Help! Question

[MelissaT]

I truly appreciate everyone taking the time out to give me such great messages & advice
I have a few more questions & would like your view on it. I have put the quotes from the owner's text messages in bold.
Here we go... I text the owner & asked if she had her vet records or if there was a vet close by that we can take her to & she said:
"I think we have her vet records. There is a vet here, we havent took her to the vet here yet. She had all of her shots when we got her they told us she would not have to go back til she is a year old. You can take her for a visit if you want to but I can't pay for it."
I asked her how old the yorkie was when she got her & she said 3 months. I looked up the recommended vaccinations & from what I can tell it looks like she would have had all shots before they took her from the breeder???? I will have her vet checked there unless she has the shot records because it is a 2 hour drive one way.
How much is the average vet visit? No, she has not been spayed yet. They said "they were finding a new home for her because they had bought her to breed with their male yorkie but he is bigger than she is & the female is suppose to be bigger than the male? Also, she said she is just so tired of having so many dogs". This is the first time she has said anything about that they may have bred her, should I be concerned? I asked her if she had bred her at all & she said "you are suppose to wait until their 2nd heat & that she don't think she has even had her 1st heat yet". Does this sound correct for an 8month old? I apologized for being such a worry wart & she said "its good that you are concerned & its no problem at all". She said "she is a good, healthy dog". I asked her if the place was clean & good living conditions were she purchased her & she said "it was a clean place & I think with AKC the set guidelines make you have proper breeding or they will not let you. AKC is the best dog organization there is". In my research, it seems that I read AKC & UKC are the best.??
My ex-husband and I purchased a dog from an ad in the paper 7yrs ago for my daughter & we knew nothing about byb or puppy mills so we did not know what to look for...needless to say we wound up paying $400 for a dog that was suppose to be a "teacup yorkie" but he got big & looked more like a silky terrier or something else, we were heartbroken. It was Easter day & we drove 1.5hours to get him & the lady lived in a not so nice or clean trailer & outside is where she had all the dogs & it was stinky & it was wire cages. I wish I would have done research then & I would have learned that she was a byb or small mill but we had no idea. She had told me they were usually in the trailer with her but since it was Easter they were out there...dumb me!!! I do not want this to happen to me or anyone else ever again so I'm being very cautious to ask questions this time & see the place where the dog lives before purchasing it! The family I'm thinking of purchasing this lil girl from welcomed me & my family to come to their home to meet the dog & see if she is a good fit for us. I told her where I lived & since its 2hrs one way she did say she would meet me at the next big city before hers which would save me about 20 mins but I told her not to bother because I want to see their living conditions. Should I be concerned that they have other pets? Is there a chance she could have gotten fleas, worms, or mange from the other pets? Could a male dog have tried to have sex with her or is she too young? I apologize for asking so many questions but some of this is not something I can come right out and ask this family.
For safety reasons, I am planning to try to get a friend to ride with my daughter & I to see the puppy tomorrow afternoon & based on yall's advice, & if I'm happy with the cleanliness of their home & the dog then I am going to take a huge leap of faith & make her a part of our family. I have wanted a small yorkie since I was 15yrs old, I'm 33yrs old now... & my daughter has been wanting a dog here at our house for a while now. I was laid off Feb 16th & this is the 1st time in 3yrs that I'm not working 65+ hours a week! I feel like this is the best time to take on the responsibility of a pet since I'm home all day working on our new business, my daughter is 10yrs now so she is very responsible to help, & my fiance & his daughter are here to help out also so I know this little girl will be spoiled rotten & not left alone often!

