Thanks. I will definitely do that. Now I have a whole bag of puppy Beneful and I dont want to give her that. Thanks for the heads up with the spaying. I did think it was too early and although she is coming from a home from CL, I am so hoping I am not feeding the mouths of a byb. I am due to pick her up from her home tomorrow. I would feel terrible.

You will want to hold off on the spay until you know whether or not she's going to have a problem with retained puppy teeth, which will be sometime between 6-8 months. No sense putting her under anesthesia twice.

As for food, feed the best she can eat and tolerate. Just go slowly while you are making the switch. I've had good luck with Blue Buffalo Small Breed Puppy. Wellness is good, too. Look in the "health and diet" section and you will see a sticky about getting food samples. Lots of the better brands will send you free samples so you can try a variety until you find one that works well for you.

Personally I pay out of pocket- my advice would be to get insurance and do it before Tuesday, seriously! The problem is once you take the dog in and the vet even mentions maybe she has LP or something, it is a pre-existing condition and no longer covered. If I had it to do over again, I would have gotten insurance before my pups walked through the door- you can always cancel it, but you can't get a condition covered once you know about it. I only thought about it after I found out my dogs had pre-existing conditions, so it didnt make sense anymore.

Thank you! I've heard about Blue Buffalo as well as Natural Balance. Now I'm even more nervous about bringing her home! I dont want to upset her stomach!

Thanks! I have Pets Best after doing so much research on the different companies!

To YorkDaddy and babiegurl some times the advice here may seem heavy handed but it actually is based on a heavy heart. ladyjane has rescued many yorkies who have serious medical issues because of bad breeding practices. They have taken in dogs from distraught owners who have purchased a puppy for unconditional love only to be heart broken by overwhelming medical issues and have ended up having to go through the heart breaking process of having to surrender their dogs to a rescue so they can get the needed medical treatment they can not afford. Her anger comes from years of helping people who are emotionally devastated by bad breeders who usually get away with not having to accept the financial or emotional responsibility of their actions. Many of us here (ME) were not knowledgeable before we got our first puppy. We fell in love with the dog and even though we like to think we are rescuing the dog from a bad breeder we are still perpetuating the process. The puppies may get out with us but the poor parents are still left there to grind out more babies. They are the true victims and they are who ladyjane is truly fighting for to end the cruelty done to them. So her posts are to educate the next person so maybe one more BYB or puppymill will close down due to lack of business.
YorkDaddy I think you have a kind a loving heart and will be a wonderful Daddy to Twix. I think you perhaps you felt you could provide a better environment for Twix that his breeder. And it was this concern that made you uncomfortable with her setup. I feel some bad breeders are not bad people just people who do not have the dog's best interest at heart. Honestly for all we know this family may know nothing about nutrition or medical care even for themselves. Many people in America eat a diet of the human version of Old Roy.
Since it is only one month I would keep Twix with the breeder. So many changes are happening in your life right now that may be unsettling for Twix. Also with moving there will be a lot of heavy boxes being stacked that might fall over when bumped, stuff waiting to be packed that a yorkie could get into. Plus the whole move is just exhausting and hectic so it might be better to wait.
YorkDaddy and babiegurl I hope you have a wonderful life with your furbabies. Best wishes

Get a couple cans of pumpkin- the plain kind, not the pumpkin pie filling- at the first sign of stomach upset you can add it to their food and it will help a lot. :thumbup:

Hey Rhetts....how are you doing today? I didn't call the information crap at all. I've learned a lot from this post alone, which is what YT is all about (or should be). The crap was the delivery/tone. As I've learned from speaking to a few people, I'm not the only one who took it that way! However, words on a screen can be interpreted 10 different ways by 10 different people.

I sincerely do apologize if you were offended as that is/nor will it ever be my nature. Again, when I didn't agree with the tone of certain messages. I read it, learned from it and moved on. Then when I'm being accused of ignoring the message and just being one of those type of people (with implications that I don't care is where it crossed the line for me). I didn't take it personal because nobody on this board knows my story, or that I couldn't adopt from a shelter because of certain health issues. They didn't want to risk a dog from a shelter growing to love and trust again and then something happened to me and I was no longer here.
People can make judgements on what they don't know, I don't care about that. Like I said, everyone has opinions but when personal character is brought into it things are different!

