many pups out of them as possible.

Then you have your person that is trying to learn, knows about pedigrees, but does not want to spend more money to get a nice dog. So instead they breed what they got to begin with even though it is way below standard.

I have seen a lot of web sites out there too - with photos of their sires and dams that they are breeding and they are really ugly yorkies.

I won't even go into puppymill breeders.

I say buyer beware - if you are trying to buy the cheapest yorkie you can. It may cost you more than you expected in the long run with vet bills or one that turns out not to look like a yorkie or a really bad representation of one.

JMO - but I feel that one has a better chance of getting a healthier, prettier yorkie from someone that has a good strong line behind the pup with testing being done and good qulaity champions behind them close by - at least in the 2nd generation. And you can still find good prices from breeders like this that can't keep all the pups for themself - they are usually just looking for one good one.

Unfortunately there are a lot of uneducated buyers that have no clue and just want a yorkie for the cheapest they can get it for. They think if the puppy is cute - it will turn out cute too. Wrong. Our breed is one that goes through many changes and you have to know what to look for. Reason why you have to research and learn all you can about the breed before buying. Cheapest does not mean best buy!
T.

I haven't altered all of my pet puppies, just the ones who are old enough. I wont put a 12 week old puppy through that.. maybe a larger male, not a female. But the difference is, I don't sell most of my puppies at 12 weeks.. Since I am breeding for myself, I want to hold on to them until I am sure they are not going to be what I want for show before I let them go.. this may mean six months, this may mean a year. At six months plus .. Yes, they're "fixed" before leaving me... my hard work and the hard work of those who came before me that make up my lines deserves to be protected. There are sooooooooo many "CKC" registered puppies who have been bred from AKC limited reg. parents.. I'm not taking chances. The rest are on spay/neuter contracts.. papers with-held until proof of spay/neuter.

What you quoted as average prices are my average prices as well.. typically I start males at $600-$1000 and females $800-$1200+. I have more larger males than anything it seems.. lol I can count the female puppies I've placed in pet homes on one hand. I have let older (6 mos plus) larger males go for much less than $600 for the right home.. it's not about the money to me.. yes I'd like to break even (ha!) but for me, it's about finding the right match in the perfect pet home.

Unfortunately in my area, my prices are considered "steep".. but what you GET in return far outweighs the $350 newspaper special... unfortunately a lot of people who inquire with me aren't intelligent enough to realize that. That's okay, gives me lots of opportunities to edcuate..that is when I'm not left completely speechless.. LOL

I think my favorite was when I was trying to explain that there was no such thing as a Teacup.. the girl said "Oh yes there Is, I have proof there is.. I own one!".. yeah, that was another speechless moment for me.. I think I finally replied with 'well allrighty then!".. lol

Becki

The higher price for the small ones is simply because "they can". there is a higher demand for hem and people are willing to pay outrages prices for them.

Many unscrupulous breeders will even sell a 6 wweek old puppy, telling the uninformed buyer, that the puppy is 12 weeks old, to make them think it is going to be small, just so they can get more money for them.

Oh yes I have heard that one myself.
No arguing with that kind of logic.

becki, I sooo agree with your posts. it is hard to compete in my area when the paper is full of $250. yorkies. yes, that's right!!!! $250. People are looking into cheap and not remotely interested in our pedigrees and etc. i recently sold a year old male for $400. I had advertised him as Judabob on both sides. People wanted to know what Judabob meant. I took less than half what I had originally asked for him because I know he went to a good home. other times, I myself have called to inquire about dogs and asked about the bloodline or pedigree and have had the people come back withm "what's that". You know someday I am going to look at one of these 250., no health guarantee or anything yorkies and see what they are putting out for that price.:)

