Need advice QUICK!
 

All,

A couple of months ago, I linked onto a yorkie breeder's website that I found on the AKC website. The website was very professionally done and the breeder appeared to really care about her yorkies. I emailed the breeder and learned she had a nine day old yorkie pup and told me if I was willing to wait for the pup to wean from his mom, I could purchase him. I sent her a $200 deposit with the understanding she would be keeping the pup until he weaned from her mom. The pup is almost 6 weeks old.
This morning I received a "strange" call from the breeder who began making arrangements for me to pick the puppy up at a "drop off" spot. She wanted me to pick the puppy up 2 days before he turns 8 weeks old! She starts giving me an intersection off I-80 and im on the phone completely stunned. I told her I was always under the impression I would be coming to her home to pick up the puppy as I wanted to see where the puppy has been residing and what her mom and dad look like. This woman became extremely defensive and starts saying "we have nothing to hide" "you can come to our home". She proceeds to give me her "home" address and then tells me "these puppies are her daughters, she just advertises for them". I got a really bad feeling right now. Someone please tell me what to do.

I'm not sure what to think. I sounds very strange to me. I do know 8 weeks is very young to leave it's mama. Good luck. I'm sure someone on here will be able to lead you in the right direction.

It doesnt sound good. Is your deposit refundable? I would try to google her name to see if anything comes up.

Whatever you do; DO NOT meet this person alone. Take your DH, sig other, or anyone with you whether you do go to this persons home or meet somewhere else. As for what to do... I have no idea. I'm sure you are paying a good amount for this little puppy and wanting to meet the parents and see the home, to me, is perfectly reasonable. Be careful.

I live close to you in Gurnee, if you want to pm me the breeder I can see if I have any info on them. Also I would be happy to go with you if needed. I have had yorkies from this area for 39 years so I may have heard something that may be helpful. If you really have a bad feeling I would cancel the deal.

I would definitely go check it out. Take someone with you. 6 weeks is entirely too young to be taken from its mom. Remember, go with your gut.. In the end it is only $200 out of pocket. Don't feel like you have to take this dog...or else you could end up with a lot more problems in the end.

Does this puppy even have its first shots? Does it come with a health guarantee? Sounds sketchy to me but I hope that it all works out for you. Keep us posted.

I sent her a PM asking the same thing. You are right in her area and I live right off of I80~small world isn't it. :) Maybe we could both offer to go and meet this breeder with her :cool: I know of a few around here that are brokers bringing puppies up from Missouri. :mad: Makes me wonder......

Hi Patti,

Here's the website of the breeder and her name is Donna Quick. Everything seemed to be going well up until today. The phone conversation as bizarre. Im headed to breakfast with my family and I'll check back later. Thanks to everyone for the advice.

YorksMorksandMalts :: Welcome

ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS go with your gut. Cancel the deal. No good can come of this. She obviously isn't a "nice" breeder and if she doesn't care about who is taking her pups, and where the pups end up, she certainly doesn't care about the PUP! Any decent breeder knows not to "meet up" in some parking lot some where.

I would not walk away... I would RUN away. I looked at her website and none of her puppies are AKC. They are all either CKC or APR. (red flag #1) They also breed morkies.. and sell tham at PURE BREED prices (red flag #2)

Problems I see:

-- Her site only offers two methods of delivery for puppies: (1) Meet part way and (2) air travel. So, she has said up front you won't be getting puppies from her home.

-- She sells from AKC, APRI, and CKC dogs. Her APRI and CKC dogs do not look at all to be breeding quality from the pictures.

-- She specifically says in her contract that she alone will decide when to deliver the pups, USUALLY between 8-10 weeks. But that she does not guarantee delivery dates. I understand not guaranteeing them as anything could happen, not gaining well, catching a cold, etc. But letting them go before 8 weeks????

-- Her health guarantee is crap. It does not really guarantee anything. It says if you get a vet to write that the dog is not healthy for purchase within 72 hours you may exchange, BUT she does not include minor illnesses, parasites, etc..... There is no extended warranty for genetic problems, nothing all all beyond the 72 hours!!

