Ugly Duckling Syndrome or Issues of Past Neglect??
 

We purchased our second yorkie on Christmas Eve in Louisville, KY. (Along with her sister because we felt sorry for her). Juliette is now 17 weeks old and weighs only 2.43 lbs. She was 2.2 when last to the vet two weeks ago.

When we received her she looked absolutely pitiful and although the woman we purchased her from seemed very loving and caring, (wondered if she was simply overwhelmed from her lifestyle or running a mill), we decided she needed a better home and we were it. Juliette was very tiny, lacking fur, you know, the furry bushiness of a tiny baby yorkie. You can still prominently feel her bones. Her eyes were constantly tearing up and she had a very sickly pungent odor coming from her. Her sister on the other hand, was a normal puppy who just needed a bath. The breeder claimed that all the other puppies were picking on Juliette and the mother had begun to do so as well. The breeder was pumping Karo syrup into both of them. She didn't allow us to come to her home, but met us roadside. Her car was a filthy mess. A review of her on the internet afterwards revealed she was selling not only yorkies, but Brussels Griffon, Poodles, Yorkiepoos and more. I breed wolf hybrids and once a year is more than enough for me, although I guess some people may do this for a living.

Juliette finally lost her smell after a few baths. I immediately tossed the Karo Syrup in the trash and deemed it totally unnecessary. Her sister did not pick on her once the whole last week that they were together. I changed her diet from the holistic food the breeder was giving her and she seems to finally be gaining some weight. Her fur, well, that's an ongoing issue that I would love to hear ways of dealing with. It's very thin and sparse and needs help desperately. Otherwise, the lil' girl has perked right up and bounces and plays like there's no tomorrow.

It sounds like she needs some vitamins and minerals. She may benefit from boiled chicken to go with her kibble. I hope she does well, but she apparently came from a puppy mill. I hope she doesn't have any serious health issues.

If the breeder didnt have something to hide she would have had you meet her at her house. It sounds like your little one just had a rough start and with some TLC her coat could come in beautifully. I wish you the best and bless you for picking her since she needed you so badly

It sounds like things are going in the right direction. I'm sure her hair will start to grow in more. Maybe she was too stressed living at the breeders. Stress effects everyone differently, dogs too. Good luck to you!!

Bless you for having a big kind heart and looking past her physical appearance because she would have surely been left in that mess with no happy life...and now she is in a lovely place being able to run, and play with someone to look out for her....You made me so happy with your story.... I am sure with time and proper nutrition her coat will improve...I had a rescue that had coat issues and though it never grew long, the texture improved greatly..

:thumbup::thumbup::goodpost:

I think you are wonderful for caring for both new furbabies.
This lady was a front for a puppy mill... my vet told me stories of people saying they were local breeders but selling for puppymills. Did she say they were from the same littler?
What has the vet said about her health?
My wishes is all turns out well...I got a sickly puppy once and he is now healthy and doing well.. 10 years latter:)

Sounds like with good food, Good lovin she will gain some weight and get healthier, I think it will grow proper in time. Thankyou for saving her to

If this breeder would not allow you to come to her home, you can be certain she is operating a mill or brokering for one.

Has Juliette been thoroughly checked by your vet? Worms sap the nutrients from food and can make them thin and their coat dull and sparse. She also needs a bile acids test to make sure her liver is healthy. All Yorkies should have one at 16 weeks so she is old enough now.

Which may -- or may not -- have been nothing more than a messy house.
Don't read more into things. Though due to other issues stated would be the red flag.
They not wanting to meet you someplace is not the biggest red flag. Which I've always said, "hey stranger, you "say" you're interested in buying a pup, why don't you come on over to my house see what I have and wait until I leave (remember you told me you're going to 'think' about the pup and 'get back to me') and come back and steal my dogs, my tv, etc"
Sorry, it's a dangerous world out there these days, desperate times for desperate people. Do NOT bring just anyone claiming to be looking for a dog into your house --- especially if it's obvious it's just you and the dogs there. Be a smart seller, not a dead one. It's not like it's not obvious that so many single women sell pups. Just needs to be confirmed by the so called "buyer"!

