What do breeders do with unwanted puppies?
 

There are lot of breeders that seem to always have litters.

I've seen some that advertise their puppies on here and others that don't but they may have the same puppies on their website for months?

What is done with these puppies that are either "not up to standard" or "nobody buys and are no longer cute 12 week puppies, arent cute, have huge ears, are too big, color is off.. etc....

Where do these dogs end up? Does anybody here know?

I have never had a unwanted puppy. My puppies always have a good home with me until I find the right person for them. I have 4 month old puppies right now that I am in no hurry to sell. I adore them. I don't just try to shove them out the door when they are 8 weeks. I will sell them when I find the right home and not before. I did not even offer them for sale until last week. I have had calls but not the right person. I will just enjoy them until the right person comes along.

Don't be fooled if you see the same puppies on someones website for a long time. Sometimes I might sell a litter and just forget to go back and update my website. I know some breeders just put up pictures of adorable puppies that they might not even have just to attract attention and then when people call they will say that puppy is sold but they have another pup they will sell to them. Of course this pup might not be as cute or it might be a lot bigger than the one advertised.

I know some breeders will eventually drop their price if the right person comes along but if you are thinking breeders take them to the animal shelter, I think not.

Some "breeders" keep them and breed them. :eek:

I also have never had an unwanted puppy. They all stay with me until I find the JUST RIGHT home for them no matter how long it takes.

I am the same way and they will stay with me until the right home comes along. However, if I have a puppy or a litter of puppies that's not quite the quality that I like to breed for, then I lower their prices significantly...which does cause me to have to weed out more people that are trying to breed or that don't have a good home for a puppy, etc. but it also brings some wonderful people that wouldn't normally be able to afford a $1200 puppy but are just looking for a baby to snuggle and love. My favorites are people that say first thing that they don't care about registration papers, they are just looking for a companion, etc. There are plenty of people out there just looking for a baby to snuggle with that don't mind if the ears are bigger or the bite is a little off, etc. and you just sell them as pets only at a reduced price. I don't mind lowering my prices significantly for these people because I would rather them spend the money on vet check ups, food, and other puppy stuff than the puppy itself. :p

i see many unwanted puppies dogs cats and more people get tired of them or just magically found them they take them to vets humane societys pounds or just drop them off somewhere and let them fend for themsleves. im sure many"breeders" usually don't do this they will eventually drop prices or just try and rehome them or even take them to pet stores . either way there are way too many unwanted animals out there!

I am sure there are unreputable breeders that do that. The world is full of evil uncaring people but you certainly can't lump the majority of yorkie breeders in that category.

I would echo what bjh and Sugar's Mom said. There is no such thing as an unwanted puppy. I never get in a hurry to find homes for mine. The priority is to find the RIGHT home for that puppy. Some pups will be placed earlier than others; that just the way it is. It doesn't seem to matter if the pup is a great representation of the breed or is somewhat off standard. For instance, I just placed a little girl this past weekend with a wonderful family that seems perfect for her. She is a gorgeous little girl that, except for being small (3 1/2 pounds) would have good show potential. She was 11 months old before we found the perfect home for her, which is fine by me. In contrast, I've placed other pups that weren't as much to the standard as her much earlier so perceived 'quality' doesn't always mean they get placed first. I will say that, as they get older, I get much pickier about who they go to since I know the pup so well. For me, the bottom line isn't to place puppies quickly but rather to place them in a home where I know they will be loved and properly cared for so they can thrive. I'm also extra careful of the homes I place any tiny babies in as they are not 'beginner Yorkies'. I have to feel good about the homes they go to or I could never let them out the door and that goes for them all, no matter what criteria someone may use in judging the quality of the pup. They are all precious and deserve a great home. And there is always a perfect home for each one of them.

I tend to think that a lot of the reputable breeders do not breed until they know they will have homes for them.

I think that would work for a breeder that has been around a long time and has lots of clientele. Some of the show breeders might have waiting lists but for a small breeder just getting started I think this idea is very unrealistic. I have had waiting lists and usually by the time I have a litter the people have already bought one somewhere else. Show breeders will not usually even think about selling a puppy until it is much older and they can evaluate it.

If you have any to give away I'll take one..:D I'm one of those that could care less about the registration papers. Mine are just my pets and very loved. So, if you ever can't find a home, look me up..;)

It is my understanding that you only need papers if your breeding/showing correct? If so, I'm not worried about papers either.:)

It sounds like the reputable breeders that have posted DO care where their puppies end up. However, backyard breeders are probably not that picky.

