Would Like Input re: Breeder Behavior

[Teresa Ford]

Originally Posted by magicgenie

I'm a breeder. Puppies are not nursing at 9 weeks, but that's still early for a Yorkie to leave home. I wouldn't write the breeder off a terrible for letting puppies go home at 9 weeks as there could be other information or circumstances that we haven't been told that would make this make more sense for her. Perhaps the breeder got the impression from the way you were speaking to her that you were just looking around and not a serious buyer. I pre-screen people to weed out the lookie-loos who will only come here for entertainment and puppy petting. Some are making the rounds trying to "buy the breeder" as so many like to suggest on this board. If I can't stand on my reputation by this time I never will. The days of sitting there for hours explaining the difference between a hobby and back yard breeder and the quality differences of the puppies from each, and of walking people through every inch of my house because they need a "tour of the facility" are over. I discovered that the more time someone takes up, the less serious they are. Someone who calls and asks for references gets my attention as a serious buyer.

I agree with many things in this post. I prescreen too. I worry about people bringing germs. I set up a visiting area. I ask people to leave their shoes outside and wash their hands before touching the puppies. I show them the parents then take the parents to another room. And I only bring out the puppies I think might be a match, personality, sex, and so on. Strangers are coming to my home, to adopt one of my babies. So yes I have the right to be picky. People may think I am rude by all the questions I ask. I refuse to allow people to just drop by. Not because I am hiding anything. I just want my babies safe.

[yorkieluvaffair]

Once again, this was not prescreening from the breeder. We were told not to come unless we were going to buy or put down money on a puppy (a puppy we haven't even seen). That is not being picky; it is being rude.

[yorkieluvaffair]

Thanks, Mardelin, and everyone else who provided (links to) great info.

[magicgenie]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I don't allow anyone to my house until they are fully screened and the pups have had their initial vaccinations.....then and only then are people allowed in and in their bare feet (socks) and sitting on the floor and after they've disinfected their hands.A good breeder never takes a deposit until you've seen and picked your pup in person.

Thanks for bringing this up. I think I have assertiveness issues and in my eagerness to be pleasant and accomodating I've joepardized my puppies. I've had people walking around with them in their arms and drop them, various other mishaps. So far the most serious injuries have been to my heart, but there it is. I would love to insist people remove their shoes; I even have a basket full of new slipper socks at the door for this purpose, but somehow they go unused. When I try seating people on the floor there always seems to be an elderly or disabled person present who can't manage that. It seems that we ALWAYS end up with children on the floor with the parents walking about among the puppies.
To the OP, it looks like the breeder you posted about may be just plain weird. I decline the ones who phone at the last minute saying "I'm just passing though your area and would like to swing by to have a look at what you have" or "I'm thinking of buying a Yorkie next year and would like to come by for a tour of your facility." I used to think it was my duty to let everyone in in the interest of providing "education" about responsible breeding vs the other kinds, but what I got all too often were families with nothing else to do that day. That said, some have returned a year later for a puppy, but many just disappeared forever. Ha, I'm reminded of one as I write this, came by three times last year, disappeared an entire year, phoned last week saying she is definitely wanting something from a litter I'll have ready in October. I need to mull this over some more, sometimes say the wrong thing the wrong way, especially when stressed and tired, and I'm both right now.
Best wishes to the OP.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by magicgenie

