Need Your Help to Decide Whether to Purchase a Porkie

[Chair]

Please tell me if this is the incorrect place to post!
Let me introduce myself to you. My name is Charity and I would like to purchase a yorkie. I have done considerable research on the breed. I grew up with Maltese and love lap dogs. I am looking for a pet - not to be used for breeding or show...just for loving.

What would be the pros & cons of a porkie?

I am interested in the second girl on this page:
http://www.terrysterriers.com/PorkiePuppiesForSale.html

If you look at the parent page, her parents are Snickers and Pixie. On the "About Us" page - it seems like this is a breeder who loves and cares for the dogs in a home evioronment. I emailed the owners and really liked this portion of her reply:
"We hold the puppies until they are around 8 weeks of age unless they are still too tiny to leave, so sometimes it can be around 10 - 12 weeks. We've never had to hold a puppy too long, because all of ours are always healthy enough to go to their new homes by 8 weeks. We don't restrict how much the puppies eat to keep their weights down like some breeders do. We let them eat what they want, when they want, so they are usually fat as little butterballs by the time they leave here. "

Please give me your advice -- what else should I ask the breeder? How can I be certain that this is a good breeder...that the dogs are well socialized and cared for....that the puppies are healthy.

You girls are the experts - I value any words of wisdom you can give!!
-Charity

[lily's mom]

HI Charity, I am glad you joined and thanks for asking for our opinion!!!
First I wonder if this lady breeds different breeds on purpose? I think she is asking a pretty penny for a mixed breed. Generally two different breeds is called an accident and I wonder why she would do this on purpose. Don't get me wrong, there is not a thing wrong with mixed breeds. I just find it irresponsible. I also think that 8 weeks is a little young for such a small baby to go to a new home. All that said, she sure is a cutie though. I would hate for you to give so much for her though.

[Breeze]

Good luck in your decision.

Here are some things to find out BEFORE you buy from a breeder:



1) How many litters do they produce in a year?

2) How old are the parents?

3) Have they had health testing done (eyes, heart, thyroid, hips/elbows and any other test pertaining to the breed simple vet exams aren't enough)

4) Can they show you proof of the test results?

5) Is their paperwork in order? (pedigrees, registrations,health tests, exams,medical records,etc)

6) Do they have references you can check out?

7) Are they opposed to you checking with their vet?

Cool Are they knowledgable about the breed(s) they are breeding/selling? (you should be as well so that you will know if it's hype you are hearing or truth)

9) Are their prices in reason with the quality, temperment, bloodlines,health testing done?

10) Have their adults been shown to points/championships or been evaluated by at least 3 unbiased knowledgable people/judges for breed worthiness? (this is just as important for a pet only as it is for a show prospect)

11) Do they have their adults and puppies temperament tested?

12) Do they offer a health guarantee for genetic defects?

13) Do they have a contract? (they should, this is important)

14) do they have a buy back/take back clause in their contract ? (this is important and should say that they will buy back/take back/help rehome any dog/puppy produced by them at any time for any reason)

15) Do they sell on spay/neuter contracts? (again very important)

16) Do they offer contact info so you can contact them after the sale if you should have questions or concerns?

17) Do they feed good quality food? (again important and says something about the breeder)

Do they send home a puppy kit with food being fed,info about the breed, grooming info, 3-4 generation pedigree (you should get this even if your puppy is a mix between two different purebred breeds), health info on parents (copies of health test results), health info on puppies (first vaccinations and health certificate from the vet), registration info?

19) If purebred are the puppies registered with a legitamate registry? (AKC, UKC, CKC (Canadian Kennel Club) beware of the scam registries such as ckc (continental or canine kennel club), ACKC (American Canine Kennel club), WWKC (World Wide Kennel Club) among others



There are other things but this is a start and the major questions to ask.

[Chair]

Yes - it looks like she encourages mixed breeds. They look very cute - but perhaps I am biased -- don't think I have ever seen a yorkie that I don't think is cute.

Honestly, I don't know what I want. I would consider adopting a yorkie needing a home, but my husband feels strongly against. He thinks we do not have the experience to un-do bad habits or know how to deal with the pyschological problems that are already existing in the dogs that have had problems in their homes in the past.

So I am looking for a baby...just want a lap dog to be a companion. An acquitance recommended a website: www.yorkiepup.com They have very high prices and have so many dogs that i have a hard time believing that every one of the puppies is loved on and properly cared for.

What advice do you have for me? I want to live close enough to the breeder to personally drive and pick up a dog.

[luv4yorkies]

I have heard that Jeff Dane the owner of yorkiepup is a bad breeder and has sold many sick puppies.