I really like hearing all of yall's advice. I know this is a very long post & its a lot to ask but if you have time to read it & give me some advice on the above questions then I will be so appreciative & feel good about my decision as well as educated! Ive been on the internet for hours a day & night searching for the right yorkie for our family so I've put a lot of time in this & do not want to make the best decision.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

[MelissaT]

I am breaking up this post into several because it is so long that I don't think it will let me post it at once..sorry...like I said I'm still new to this website....
I truly appreciate everyone taking the time out to give me such great messages & advice
I have a few more questions & would like your view on it. I have put the quotes from the owner's text messages in bold.
Here we go... I text the owner & asked if she had her vet records or if there was a vet close by that we can take her to & she said:
"I think we have her vet records. There is a vet here, we havent took her to the vet here yet. She had all of her shots when we got her they told us she would not have to go back til she is a year old. You can take her for a visit if you want to but I can't pay for it."
I asked her how old the yorkie was when she got her & she said 3 months. I looked up the recommended vaccinations & from what I can tell it looks like she would have had all shots before they took her from the breeder???? I will have her vet checked there unless she has the shot records because it is a 2 hour drive one way.

Page 1 to reply....

[MelissaT]

The family I'm thinking of purchasing this lil girl from welcomed me & my family to come to their home to meet the dog & see if she is a good fit for us. I told her where I lived & since its 2hrs one way she did say she would meet me at the next big city before hers which would save me about 20 mins but I told her not to bother because I want to see their living conditions. Should I be concerned that they have other pets? Is there a chance she could have gotten fleas, worms, or mange from the other pets? Could a male dog have tried to have sex with her or is she too young? I apologize for asking so many questions but some of this is not something I can come right out and ask this family.

I really like hearing all of yall's advice. I know this is a very long post & its a lot to ask but if you have time to read it & give me some advice on the above questions then I will be so appreciative & feel good about my decision as well as educated! Ive been on the internet for hours a day & night searching for the right yorkie for our family so I've put a lot of time in this & do not want to make the best decision.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

[Nancy1999]

If I remember correctly, this is a rehoming situation, and not an outright sale. Most rescues are going to charge around $300.00, but the dog will probably already be spayed. You're not planning on breeding, right? There are many low cost or free neutering clinics. My guess is that she is a typical back yard breeder. She bought a dog or perhaps even bred the dog, and was going to mate it and for some reason decided not to. She says that she got the dog at 3 months and it had all it's shots. This is not likely, they can't have their last shot until 16 weeks, and I forget the age for rabies shot, I thought Joey was older; someone else can tell you the exact age. The dog should have been taking heartworm medicine especially living in a state that has mosquitoes, as that's how heartworm is passed. Doesn't this women have other dogs, she should be able to give you the name of the vet she has used in the past. Something is fishy and she's hiding something, but who knows what is it? Worst-case scenario - the dog has been diagnosed with something expensive to treat. Would you be able to get enough money for care, would the lady return your money, and take back the dog, how would you feel about that, how would you feel about giving up the dog to a rescue? Best-case scenario, the lady was planning to breed her, and she actually listen to those who told her that the dog was too small to breed. Good breeders won't breed a dog under 5 pounds even if the male is smaller, so maybe she's really healthy but just too small to breed. The economy is bad many breeders are cutting back. I'd probably go see the dog, I guess I would want to see the house, because I would want some evidence she isn't operating a puppy mill.

[MelissaT]

There is another lady that has her last female yorkie puppy & she has lowered the price from $660 to $400
This is only about a 30min drive from my house & I found this ad on the same website. My only fear is if she is a full breed yorkie & the size & the fact that she does not have a pic of the parents to send me. If anyone has a minute to look at this picture & tell me what you think? She really sells a diffrent type of animal but for some reason has yorkie puppies. I have her website also & have looked it over several times.
This is her response (in bold) from an email I sent her.....
I am not sure how big she will get. That is why I put the size of the parents. I do know that she will not be a mini. She shouldn't get over 7 lbs. depending on how she is feed. There are alot of things to consider on the size. They are not potty trained. They are to small. If you are interested, please let me know. She is the last one left.
This is the ad on the website...AKC registered Yorkie puppies BORN ON 1/19/2010. Only one female still available. They will have their first shot and worming will be up to date. They have had their tails docked and dew claws removed. This weekend ONLY $400.00 firm, cash. The father is about 4 lbs and the mother is about 7 lbs. They will be 8 weeks old and ready to go on 3/16/2010. They are raised inside with our family and are very much loved.

What do yall think? Does it look like a yorkie puppy?

