Breeders/Rescues not selling to parents of small children

[HKFandora]

Originally Posted by Hrossen11

I didn't want a rescue because I had small kids and wanted my pup used to the craziness in the house so we wanted a puppy that would grow with us. I just don't think most toy breed rescues are good with little kids. My large dogs are rescues but I got my little ones from a breeder.

I totally understand. I personally like the idea of watching a young dog grow with the family. The rescues I found put on their site that they rarely get puppies so I've decided to go the breeder route.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by yorkie-gems

I understand your feelings, of being excluded... just because you have small children. I hear all of the time; I've raised my children to be gentle. I'm sure you have. However I try to explain it this way, just to help people to understand the risks.
How many times has your child put something into their own mouth they shouldn't? How many times has your youngster tripped? Now, how often was it over nothing, and they still hurt themselves?
Or accidentally dropped kicked a toy reaching down for it? Or even just dropped a toy period?
Even the smallest toy car falling on a puppy's head, from a foot above, could kill your puppy instantly.
Do your children listen well, and mind your every word or rule? Probably not. So if you aren't able to monitor 100% of the time, as a parent... we have no idea what the cheeky little monkey's are up to. Especially when it gets quiet!! "lol"
These are just a few of the ways young kids could hurt a very fragile puppy. That's not to say adults are a lot better, but we definitely have better motor skills, and more control over our bodies in certain situations. An adult running through the room, will be cautious of their steps.... thinking about the puppy. A young excited child probably won't. They B line it, straight for what ever they are excited about.
As for the adult rescue's, most probably weren't raised with children. As you can see, it's hard to find a breeder that will allow it. There for it's just easier to wait for another family vs taking the chance.
Tiny dogs in general don't like small children, due to their high energy levels, and quick movements. It scares them, and rightly so in some cases.
I agree, looking for a larger Yorkie would be your best bet.
In most cases, if you explain to the breeder... that you want the biggest in the litter, they'll give in.
Otherwise, I would just wait to get your pup, until the kids are older.
Best wishes, and I hope you find your dream puppy!!

I "save" my teapots for families with young children! They cant pick these heavier Yorkies up, and the larger dogs make absolutely fantastic pets for children, running and playing ball and frisbee around the back yard!

[DvlshAngel985]

I had an issue adopting because I was under the age of 25. It just takes lots and lots of time to find the right pup. Good luck on your search!

[dawn27]

I disagree with this policy. I think that instead of banning families with small children why not monitor the children during several home visit which most rescues do any how. To totally disregard a family as a suitable placement for a Yorkie just for having small children is ridiculous. I've had Yorkies for 11 yrs now and we now have four. My son in 12, daughter is 20 so they were raised to be respectful of any living animal large and small. The number one thing in any child life should be to teach the child how to handle the puppy properly, any puppy not just Yorkies and about teaching them how to be a responsible and loving pet owner . It never to early or too late !!

[Yorkiemom1]

How a parent raises their children has absolutely NO bearing on the reason I personally do not sell to families with children under 6 years of age. Young children do not have the physical coordination skills developed to the point where they can run across a room without tripping and falling! You can wish it on them, you can wave your majic wand, you can be the absolute best parent God ever blew breath into, and have the very best behaved children that have ever existed, BUT they have NOT developed the motor skills necessary to manuever safely around a small Yorkie puppy. That is in Gods hands, not yours! By the age of 5, it is getting much better, and by age 6, they can usually run across a room without their feet getting tangled up or them falling over because their bodies are ahead of their feet or the other way around. By age 6, if the parent has done their job teaching the child to act properly around a small dog, the child has the physical development and maturity and coordination to control their movements, and they can be trusted not to fall over the puppy in their sheer excitement to see and play with the dog. Now, after age 6, I do monitor the behavior of the child during the visit....but that is really not accurate, as they are usually on their best behavior....although I have had two occasions where I have had to corrall the child and ask the parent to keep them close. I guess a better solution would be for ME to go to their house and see how the child acts on his own turf.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

How a parent raises their children has absolutely NO bearing on the reason I personally do not sell to families with children under 6 years of age. Young children do not have the physical coordination skills developed to the point where they can run across a room without tripping and falling! You can wish it on them, you can wave your majic wand, you can be the absolute best parent God ever blew breath into, and have the very best behaved children that have ever existed, BUT they have NOT developed the motor skills necessary to manuever safely around a small Yorkie puppy. That is in Gods hands, not yours! By the age of 5, it is getting much better, and by age 6, they can usually run across a room without their feet getting tangled up or them falling over because their bodies are ahead of their feet or the other way around. By age 6, if the parent has done their job teaching the child to act properly around a small dog, the child has the physical development and maturity and coordination to control their movements, and they can be trusted not to fall over the puppy in their sheer excitement to see and play with the dog. Now, after age 6, I do monitor the behavior of the child during the visit....but that is really not accurate, as they are usually on their best behavior....although I have had two occasions where I have had to corrall the child and ask the parent to keep them close. I guess a better solution would be for ME to go to their house and see how the child acts on his own turf.