-- And now she is saying the puppy you put a deposit on is not even hers, it is her daughters.... that is another website that she has listed on her site. But who is guaranteeing the puppy, this lady or the daughter, who is held reponsible if something does go wrong even in the first 72 hours? The whole deal reeks to me and I would just cut bait and run. Actually this last point might be grounds for getting your deposit back. But if she does not agree, going to court to get $200 back is usually not worth it.

I did not see any of the parents on her site. I'm guessing she is a broker. :thumbdown

I'm sorry somehow I missed the parents but I still have a feeling from the way her contract is worded that she is a broker. Actually, I would put money on that...............

I noticed in her pictures taht she had many more Morkies, then pure bred Yorkies. I would not personally be able to trust her> None of her pups/dogs were AKC either.
AND then she is selling pups at too young of an age . This is a huge flag. IMO, they have a buisness, of selling designer pups. I hope you are able to get your refund. Because chances a good that you would not be getting a pure bred , healthy yorkie puppy. Not from those people. :thumbdown

I agree with the other posts here, I would try to use the fact that you were not infomed that the dog being sold wasn't actually her dog but her daughter's and see if she will give you your deposit back. But if nothing else I would rather loose the 200 dollars than give these people more money or end up with thousands of dollars in vet bills on a puppy that wasn't carefully bred. Go with your gut on this one, if it smells fishy it probably is.

Thanks to everyone for their responses. I am very concerned about this breeder, but at the same time, I really want to keep this puppy. She has been sending us pictures of the puppy since he was 3 weeks old, and....well, take a look at the pics for yourself. I just want to make sure both me and the puppy are protected so I plan on sending her an email indicating exactly what paperwork I must have when I pick up the puppies. I feel, if she is unable to produce the paperwork to my satisfaction, she is not legitimate. Everyone has gave me great feedback and I value all of it.

Cynthia

While I think the puppy is cute, as all are. He has the longer face I mentioned in my PM and all of the points the other made are exactly what I was concerned about. As hard as it is to walk away, sometimes waiting for the right one is better in the long run. I looked for 6 months before finding Pixie and she was worth the wait. Keep us posted, and if you decide to get the puppy we will be here to answer any questions.

I hear you Patti and I really appreciate your response. I really want(ed) this to work out and really felt like I was getting a quality puppy. I feel like cryin right now...

This is, of course, your choice but if you go through with this, you are making a HUGE mistake. For you and the puppy. First of all, cute don't cut it. Show me an ugly puppy. They don't make them! And, do you have any idea how may of these "breeders" or brokers, as in this case, send pics to you and then when you finally receive your puppy, it's a totally different one! Andddd, when you pick up your puppy, you won't be bold enough to tell her to piss off, so you'll take him home, knowing in your gut that something is up. Then you'll come on here every day with a plethora of questions pertaining to your new cute puppy...who is sick, looks weird, has problems of all sorts, can't get on with your family or others....the list goes on.
But yeah, he's cute.

I was "taken in" by a broker and it started out a lot like your situation. I was promised a registered yorkie pup who would be little. I now have a 9lb registered yorkie who isnt AKC registered, she is ACA registered. I never met the parents blah blah blah there was always an excuse. I love my yorkie with all my heart but she was not what I originially paid for. I did get part of my payment back when I found out she was not AKC registered however i did decide to keep the pup as I had already fell in love with her!

Sorry but there is nothing professional about this website but the ability to make $$$$ off of the dogs. Sorry, but you "probably" will only be buying heartbreak with this dog. This is a long term commitment (15 years) for a Yorkie and it is important you take your time.

OMG! They cannot even get the adult dogs names spelled correctly! I would have to say that I can ALWAYS spell all of my dogs names correctly. How about everyone else?:confused:

If you go to the puppy page the dad is spelled Shylo. When you go to the adult page he is spelled Shilo.

Kylie is also spelled Kylee on the puppy page. Then they also have 2 others names Cheyenne and Jackson?

I could see having the two not in a picture but they cannot even spell their names correctly!