[MyPann]

Originally Posted by MelissaT

This is the ad on the website...AKC registered Yorkie puppies BORN ON 1/19/2010. Only one female still available. They will have their first shot and worming will be up to date. They have had their tails docked and dew claws removed. This weekend ONLY $400.00 firm, cash. The father is about 4 lbs and the mother is about 7 lbs. They will be 8 weeks old and ready to go on 3/16/2010. They are raised inside with our family and are very much loved.

What do yall think? Does it look like a yorkie puppy?

Looks like a yorkie puppy but these little ones should not be going anywhere at 8 weeks! a good breeder would keep the pups till at least 12 weeks, there are some very reputable breeders on this website you should check them out. they will provide you with nothing but the best good luck!

[AbbysMom08]

Looks like a yorkie puppy to me also.
Good luck in your search for your furbaby.

[Reese1]

Ok, I went to the website where you found both ads.
As far as the first dog, that person has several ads selling different Yorkies. So to me this sounds like a BYB not a rehome.

The 2nd 8wk old Yorkie, I went to the website of the person selling these. I see that she sells alpacas, but has a pic gallery of Yorkie puppies. The fact that she is selling them so young bothers me!

If it were me, I would do further research. I would suggest going to ytca.org. and look into rescues as well.

The fact these sellers are advertising these puppies for such a low price concerns me from a health standpoint.
Do they have a contract, health guarantee,etc..??

[TaylorWoods]

ok, well here are my thoughts! When i was looking for a puppy i was a nervous wreck about being lied to or cheated or even picking a puppy and it changes in the time being and i get given a different puppy. I chose mine when she was 4 weeks old! and yes, often some of these breeders are just in it for the money, and then you get people like those i have met on this site who dote on their pets and it is a priveledge for them to breed bcos they put so much love and passion into their dogs.

I was not looking for a dog that I would show, so for me the fact that she is registered and her parents were of good stock was enough for me.

I think it's important to let us know WHY you want the dog. Is it just for a companion, or are you wanting to breed or show with her. If it's for a companion then you want to make sure her personality is sweet tempered...actually either way i think her personality is very important! I recommend a thorough vet check for her health, and maybe try and spend a day with her in your home and see what she's like personality wise.

But I think she's got a cute little face But I'm a softy for all living and breathing things, especially my Yorkies. If I could have a whole team of them I would do it RIGHT NOW!

good luck - sometimes price isn't everything. Take your time in getting to know the dog. and even tho people who brought her up bcos the owners character plays a big role in any dog's temperament in my opinion.

[TaylorWoods]

Originally Posted by MyPann

Looks like a yorkie puppy but these little ones should not be going anywhere at 8 weeks! a good breeder would keep the pups till at least 12 weeks, there are some very reputable breeders on this website you should check them out. they will provide you with nothing but the best good luck!

I like your comment! I got my puppy at 6 weeks! yes, you ehard right...she had not a single tooth in her mouth and was vomiting violently bcos she had had her first innoculation the same day. The breeder was rushing to leave overseas and pushed her puppies out as quick as possible. I had taylor in emergency the first night i had her and the vet said if i hadnt brought her in i could have lost her...first night! She used to lie wwth me and try to suckle on my neck and my heart bled for her bcos she was so confused and scared. the vet had to put her on a drip bcos her white blood cell count was through the roof and I could very easily have lost her

A resposible breeder should not let their puppes go before at least 10 to 12 weeks. I know how many sleepless nights and days off work i had to make sure she was ok. I know for sure that if i ever let her breed i will NEVER make that same mistake - i feel very strongly about the issue.

[TecoyaB]

400 seems really cheap, especially for a girl... my breeder charger 1200 for a girl... you need to just ask questions about the parents. How big are the parents, how old are the parents etc.
Looks like a sexy yorkie though

[TaylorWoods]

So this lady is just "sick and tired of her dog"?!?!?!? well, i got Taylor at 6 weeks which was way too young but that's another issue. So she had her first injection at 6 weeks, again at 10 weeks and then at 14 weeks. I had one more after that simply because she had such a rough start and the vet wanted to make sure she was properly covered. A normal dog has their first injection at about 10 to 12 weeks (I stand to be corrected there) and every 4 weeks after that. there are normally 3...well in South Africa that's how ours work.