Thanks for bringing this up. I think I have assertiveness issues and in my eagerness to be pleasant and accomodating I've joepardized my puppies. I've had people walking around with them in their arms and drop them, various other mishaps. So far the most serious injuries have been to my heart, but there it is. I would love to insist people remove their shoes; I even have a basket full of new slipper socks at the door for this purpose, but somehow they go unused. When I try seating people on the floor there always seems to be an elderly or disabled person present who can't manage that. It seems that we ALWAYS end up with children on the floor with the parents walking about among the puppies. To the OP, it looks like the breeder you posted about may be just plain weird. I decline the ones who phone at the last minute saying "I'm just passing though your area and would like to swing by to have a look at what you have" or "I'm thinking of buying a Yorkie next year and would like to come by for a tour of your facility." I used to think it was my duty to let everyone in in the interest of providing "education" about responsible breeding vs the other kinds, but what I got all too often were families with nothing else to do that day. That said, some have returned a year later for a puppy, but many just disappeared forever. Ha, I'm reminded of one as I write this, came by three times last year, disappeared an entire year, phoned last week saying she is definitely wanting something from a litter I'll have ready in October. I need to mull this over some more, sometimes say the wrong thing the wrong way, especially when stressed and tired, and I'm both right now.
Best wishes to the OP.

Joey's breeder insisted on knowing me before there was any meeting at the house. I know Mardelin, has said many times she gets to know people before there is ever a home visit as well, and I've got to say one of the things I love about Mary is that she says that she doesn't consider people who call her lookieloos, she doesn't mind talking to them at all, and she could care less if they buy a dog from her, she wants to educate them about the breed! As far as allowing children into your house, I don't about Mary, but Joey's breeder wouldn't even sell to families with children. Joey's breeder just doesn't feel like a yorkie is the best fit for a family with small children. I think the scene you describe is not healthy for the puppies, and I wouldn't allow the children to touch the puppies. Again, it sounds more like you are more interested in selling dogs than you are in finding the best home for the dogs. When a breeder has this type of problem I wonder how many dogs they are breeding each year?

[anevarez]

I know an elderly couple who used to breed Yorkies. They were always willing to let everyone in their home to see the pups. We live in a small town, and one day when the couple went to do their grocery shopping, 3 - 4 week old Yorkies were stolen from their home. The police as well as the couple suspects a woman who had gone to look at the puppies a couple days before. You said she told you not to come unless you were wanting to buy or put down a deposit... Maybe she meant not to go unless you were serious?

[yorkietalkjilly]

Any one that won't let me see the puppies and facilities raises all kinds of red flags for me. I would just keep on looking for a truely reputable breeder using some of the guide articles in the library here on YT.

[magicgenie]

Originally Posted by anevarez

I know an elderly couple who used to breed Yorkies. They were always willing to let everyone in their home to see the pups. We live in a small town, and one day when the couple went to do their grocery shopping, 3 - 4 week old Yorkies were stolen from their home. The police as well as the couple suspects a woman who had gone to look at the puppies a couple days before. You said she told you not to come unless you were wanting to buy or put down a deposit... Maybe she meant not to go unless you were serious?

Every once in a while someone's pet Yorkie is stolen from a home around here. I haven't heard of puppies being stolen from breeders, but it's always a concern. I have a good bit of surveillance equipment, there's always an adult in the house, and there must be 2 of us present to allow anyone in, no exceptions. This is a pretty safe part of the country, but one must still be vigilant.

[Maximo]

Originally Posted by magicgenie

Thanks for bringing this up. I think I have assertiveness issues and in my eagerness to be pleasant and accomodating I've joepardized my puppies.

Speak up! I feel so guilty that I did not remove my shoes when I entered my boys' breeder's home. My excitement and determination not to cry with joy made me forget my manners and common sense. Start with, "For the health of the pups, please remove your shoes." I'm sure no one will mind.

[magicgenie]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Any one that won't let me see the puppies and facilities raises all kinds of red flags for me. I would just keep on looking for a truely reputable breeder using some of the guide articles in the library here on YT.

I'm having trouble understanding the breeder not wanting to receive visitors unless they were planning to purchase. After all, someone could visit and not like the look of the particular puppies or parents. You try to screen for serious intent, but there's no way to know for sure that someone will buy. I wouldn't think of buying from someone who won't show the puppies. Seeing the "facilities" can be a little more complicated because for most breeders it's their entire home. Previously when someone asked to see where the puppies are raised it meant going into the bedrooms of the house and I've found that impractical and inappropriate. Once in a while I show someone around. My home is clean and smells nice and I have lots of references from diverse people who have seen every inch of the place and that has to be sufficient. Big house, three flights of stairs, I'm old, can't do that any more.

