Originally Posted by Martin0327 (Post 2648113)

Soooo.......You breed to show?

Originally Posted by Lorraine (Post 2648087)

When you are buying a puppy regardless of pet or show, you do want to see what the breeder has over the years in their adults. That is more likely what you will get. Also, an experienced breeder will have a better idea of what a puppy will likely look like.
However, you must realize there are surprises and the younger you sell a puppy or a buyer buys one, the less idea the breeder will have to size and appearance of a puppy as an adult.
I don't like to sell a puppy less than 4 months old partly because I want to see for myself what they might turn out like, temperment will be like, also for the reason that if I am selling for pet, I match a puppy with a prospective home and what kind of home it would be best suited for.
Size is not that predictable so people who have bought thinking they are getting a 'teacup' because it was so small at 10 weeks or whatever, got quite a surprise when it did get to be 7 lbs, certainly much larger than they thought.
Long time breeders know this, I do not guarantee size other than if I am selling one at say 7 months and it is 5 lbs, you are not getting a 4 lbs yorkie.
I have run on puppies that I was hoping will make size and didn't by the time they were a year, some I sold thinking they are going to be no more than 4 or 4 1/2 lbs and they are 6 lbs. They matured late which can happen.
Doubling the 12 weeks weight is ball park only and that ball gets hit out of the park more often than you think.

Originally Posted by Martin0327 (Post 2648113)

Soooo.......You breed to show?

Originally Posted by Ladymom (Post 2648136)

I didn't mean weight was predictable between 4-6 pounds. My comment was directed at the people who believe that winding up with a fifteen pounder is the risk you take with any breeder. Getting a puppy from a reputable show breeder generally means he will be within the under seven pounds standard, doesn't it? Or am I mistaken?

I am much more knowledgeable about Maltese who have the same weight standard. While show breeders will occasionally have an eight or nine pound adult, adults weighing in the teens usually are poorly bred and have Bichon in their background.

Thanks for your help in trying to understand this!

Originally Posted by Ladymom (Post 2648136)

I didn't mean weight was predictable between 4-6 pounds. My comment was directed at the people who believe that winding up with a fifteen pounder is the risk you take with any breeder. Getting a puppy from a reputable show breeder generally means he will be within the under seven pounds standard, doesn't it? Or am I mistaken?

I am much more knowledgeable about Maltese who have the same weight standard. While show breeders will occasionally have an eight or nine pound adult, adults weighing in the teens usually are poorly bred and have Bichon in their background.

Thanks for your help in trying to understand this!

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 2648116)

Great post very informative! I think many people don't understand you can go to a show breeder to get a great pet!

Originally Posted by Ladymom (Post 2648136)

I didn't mean weight was predictable between 4-6 pounds. My comment was directed at the people who believe that winding up with a fifteen pounder is the risk you take with any breeder. Getting a puppy from a reputable show breeder generally means he will be within the under seven pounds standard, doesn't it? Or am I mistaken?
I am much more knowledgeable about Maltese who have the same weight standard. While show breeders will occasionally have an eight or nine pound adult, adults weighing in the teens usually are poorly bred and have Bichon in their background.

Thanks for your help in trying to understand this!

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom (Post 2648251)

i bought a nice show prospect from a good breeder. His pedigree was almost entirely red with champions. The show pictures were glorious to look at. i thought I was so fortunate to have acquired him. I looked at all his relatives in his back ground. The show website was awesome. i research all the dogs and found ONE line
in there that had produced some dogs to big to be shown. Wouldn't you know it? he took after them. I was so disappointed but he was the sweetest guy ever and even tho he was too big and gangly, he eventually turned a beautiful color. i did try to show him but at his classes, he was too timid to even walk and would even hide when I got the show lead out. So here I am thinking, so much for all my research and etc. But there is such a thing as throwbacks in a dogs lineage and he was sure one of those. So, my personal experience was that knowing the lines and parents didn't mean anything as far as how my dog turned out.

Originally Posted by Nancy1999 (Post 2648116)

Great post very informative! I think many people don't understand you can go to a show breeder to get a great pet!

Originally Posted by Mardelin (Post 2648260)

We're very lucky when we find a wonderful stud with all the attributes that we desire that will reproduce itself. And sometimes that one specific breeding of two dogs didn't shake up the way we had hoped.

I have one guy in my program that reproduces his father each and everytime. Which is a good thing since his dad was gorgeous and a showing fool. My guy inherited that quality too, but much smaller than his dad.

Originally Posted by Martin0327 (Post 2648300)

I understand that people can go to a show breeder for a good pet but arent they generally more expensive because of their background?

Originally Posted by Sugar's Mom (Post 2648306)

That is right. my 'little" guy was bred twice before I let him go and produced some nice pups. (some not so nice too). I have regretted letting him go in spite of everything but I boxed myself into a corner with him. he is in a pet home now.

Originally Posted by Mardelin (Post 2648327)

On the contrary, you'll find the opposite to be true. We aren't breeding to sell puppies, so we aren't mass producing, we are breeding for ourselves and what is most important to us is breeding a better dog. Our main concern is to find the best possible homes for our pups.

My contracts provide free grooming and boarding for the life of the pup, so if you look at it from that prospective, my families are getting their money back. But, it's a good way to be able to see my pups and see how they are.

Originally Posted by jeanm1963 (Post 2648419)

Thank you this was interesting and since I am new to YT I found this very useful information....
Can I ask a weird question?? Since Yorkies change sooo much have you ever sold a puppy thinking it was going to be to small or too big to later see the dog and wish you had kept it for showing because it ended up sooo beautiful and perfect size???? I am only asking this because I have read time and time again that sometimes size and color is unpredictable?????

Originally Posted by Mardelin (Post 2648426)

Nope, since attitude is what is I begin looking for first. If they don't have the attitude, they aren't worth keeping for show, I don't care how beautiful or great of a conformation they have. However, I do keep mine a bit longer, so I can evaluate them better.