I think that really depends on the breeder. Good breeders will keep them until they find the right home. Unreputable ones would probably drop them off at a shelter somewhere if they get to "old" or to far out of the puppy stage.. Or even breed them to just get more pups to sell....:(

How old is too old to breed
 

I have a 5 year old yorkie that I want to breed before I have her spayed and the potential father is 3 pounds and she is 6

I don't think anyone here has or had a problem selling their puppies.
I have also been very lucky to find great homes for all my babies. I have a litter now and all but one is sold. I start early with the advertising and as people call and come over I get to meet with them and find out if I think one of my puppies is right for them. I just turned a older woman down because she told me she had a yorkie, but had to give him away because he had troubles with his trachea and he was always throwing up all the time.:( I had to tell her I didn't think she was a good fit for a puppy.

And to add, a lot of my buyers/owners come back to buy another one or two and tell their friends, so I always have people waiting just around the corner for my girls to have a litter.:D

I have my girls fixed at that age.

Oh my goodness, no and no again. have that precious girl spayed. that is way too old to have a first litter. my girls are also retired spayed at five years old if not before for some reason.

Like the poster above me I have never and never will have an unwanted puppy. They didn't ask to be brought into this world, it was my decission there for they are my responsiblity. Yes I am guilty of not always updating my website and occassionaly will leave pictures up too long. I have been known to hold onto my puppies up to one year old because I haven't found the home I thought was right for them. I have also been known to give a puppy to a home if I felt in my heart and after checking references and talking with vets to the right home.
Yes some people out there just don't care and will turn around and breed a puppy that isn't all it should be and that is just wrong. They should be spayed and placed in loving pet homes even if it means letting them go for the cost of the spaying. But as for an unwanted puppy... No they can always live their life out here in my home with me just being loved and spoiled rotten.
Thanks for asking such a great question... It made me stop and think because as I said in my eyes "THEY ARE NEVER UNWANTED"

Personally, I think there is a big difference as to what most of the breeders on YT would do (keep that baby until the right home is found) vs. what others in the big, bad world would do. Some "greeders" will bring the pups to auction, give them up to rescue (thankfully), bring them to Humane Associations, sell them to pet stores....or, worse - sadly.

What I've always wondered why breeders don't ever donate any of their yorkies that are not sold to a charity a low income family? :confused:

I have never had a puppy longer then 16 weeks, but then again I only have pet quality pups and I sell them a lot less expensive then show people. If I did have a puppy longer I would not even think about doing that because, if a person can not afford to purchase one how would they be able to pay for vet bills and such. I know it sounds like a nice idea, but you really do what to worry about who gets your babies and whether or not they can take care of them.
I know this sounds mean, but I am concern about my puppies and need to know they will be taken care of.;)

Even though I see your point about "if a person can't afford vet bills how can they afford a dog" is with good intentions.

I think we ALL can agree that "yorkies" a very over priced breed.

I know of low income families that have dogs and keep them up to date in shots and have food for them. My local shelter provides by paying only $5 shots and neutering and spaying.

Shouldn't these people also have the opportunity to have a yorkie thru a breeder's donation?

Yes, I guess you are right, but what if something bad happened and we all know how these small babies get into a lot of trouble, would they be able to pay for vet bills that ran into the 100's?
Like I said, I have never had a puppy past 16 weeks, mine have all found wonderful homes.

Yorkies are more expensive than some breeds because small breeds tend to have less per litter than larger breeds, making the cost per pup more. A large breed might have 10-12 puppies per litter. Also, Yorkies are one of the most expensive breeds to own. Most dogs shed, and besides nail trims, and bathing, there isn't much grooming to do. Yorkies, on the other hand, need frequent grooming, and this is expensive, and time consuming. They require shampoos and conditioners meant for a dog's skin in hair to avoid skin problems. These too are expensive. Yorkies need more dental care than other breeds, and because of their size are more prone to injuries and emergency treatment. In the two years of having Joey, I've gone to the emergency room twice, I never had to do this with any of my previous dogs, and both times it was necessary. Even a bout with diarrhea can be dangerous for these little guys, because they can become dehydrated so easily. I love Yorkies, but they are not the perfect dog for everyone.

By the way, good breeders are just barely breaking even now.