[magicgenie]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

Joey's breeder insisted on knowing me before there was any meeting at the house. I know Mardelin, has said many times she gets to know people before there is ever a home visit as well, and I've got to say one of the things I love about Mary is that she says that she doesn't consider people who call her lookieloos, she doesn't mind talking to them at all, and she could care less if they buy a dog from her, she wants to educate them about the breed! As far as allowing children into your house, I don't about Mary, but Joey's breeder wouldn't even sell to families with children. Joey's breeder just doesn't feel like a yorkie is the best fit for a family with small children. I think the scene you describe is not healthy for the puppies, and I wouldn't allow the children to touch the puppies. Again, it sounds more like you are more interested in selling dogs than you are in finding the best home for the dogs. When a breeder has this type of problem I wonder how many dogs they are breeding each year?

I wonder if people reading this understand that what you're saying means there would be no pet Yorkies if all breeders did things your way. I have a few litters most years and I love it. It's my hobby but in order to do it I have to sell puppies to pay the expenses of breeding and showing and because I can't keep them all. Never mind, not worth the effort to explain myself here. As always, anyone wanting to know more about me can email or call.

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by Maximo

Speak up! I feel so guilty that I did not remove my shoes when I entered my boys' breeder's home. My excitement and determination not to cry with joy made me forget my manners and common sense. Start with, "For the health of the pups, please remove your shoes." I'm sure no one will mind.

I understand the excitement of wanting to see the pups. I have a designated area where I have the pups when they are being viewed. It is blocked off from traffic.....People are allowed to enter, but not before they remove their shows and sanitize their hads. Oh! and they are no chairs in the area....you've got to sit on the floor.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by magicgenie

I wonder if people reading this understand that what you're saying means there would be no pet Yorkies if all breeders did things your way. I have a few litters most years and I love it. It's my hobby but in order to do it I have to sell puppies to pay the expenses of breeding and showing and because I can't keep them all. Never mind, not worth the effort to explain myself here. As always, anyone wanting to know more about me can email or call.

There would still be pet Yorkies, not ever dog is suitable for the ring or to be bred, but we wouldn't have so many in rescue, and we wouldn't have so many sold to people who are absolutely clueless to the care and feeding and housebreaking of Yorkies. Sorry, but your the one that made it sound like hordes of people are invading your home.

I would love to insist people remove their shoes; I even have a basket full of new slipper socks at the door for this purpose, but somehow they go unused. When I try seating people on the floor there always seems to be an elderly or disabled person present who can't manage that. It seems that we ALWAYS end up with children on the floor with the parents walking about among the puppies.

This sounds like chaos to me.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Since I don't go see a dog just to look, as I pretty much know what is going to be available there before I call due to lots of research before the call, the breeder and I have already usually talked at length for a few days, she and I have passed one another's various tests, she's checked me out and we have established that my visit will be with the intention of looking to purchase. I could never blame a breeder for being exceptionally choosy, wanting rules and sanitation precautions and all of that. I would be the same way myself! But if all that had been established and I couldn't see the dog or facilities when I am there to buy my next Yorkie baby and have everything in the car I will need to transport home in comfort and safety, I would suspect something very odd and move on, very sad but wiser.

[gemy]

One breeder friend of mine, uses those plastic slip over the shoes covers. I thought that was a neat idea. Of course the hand sanitizers we have now, make it easy to wash hands prior to puppy viewing, petting, touching, etc.

Also folks, it may only apply to some puppy purchasers, but you also should wash your hands on the way out. If you have visited a strangers home, and have any concern about the health of the puppies, or adults you visited, and have young dogs/children at home, I would go even further and make sure that when I get home I change fully and put clothes in washer.