Kijiji, Puppymills and Puppy Brokers......my search for a puppy

[4doggiemama]

Originally Posted by Jellybears

Thank you for your post. I did read it all - quite the eye opener. I did not even know about 'brokers' before I read your post. Bottom line - how the heck can a person know what they are getting into. I know there are reputable breeders, but I just can't pay $1200 to $2000. That is why I have been looking on line - around the $800 mark. I also know there are some private families that have nice puppies, well looked after, social little beings! I would definitely want to go to them, not the other way around!!! Any thoughts??

Let me tell you...........it IS much cheaper to pay $1,500 for a healthy puppy than to buy one that could possibly have genetic diseases. As was mentioned above, many of the diseases are time bombs and don't go off until later. I have a 12 yr. old Yorkie that has many issues that came to light as she got older. My dh estimated the other day that we have spent around $10, 000 keeping her alive.......and we aren't through yet. I adore her and she still has a happy life, sooooooo........ the cycle continues. As you can see, it WOULD have been much cheaper to buy from a reputable breeder. ~Joanne~

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Jellybears

Thank you for your post. I did read it all - quite the eye opener. I did not even know about 'brokers' before I read your post. Bottom line - how the heck can a person know what they are getting into. I know there are reputable breeders, but I just can't pay $1200 to $2000. That is why I have been looking on line - around the $800 mark. I also know there are some private families that have nice puppies, well looked after, social little beings! I would definitely want to go to them, not the other way around!!! Any thoughts??

You'll probably get lots of different opinions, but my advice is to save a little more money, there's no hurry, you will have this dog hopefully for the next 16 years, so you want to be very careful. In the meantime, you can look for breeders and interview them. Good breeders don't have dogs available every month, and you should be prepared to be placed on a waiting list. You really increase your chances of getting a healthy dog, by going to a reputable breeder. One LP surgery can cost $1600, for one leg, and so many Yorkies need it in the first couple of years. A reputable breeder has better health guarantees too, instead of byb's who will just tell you to return the dog, if that.

There are also rescues that offer exceptional prices on dogs, but these dogs may have health problems, but a reputable rescue will inform you of the problems and the dogs will already have undergone a spaying or neutering. A reputable rescue just like a reputable breeder can help you decide if a yorkie is the best choice for you at this point in your life. A Yorkie's an expensive dog to own. Grooming can be costly and they seem to need to go to the emergency room more than bigger dogs. Accidents are common, and an illness that wouldn't phase a bigger dog needs prompt attention with a Yorkie. Find a breeder who's doing right by the breed, and you will be doing what you can to support the future of the Yorkshire Terrier.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by Jellybears

Thank you for your post. I did read it all - quite the eye opener. I did not even know about 'brokers' before I read your post. Bottom line - how the heck can a person know what they are getting into. I know there are reputable breeders, but I just can't pay $1200 to $2000. That is why I have been looking on line - around the $800 mark. I also know there are some private families that have nice puppies, well looked after, social little beings! I would definitely want to go to them, not the other way around!!! Any thoughts??

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

You'll probably get lots of different opinions, but my advice is to save a little more money, there's no hurry, you will have this dog hopefully for the next 16 years, so you want to be very careful. In the meantime, you can look for breeders and interview them. Good breeders don't have dogs available every month, and you should be prepared to be placed on a waiting list. You really increase your chances of getting a healthy dog, by going to a reputable breeder. One LP surgery can cost $1600, for one leg, and so many Yorkies need it in the first couple of years. A reputable breeder has better health guarantees too, instead of byb's who will just tell you to return the dog, if that.

There are also rescues that offer exceptional prices on dogs, but these dogs may have health problems, but a reputable rescue will inform you of the problems and the dogs will already have undergone a spaying or neutering. A reputable rescue just like a reputable breeder can help you decide if a yorkie is the best choice for you at this point in your life. A Yorkie's an expensive dog to own. Grooming can be costly and they seem to need to go to the emergency room more than bigger dogs. Accidents are common, and an illness that wouldn't phase a bigger dog needs prompt attention with a Yorkie. Find a breeder who's doing right by the breed, and you will be doing what you can to support the future of the Yorkshire Terrier.

