Originally Posted by YorkyKids

I would like to say. I suspect standing ears, low tail sets, coat color/type will become a ever looming larger problem in the future. From the sampling of posts I'm seeing here many buyers are getting educated on what they expect their Yorkie to "look" like when it matures. From the sample posts here and on other threads I am seeing buyers who are EXPECTING a well bred YORKSHIRE TERRIER. One which looks like the breed standard when mature. I am so happy to see such requirements/expectations being asked by the pet searchers. This can only be GOOD for the breed as a whole. Regardless of the recent threads opposing "breed standards", a breed standard is still our blue print for what the dog should look and Act like. I think some of these questions prove that point! HooRay for all of you who are taking the time to research and become educated before you acquire a Yorkie.

But for the purpose of this discussion it's is the health issues we are discussing. The other "faults" have no bearing on the health of the dog. But I for one am happy to see these questions being asked.

Originally Posted by txshopper73

Good points. What I'm not understanding, however, is how the ear not standing is genetic. NOW, LET ME SAY FIRST...that I can understand an ear not standing because the leather is large and fat thus too heavy to stand. You should be able to tell on a pup if it's ears are flat against it's head, no, they PROBABLY will not ever stand. Now, that, I can see is genetics but you'd be able to see that when purchasing a pup.

HOWEVER, unless you were buying a pup for showing (which you'd do when they were much older), or for breeding (and it is stated in the contract) then ears should be covered.

It is not life threatening nor will is lesson the quality of life. That's the same as saying a low tail set should be covered. That is totally unheard of. Unless it is specifically a show dog or breeding and is stated in the sales contract, it should not be covered.

Originally Posted by wnalegria

We look at a lot of health warranties and the double talk and wording. So lets sit down as a group and come up with some basics that folks should loog for when wanting to purchase a puppy. This will also give breeders a chance to say why some things can not be covered and or exluded them from the contract.

I will start out with a exclusion- upright ears. Most of my kids have upright ears by 6 weeks of age. I start trimming at 2-3 and tape. Will they go up and down yes- as they are teething and just because they can. When a baby goes home new parents are told how to keep the hair trimmed on the ear- what can cause them to drop and what to do-tape and how to tape.
Told call if you have any other questions. I do not guarantee upright ears consider it" enviromental" Enviromental meaning- if the new owner does not keep the hair trimmed or tape a dropped ear - the ears may never stand again.

This is something I had control of while in my care- if you the new owner do not keep up the care and grooming involved for those upright ears- you are responsible- not me for the problem.

Do I owe you any money back-no-
Am I a bad breeder because that ear did not stand-no
Is that a recourse for you to bad mouth me- no
Should you be able to get a new puppy- no

Ok that gives us just one starting point and my thought on this issue. Let the fun begin. Lets try and be realistic and come up with a basic guidline to help those looking to a buy a puppy and the health warranty issues.

Originally Posted by lily

Kathy Are you tell us that you had someone come back on you for ears!That a first for me ! I tell them to keep the hair off and if they don't , sorry about that! lily

Originally Posted by wnalegria

Yes, I have had a party come bck and complain about ears and the ears were both up when the kid left home at 12 weeks. Baby was brought back to me at almost a year from the date of purchase they had never trimmed the ears from the day they took the little monkey home. Never called and said " I need help or never told me when I called them the ears were down.

I also had a baby fail a health exam due to worms. New parent called and stated bringing kid back said- sure. Got kid back - checked the report from the new owners vet. Stated that dog had worms because there was some stool on his behind. Mind you the new owner had the puppy three weeks at this time. She had not kept hair trimmed under the tail. Her vet did not run a stool test- just stated because the stool was caught on the hair he must have worms. Due to this he faailed him. I gladly took the baby back- took him back to my vet and rechecked him - he was worm free. It was a win, win situation for this puppy he had a new mom who did not follow instructions and would have been seeing a not so smart vet. When placing babies I give a big no vote on this Vet and suggest that they look for someone else.