Thanks for the link! That's a great food website! We often switch food because I got really pick eaters over here so it will come in handy.

I would never buy dog food, toys, & treats for my babies at walmart! That's definitely a terrible breeder because a good breeder would try their best to feed the best for their dogs. Gross! animal bones and fat? :eek:

OP, I would go get that baby out asap! I think it's better sneaking him at your apartment than leaving him there. I think their nutrition at a young age is VERY important. A dog I rescued this year, she had so many problems due to malnutrition at a young age!

The daughter is the boss from tracking and record keeping so to speak. She works a full time job and has children to take care of. The mother is retired and doesn't have any kids to take care of but the dogs.

I didn't say the conditions were horrible. I hated the fact that she feeds them Ol'Roy and I didn't like the fact that he was in a crate all day. Do I know this to be law, no! However, I know at home with me he would have more space and 100% attention!

I made this post to get thoughts from fellow Yorkie lovers, I was not looking for an "ok". I wanted opinions. I met the breeder a few weeks back and was really impressed by her. It was upon another visit when I was sad about our baby sitting there when he could be with his new family!

After talking to several vets today I was informed that him being on it for another month wouldn't be that bad, but his food will be changing the day I get him. I will take food there on Saturday when I go spend time with him.

Yorkiemini, I wish I had a friend that I could do that with! That would be great for my dog and the pizza for my stomach lol.

Jennxling, your situation worked out beautifully! I'm tempted to try it especially since its only a month. I will see how things go on Saturday.

I heard good reviews from 2 people about her puppies and I met her and loved her spirit and her other dogs were all healthy. I met the parents of my Yorkie and they were beautiful, healthy and had great personalities.

I have a great health warranty, got the dog for a "steal" and I am providing him with a good loving home (in 30 days, if I wait). That's all that matters to me!

Can you bring food and ask her to feed that to him instead?? I don't think she would mind...it saves money on her food. ;) Also, when you do switch, make sure you switch gradually as yorkies have sensitive stomach. Best of luck to you!

I'm definitely taking some food to her on Saturday to start the switch so she can introduce him to that. She also said that she would move him away from his brother and other 2 friends closer to the time I will pick him up so he will be use to being the only dog around. That way his only adjustment will be to the new environment.

Should I have her separate him or should he stay among his "classmates" until he graduates?

If you have your heart set on this baby, I think this is a good idea. At least you could rest knowing he/she will be getting the food you think is best.
Just say "When baby gets to our home, we want to feed -----. Would you please start feeding her/him so there won't be any issues when we get baby home?"
Good luck with your little one.

Thank you!!

The breeder is sweet and she said she will do whatever I want for my dog. She stated this is your baby, I'm just babysitting. I'm going to do some research and see if I can find a local pet shop that could work out a deal with her for a better quality food at a great price since she will be buying so much.

I don't think she will be offended, its all in the delivery and I know how to talk to people without it seeming like I'm talking down to them which unfortunately is not a skill everyone has!

When I got Cali they separated the litter mates the last week. Maybe breeders who have experience in this can advise wether it is better to leave them together or not. Cali was the first puppy that I crate trained. All my others were enclosed in a puppy proof room. I had a playpen set up for her and she did great in it from day one. She settled down when left alone with out any problems. It sounds like you are prepared for Twix's arrival.

I'm doing the Playpen thing as well Ms. Patti. It seems like it would be great for him. Plenty of play room and I like that its raised off the ground. I will put another bed in it and a lot of toys.

We are thinking of getting a companion for him. I might hold off until Christmas for that! The good thing is I will already have everything I need since I bought multiples of everything lol.

Shopping for my Twix is such an addiction and he is not even here yet. I can only imagine when he comes!

I put Cali's bed and blankets a tone end of the play pen and her pee pad at the other. She never messed on her bedding always used the pads. I think it's nice for them to have a companion. It's fun to watch them interact. Keep us posted on how it goes this weekend.

Anyone who has so many pups that they cannot afford to feed pups better food has too many of them period. Why would you be the one to bargain shop for better food? And, you say you have a great health warranty? Who is going to pay if there is a problem with this pup? Surely not this breeder.