I agree with Nancy. Do all the research you can and save up some more money. when the right one comes along you will know. do not rush into anything. ALL puppies are cute, and ALL puppies will steal your heart. With a big decision like this you need to think with your head and not your heart (well maybe a little bit )

Don't forget that byb, websites and petshops charge large amounts of money too to make you think you are getting some "rare" when in fact it could be a defect. I paid $1200 for Uni from a small byb, and from my previous post, I said really could have come from anywhere, I really don't know. Just bc someone is charging $2000+ doesn't makes it any more better than a breeder/exhibitor's pup. In fact they may be just trying to dupe you. They feed off of today's society of me me me and now now now. If you want a dog from the breeder you want, you will have to wait.

Also wanted to say, I am a foster mom with ytnr, and there are rescues out there that are gems! Katie had bladderstones, but now after surgery she is just great! Healthy happy, very pretty, great with other dogs too! So look in rescues too, in addition to puppies!

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I agree with Nancy. Do all the research you can and save up some more money. when the right one comes along you will know. do not rush into anything. ALL puppies are cute, and ALL puppies will steal your heart. With a big decision like this you need to think with your head and not your heart (well maybe a little bit )

Don't forget that byb, websites and petshops charge large amounts of money too to make you think you are getting some "rare" when in fact it could be a defect. I paid $1200 for Uni from a small byb, and from my previous post, I said really could have come from anywhere, I really don't know. Just bc someone is charging $2000+ doesn't makes it any more better than a breeder/exhibitor's pup. In fact they may be just trying to dupe you. They feed off of today's society of me me me and now now now. If you want a dog from the breeder you want, you will have to wait.

Also wanted to say, I am a foster mom with ytnr, and there are rescues out there that are gems! Katie had bladderstones, but now after surgery she is just great! Healthy happy, very pretty, great with other dogs too! So look in rescues too, in addition to puppies!

[Woogie Man]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

I will break it down:

The puppymill in Missouri had brokers all over the Chicago area. They would drive down to the mill and bring back Yorkies puppies about every 8 weeks to broker out of their homes. The supply was unending and if I was willing to wait a few weeks I could have an 8 weeks old that was sold to the broker by the mill. The brokers all took turns making the 8 hour trip and then divided up the puppies and advertised both on their own websites and Kijiji. They purchased the puppies for a couple hundred dollars and sold the puppies for around $800 which is less then the local pet shop.
[/I]

This reads more like a drug dealing network than anything to do with animals. The only difference is the 'merchandise'.

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by Woogie Man

This reads more like a drug dealing network than anything to do with animals. The only difference is the 'merchandise'.

Yes, I totally agree and was beyond shocked! Instead of funneling coke or pot they are funneling puppies. The only difference is that that drug dealing is illegal.

[capt_noonie]

Originally Posted by megansmomma

Yes, I totally agree and was beyond shocked! Instead of funneling coke or pot they are funneling puppies. The only difference is that that drug dealing is illegal.

yeah, brokering pups should be illegal too!

[capt_noonie]

Oh yeah remember the crazy "breeder" I forget the website who was selling teacups and teaspoons?!!! and her price list:
teacups $2500-5000
teaspoons an arm and a leg! (those were her actual words from her website)

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

Oh yeah remember the crazy "breeder" I forget the website who was selling teacups and teaspoons?!!! and her price list:
teacups $2500-5000
teaspoons an arm and a leg! (those were her actual words from her website)

OMG! I totally forgot about her The problem with that is she obviously had a market willing to pay those INSANE prices!

[Sweet Girls]

Originally Posted by capt_noonie

I agree with Nancy. Do all the research you can and save up some more money. when the right one comes along you will know. do not rush into anything. ALL puppies are cute, and ALL puppies will steal your heart. With a big decision like this you need to think with your head and not your heart (well maybe a little bit )

Don't forget that byb, websites and petshops charge large amounts of money too to make you think you are getting some "rare" when in fact it could be a defect. I paid $1200 for Uni from a small byb, and from my previous post, I said really could have come from anywhere, I really don't know. Just bc someone is charging $2000+ doesn't makes it any more better than a breeder/exhibitor's pup. In fact they may be just trying to dupe you. They feed off of today's society of me me me and now now now. If you want a dog from the breeder you want, you will have to wait.