Originally Posted by Chair

Yes - it looks like she encourages mixed breeds. They look very cute - but perhaps I am biased -- don't think I have ever seen a yorkie that I don't think is cute.

Honestly, I don't know what I want. I would consider adopting a yorkie needing a home, but my husband feels strongly against. He thinks we do not have the experience to un-do bad habits or know how to deal with the pyschological problems that are already existing in the dogs that have had problems in their homes in the past.

So I am looking for a baby...just want a lap dog to be a companion. An acquitance recommended a website: www.yorkiepup.com They have very high prices and have so many dogs that i have a hard time believing that every one of the puppies is loved on and properly cared for.

What advice do you have for me? I want to live close enough to the breeder to personally drive and pick up a dog.

[Chair]

Breeze - thanks so much for your list of questions. Would you mind if I asked you a couple of questions about your questions?
I'd like to know the background for a couple of them...for instance, why it is an important question or what the correct answer should be:

Originally Posted by Breeze

1) How many litters do they produce in a year?.

Obviously this will enable me to rule out puppy mills. What would be "too many"?

Originally Posted by Breeze

2) How old are the parents?

What is a good age? What is too young? What is too old?

Originally Posted by Breeze

Cool Are they knowledgable about the breed(s) they are breeding/selling? (you should be as well so that you will know if it's hype you are hearing or truth)

What questions should I ask to determine if they are knowledgable?

Originally Posted by Breeze

15) Do they sell on spay/neuter contracts? (again very important)

Please tell me what this means?

A million thanks for your help!

[Breeze]

Oh no, I'll all say is stay away from that website it is very bad news and has been discussed here many times over. Try to find a YTCA breeder or I'm sure some more members here will lead you in the right direction in getting your pup from a reputable breeder.

[Chair]

Which website? www.yorkiepup.com or http://www.terrysterriers.com/index.html ? Or both??
Thanks....

Originally Posted by Breeze

Oh no, I'll all say is stay away from that website it is very bad news and has been discussed here many times over. Try to find a YTCA breeder or I'm sure some more members here will lead you in the right direction in getting your pup from a reputable breeder.

[luv4yorkies]

yorkiepup

[Breeze]

Originally Posted by Chair

Breeze - thanks so much for your list of questions. Would you mind if I asked you a couple of questions about your questions?

I'd like to know the background for a couple of them...for instance, why it is an important question or what the correct answer should be:


Obviously this will enable me to rule out puppy mills. What would be "too many"?
To me anymore than say 5 a year to others that number could be different. I would perfer a breeder that breeds for the love of the breed and not for profit.


What is a good age? What is too young? What is too old?
The parents should be at least 2 years before breeding or in at least their second heat, and I am no expert at all I'm sure the experienced breeders can tell you more but probably no older the 7 or 8 years. One again many have different opinions of which ages.



What questions should I ask to determine if they are knowledgable? Learn as much as you can about the breed and it's standards then when you ask the breeder questions he/she should be knowledgable in their answers. I have talked to a few breeder that I knew more about the breed then they did, a big warning sign.


Please tell me what this means?

A million thanks for your help!

Hope this helps.

[Breeze]

Sorry. Yes, I was warning about the yorkiepup website.

[Chair]

Thank you, thank you for all of your advice. I am sending the list of questions. I'll let you know what happens!

[YorkyMommy]

Charity,
As far as the porkie - seems like way too much to pay for a mixed breed pup. Also, I personally would not buy from someone that breeds so many different breeds or that has so many dogs in general. I would want to find a pup from someone who has given their dogs plenty of one on one attention and I believe it would be hard to do with so many.
If it were me I would be patient and continue to watch the board here or watch your local paper for pups for sale, especially if you were going to get a yorkie mix. Get the word out to family and friends that you are looking for a puppy so you have others that might help direct you in case they hear of something. I believe it is important to view both parents in a clean living environment, make sure the pups have been vet checked for health, make sure both parents are healthy and have pleasant disposi-tions (as this most likely will pass to the pups). References are also very good from last litters as you will find out any problems others may have gone through with the breeder -- if at all. I agree for the most part with Breeze's list of questions.
Good luck to you - looks like you've come to the right place for your question. )

[Marie]

Hi there Chair,
I heard a lot of bad things regarding Yorkiepup.com and I think his prices are outrageous. I personally wont buy from a breeder that sells different breeds and uses the description Teacup to high jack the prices. We have good breeders here that can help you. Good luck in your search.

[schatzie]

Chair - Welcome to YT. It sounds as if you are being very responsible in your search for a furry companion. You have come to a great forum to get so much advise and information.

Please keep us informed on how your search goes and if you decide to get a Yorkie.

My heart is filled with so much love and admiration for the Yorkie breed. I could never imagine not having one to share my life with.