I don't entirely agree with your post... what I do agree with is that yes, there is a higher demand for smaller yorkies, and yes, from an economical stand point it would make more sense to be able to recoup more of your expenses from a more "sought after" dog.. HOWEVER I don't think anyone reputable is doing it because "they can".. sooooooo much more care goes into the smaller ones....and very often they must stay with the breeder until much older than the typical puppy because they are not physically or emotionally ready for a new home.. that is worth SOMETHING, don't you think? I had a puppy a couple of years ago who was born with a cleft lip. Everyone told me to put her to sleep, but I couldn't do it. She couldn't nurse.. I had to tube feed her...every 2 hours around the clock for FIVE WEEKS. AT this time I also had a 4 month old human baby, so sleep was something that had become completely foreign to me. At around 10 days old the puppy got constipated, and dehydrated, and I thought for sure I was going to lose her.. I did sub Q fluids, kept her warm and prayed a lot. I promised God that if she lived, I would find some way special for her to give back. Miraculously she made it through the constipation, and was able to be weaned at 5 weeks old to lapping formula from a bowl. I can't even explain in words how much I loved (and still love!) this little girl... when she was old enough I GAVE her to a family (gave, not sold) who is doing pet therapy with her, as I promised God I would do, so she could give back in thanks for her life. This little girl matured to be 3 lbs, and is the CUTEST little stinker you could ever imagine, even with her little cleft lip she is still just absolutely a gorgeous little Diva. I poured my heart and soul into that puppy.. to me that is priceless, so there was not a price that could have ever been paid for her that would have ever been enough. Knowing that she's helping children & other people with disabilities and issues is all the payment I ever needed.

SO...not everyone charges a "ton" for the small ones just "because they can".. lol sometimes they can, and just don't.

Becki

Dee, I am so tempted to go see some of these places and dogs that are being sold like that, and see just what these $350 puppies and their breeders are all about.. but honestly, I'm afraid to track back parvo, fleas, coccidia, etc. etc. into my own crew. I really am curious, however.. just WHAT do you get for $350..?

I talked to a girl the other day who bought a puppy at six weeks from a broker, took the pup to the vet, vet said it was more like 4 weeks.. it had no teeth...it was covered in fleas, had roundworms, coccidia and tape worms, this girl nursed the baby back to health as much as she could, and kept the puppy alive for 8 weeks amazingly.. and she ended up finding her dead at 12 weeks of age in her sleep. The broker says no refund because it had to have been her (the buyer's) fault. I wish she'd gotten a necropsy.. what do you bet it was a liver shunt? ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH... this poor girl paid $800 for that puppy. That is just pitiful.

Becki

Wow, that was a really touching story - thanks for sharing that :).

My Marcel was small, and he stayed with his breeder until he was 4mths old - at that point, I picked him up and he was about 1 pound 4 ounces. She was comfortable letting him come to me bc 1) I already had a yorkie and knew what I was getting into, 2) I'm a nurse and 3) I asked a TON of questions until I felt uncomfortable. Even so, I cannot express how truly vulnerable a 1.4 lb. puppy is - and you can be darn sure that I'm more than willing to pay a breeder more for having the foresight and integrity to keep a vulnerable pup as long as is necessary for the pup's safety.

I can't imagine anyone SELLING a cleft pallet puppy.* The main concern for any puppy is a good home, but moreso with special needs puppies.* To find someone that is willing to take them and able to care for them is priceless.If anyone is claiming that they charge more for their small ones because they want to make sure the people can afford the vet care,* I find that amusing.* Is that why they charge $10000 for the "micro minis"?I agree that some people CAN but choose not to.* However, those that do, do it because they can.

I agree. :)

I think my point was left out while I was so wrapped up in telling the story.. lol The point is, even if she hadn't had a cleft and went through that same experience.. I made a promise to the big guy upstairs that if she lived, she was going to go on to give back in thanks.. and she would have been "priceless" and no charge to her new family regardless.

the cleft was actually a pretty mild hairlip and could have easily been repaired, but that's beside the point. lol

I bet those people she provides therapy for treasure her far beyond any dollar amount. I think this was an inspiring story and thank you for sharing it.

I had a former coworker that bought a 6 week old puppy for a couple hundred dollars, it was actually cheaper because she was willing to wait a couple weeks! Of course there was no health guarantee, no vet care....nothing! But hey, she got a great deal, right? I didn't point out all the additional costs she would incure since the puppy hadn't been to a vet yet or what could happen if she gets sick. I figured she'd discover that on her own.

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