Also wanted to say, I am a foster mom with ytnr, and there are rescues out there that are gems! Katie had bladderstones, but now after surgery she is just great! Healthy happy, very pretty, great with other dogs too! So look in rescues too, in addition to puppies!

Price is also a concern in the sense that if you cannot afford to buy the dog, how will you afford to care for it. My little girl came to me through a rescue...now she originated with a "so-so" breeder (I've got the papers), but before I got her, she had broken her leg and had it repaired. $1700.00 For me, if you cannot afford $1500 for the puppy...what will you do if they break a leg? That is a concern with these small toy dogs...they are fragile. Luckily, my girl's first owner was able to afford the surgery...And I know that I will can afford to do what is necessary to keep her healthy...but my question is....ask yourself...Can you? If not right now...then maybe you need to wait until you are in a better financial position...everyone deserves to have a dog to love...but every dog deserves to live in a family who can afford to care for it properly. JMO

[SophieKatesMom]

Thank you all for sharing your stories, they help educate us not so new but still inexperienced Yorkie owners.

I have told Sophie Kate's story many times, I am not sure where she came from and had to give up trying to track that one down. I am just lucky that at almost 2 years old she is a healthy sweet little girl.

I do know when I add a Yorkie to my family it will probably be a rescue or, a breeder from Yorkie Talk.

One additional piece of advice I would offer, if you not sure where exactly your Yorkie came from please be honest with your Vet on your first puppy exam. I told my Vet right away and she is always very aware of the problems that could cause even now and is always teaching/training me.

Again, great thread and I hope we all can learn from it.

[DerbyLayne]

My story is similar to alot of yours, and I have shared this story many times.

I honestly thought we did everything right! We researched the best we knew how at the time, and asked all the "right" questions, and were interviewed by the breeders over the phone etc. The only red flags were delivery, which being the innocent person we are- we thought that was "so nice" considering we live in a big city, without a car, and there are no breeders in the vicinity. They had given us two puppies to choose from/let one choose us in our home environment. They were both male (females were sold, they told us) and my husband had done the buying/exchange while I was out of town. He surprised me with this puppy. The family had stayed to chat with my husband, and everything. We knew Derby was going to be bigger because he was bigger than the other puppy. My husband wanted a bigger (7 pound) Yorkie anyway. "Nothing too small and fragile" he told me.

Derby came from a BYB (and a very nice family who seemed to care alot about their puppies) and that's all we know.

Derby is really full of energy. He has no health problems that we know of yet, and we are thankful. Our vet tells us that Derby is unlike any other Yorkie she's seen because of his temperament. Now i don't know what she means by that, but we hope it's a good thing. He is so sturdy and it seems like he can conquer anything. He is a very very happy dog.

The only thing we don't really know for sure is if he is really a purebred. We have papers, but they don't really tell us anything and everyone who looks at him tells us he looks like a mix. Everyone except the vet of course, but who knows, right?

[Jellybears]

Yes-sounds right!!

[megansmomma]

Originally Posted by SophieKatesMom

Thank you all for sharing your stories, they help educate us not so new but still inexperienced Yorkie owners.

I have told Sophie Kate's story many times, I am not sure where she came from and had to give up trying to track that one down. I am just lucky that at almost 2 years old she is a healthy sweet little girl.

I do know when I add a Yorkie to my family it will probably be a rescue or, a breeder from Yorkie Talk.

One additional piece of advice I would offer, if you not sure where exactly your Yorkie came from please be honest with your Vet on your first puppy exam. I told my Vet right away and she is always very aware of the problems that could cause even now and is always teaching/training me.

Again, great thread and I hope we all can learn from it.

It is so easy to be taken. Con artists are good at what they do. I'm so glad that you have learned and will take your knowledge and apply it if/when you decide to add another.

[Jellybears]

To Sweet Girls. Your assumption that I need to be in a 'better financial position' is rude and offensive. Posting this on a public site, without any knowledge of who I am, or my finances is totally beyond my comprehension. I raised my Toffee for fifteen and a half years, with every aspect of her medical and dental fully attended, and flew down to Florida, every year, with her in-cabin with me. I also have kept all Mr. Darcy's veterinary visits, also flown him to Florida.....not that I need to explain anything to you. I only hope the rest of YT take your comment with a grain of salt. I love this website, and you have totally shocked me with your cutting and unfounded opinion.