I hear you making a lot of excuses for her. Sad imo. I see people like her and the results of her kind of breeding on a daily basis...and I see people just like you who are so wanting a puppy that they ignore the obvious.

I am sorry that this is probably not what you want to hear....and I am very aware that you are going to purchase this puppy no matter what anyone here says. BUT...I would be remiss if I did not point out just the bare minimum here.

Will look forward to seeing your new puppy once you get him. :)

Just remember many times "cheap dogs" end up being the most expensive in the long run.

Hey LadyJane,

I totally understand what you are saying and I appreciate the way you said it. You stated your opinion/P.O.V without talking down!

Unfortunately she already has half of the money and although its not a lot, I'm not willing to throw it away. Plus the most important fact that my family already loves our dog and will do everything to take care of him financially and emotionally. We accept that responsibility!

Would I use her again or recommend her to anyone else, no! Those who recommended her to me probably have no idea about the quality of Ol'Roy! They just know they have happy and healthy new members to their family and they will cherish them forever.

I don't feel I am making excuses for her. I think she can definitely make some major improvements and I will sit down and talk with her as I feel she just doesn't know a lot about certain things. She stated she has been breeding and raising dogs for around 30 years. Her main issue is that I think she does everything the same way she use to 30 years ago and hasn't adapted to more current methods and ways. Is she a bad person for that, I don't believe so! I think she is just ignorant to many of the things we can learn from the internet or talking to other people. She would greatly benefit from YT! She lives far out in the country, with no computer access and its just her, her immediate family and her fur babies!

I'm hoping I can assist her with the knowledge she is lacking. If she decides not to use it, then that's a problem!

Thanks again!

Good luck with that! She has been doing it for 30 years and must be making money or would not continue. She has been finding people like you who love the pups and taking advantage of them for all these years....all the while at the expense of the pups. I can guarantee you that she has produced some real messes. :( As I said, it is very sad.

Oh, Amen to that!

YorkDaddy, just curious and meant with the most respect. But if you have been here lurking and researching, and know about better foods, don't you know that everything about this breeder screams greeder/byber? I mean, Ol'Roy is gross! The only reason I can think of anyone wanting to feed that is because they want to make the most money possible with the least amount of expenses which carries over into every other aspect of their operation. It really is very sad.

No prob, :D Just say a test for LP [Patella issue that requires surgery and meds in the long run, the earlier they catch it, the better!] then the Bile Acid Test is pretty common too, those two test are good just to start off with your puppy, I hope you pup is as healthy as the other that told you about the breeder :D

Can't wait to see pictures!

I had already connected with the breeder before I was full into YT. Many of us have had experiences like this due to "not knowing" all we can do is learn from it and educate others in the future.

Thank you for the well wishes Sweet Tikka! Means a lot!

I too wish you the best. And I will never judge you for what you decide, sometimes our heart is smarter than our brains..lol..

LOL! Thank you for the well wishes and the non-judgement! I don't feed in to stuff like that anyway. Everyone has an opinion and its just that!

Bigger picture is a dog will be getting a great home and I'm prepared all the way around to take care of him and his needs!

Well said! :animal-pa

I live in an apartment complex that does not allow pets... Lulu did not start barking until maybe 6 months... and her bark is so tiny, its not even a bark.. only the neighbors ( who have a maltese) knows that we have a dog.. we have had lulu since december and she is not noticeable at all. We have a dog carrier that looks like a purse , and thats only to and from the carport.

That is true.....but, the even bigger picture is that many dogs (including perfectly wonderful yorkies) are going to die today in shelters across the country....I believe in your state many will die in gas chambers, a horrific death. :(

So...while people continue to think they are saving the pups when they buy from bad breeders, they are actually, unknowingly (in some cases), contributing to these deaths. All they are doing is keeping these people who don't give a rat's butt about the welfare of the pups they breed, in business. And...the numbers of them that end up dumped or poorly cared for is just beyond belief.

I know you won't change your mind, but I continue to plug away trying to get the message out there with the hopes that some people actually do listen.