Well, I have Shih Tzu's also. She only had one litter both dad and mom were AKC and there were 5 puppies. The price for Shih Tzu's is way lower than a yorkie.

I agree that yorkies may have dental problems, can have liver shunt problems also. But a vet will not charge you more if it is a yorkie than a shih tzu for a similar problem. Unless a vet is unreputable and thinks you should pay more. My shih Tzu's have had problems that they had to be hospitalized and IV's put in. But you will also pay the same for any type of dog.

Yorkies come in different sizes also, not all of them are "little" I have one that is 13 lbs. You can also trim the hair at home with a trimmer and keep a puppy cut. You don't have to have them groomed outside.

Yorkies were originally bred to hunt rats in mines. They are sturdy animals.

However,If you buy a yorkie from a byb or puppy mill you will have major problems but you will have health problems with any breed from those places.

I wouldn't trade a yorkie for any other breed. They are addicting, feisty and entertaining.

But they are the "poodle" of our times. Too expensive to buy because of the demand for them.

I agree that Yorkies are an expensive breed to take care of. I send my Piper every 6 weeks to the groomer costing $45. My 13 year old Chipper had to have surgery last January for bladder stones. The stones had to be analized and the bladder wall had an unusual thickening so that had to have a biopsy. Between x-rays, tests, and surgery it ended up costing $1500. Five weeks later I had to let him go because he had cancer and there was nothing else that could be done. I cried for weeks and then decided to get another Yorkie. I just was miserable without a little fur baby. After much searching I found a breeder that I really liked. Waited for a litter and actually got first pick. I paid $1800 and Piper is everything I could want in a Yorkie. Easy going, loveable, smart and beautiful. A couple weeks ago I noticed she was using only 3 legs once in awhile and other times she was favoring that hind leg. Someone is always home so I knew nothing happened to her and she doesn't jump on and off furniture but I had a gut feeling something was wrong. Took her to the vets and he said it was her hip and recomended x-rays $250. Piper has Leggs-Perthes Disease and needs surgery $1500. This surgery should be done very soon because the head of the femur is loosing blood and dying. There was a bone chip floating that has already broken away. My baby is scheduled for her surgery Dec. 30. Like I said these babies can be very expensive but when you love them you just manage because there is no other choice.

My puppies do not leave here until they are at least 12 weeks old. I screen folks and check references. Sometimes, we hold back a puppy as a potential breeder or potential show puppy. If we choose to sell these older puppies, we spay and neuter them before they go to their new homes.

Sometimes a puppy is going to be too small or is going to be too large, and the price is adjusted. I have done payment plans. And yes, I have given a deep discount for a puppy that I wanted to have a special home.

The economy sucks right now. So some of the breedings I might want to do this year, might not happen. That is how I ensure that all my puppies are wanted....

It was mentioned that if you can't pay for a yorkie you can't pay for the vet bills. That does scare me sometimes when selling one at a discounted price, but I screen homes the best that I can. If someone tells me straight up that they cannot afford more than $200 for a yorkie, then I am leary...but if I have spoken to someone for awhile and know that they would be able to afford vet bills, etc. I have lowered the price many times to help them out, because as I said before, I would MUCH rather them spend the money on giving my baby a good home and paying for food, toys, grooming, routine check ups, etc. It is a fine line though. As Dee said, the economy right now is terrible and I don't think there are very many breeders that are doing more than breaking even, if that.

I have placed yorkies for free though in the past, but they were adults that I had retired. They were spayed and I ASKED for an adoption fee up front. If they had no problem with the fee then I dropped it and gave them the Yorkie at no charge. Of course, they were already adults and had passed the big stages for health issues, so I wasn't QUITE as concerned about them not being able to afford it. It's always a risk placing them, you could easily have someone calling you and wanting to bring them back in a week because they can't afford it, but you do the best you can and if you have to take one back, you do it...and you hold onto them until you find the RIGHT home.

If you donate to a charity for an auction you can't screen the new owners and you won't know where your baby has gone. It's my responsibility to place my babies personally. I always give my retired gals away to special homes. I've also sold pups that I've held for show but that just didn't turn out for a very low price if I feel that the home is perfect for the dog. The expenses of raising these pups properly is very high and very work intensive. Even at $1000. per pup with a 3 pup litter you're definitely not going to get rich. If you show the money will go back into show expenses and into bettering your line. Doing right by this breed is definitely expensive but the quality of yorkies 100 years from now is dependent upon what we do today.