Your story made me smile. Thank you for getting this little one. She now has a great pack leader who WILL look out for her and she has a familiar play buddy as well. Her life is great now.

This is #1 on the list in our "Buying a Yorkie? Read This First" stickie:

Do's and Don'ts

- Do not buy from a breeder who will not let you in their house. If a breeder wants to "meet" somewhere, like a parking lot to show you your potential yorkie, no matter how "good" their excuse for doing this is, it is a red flag- they are probably hiding something

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ead-first.html

Reputable breeders do not operate their homes like Walmart. All potential buyers are screened, references checked, etc. before they are allowed to see the puppies.

Not allowing us into her home was definitely not the first red flag. There were really no first's, just many wow's. I can understand one being leary of allowing a stranger into their home. But one cannot ignore the pungent odor, poor hygiene, listless demeanor, scrawny body frame, sparse fur, etc.

I'm not the one who has the right to judge this woman. I am the one that chose to save these pups and give them the best life possible for them.

BTW, they have both been vet checked, Juliette has been twice now. No parasites or any other negative observations were made other than the bony structure and weight. Her hair is just something we have to focus on as she's doing well with her current diet. I did come across the "Grow Hair on a Doorknob" recipe and thought of giving it a try.

By vet checked, do you mean fecal checks, blood tests, and also recommended is bile acid testing?

I give Buster some salmon oil with his meals and that has really helped with his coat. I also have him on vitamins and supplements including doggie acidophilus as he was also from a puppy mill and on a lot of antibiotics when I first got him. I really wanted to build up his immunity and try to undo the damage of his early start. I am so glad to hear you opened your home and your heart to both these dogs.:thumbup:

I agree with what you posted 100 percent!! When we found Rosies new owner he wanted to come to the house and because I didnt know him personally I wouldnt let him come to the house, I have 4 kids and my other animals to think about, and my house is always clean!! So it doesnt always have to be a "red flag" because the person didnt want to meet you at their house to get the pups. Its a crazy world we live in now a days..
Rosie's owner turned out to be a wonderful guy who loves her to dealth and she is now an even more spoiled 65 pound coon dog that gets to sleep in the bed with her owner and has taken his 8000 dollar leather couch as hostage..:)
To the OP thanks for taking this pup, sounds like she needs lots of loving care, a decent food and maybe some fish oil supplements to help with her coat issues.

The bloodwork and fecal checks were done but I'll have to ask him about the bile acids test. I had never heard of that before but I'm sure he can do it.

Thanks for taking in these little ones to give them a better life. I look forward to seeing before and after pictures.

Ditto...you are a blessing!!!!!!!!

Romeo and Juliette are both going to the groomers tomorrow. We have a couple of pics from when we first received them and I'll take addt'l ones tomorrow both before and after her appointment. She looks so disheveled at the moment with her lopsided haircut and thinning hair. I was thinking of using some vaseline to tame the wild hairs on her nose to keep them from poking her in the eyes. Hopefully it won't take too awful long to grow them out. I was going to tell the groomer to just give her a puppy cut so we can start out fresh and even and go from there. Any suggestions?

I think they are both very lucky to have you.:)

Check this link:

http://www.yorkieshampoo.com/yorkiehairstyles.aspx

Isn't this your responsibility as a Breeder to get to know your Buyer? To check references of potential Buyers to make sure that they would make wonderful & safe pet owner for your precious puppies?

Not worrying if the stranger you called who was advertising his/her want for a Yorkie puppy might steal your dogs or your tv...:confused:

This is what I myself would expect of my Breeder...to do his/her homework to make sure that I am exactly who I say I am to the best of his/her ability...but, that's just me.;)

Why in the world would any reputable breeder hand over a puppy on the side of the road to someone they wouldn't trust in their own home? :confused:

I'd say my breeder had checked me out pretty thoroughly BEFORE she invited me to come to the house. We had emailed, talked by phone, and she had contacted my Vet all prior. So, she at least had a clue.