That's exactly what the bad breeders are counting on. We let emotion stand in place of logic and they can continue to cut corners and otherwise abuse their dogs.

We have good intentions and justify our actions by saying we are "rescuing" the pups. But in reality all we are doing is giving our stamp of approval to the greeders in the form of our $$$ so they can turn around and do it again.

It's sad and the dogs left with the breeders to repeat the cycle pay the biggest price.

Agreed! And it is especially sad in this case- because the OP continues to make excuses for the breeder and say she really loves her dogs, that she has their best interest at heart, etc. etc. when we all can see that she is a greeder plain and simple. Hopefully if anyone is reading this thread and considering buying from a situation like this they will take posts like yours and ladyjanes to heart and see the real impact buying from breeders like this have.

To the OP- you can continue to ignore the posts that you do not like and say those people are talking down to you- but they are from people with A LOT more experience then you, people who really know their stuff, and will continue despite people like you, to stand up for the dogs.

York Daddy; Here are a couple of things that concern me. In a previous thread you mention that spending a $1000 for a Yorkie is beyond your budget.
I'm assuming that this breeder is selling this Yorkie for a lot less than $1000 - perhaps in the range of $500 or so.
Whatever the price; the ongoing care of a Yorkie can be expensive, and in particular if health issues crop up in your pup. So I would highly recommend a pet plan insurance for you if money is tight. You want an insurance that covers genetic defects, luxating patella surgery, Leggs Perthes, etc.
You have had the opportunity to read through the sick and emegency threads and should know by now, that a Yorkie with a problem or two is not uncommon. Therefor it is wise to plan for those problems up front.

Quite simply there is no "cheap" way to breed correctly for health and temperament and conformation/structure. The appropriate pre breeding tests are easily $500 or more. These tests are done prior to breeding your dogs, and are done on the breeding pair. Then there is the cost of whelping and raising a litter. Yorkies do not have large litters one/two/three pups in a litter is not uncommon. It doesn't take a math genius to figure out what the average cost per pup would be if you are doing everything in your power to produce healthy,well structured, happy pups; and this doesn't include the cost to show a dog to their championship. Then a meaningful health guarantee from the seller's perspective would set aside at the minimum the selling price of one pup to cover off their own liability should this pup in the future test positive for LS, or require LP surgery, or any number of the other conditions that afflict our breed.

The easiest way for a "breeder" to cut costs is to a) not do the health tests b) skimp on vet care c) feed cheap food and d) offer a health guarantee that covers nothing for the shortest time possible. e) of course not show or champion their dogs for whatever excuse they care to offer.

Caveat Empor

Yikes! $1,000 is cheap these days. Some of the things that happen with these little ones can add up quickly.
If money for vet care is an issue, I agree, you need to look into insurance and do it quickly!

Agreed. I have spent well over $1000 just on routine care, meds (flea and heart worm) and spaying this past year alone. Add in grooming and feeding a high quality food and the bill just goes way up from there.

OK. So let's say he wasnt too educated on buying in his puppy. He gets that. We get that. What he is now trying to do is make the best of this unfortunate situation. He loves the dog and wants the dog (although his situation is kinda unique), but I guess its not enough to those on here who have more experience. I mean, what else can he do? Why must some continue to berate him for misinformed choices? What a way to lower his morale.

For the record, I have addressed that although I am "defending" her, I do not love her standards. However, I've already made my purchase and I will deal with the decision that I made.

I've learned from this experience, and that is the important part.

Did I pick and choose what I responded to? Yes, I certainly did. Why would I debate on information that people are stating is true? What logic is there to that? Am I suppose to argue my point? My point was I didn't feel the breeder has the dog in the environment that I would like. I feel its more of an ignorance thing and not a cruelty thing. Was this fact? No! That's why I'm on YORKIETALK. To talk and LEARN!!!! I have learned. Now I will never buy from a breeder like this!

Regardless of your feeling towards "people like me" we are here for a common purpose because we love Yorkies. Your fight might be bigger than mine as you are fighting for them all, and I'm fighting for mine. As I continue to learn and grow I can fight for all the dogs!





"Despite people like me"? Wow....

I have no words left for this BS