Did you do as much research as you should have?
 

Now, I know all yorkies are perfect ;) in their own ways but i was curious about something. Is there anyone that is brave enough to admit that they did not do as much research as they probably should have when getting their first yorkie? Did you get lucky or not and why? What would have done differently? I for one, did not in any way do enough research on the breed and on how to find a good breeder but we got very very lucky and it just so happened that I picked a great breeder. It could have easily gone the other way for us. I had no idea what I was doing when looking for a puppy. This conversation came up between my husband and I after watching the Judge Judy episode with the yorkie that ended up being a mix of some sort. Still adorable and loved but not what the owner expected and paid a lot for. My husband said he would be very worried about getting another bc what if that happened? That Bentley is so perfect that he doesn't know that any other could ever live up to that. I thought that was really sweet personally. Haha! He doesn't talk too much about it but I know how much he loves his Bentley Love :). Joining YT has helped me learn a lot but I know when we decide to add another one I will be here for months and months asking as many questions as possible and gathering information on breeders. I'd just wanted to hear everyone else's experiences. I know it doesn't always end perfectly but I do know that no matter what we love our babies. Maybe our experiences can help people that may just be passing through or even those that are wanting to learn the does and donts.

I researched for about 7 years before finally getting our girl, so I hope I learned all I could. But I do know that I have learned so much from YT!!! The people on here have taught me a lot and I learn more every day on here!

I never did enough research about the breed, I just knew that I loved every one that I had seen and their personalities were wonderful...I did get Prissy early and I didn't know that they needed to be with their litter mates until at least 12 weeks old.:( Everyone that I had talked to said 8 weeks was when they are weaned and ready to go home with their new owners. She ate dry kibble and drank really well, also the vet said she was very healthy. :)I think I just lucked out with Prissy being so healthy and lovable. She has brought us so much joy and we are amazed at how smart she is, she really does try to train us instead of us training her. Now I do everything in my power to give her a loving and caring home, she and Yoshi, our Peke are the best things we have ever done for our empty nest. They have made our life complete and I'm so thankful that I found Yorkie Talk, I have learned so much and it feels wonderful to have support of others that love Yorkies too.:aimeeyork

You gotta have one to know
 

Labs and Yorkies .. different oh yessss

In the 70s and 80s we bred, trained, showed and were involved with Labs. We even worked with service dog trainers for the blind and physically impaired. As a breed I would feel safe in the general statement, Labs want to work for people. They thrive on praise and reward type training. Of course there are always exceptions. I Do not think (forgive me this is not mean to start rebuttals) Labs are on the high end of intelligence. They would rather someone else be the rule maker and leader. Nor would I consider them independent thinkers or problem solvers. Well trained Labs are are amazing. Once they get past the long puppy stage and reach maturity Labs make wonderful, faithful, companions. NOW Yorkies are a different sort of dog. I found that out when I started working with them in the 1980s. Some were treat motivated, some weren't. Smart ? You bet ! Not smart like German Shep. or Border Collies (Who I think are smartest dogs ever) Yorkies seem to know how to get what they want. I have seen Yorkies change assertive behavior to begging and submissive to get what they want. Perhaps it is because they have spent so many centuries as companions and lived with people, in their home. I think Yorkies do what people want them to, when it pleases them to do so. I think they understand training perfectly, but it is secondary to what they want. I am teasing a bit, but really I think Yorkies are very human, they have so many of our finer behaviors, like love, loyalty, and compassion. But they can also be temperamental, moody, selfish, possessive, and self important. I have enjoyed training them for almost 30 years. I never use a harsh tone, firm voice, but not harsh. I also use a lot of praise and physical touch when working with Yorkies. Physical comfort I think is far more important to Yorkies. Labs can bash into a garden wall while playing, or dive into icy water and barely notice. Yorkies cringe when it rains or they have a knot in their fur. I think their sense touch is very close to our own. I often have to remind people to let Yorkies walk. They tend to carry them way too much. Yorkies can become wonderful, well trained companions as well as any Lab.
I kind of think about it like this, a Lab is like a not so bright child may be a joy to parent, and so easy to love. They obey the rules and seldom cause a problem. When they are an adult they will be hard working, kind and fit into society perfectly.
Yorkies are like, an independent, intelligent, and creative child. They may drive you crazy and challenge your authority. They study human behavior and know how to get people to work for them. As a teenager they may do some dangerous and experimental things. When they mature they still retain their child like curiosity and fun nature. As adults they really listen and care about the WHY of everything. They are never boring, and you love having long conversations with them, because they do understand the delicate, and subtle things about life.

I did some research about the breed to know it was the best choice for me with asthma and allergy issues and my grandma who has copd. But I did not research breeders because I never knew the extent of puppy mills and brokers, I thought puppy mills only sold there pups at pet stores. Well obviously I was wrong because I got Callie from a broker who got there pups from a puppy mill after learning everything from YT I went back and researched her "breeder". I love Callie had she is very smart and I could not imagine my life without her but we have had some health problems. She has had to get LP surgery as well as her ACL partially tore and the other one is expected to tare within a year. She is not standard she is 16 pounds and has floppy ears. She also has pretty bad allergies. We meet the broker in a parking lot and Callie is not AKC. Never saw her parents, never saw where they lived didn't realize how important that was until finding YT.

I know with my very first Yorkie he was an impulse buy back in 1988 from a Pet Store at the Mall. I knew nothing of Puppymills back then. When he passed away at 8 yrs old due to Kidney failure, my hubby while on leave from Korea went and got me my Lizzie ( she came from a flea market, I didn't know at the time that was where she came from) she just passed this past november at 14 /2 yrs old.