The website did not look professional at all. :thumbdown Also the pics of the adults, all of them looked scared and ungroomed. There were several females, and only ONE male. that bothered me a lot. I would demand for the deposit back. If she refuses please just walk away from it. She is not a legit! There have been many requests from YTers that will help you find a quality yorkie, please let them help you! Do not feed back into the puppymill cycle! Don't feel like you have to SAVE them. You can't save them all. Buy from a reputable breeder.

I would run like crazy, pups need to stay with their mom until 12 weeks or older, run and don't be sad, the right one will come around soon. :(

1st red flags multiple breeds of dogs but all puppys are cute final decisions up to you but i wouldnt spend alot of money on a possible mixed dog or possible unregistered dog when so many are unwanted right now good luck be careful

This is a really good point...If your are indeed willing to chance paying full price for a mixed dog who will likely have physical or mental challenges, PLEASE consider adopting one from your local shelter! You'll save the "full" price tag, they will take care of neuter/spay, and anything else they find wrong, you get a CUTE puppy or whatever you choose, a puppy gets a good home, and all is well in the world today!:D

Hello All,

I definitely dont want to support a puppy mill, and I also agree that weaning a puppy from his mom at 8 weeks is entirely too soon. Thanks to everyone for your constructive feedback. I will keep everyone posted on how this turns out.

in my opinion 8 weeks isnt too early, they do find. every puppy i ever got except my last one was 6-8weeks old all yorkies. i will admit i liked getting my last yorkie at 12 weeks, because more vaccinations had been done, and he was more fuller in the coat. but other then that i saw no difference in temperment or behavor or training.

on the health guarantee, i dont know anyone who would do anything on parasites, all puppies are at the risk of getting them at any time. you deworm them and hope that they dont develope, but im not going to guarantee that in a health waranty. if the client gets a puppy and notices worms at some point then they need to get a dewormer or take it to the vet and have it dewormed, its not a big deal. its gross though

also i dont think just because its ckc and whatever else that someone shouldnt buy, its based on what you can afford for one. usually akc is much higher, 2 you should feel comfortable with that breeder, and like the parents. its has to be what the client is looking for. You want a clean home and pets, and a friendly knowledgable breeder, and good looking pups!

BUT i do think its awful the way the breeder is acting. i would want to see the home, i wont ask for less then i do as a breeder. my home is open to my clients, i do ask for a appointment when i have a litter to show, so that my dishes are clean, the kids toys and messes are up and that the puppies smell good and their pee pad is clean.

i just finished with a litter and i had someone who asked to come by while she was in town and my house wasnt up to my standard so my husband said bring the puppies from the kitchen to the living room and shut the door..i said NOPE i want to be able to show them where the puppies are housed in the dog room (really the dinning room but we dont have a table in there, we have a breakfast knook we use) and where they run and play and how i provide and care for them...its wasnt perfect but they got to come by and i showed them around..( i was able to clean up most and bath/dry all the puppies before she got there...=)

i always have a set date for pick up,thats set up after the pups are born. and about 2 weeks prior to that date people set up times with me.

the puppy is a doll baby no doubt, but i would be concerned with this person because her lack of respect for you as a buyer, to suddenly call and say meet me for your puppy. thats awful and not being able to see the enivorment is even worse. you want to make sure they come from a clean enviroment, that all the pups were active and healthy looking and the parents look right.

i would also be concerned that she is now saying its her daughters pup. to much going on.

good luck, if you do get the puppy, please take her to the vet asap for an exam, shots, deworming and so forth! be proactive in her health care, get some flea treatment.

bsoleful, I know it is hard because you are attached to this puppy, but please listen to what everyone is saying. You could end up with a very sick puppy who could end up costing you thousands of dollars in vet bills and untold emotional pain. Unscrupulous sellers count on the fact that people fall in love with the dog and won't give them up after they've bonded. It's happened to many people here.

People are right that all puppies are cute. This is the last chance you have to protect yourself before your heart will be making all the decisions for you. We can help you find a good breeder in your area. There IS a puppy out there for you, it just isn't this one.