Originally Posted by gracielove (Post 3628792)

If most people only knew that a dog being AKC registered means very little pertaining to quality.
One suggestion is to contact your nearest kennel club. These clubs conduct shows and matches in your area and they are good places to make contact with people who know who is who in the show world. Remember that even this does not guarantee anything but it is a starting point. Take everything with a grain of salt. Keep your ears open and don't take everything that is said as total truth. There will probably be several breeders of Yorkies in your district. If not I'm sure the people in the club can give you names of breeders in other districts.

Originally Posted by daschmo (Post 3627553)

After researching in the YTCA and AKC websites and every other source I could find, I finally feel knowledgeable enough to start my breeder search/screening in my quest for a new puppy. I’m getting a lot of very useful info and support from the Michigan YTCA breeders. Questioning “breeders” has become an uphill battle that I find discouraging and sad. This morning, I spoke with a “breeder” who has a beautiful website, credentialed to the hilt, who returned my phone call promptly. I thought it was interesting that I found a glowing review of her business written by someone with her same first initial and last name and mentioned this coincidence to her. She proceeded to admit she’d written a 5 star review of her Yorkies as if she was her own customer. I was appalled. When I told her I’m asking questions suggested by the YTCA and AKC to screen breeders, she hung up. This is typical of my breeder screening so far. Another “breeder” I now presume to be a thinly veiled puppy mill operation told me that instead of incurring the added expense of ADC registering my puppy, all I really need to do is have my vet complete a $60 DNA test which, after verifying the pup is 100% Yorkie, can be submitted to the AKC to prove thoroughbred status. This, I know, is garbage but was stated so matter of factly that, if I didn’t know better, I’d think the woman really knew her stuff. These poor puppies…I truly hope their “breeders” care at least a little bit about them.

Originally Posted by daschmo (Post 3628869)

Interesting comment. AKC registration of both parents/litter is one of many questions I've been asking as I do my initial screening of each Yorkie "breeder" I contact. Most respond by saying the price goes up by $350 if I want an AKC registered puppy. They must compare notes. That seems to be the going rate.
One lady told me all I need to do to register my Yorkie is to obtain the results from a $60 DNA test at a vet's office. Once established as 100% Yorkie, my pup can then be AKC registered. Two Michigan YTCA breeders I called said this claim is ludicrous.
The AKC documentation at minimum at least tells me my future puppy is purebred Yorkie, right? I know it doesn't say my dog is genetically perfect and healthy, well cared for since birth and so on. This info I get by carefully research and observation of each breeder I consider. Am I on the right wavelength?
As it is, I'm learning as I go. I ask a load of questions. One lady got mad when I mentioned the YTCA and AKC guidelines I'm using to screen breeders. She hung up. Now I understand why some posters say their puppy searches took a year or longer.
Thanks for feedback...my new little guy is out there somewhere.:aimeeyork:aimeeyork:aimeeyork:aimeeyork

Originally Posted by vbmapes11 (Post 3630130)

Oh great! I hope it works out. She is a great breeder and I'm sure you would love that little boy. She usually has a long wait-list but everyone wants a girl and she had 5 boys and 1 girl out of the last two litters. Keep me posted :)