Originally Posted by Harrysmum (Post 3976894)

It's very, very different in the UK. Most small dogs leave their mum/litter mates at 8 weeks....right or wrong - that's how it's always been, large or small breeds.

We happened to get Harry at 12 weeks - but's that's just how it was....happened :) EVERY other dog I've had (Boxers, Labs, Westies, miniature Schnauzers etc etc) have ALL been 8 weeks old. One of Harry's littermates (the little girl) went to her new home at 8 weeks. She is gorgeous and well-adjusted and trouble-free.

If I were you, I'd go along anyway, and explain the situation, and your doubts and worries. That you've read so much and learnt so much - bite inhibition, fear of blood sugar dropping in a Littlie etc....assess the whole situation, and the set-up, and the responses you get - and THEN make your decision.

Hard, isn't it? But I wish you luck - and hope tomorrow goes really well for you :) Sally + Harry x

Originally Posted by nicky wells (Post 3976896)

I agree with Harry's mum in as much as over here in the UK litters leave their moms at about 8 weeks, much longer and they get too attached to their moms and siblings, also mom has had enough of them as well!!!

Good luck and enjoy your new pup:)

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly (Post 3977041)

Sally, why do breeders there let go of the pups so soon, especially with the small dogs? What is their thinking or reasoning?

Originally Posted by gemy (Post 3977061)

It is my understanding that in the U.K. puppies must be kept until 8weeks at least. It is law? I'm not sure, just remember reading a post with a gal getting a six wk old puppy, and one comment from a member who was from the U.K. saying this.

With toy breeds for sure in my opinion no pup should leave the breeder until at least 2lbs and 12 weeks old. Both weight and age factors need to be present.

So for the OP find out the weight of these puppies, along with the myriad of other things you need to observe at the breeders and discuss.

If you want authoriative bodies, go to the YTCA.org website which delineates the age of which a Yorkie should go home.

You should know what exact health test have been done. It is not just enough to know although it is good that your breeder is a preferred one with the Kennel Club. The last time I checked the National Yorkshire Terrier club's website they mentioned no specific health tests.

I will mention this to you to save you trying to search for other threads on health testing.

The dam and the sire should be tested prior to breeding for:

1) BATS - the bile acids test. Indicates specifically how well the liver is functioning. Yorkies are at risk for Liver Shunt - this test helps to insure neither sire nor dam are afflicted.

2) PRA - Progressive Retinal Atrophy and or other eye diseases. Must be done by a specialist. In Canada and the USA there is a registry where-in our results can be posted for all to see.

3) LP - Luxating Patella. Knees are evaluated by a vet. Both parents should be clear.

4) Thyroid function - a special expanded Thyroid panel is done to help determine if either the dam or sire is suffering from Thyroid disease.

5) Hip Dysplasia - Xrays are taken and evaluated by a reputable expert. Here it is done by OFFA. Again results can be posted on the website.

I wish you all the best for your visit, and hope that if you decide on a puppy they are happy and healthy.

Originally Posted by fearby (Post 3977281)

As I said before two of my dogs I got at 6 weeks , border collie vet recond she was 4 and a half weeks she is now 11 years old and she is a sweetly a lovely kind caring girl the other my yorkie 15 weeks now and is a very well adjusted boy .i did have a rescue Chinese crested that was kept in a dog crate with her mom and siblings for 12 months and she was a really sad little thing she passed away last September aged 12 but she never knew how to play we tried everything to get her to play but she never got it and she didn't like people she wasn't socialised at all so I would go fr the young puppy any day

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford (Post 3977507)

Just a Thought. When in Rome.......
I have friends in UK, Ireland and New Zealand they all got their Yorkies before 12weeks of age. I understand all the benefits of keeping pups with the Mama dog in the best situation. But professional breeders do breed and raise pups for commerical sale and profit. The product is the puppy. (Here we would call them BYB or small scale Puppy Mills)
Sadly we can not change the world in a day. Breed clubs should set the rules for their breed. That is a good starting place. Our Yorkie Club says 12 weeks. To get their seal of approval we have to follow their rules. The state of Florida says 8 weeks is long enough. But Yorkie breeders should follow their club rules.
I don't have a prejudice against small scale private breeders. I used to be one. I did not breed exclusively to improve the breed or strive for bench show dogs. My goal was healthy well socialized Lab puppies that would become service dogs. We had 2 or 3 litters a year. Usually One or two pups from each litter was selected to be placed at 7 weeks old. They were the pups that had the best potential to become service dogs. So that left the rest of the pups to be sold as pets. Honestly I can not imagine keeping 20 Lab puppies in my tiny home until they are 12 weeks old. Most females come into heat and whelp with in a few days or weeks of each other.Two litters could yield up to 25 pups ! Potential service dogs were placed at 7 weeks with a trainer. The whole reason I am telling this ( rather long) story is to say: I believe that pups place before 12 weeks old can work out fine. It depends on how they are taught.