Can't blame you for taking this stand. No matter how wonderfully behaved little children are, they are still uncoordinated little children and prone to far more accidents of all kinds than adults and don't have the mental skills to employ sufficient focus or good judgment 100% of the time. And it only takes one moment of child-like activity, behavior, distraction or forgetfulness to seriously injure or kill a very small dog. My sister's small Yorkie puppy was unceremoniously dropped on its fragile head causing a brain injury, emergency hospitalization for a week and months of seizures by our very well-raised and normally well-behaved, highly intelligent young niece.

[yorkie-gems]

Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly

Can't blame you for taking this stand. No matter how wonderfully behaved little children are, they are still uncoordinated little children and prone to far more accidents of all kinds than adults and don't have the mental skills to employ sufficient focus or good judgment 100% of the time. And it only takes one moment of child-like activity, behavior, distraction or forgetfulness to seriously injure or kill a very small dog. My sister's small Yorkie puppy was unceremoniously dropped on its fragile head causing a brain injury, emergency hospitalization for a week and months of seizures by our very well-raised and normally well-behaved, highly intelligent young niece.

I couldn't agree more. I am a Mother myself, and have wanted a Yorkie ever since I can remember. However I waited until my kids were old enough to handle a Yorkie, without my 24/7 supervision. They were 10 & 12 yrs old by that time.
What I don't understand, is why any Mother would want such a fragile breed for their kids? When searching for a puppy when my kids were young, I looked for breeds that were specifically great with kids. We wound up with a Shih-Tzu. The kids could play with her almost immediately, and they loved her to bits. My guess is it's Mom that wants the Yorkie in most cases, since the kids could really care less.
Pretty much any breed of puppy is exciting to a child. I feel choosing a Yorkie specifically for children.... when most reputable breeders are warning against it? Well... you get the point. "lol"
To each his own I suppose.

[MidnightUnicorn]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

How a parent raises their children has absolutely NO bearing on the reason I personally do not sell to families with children under 6 years of age. Young children do not have the physical coordination skills developed to the point where they can run across a room without tripping and falling! You can wish it on them, you can wave your majic wand, you can be the absolute best parent God ever blew breath into, and have the very best behaved children that have ever existed, BUT they have NOT developed the motor skills necessary to manuever safely around a small Yorkie puppy. That is in Gods hands, not yours! By the age of 5, it is getting much better, and by age 6, they can usually run across a room without their feet getting tangled up or them falling over because their bodies are ahead of their feet or the other way around. By age 6, if the parent has done their job teaching the child to act properly around a small dog, the child has the physical development and maturity and coordination to control their movements, and they can be trusted not to fall over the puppy in their sheer excitement to see and play with the dog. Now, after age 6, I do monitor the behavior of the child during the visit....but that is really not accurate, as they are usually on their best behavior....although I have had two occasions where I have had to corrall the child and ask the parent to keep them close. I guess a better solution would be for ME to go to their house and see how the child acts on his own turf.

Agreed. Also, small children get overly excited around a small dog, and scream and squeal. A few times, when I walk Tatiana in our neighborhood, she is frightened by small children who squeal at the sight of her ("Puppy!!")

My husband and I don't have children, and don't plan on any. That was one of the reasons Tatiana's breeder chose us over other buyers that were interested in her. Tatiana is a small dog - about 3 lbs.

[NamelessAria]

I volunteered to foster with a Yorkie rescue near me and I even got rejected from fostering!

Maybe I should just give in and start looking for a breeder.

[HKFandora]

Originally Posted by NamelessAria

I volunteered to foster with a Yorkie rescue near me and I even got rejected from fostering!

Maybe I should just give in and start looking for a breeder.

I think either way don't stop looking. You will persevere. Just be upfront an honest about you possibly having a child in the future. Gluck.