Breeder Suggestions
 

Hi, I'm looking for a yorkie puppy that will get no more than 4lbs. I live near Burlington, NC. I was wondering if anyone knows of any good breeders around this area. I'm willing to travel up to 2 hours for the right one, just figured that I would post on here to get some suggestions.

I would go to the YTCA website

Breeder Referral

I am curious why you have a weight limit of 4 lbs? Have you ever owned a Yorkie before?

My thoughts, too. Yorkies of small size tend to have more health and wellness problems and under 4lbs is below standard so it may be an indicator of being poorly bred. A pup that small is very fragile and you really need to be super careful around it and watch everything it does to keep it from jumping too much and breaking a leg, or worse!

I dont agree that a smaller pup means its unhealthy or poorly bred, however they do take extra care and caution. All the way down to feeding. I do not breed for the tinies, however they sometimes happen. You can't fight genetics.

Why do you want a dog that will not exceed 4 pounds? The only way to guarantee this is to get an adult.

Standard is now not to exceed 7 pounds so everything under 7 pounds is standard.

:thumbup::thumbup:

But you can sure guide a path thru the genetic minefield, to a point! You will always have outliers, but you can certainly limit them.
I have some tiny outliers....thank goodness, they are not frequent.......they are never sold, they are forever Rosehill babies.....but I agree, being tiny does not mean being unhealthy. It only means more fragile, requiring more care and caution! That is why I wanted to know if she had ever owned a Yorkie, let alone a small one....takes experience to care for these....

Oh, I didn't mean to say that ALL tinies are unhealthy, just that they seem to be more prone to health issues and that they are more fragile due to their size. As to the breeding comment I meant that breeders that breed specifically for tinies are not breeding for quality and they, again, will be more prone to health and wellness issues.

Judy let me say I think 7pounds is small!! LOL. My boy as a sturdy adult is 6.5 lbs and let me tell you that is plenty small enough for me!

He of course thinks he is a BRT the brat that he is.

And yes I have seen the smaller adults, and thank god, there are folks who want this, and can care for these wee ones!

:thumbup::thumbup:
I know! I think a 5.5 lb yorkie is plenty small enough....and while I have been "blessed" with 4 tiny babies that have grown to a weight of right at 2 lbs and right over 2 lbs, and while they are healthy with no medical issues, they are a major amount of work and have to have special conditions...the tinies all play together, because they can not play with a larger pup, they would get hurt. So many "special" attention to special needs, mandated by nothing by caring for their itty bitty size! It really is NOT something I would strive to have or produce!

I cringe when I get a tiny :eek: I love my babies fat and jolly lol

:):):)

Breny,

I agree with you 100%

My tiny Kia was just 4#s. She was not unhealthy.

She came from a wonderful Show breeder, Susan Harasim of Stardust.

Susan did not breed for tinies either, but, as you said, they do happen.

Susan was very selective about whom she placed her tiny one's.

I was fortunate, my son was a grown man.

There was just my husband & I.

We were blessed with Kia in March of 1999, and we lost our precious girl on February 28th, 2013, at the age of 14 years, 2 months and 1 day.

And for such a tiny girl, she had us wrapped around her paw, and she has left a HUGE void in our lives.

I know that I will never get over losing her.

She never had a health problem in her entire life, until her last 7 months.

Would I get another tiny? Absolutely, beyond a shadow of a doubt. But, only from a reputable breeder.

And for me, yes, a 4# Yorkie is a necessity, because I have MS and it has attacked the nerves in my spine.

And yes, a breeder that knows their blood-lines can definitely predict the weight of an adult dog.

Susan said Kia would be 4#s. And she was right on the money.

My 1st Yorkie, came from a reputable Show breeder, almost 32 years ago, and he told me that my Tiffany would be 3.5#s. And she was exactly 3.5#s as an adult. She was never sick either, until her late senior years.

Her breeder never, ever, sold to people with children.

I went there with a friend, that was co-breeding Yorkies, and very often, I had my son, with me. My son never called the breeders dogs to him. He sat quietly on the living room floor, and the dogs went to him.

One day, when I was there with my friend, the breeder said to me, "Sheila, I have never sold one of my Yorkies to anyone with a child, but, I have been observing your son, and even my 18 year old girl goes to him, and he is so gentle with them, he never teases them, so, if you want a puppy, I would be happy to place one with you".

So, when my son was 7 years old, we got our 1st Yorkie. And they were best-friends. He was Peacekeeping in Bosnia, when I had to give him the news, that she had died.

I doubt that anyone has ever heard, the heartwrenching sound of their son, thousands of miles away, sobbing in such grief.

And, my tiny Tiffany lived to be 13 years and 2 months.

She developed a heart murmur at the age of 8 years and 9 months. My Vet at the time, didn't expect her to live to see her 9th birthday.

Each year, he said to me, "I don't know what you're doing, but keep on doing it".

I told him, "I am loving her".

I'm sorry this post is so long, but I wanted to share my personal experience with "tiny" Yorkies.

Sheila

Thank you for sharing your story!

Pam

Thank you for reading it, Pam.

It was long, but I truly wanted to share my experience with "tiny" Yorkies.