The PREMIE

ADOPTING A PUPPY UNDER 12 Weeks old


Congratulations on your new Puppy. A Yorkie puppy should stay with his mother until he is about 12 weeks old. If Your puppy is younger, you have a premature puppy in a way. You will have to be his mommy and teach him like she would.
1. Umbilical Tethering
Is a wonderful way to bond with your puppy and keep him safe. Hook a leash to his harness and put the other end on your wrist. He will feel secure, he can see you, smell you, and hear your heart beat and breathing. When he is not hooked to you he should be safe in his crate or play pen. You should resist the urge to carry your puppy around. This is a human instinct for human babies. Doggie babies need to walk and learn to follow the leader. Walking is much better for them, it makes their muscles strong and teaches them to look to you for directions. They learn by watching and doing what the leader does.
2. Potty Prep
The mother dog begins to push the puppies out of the nest area to potty at 4 weeks, at 6 weeks they follow her to the potty place and copy her behavior. So you have to pick a place and take your baby about every 2 hours during the day. They really do not know they can hold urine, when they feel the urge to pee they pee. When they are 8 to 10 weeks old, they begin to understand they can wait a few minutes, you can begin true potty training. Always praise if they potty in the right place. Potty breaks should be short. Say your cue word ' POTTY NOW' give him 3 to 5 minutes to potty. If he goes, praise 'Good Potty' pet and maybe reward with off the leash play time in a fenced yard. You are teaching him potty first, then sniff and play is ok.

LOL I don't mean to write my book here. But puppy training is my passion. Everything they learn the first 24 weeks of life forms their basic outlook on life. So it is so important to set up a good foundation of training and social behavior.

Originally Posted by Teresa Ford (Post 3977507)

Just a Thought. When in Rome.......
I have friends in UK, Ireland and New Zealand they all got their Yorkies before 12weeks of age. I understand all the benefits of keeping pups with the Mama dog in the best situation. But professional breeders do breed and raise pups for commerical sale and profit. The product is the puppy. (Here we would call them BYB or small scale Puppy Mills)
Sadly we can not change the world in a day. Breed clubs should set the rules for their breed. That is a good starting place. Our Yorkie Club says 12 weeks. To get their seal of approval we have to follow their rules. The state of Florida says 8 weeks is long enough. But Yorkie breeders should follow their club rules.
I don't have a prejudice against small scale private breeders. I used to be one. I did not breed exclusively to improve the breed or strive for bench show dogs. My goal was healthy well socialized Lab puppies that would become service dogs. We had 2 or 3 litters a year. Usually One or two pups from each litter was selected to be placed at 7 weeks old. They were the pups that had the best potential to become service dogs. So that left the rest of the pups to be sold as pets. Honestly I can not imagine keeping 20 Lab puppies in my tiny home until they are 12 weeks old. Most females come into heat and whelp with in a few days or weeks of each other.Two litters could yield up to 25 pups ! Potential service dogs were placed at 7 weeks with a trainer. The whole reason I am telling this ( rather long) story is to say: I believe that pups place before 12 weeks old can work out fine. It depends on how they are taught.

The PREMIE

ADOPTING A PUPPY UNDER 12 Weeks old


Congratulations on your new Puppy. A Yorkie puppy should stay with his mother until he is about 12 weeks old. If Your puppy is younger, you have a premature puppy in a way. You will have to be his mommy and teach him like she would.
1. Umbilical Tethering
Is a wonderful way to bond with your puppy and keep him safe. Hook a leash to his harness and put the other end on your wrist. He will feel secure, he can see you, smell you, and hear your heart beat and breathing. When he is not hooked to you he should be safe in his crate or play pen. You should resist the urge to carry your puppy around. This is a human instinct for human babies. Doggie babies need to walk and learn to follow the leader. Walking is much better for them, it makes their muscles strong and teaches them to look to you for directions. They learn by watching and doing what the leader does.
2. Potty Prep
The mother dog begins to push the puppies out of the nest area to potty at 4 weeks, at 6 weeks they follow her to the potty place and copy her behavior. So you have to pick a place and take your baby about every 2 hours during the day. They really do not know they can hold urine, when they feel the urge to pee they pee. When they are 8 to 10 weeks old, they begin to understand they can wait a few minutes, you can begin true potty training. Always praise if they potty in the right place. Potty breaks should be short. Say your cue word ' POTTY NOW' give him 3 to 5 minutes to potty. If he goes, praise 'Good Potty' pet and maybe reward with off the leash play time in a fenced yard. You are teaching him potty first, then sniff and play is ok.

LOL I don't mean to write my book here. But puppy training is my passion. Everything they learn the first 24 weeks of life forms their basic outlook on life. So it is so important to set up a good foundation of training and social behavior.