I understand the concern because in my old job I traveled around going to stranger's homes to handle their claims. Sometimes it was scary; but it was my job single woman or no. I actually learned to love meeting strangers and have many fond memories of people I met and talked with.

A time or two - it was kinda scary.

Bottom line, I'm gonna want to see where the dogs live before I purchase the dogs.

Lol...you're right no reputable Breeder would...BUT, a Greeder, now they would do it in a heart beat!:rolleyes:

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

I wouldn't dream of placing a foster dog of mine with someone I didn't trust, I can't believe someone responsible would place one with someone they didn't trust. Not much love goin' on for the puppies, IMO.

I traveled several cities away from home to see my first yorkie puppy. i ended up getting lost . I was on the phone with the breeder, and then the daughter for nearly anther HR. trying to find their home. The Breeder stood in her driveway, which was a very long graveled road, that is the only way I found her. I went buy her house in circles , until she pulled her car up her drivewway and stood there wating for us.
It was love at first site. I never had even seen a yorkie in real life. I was smitten. I did not even think about asing to go inside her home after being lost for that long. Suzi has turned out to a beautiful yorkie, and a great watchdog. She is nearly 3 yrs old . And is a darker colored yorkie.
I was looking for a "friend" for Suzi the folllowing year. Somebody reccomended a lady in Fresno who had a litter of Puppies. I instantly thought they were yorkie's. SO my brother and I went to the breeder's home after making arrangements from the breeder. I was invited inside their house. It was not yorkie's , but A litter ful of Shih Tzu's. Fortuntely a shih Tzu was a dog that I had considered when thinking about getting a dog. These little guys looked like Gizmo's. They were AKC , plus the Breeder allowed plenty of time for the visit. I placed a deposit on one of them , then left.
A couple weeks later I brought home a SHih Tzu baby. Their was a big difference between the two breeders. The shih tzu breeder was more professional , and made sure that my autistic son was not going to squeeze a new puppy to death. She was more cautious with us, and wanted her puppies to go to very good homes.

When I applied to rescue Toby, not only did the foster mom call my vet, she called all five references I had listed on my application. I was very impressed.

In a perfect world I would agree. Of course in a perfect world we needn't worry about those things would we? I'm talking about initially meeting someone...I hardly think breeders are paying for and waiting weeks to receive criminal background checks on every one who calls wanting to see a puppy. If it's a chance one wants to take so be it, some do not. As it only takes one bad incident. I'm not particularly fond of the idea of going to a strangers house anymore than they are thrilled with the aspect of a stranger coming to theirs. (bad things happen both ways) Granted I would like to see the environment but I wouldn't hold it against someone if (after I've checked them out) wanted to meet me elsewhere. Again, probably less risk with a household full of people coming and going...would send the message to the potential bad person that this isn't the best place...but to the nice single woman showing her dogs...the phone not ringing while the person is there, no neighbors/relatives/friends showing up unexpectedly...
think like a criminal and there you go...but all this concern of mine is probably after spending a long time working in the criminal justice system with offenders who didn't understand "rehabilitation". So sure just let anyone in...I'm sure the percentage is small in such a situation. Probably depends more on one's locale too.

trust is built and not in a day. I'm talking about initial meetings. There the trust issue goes BOTH ways. Reference calling? Oh, please. Call someone's vet? sure, yeah, I'm sure the vet remembers them well. So someone had a dog five years ago and maybe there's a vet record...they were waiting for just the "right pup" yeah, took a few years (while they were doing time maybe :-). So are you saying you'd never sell to someone who hadn't had a dog in recent years and able to produce a vet record? Someone needs a vet record of recent to be a good pet owner? Wow there went a lot of potential really good homes.
A foster dog is a bit different isn't it? Isn't the fostering place required to do more checking ??? IDK about all that.