Breeding = money
 

I've been researching and researching on breeding before I ever took the plunge and purchased a breeding pair of yorkies. I wanted to do it as a hobby and because I absolutely love the breed & tired of hearing how someone purchased a substandard or sick dog and were nothing short of ripped off, lied to, and left hanging with disappointment & a mountain of vet bills. It happens everyday and just sickens me.

I dont mind spending the $ to do it right. My dog's health/welfare and offspring are most important. Im prepared for marking, belly bands, sleepless nights, yuckie messes and howling......the whole thing. I work fulltime but have a home office with a very flexible work schedule and have plenty of PTO.

But I must say that this has literally cost me a fortune! We could have bought a truck with the money we've spent over just the past few months. If thats what it takes to bring someone reputable to my area then so be it!!!! Im on a mission to bring quality dogs to my area & put a stop to people just throwing together two dogs just to make a buck and leaving the new dog owners to suffer the consequences. Yes-its happened to me before so I know exactly how it feels to get taken by greeders.

On my search for my breeder pair--(took months on end) I asked the questions that a regular pet buyer wouldnt....i.e. What have your dam and stud been tested for? or better yet-can you tell me about your lines? hahahaha you'd have thought that I asked what planet did you come from? It seems the average breeder does not do much pre-breeding tests or screenings or even know their lines. 80% of the time I asked those questions-never heard from the breeder again. Had a very long list of scratched offs and very few possibilities. I did have a hard time finding a vet in my area to even perform the tests soooo not many breeders are doing this in my area either. The research I had to do was very extensive & seemed to drag on forever. Was very frustrating.

I finally do have my dogs (awesome quality), but have found that locating the best was only half the battle.....We're nowhere near being done shelling out the $. I just dont see how the "average joe" could even afford to breed or have more than one breeding pair. When breeders say they dont make any money--they are not lying. We are a middle class family & I could have ran my entire household for 3 months....mortgage, car payment--(the whole shabang) on what I've spent so far and havent even reached the first breeding yet! I cant imagine what the final tally will be after the first litter comes. Wayy into the thousands....I dont ever see making back the money I've spent, but thats not why I chose to do it.

For people who just want to breed their dog once correctly and thats it (like many people come on here and say)...let me tell you-I will vouch, its NOT worth it. It would be wayyyyy wayyyyy cheaper just to purchase another dog. I could have bought several litters of yorkies with what its cost me so far.

I think I would just die if I went through all of this and my dam had to have a C-section or worse & lost her. My dogs will be with me forever (breeders or not). Their welfare and the welfare of each and every single pup are a responsiblity I chose to take on when I chose to do this.

Over the course of all of this, I have really come to understand why some breeders seem uptight about people breeding their dogs on these forums. Just like marriage, its not something to enter into lightly and I must give a round of applause to those who do it and do it right. Those who step up to the plate and say "are you sure you know what your getting into".....and to get criticised for being the one who just wanted to educate those who are going into breeding blindly.

As time passes though, I would appreciate it if I could get advise and support from those who are more experienced than me on this forum. I'm not here just looking for answers to my occasional questions....Im here to make friends too.:)

Very good post !!! I wish you luck in your venture. I agree it is not about makeing money cause you don't make a profit from breeding, it is to better the breed. Good Luck

Thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!:)

Amazing post. Thank you for sharing your story.

Seriously, what breeders do and what they go through deserves a ton of credit.

And just remember, reputable breeders show their dogs to make sure that their dogs are wonderful representations of the breed so that adds to the expense.

Very well thought through and well said. I'm also going to start breeding(biewers), but, I don't even have the female yet. I also want to better the biewer breed. I just couldn't breed right now, as I also want to read, read, read and get ready. I know it would devastate me if anything went wrong.
I also don't understand how someone can get a yorkie and first or 2nd time it comes in to heat, decide to breed it just to breed it. I'm already nervous as all get out about my bitch whelping, and I don't even have her yet. One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone comes in here needing help at the last minute without ever studying anything about breeding, whelping. That to me is being very irresponsible
Good luck on your breeding. You sound like one very caring/loving person

Yes..We're working on that too. I've been in touch with an AKC trainer, but I missed this month's enrollment. I might go with Reidsan of Canutillo, TX instead, but not sure of his experience with yorkies. Anyone have the opportunity to work with him?

Thank you. Im nervous too.....in fact, I will probably hold off until I feel more comfortable. My aunt used to breed yorkies about 15 years ago and doesnt live far from me. She had to quit because she couldnt say goodbye to her puppies and thought that nobody was worthy enough to have one. Im the same way though....I can see it now. Interrogations...interrogations. The sad part was, my aunt knew all of the people who bought her yorkies very well. My grandma also had a yorkie she was going to show, went through extensive training, but her yorkie's bite was off just a little so that didnt go well. She was beautiful dog in every other way though....very short career. I've learned a lot from my aunt and grandma. They introduced me to yorkies.

I'd suggest going to some shows in your area and trying to find a mentor if you want to do this correctly. You can get the schedule of shows in your area from Info Dog:

InfoDog AKC Dog Show Information - Main Menu

I'm afraid that's how I'm going to be. I wont' want to sell any of mine. :(

Thank you, but please dont assume I need a schedule of shows and dont have an expert close by who can help me. I'm here looking for friends and the occasional questions I may have. I've seen a lot of people jumped all over on these forums over assumptions and I dont want the same happening to me. That is however great advice you offer and thank you for posting it.

Yes it is a very expensive venture.
We have a lovely Champion female that never produced the first surviving offspring.
I have a lot of money invested in her show career etc and when it came time for her to whelp, we lost the first litter. We did try again as she delivered naturally.
Second time around CSection and problem with her uterus so we had her spayed as she was our first priority. We lost the pups.
A lot of money and alot of disappointments/heartaches and a lot of work. But a lot of pride and joy on the accomplishments we have made over the years.
Good luck to you

I'm not assuming anything. I have no idea what resources you have locally or if you were aware of Info Dog.

You said you were working on showing so I was just trying to be helpful. Don't shoot the messenger.

BANG hahaha

Yes was very helpful. I live in a city so most everything is at my fingertips. Just paranoid someone is gonna bite me. :lol tears

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I'll try and keep this short.
I got into breeding myself without any help from anyone. I did my years of research, looked into the breed, all the negatives and positives.
Then I felt I was ready for breeding.
My girls have international and Irish champions in their blood lines, and I am not talking about from centuries ago..
A couple who show yorkies and have had many champions bought 1 of my puppies, and are hoping to show her.

So what I am trying to say is, that you don't necessarily have to be a show person to breed show quality yorkies.
So I think this little BRB (as most would call me) has a lot to be proud of.

And I'll add an honest answer and tell you that yes I have made money from breeding. And I find it hard to believe that nobody else here does!!!!!!!!!1