Looking For the Perfect Yorkie/or being nit picky?...
 

So I've seen 5 litters, Driven hours and searched high and low for the perfect Yorkie puppy....last night I drove two hours to check out two female, AKC Registered 8 week yorkies for 400.00, only to drive home empty handed. Upon meeting the puppies parents, they where yappers, aggressive (the owner warned me that they bite) but tiny and kept out doors (where they also have kittens, and other dogs). Then I was taken into the house to see the babies.....They where 8 weeks old with very bloated bellies (despite the owners saying they had been fully wormed) and even saw a flea jump off of one of them. After see these things, i decided these puppies probably where not going to be for me. Even after the owner says, "puppies grow into what you raise them to be," but i just had a feeling that buying a puppy with aggressive, loud parents could end up being a recipe for disaster. I just want a mello, AKC Yorkie with a nice calm temperment. Am i being too nit picky? is it true you can turn any puppy into how you want with the proper training? Feedback please?

I would have passed on them also.

You just need to find a real breeder, not a backyard breeder, and I'm sure you'll be much happier with the puppies. :p

Keep looking. Don't settle. You SHOULD be picky!

A yorkie's lifespan lasts longer than the average marriage...so it's an important member of your family that you are choosing...treat it as such :D

You can train them. But doesn't always happen. Get one from a good breeder that breeds for standard and temperament. Try Akc local breeders or go to a local show or club and find a breeder
Yorkshire Terrier Club of America About The Club

This will be a long term commitment -- being verynoickynis a good idea. I agree with the other posters - it is all about the breeder. Have you checked the YTCA breeders site? Ther are also some very good breeders on YT .

Too bad you aren't closer. I have little Karlin, He was born April 26th. He has a sweet laid back nature. He is going to be on the small side so really want to find him the just right home. If you want to read about Karlin check out the thread

So Angry , They got too busy !
We just got a [COLOR=green !important][COLOR=green !important]puppy[/COLOR][/COLOR] back. When this puppy went to his 'forever' [COLOR=green !important][COLOR=green !important]home[/COLOR][/COLOR] he was 12 weeks old a sweet smelling ball of fur. What we got back was a matted, flea infested, worm ridden puppy ! I am so upset. We screen people and have a very nosey adoption application. People are given a detailed booklet about puppy care, and training.
When I ask why they were returning the puppy, they said, " Oh it was too hard, we don't have time to do all that stuff." I raised my eyebrow and inclined my head, so they would explain, "you know, the brushing it, [COLOR=green !important][COLOR=green !important]cleaning[/COLOR][/COLOR] up pee, walking it and stuff. We are just too busy and we want a refund."
I am so angry. He is going home with me. Now we have to find another home for this little guy after, the Vet, and groomer. It will take some TLC.
Sorry just had to vent ! :(

Karlin is now worm and flea fee, has all shots, and is healthy, happy and adorable.

I would suggest you shop for your breeder FIRST....you find a reputable breeder, and you will find your perfect puppy.....it may take a while, but you will find your perfect baby there. This perfect puppy will not be cheap....reputable breeders invest many hours and alot of money into each of those babies....You will have to jump through hoops if you find your reputable breeder, because she will not part with those little souls to just ANYONE....because SHE is looking for the perfect parent to let her baby go home with....everything that has happened with that baby, has been preprogrammed with intent and deliberate effort, to produce a HEALTHY, HAPPY puppy....that puppy was conceived by parents that have had the best pre-breeding food, to prepare their systems for the rigors of breeding. The momma was then given special food and formulas to help her body develop the healthiest, correctly developed babies she and the daddy are genetically capable of producing. Care was given and special attention was given to all the babies from conception to delivery and then up until YOU happen along, looking for a perfect puppy. Your breeder adores those babies, and she is going to be very careful to whom she lets them go out with. YOU FIND YOUR BREEDER FIRST.....AND SHE WILL HAVE YOUR PERFECT PUPPY. You MAY have to go on a waiting list, because reputable breeders do not have puppies continously available. (FYI:...that baby will NOT be leaving the breeder until at least 12 weeks old!!)Take your time...get it right from the beginning....you may pay more right up front for that baby, but you will be saving money in the long run because you wont have major health issues or behavioral issues with that baby.

You could also end up with a sick pup if your not getting one from a good breeder and good breeders do not keep there dogs outside, do not let the pups go at 8 weeks and do health testing on the parents.

So True :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

You have every right to be picky! That pup will be part of your family for the next 15yrs or so. I would have passed on those pups as well...as Yorkiemom1 said buy your breeder first, there are some good breeder on this site...check the breeders section. Also check the YTCA website for a list of breeders.
It took me 6mths to find my breeder...my baby comes home in early September, at 12wks.

Yup pay first for breeding and health. health checks. Waiting time ectt. Or save buy now and pay MORE later with vet bill,eating issues,your time to go to the vet ect... I've done both. The latter is so much better JME

Temperment cant be guarenteed.

You sure can be picky about what type of breeding your financially support and quality of the whole picture you help to continue.

You'll find whats meant to be when its the right time, you seem very observent and aware of what you want to support you'll know it when you see it.

Buy the breeder not the pup, a good breeder will be there to educate and support you gor the life of the pup.