Go and see for yourself what this woman's other dogs are like and how well cared for they are...and keep a look out for breeding. I dont understand wht she would buy a Yorkie for breeding and then get rid of it because she is "tired of too many dogs".

They can go into heat any time after 6 months...it depends on the dog most the time. Taylor is almost 7 months now and she hasnt come into heat yet but I'm expecting it any day. And it is true that they should only breed after 2 or more heats. the more mature the dog the better.

If you take her to the vet he should be able to tell you how old the dog is...but she must have a record otherwise the vet can't give you the benefit of the doubt and i presume he will want to re-innoculate her to be safe rather than sorry.

otherwise put the word out on this site and you will find many brilliant breeders who'd credentials many others will vouch for. You have to pity an innocent animal who's owners just get tired of it and flog it off to someone else. So for the dogs best interests, i hope it all works out for you and her

[yorkieusa]

Originally Posted by MelissaT

My ex-husband and I purchased a dog from an ad in the paper 7yrs ago for my daughter & we knew nothing about byb or puppy mills so we did not know what to look for...needless to say we wound up paying $400 for a dog that was suppose to be a "teacup yorkie" but he got big & looked more like a silky terrier or something else, we were heartbroken.

May I ask what happened to this doggie?

[MelissaT]

Originally Posted by yorkieusa

May I ask what happened to this doggie?

Yes of course you may.... he is still doing well. We had him for several years, when my ex husband & I got divorced I rented a condo for a year before I bought my home so of course Titus (the dog) went with me. I was a single mom working about 8-10 hours a day & did not have another adult in my household so he wasn't getting the attention needed. I was also the marketing president of a charity organization. I was never home because of work, daughters dance & gymnastics lessons, charity work & my mom was very sick (she passed 3yrs ago). This was a very hectic time in my life so I asked a girl that worked with me for 5yrs if she could keep him until I bought another home. She was happy to because she had just rescused another silky or yorkie breed & they could keep each other company. We visited a few times for play dates and it went well so he started staying with her. She also had a huge fenced in backyard & 2 daughter that were 10 & 12yrs that adored him. When I bought my permanant home about 6months later...the kids begged for him to stay & he was so happy having a yard that I decided to let them keep him & they still have him! He was never a lap puppy at all & must have been a silky or something else because he he weighed about 15lbs! This is another reason why I am skeptical of the dog I purchase because I was lied to horribly before & after a lot of vet bills I learned my lesson. Thank you for asking!

[MelissaT]

We are going to see the little 8wk old yorkie female this evening. If we like her & the living conditions then I am going to see if I can pay a deposit but have the seller keep her until she is a little older (per yalls advice of that being to young.)
As far as the 8month old female... I haven't heard back from the seller today???

I let my daughter browse the internet last nite with me searching about more dogs. She found a male 10wk $350, he was originally $450 but the seller says he lowered the price because his other yorkie is about to have puppies & he wants to go ahead and sell these. He is about a 2hour drive from my home. He said he had a Dr. appt tomorrow at a hospital that is about 30mins or less from my home so we are meeting him tomorrow afternoon to look at these two boy puppies to see if we like them, he only gives a 48hr guarantee tho??? I will be honest I am a little weary of purchasing either of the puppies but my daughter thinks they are soo cute! I tried to explain to her that they could be sick or not cared for properly because they are so cheap. He did their worming & shots & said the vet did their dew claws & tail but he didn't tell me that until I asked about it???? He is an older man & seemed very nice & very "country" I actually like the southern sweetness we have here so that didn't bother me that much. He knew every answer to every question without hestitation...How do I know he is not a byb or that they do not live in clean conditions? I am attaching a pic of each of the two boys for yall to see, let me know if you think the female puppy from above or one of these looks like a healthier puppy to you...... I promise this is it, I will not post anymore. The next you will see is our new puppy with my family!!!