Its no sweat though! I'm an observant person anyway so I know how these things go!

Hey Bella and Gemy, thank you! I am very aware of the BIG financial responsibility that comes with these furbabies! The only major difference between them and kids is the fur lol and no college fund lol! I have money set aside for anything big that may happen and I will definitely have pet insurance on him.

Twix will be a bigger benefit to me and my health and recovery than I probably ever could be for him! That is why he already has all of our hearts and we want nothing more than for him to have the best possible life. He might not have had the best "home" but his new home will more than make up for it!

duh! I saw you say that earlier :rolleyes:

Ok! Will do (though I might be tempted to make pumpkin pie! LOL)!

No problem- I will PM my address and you can send the Pie here ;)

Thank you! Thats why I extended my olive branch. I am far from experienced and want to learn more with an open mind!

I use PetPlan but you have to pay up front for all insurance claims so it is always wise to have money or a credit card for emergencies. Buster has cost me over $7,000.00 in the first two years on medical bills due to bad breeding. My story and countless others are why members here try to educate people. They have read our posts, supported us when we are afraid and our babies are in the hospital, and comforted us when our babies have passed. Our babies leave footprints on their hearts as well.

I just went back onto the pet's section of craigslist. More Yorkie mixes are put on there (not from mines) for insane reasons as to why they cant keep them and high prices. WoW.....

Hey, thank you for that! I TOTALLY, and I think I can even speak for babiegurl and say we totally understood her point of view and NEVER did we challenge anything she said.

I stumbled across Yorkie Talk and was very happy to do so...it was like a parallel universe appeared lol. I think a lot of people get dogs because of the love they wanna give but they have to grown and learn, just like in all areas of life. With that knowledge you can become the very best in whatever you are trying to do!

That's all I was trying to do! After I found out I couldn't adopt, I start researching for Yorkies on my own. I ran across other breeders who totally sent up red flags so I immediately ceased all communication. This one seemed like she had a real love and passion for dogs. She was just older and I knew they weren't getting the personal attention. Then I found out the food she was feeding him was horrible and thats when I started to worry and really want to free my baby! I never made excuses for the breeder but when I tried to give her my email address while we were sitting at her kitchen table she didn't know that you use the @ symbol instead of the word at, amongst other little factors that I started to piece together. I realized she might not be a bad breeder, just truly uninformed and out of the loop. Or she honestly could just be a bad breeder. I didn't want to bad mouth her character because I have no idea. That's why I wanted to pull some information and show her what I learned and ways she can incorporate it. Then if she decided not to make the changes, that's an issue!

The discussion took a major turn but I never tried to stop anyone from spreading their information, and never debated the facts.

Now what you have said about the move.......is really what scares me. While, I personally wont be moving anything myself (lol) I don't want him to be scared by all the confusion going on, and then I don't want him getting use to this environment and only be here a month!

You are right.......however, if he tells me that he is ready to go home tomorrow then I will just have to make it happen. He is priority number one! That is my son!!!!:D

Oh, we had one today that a person was keeping in a crate on her porch .. said she moved from a house to an apartment and that the yorkie had to stay in that crate. No clue why.

Wanted to surrender her because the neighbors cannot stand her barking. :( Luckily the pup was still alive and able to bark...the temps are in the 90s now. :(

The numbers of homeless yorkies and the reasons for it are mind blowing.