My one Girl Shayleigh, I did very extensive research. I waited almost two years for a girl from the Breeder I had chosen. I was able to get her because she proved to be too small to show.

All the rest of mine have been rescues.

I have done a lot more reading about the breed after I got Millie. I really believe i dodged a bullet. The first person I called when I started looking told me ahe had just had pups and would be around 2 1/2 to 3 pounds. I called her back a week later to check on them and she told me she would be getting more puppies in soon and that she sold the for other. "Now I believe she was a broker". While waiting I found a different breeder she is more of a hobby breeder I guess you would say, but after talking to her i decided to take a pup from her. I am so glad I went with my gut, this lady cares so much about her dogs and where they are placed, and I know I could call her anytime with a question. After reading many stories on here I see how easily I could have gotten burned, i guess i was just one of the lucky ones.

I researched, I’m not the luckiest person in the world, and I just was so afraid of getting a genetically ill puppy, that I researched until I found a breeder that met and exceeded my expectations. Everyone told me I’d never find a breeder who was breeding to “improve the breed” not for money, and it was difficult. Yorkies weren’t my only choice, I love Cairn Terriers and Maltese as well, and I wrote and spoke with many different breeders before I came upon Joey’s breeder. I don’t want to say what won me over, too many back yard breeders learn to "talk the talk", but I’m thoroughly convinced that she tried her best to breed healthy dogs that were wonderful examples of the breed. I think if you ever experience a genetically ill puppy you will understand the importance of only supporting breeders who are breeding for the right reasons. I really hate the fact that so many people think anyone can be a breeder, and they bring a dog into this world that has so little chance for a good life. Many byb's also don't care where there offspring goes or if they are bred and this really upsets me.

I DID NOT research!! I Had the itch for a 3rd baby (skin) and my hubby said no way... In turn, I found Bevo via the Internet.... I wayyyyyy overpaid for my baby boy... (2300.00) for a "teacup" (now 6 pounds) little boy. Although he is the light of my life, I then knew nothing.... Even after him, I made mistakes.... But now, I believe I have so much knowledge about the breed thanks to Yt!! Would I do it again?? Hindsight, no.... But I would pay ten times that amount to have him now!! I did get lucky... He is 100% yorkie (I also watched the judge Judy video).... And I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world!!!

My niece has a Yorkie who is 2 years older than Georgie so I am familiar with Yorkies. However, I can admit I didn't do enough research. I still sit here and think I visited the breeders home and never even saw Georgie's parents....I don't think thats normal but maybe it is. The first 2 years we were at the Vet for tummy issues constantly.....so much so now I am a pro! YT helped me so much during that time. Last September Georgie was diagnosed with Atlantoaxial luxation which basically means his top 2 vertebrae aren't connected!!! If I would have done research to begin with I would know this is most common in small breeds but fortunately the surgery was a success and he is doing awesome now! Anyways, I would suggest that everyone even considering a Yorkie join YT, do a ton of research and choose a breeder that is honest and really cares.

PS I wouldn't trade him for the world and would spend whatever to have made him better. My husband and I love him to pieces:)

I loved reading your post! :). Put a smile on my face!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:That's crazy I always tell people Georgie is more human than any other furbaby I have been around. Our Boxer is quite content to be a Boxer, Georgie on the other hand isn't having it LOL

I did tons and tons of research about owning a dog, but very little about yorkies.

I had actually settled on a westie but have always always LOVED yorkies the most. I just thought they were way out of my price range.

I did not know how stubborn they can be :P

Being new to dog buying (I come from a small town where you get your dog from your yard, a ditch, or a friend's dog has puppies and they need to get rid of them :P).

I almost fell for a TON of scams (you know the kind....I'll give you the dog but you need to pay shipping...). Fortunately, I am too savvy for that and when these people said they were in Texas and their e-mails traced back to overseas.....

I finally met a lady who had some puppies for sale for cheaper than I had seen. Two boys. Her e-mail headers traced back and she responded. She didn't want me to come to her house, though....she said for safety reasons (in case I was dangerous I guess).

So while I researched OWNING a dog, I had no idea, whatsoever, how to GET one. How to find a breeder in Austin, and what Yorkies were like.

:)

I read alot about the breed before hand but did not research the breeders. My daughter and I went to different breeders that had puppies advertised (both yorkies and maltese) for over 2 1/2 years. I wasn't sure about Heidi when I found her but my daughter was so tired of looking that she said "mom just go ahead and get her". She was 7 weeks old. Heidi rode up on my shoulder on the way home and when she started squirmming on the way home I figured she had to potty but I was right down the road from my house and figured she could wait. Boy was I wrong-she peed all over my shirt. Heidi was the best little girl I could have hoped for. She slept with me from day one and always wanted to be with me. I loved her so and she loved me too. She was just a few days shy of 18 yrs when I had to let her go due to cronic renal failure-the worse day of my life. We fought it for 3 1/2 yrs and she was such a little trooper during that time. I now have 1 elderly failed foster, a little blind maltese that I got when she was 7 weeks old, a shorkie and a yorkie that is the spitting image of Heidi other than being smaller. I love all these babies too but none can replace the special feeling I have for Heidi. There will never be another like her.

Oh, hell no! I did NOT do enough research. lol. I was 18 and found Jackson in an online classifieds ad. Went into Baltimore City to her house to get him. Wasn't a smart choice, I am sure, but I couldn't be happier with him! I'm actually really GLAD I did not end up getting a tinier more fragile Yorkie (or standard), don't think I would have been as happy.