***How freaking telling is it that breeder tells you its how you raise them when her dogs behave and live as such...well she's honest at least huh?

Nothing is guaranteed. But a breeder who breeds to standard with good temperament. Most likely will breed better pups. But there environment affects there temperament and health also. But it's always a crap shoot. I would just buy from someone who try and test there breeding dogs. So you have at least a better chance buying a healthy one.

If you are investigating ads that you find in the newspaper or online more than likely you are looking at backyard breeders dogs. The description you give of this last visit sounds like a litter that was not properly socialized and more than likely there are temperament problems as well as other types of problems with the parents.

Go to the AKC website and do a conformation and breed club search for your state and/or a nearby state. These clubs can put you in touch with reputable breeders. Stay away from the backyard breeders and puppy mills. You are just asking for problems. Check out the breeder and the conditions the dogs are raised under. You will pay more than $400.00 for a good puppy but it is an investment that you will derive benefits from for many years to come.

400.00 is not a lot of money for a Yorkie. I've seen rescue pups up to 925.00!!!

:lol tearsFunny but true...about the marriage! LOL!

Find the breeder first - even if he/she doesn't have puppies yet. I love my breeder.

You must be/remain 'picky.' You'll find the right one.

While there are no guarantees, the breeder - who has established lines - kind of knows what you're getting. My puppy has been compared to her "grandma." Everything that my breeder told me she should be, she's turning out to be.

Show breeders DO breed for temperment. It's not just something they say in an advertisement. My breeder has been been show breeding for 35 years. He's also a member of our local YTCA. Look at the YTCA referral list for your area.

A little bit of a wait for the right pup will serve you well! And it beats all the long drives all over the place.

Good luck. Tracey

I can't tell you how many breeders I visited before finding the right breeder and Jilly and subsequently, Tibbe, from that same breeder, though he hadn't been bred by her, his father had. But I must have driven over 2,000 around D/FW to meet breeders and, if they had any litters or dogs for sale, look at them. Most I turned down for the poor quality of the dogs and others due to the facilities or the breeders themselves, though I loved their dogs in many cases! So be as picky as you like - but I know it gets tiresome and sad doing all the looking for a breeder, making the connection, long phone conversations, arranging a meeting, driving there, often earlier or later than is convenient and sometimes in inclement weather, getting to know them and viewing the home and any facilities they have, then finally getting to see dogs - and if you went for other than a meeting and they had dogs - only to be so often disappointed for one reason or another - coming home with your empty carrier in the car and back to square one. I do hope you find the right breeder and perfect dog for you before too much longer.

I too are looking for the right pup for a pet. I am still looking. I want the best dog possible. My family thinks I am nuts to "spend that kind of money on a dog". But how my man looked at it and explained it to my family......you have the dog for say 14 years average (they can live to 17) And say you pay $1500 for the dog. That is $107.14 a year. And $8.93 a month. Can you afford that? You really got to love a man logic lol......

I think you should be VEY picky! This is a "purchase" that will stay with you for many many years to come.. My advise, Pick the breeder first! A great breeder will always have beautiful healthy babies, so you really cant go wrong. Patience is a virtue here.

nothing wrong with being picky and that is a good thing.. when you do find a good breeder and you like the puppies let the puppy pick you, :)

It's a good thing to be picky! I too would have walked away from that.

I only wish our family had that sense years ago when we got our German Shepherd pup. Went into the city, saw the parents aggressively barking and lunging, etc, and we took the pup home anyways. She ended up being very aggressive, attacking someone and being put to sleep. I was devastated as a kid.

I DO believe you can somewhat mold a dog into what you want it to be, especially from a young age. Jackson certainly did not come from a good place either (a rowhouse in Baltimore City -- the woman was nice and all, but totally just breeding her pet dog for some extra money), and he lived in her home and not outdoors in a kennel, etc, but definitely not a good breeder nor ideal. He was a pretty shy little guy, but struck a bond with me right away. I always let him explore, learn new things, experience all kinds of different things, socialized, brought him everywhere he could go, began training right away. He was always real shy for the first year, but with patience, training, and socialization, he turned into a really amazing dog. He would NOT be the dog he is today without everything I've done for him. He'd probably be a neurotic hyper dog scared of everything and barking at everything.

But health problems are something to be aware of too. I think your chances of getting a healthy dog can be greater going with a GOOD breeder (not *always* the case) but I think it's important to see the parents, the lineage, temperament of parents, etc.

I'll be looking for a second dog at some point, and I've got 3 breeds I'm debating between, and I've been researching for 2 years now... breeders, etc. It's definitely not something to go into lightly if you want to be happy! I don't see anything wrong with trying to find that "perfect" dog for you.

I agree and my search for a puppy measured in years. When I found Max, I knew he was the one. He was worth the wait, and so was his brother Teddy.

There are always potential health problems with any living creature, but your chances for a healthy dog are much better with a really good breeder.

Another key thing about getting a good breeder is that IF a health issue arises, they will stand behind their puppy. I'm so glad you walked away from that other place.

Good luck in your search, and I agree with whoever said that patience is needed. SO true! Good breeders don't have multiple dogs and litters, so you may have a bit of a wait, but you'll never regret it once you have your healthy and happy pup in your arms:)