I don't recommend them, for anyone with a busy lifestyle. They need constant watching, and when we had our tiny Tiffany-she was not allowed to be alone with my son when he had friends over.

But, with my son-I never, ever had to worry about her getting hurt. He was an "only human child" and he considered her his baby sister, and he watched over her, like a big brother.

I was so very fortunate, that her breeder had grown up an only child, and had taken the time, to observe my son with his Yorkies.

Sheila

Yes thank you for sharing. We have a 3 lb girl, our Kyra and she has been really healthy so far. She is now almost a year and 7 months. Your story gives me hope that we will have her in our lives for many years to come.

Oh goodness, you're welcome.

Just take good care of your little girl.

My best advice with a "tiny" is never, ever, wait to take them to the Vet, if you feel anything is wrong. Always trust your instinct.

A "tiny" can't wait to be seen.

I hope your little girl lives a very long, happy, healthy life.

Sheila

Its good to see you Sheila! Im glad you shared your story about your tiny, there are often misconceptions about them and Im glad your breeder let you have a tiny even though you had a child. I think they should look at these situations individually and decide if its a suitable home for their pup, I have a child too now she is 12 but I know when she was younger I could have had a tiny and it would have worked out fine. We got my Jewels when she was 5 and Jewels was supposed to be a tiny she just ended up getting to 7 lbs

Thank you, Lisa! It is good to see you, too! I hadn't posted in YT in such a long time. I went into such a deep depression when I lost Sydney February 28th of 2011. I still cannot believe I lost my little Kia the same month and date, two years later. I still can't manage to leave the house, other than to see my MS Specialist, and other doctors.

Thank you-I was happy to share my story about my two "tinies". I was very grateful to my 1st breeder, for trusting me with a tiny. We stayed in touch, all of her life. I used to take her over to visit, and he taught me how to "Show" groom, because I kept her in full coat.

I can understand, breeders being very selective about where they place their tinies, but, as you said, they should look at individual situations.

I know, with Tiffany, my breeder had the opportunity to observe my son for months, before he ever told me that he would place a puppy with me.

When I got Sydney, I didn't care what she was going to end up weighing as an adult. She weighed 6.5#s and she was stunning!

I miss my girls, more than words can say.

Morgan weighs 7.5 lbs so I love my teapot

Not everyone who wants a smaller yorkie is uneducated about them. Miley is GUESSED to be around 4.5lbs fully grown. Knowing this, I wanted her more than bigger Yorkies. I mean if she turns out to be more than that that's not a problem. I'm not sure if the OP is new but all they wanted was guidance to a breeder. I know we can be overbearing sometimes and over opinionated when it comes to tiny Yorkies. Standard is under 7lbs from my research. Not all tiny Yorkies are unhealthy! ;)

Jeane,

I love them all! But, now with MS-if and when I get another, she will have to be a "tiny" from a reputable Show breeder.

But my Sydney, was 6.5#s and she was my "Heart & Soul" Yorkie. I wouldn't have traded her for any Yorkie in the world!

I have a very, very dear friend, that lives in Oregon. We met many years ago, on a Yorkie Group.

My tiny 4# Kia and her Jigzey were both born in December of 1998. Her beautiful Jizgey weighed 18#s. And yes, she was a pure bred Yorkie, and oh-so-beautiful!!!

We lost our girls, less than two months apart. So, we have been grieving, together.

Sheila

Courtney,

You are exactly right. Many of us are very well educated about the smaller Yorkies.

I was so blessed, to have two tinies in my life, from reputable Show breeders.

I was also so very fortunate, that my 1st Yorkies breeder, spent a lot of time with me. He was and still is a wonderful Show breeder. Although, now he shows the Japanese Chin.

He is such a wonderful man, that when I called him to tell him about Tiffany's death, he wanted to give me a Japanese Chin puppy.

But, my heart beats.....Yorkie.

So, I learned so much in regards to caring for my tiny girl from him.

The "tinies" that are unhealthy are the ones that come from BYB's and the puppy-mills.

So, when a new member inquires about where to find a small Yorkie, I feel, the best way anyone can help is to make sure to guide them in the direction of reputable Show breeders.

And from there, the breeder, determines if they are a home, they feel safe to place a tiny.

Sheila

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I agree 1000%! So instead of straying OP away from a tiny we should all be pointing OP in the direction of a HEALTHY tiny. Not everyone cares for a teapot just like not everyone cares for a teacup!

Courtney,

Thank you. Some of us need a "tiny", but, we must always caution anyone looking for a "tiny" never to refer to them as a "teacup", because a reputable Show breeder, would hang up the phone, if someone called, inquiring about a "teacup". No such thing as a "teacup" Yorkie.

That is a term used by BYB's and puppy-miller's to sell tiny Yorkies, and charge sky-high prices!

People would be surprised to know, that BYB's and puppy-miller's charge higher prices than reputable Show breeders.

Sheila

I understand and see the issue...I'm making a separate thread about my thoughts on this. I don't want to take over their thread.

Sounds good, Courtney. :thumbup:

Sheila

I just wanted to say thank you for sharing such beautiful and heartwarming stories with us, Sheila.