I am pretty sure the OP knows how people feel about where is the best place to purchase a puppy by now. He is invested emotionally and financially and it sounds like Twix will be very loved. I have had Yorkies for over 40 years and am still learning. The one thing I have found to be true, in my opinion, is that with Yorkies it is not easy to get a 100 % healthy one no mater where they are from. All you can do is try and pick the best breeder you can and hope for the best. I have 4, Nikki is a rescue that is estimated at 17+ years of age, he was found on the streets and does not appear to be bred to the standard. he is extremely healthy, Cali was from a BYB, she had major health issues and no guarantee, I was on my own with 8,000.00 in medical bills her first year. She is doing good now but has Grade 4 LP in both legs and mild MVD and allergies. Pixie is from a show breeder and had LP surgery last year. Roxie who is knock on wood healthy, is from the same breeder and was a "replacement" for DIxie who died at 6 months from congenital kidney failure. So you can see I have a mix of rescue, BYB and show breeder babies. So no matter how careful you are you can run in to health issues with Yorkies. A big difference is in the way the breeder handles the health issues once you have them home. I hope you have many, many happy, healthy years with Twix.

That's heartbreaking. Now some of the ones Ive read are kinda suspect. Like one who's trying to "rehome" a yorkie mix that's only 2 months old due to the baby being allergic, yet the rehome fee is $550!!!! Oh really now? Another has a 4 month old puppy selling for $330 because they are moving to a place where pets are not allowed (I guess they didnt bother trying to find a pet friendly apartment)....

WOW. Thank you so much for sharing. Thats a lot of financial and emotional investment involved! I dont know how I would react if my CJ passed away....

Oh, people give up their pups all of the time for:

allergies

cannot housebreak

baby coming

new husband said I cannot keep my pup

moving and cannot take the pup

The list of excuses is endless...those above are some of the more common reasons.

:) and that is how it should be. It will be your first official Father's Day!
Best wishes Buster sends love and licks to Twix.

Oh wow! I am so sorry you had to deal with all that from your babies Ms. Patti! I am sending positive energy your way and hoping you don't have any more major issues and you too have many happy and HEALTH(IER) years with your babies!!

:bighug:
Thank you so much for the well wishes!

I volunteer every wednesday at a no kill shelter and it is so sad to see the reason's they are rehoming. The only good thing I can say is at least they turned them in and did not let them loose because we get a lot of that too. People dump them at the shelter at night even though signs are posted about it being against the law. Some leave them in crates, some just throw them on the grounds, which is right on a busy street. Having worked at a shelter any future dogs will be rescues but I have also had 40 years of getting just the puppy I wanted and everyone should have the choice. JMO

While living in San Antonio, the locals were known for dumping their pets on the side of the road! One time, as I was waiting with my son for his bus, I saw a lady stop in the middle of the street and dump two dogs off in a lot! I was floored!

My personal least favorite:
-Giving up the older dog because it doesn't like the new puppy!

No one said that people don't have a choice. Education is all this was. I never ONCE told anyone NOT to buy a puppy they had planned to buy.

I have a vested interest in letting people know the pitfalls. This thread just happened to be one that needed it...because the person was making excuses for a bad breeder. He can buy the puppy...but don't go telling me that she is ok and educable after 30 years of bad breeding. Thats all. JMHO

Yep...that is another one. They are each my least favorites and when I adopt I remember those reasons. Maybe it makes it a little more difficult for some people to prove themselves...but be darned if I want a pup that has been in my home to go through any more living hell.

I think it is time to get off the pc for now. I made my points and we will always have counter points even if only to try and win friends (human ones). :) Have a wonderful day people! :)

So buying from a bad breeder is ok because it's their choice? To me, it's very sad that is even an option.

I totally agree.. this breeder doesn't sound to be that good... you can't even be sure that your puppy is 100% healthy..
keeping dogs in crates all day.. that's horrible!! a good breeder would have their puppies at home, with them all the time..

be carefull!!!

Sorry you took it the wrong way. What I was saying is that I would only rescue any future dogs instead of going to a great breeder. But that was my decision. What I meant was if rescue wasn't their thing then they should have the choice to get a puppy from a good breeder. Believe me I have had more than my share of health issues and would never recommend someone buy from a bad breeder. Rescue is not for everyone and not everyone qualifies for rescues due to small children etc doesn't mean they won't make a great home. This is why I stay away from these threads because their is only one right opinion it seems.