First time yorkie buyer

[Rhetts_mama]

The lack of a good health guarantee should be your biggest red flag about this breeder.

[monet91]

Just pictures ...& your right I guess she can have other puppies she just showed me pictures of them in there play pin I guess you can call it

[impish]

one more thing monet - it's worth waiting and getting a puppy from the RIGHT breeder and even paying more if you have to (you don't always have to) to make sure your breeder is reputable, ethical - or you will pay more in the long run with a sick puppy, or dog with issues down the road and lots and lots of hearthache - just take some time and read the threads around here! Read the links I sent you too - it's really worth it.

If something sounds fishy - it probably is.

Seeing the puppy in its home environment is one of the best ways to tell what kind of breeder your breeder is. You want someone to care about the dogs more than the dollar.

A health guarantee of a year should be an absolute. HUGE red flag if there isn't one - run forrest run.

Take your time and the payoff will be great. Promise.

[yorkiefan_]

I think you should buy the breeder first before even looking at the puppies. I went with someone well known on here (Deb Sillers and Amazing Yorkies) because:

1. She has been around here since about 2005 or so, so I knew she wasn't part of some fly by night operation.
2. She gets so many good endorsements from members here who have her pups and outside of this site all the info I found on her was very good too.
3. She gives a great health guarantee: 1 year on joints, 5 years on almost everything else (e.g., heart, liver, kidneys, etc)
4. You can tell she loves her pups by the way she writes about them (e.g., her "crappy" day with Vinny) and she answered tons and tons of questions I had when I talked with her for a couple of weeks about her pups, her operation (Amazing Yorkies), and how I need to take care of a pup I might get from her. On a side note, Deb was really great in helping me those first couple of weeks too after I got little Cookie and had tons of questions (only other pup I had raised was a mastiff, and it's worlds different).
5. I talked with at least 30 other breeders and liked Deb best.

And as a huge plus, her yorkies really are beautiful, and then the girl I got from her was so well socialized that Cookie and I were friends and playing by about 20 minutes from the time I got her home. Long story short, pick a high quality breeder first and getting a healthy and fun pup will take care of itself from there.

[jeane]

I totally agree// it will save you lots of heart break down the line

[chestermama]

that would be a red flag, for me

[Kentuckyyorkie]

I learned the hard way! Bought a Shihtzu by meeting the breeder at a DQ. Sickest dog I ever had! Had to Dr it for 10 out of 13 years I had her. I will never buy another dog without going to the breeder's home! I found out later from a couple other people that had bought dogs from her, it was nothing but a puppy mill!

[monet91]

well hey guys I told the breeder I wanted to stop by & see the puppy I'm purchasing she said she has no problem with me coming to see him he's still young so she said after his first shots at six weeks I can come & see him she feels comfortable with me .. Does this sound less of a red flag now ??

[ColesMommy01]

I'm glad she's letting you come by!!!! Now you'll be able to make a decision whether or not they'll want to go through with this breeder

[Rhetts_mama]

Originally Posted by monet91

well hey guys I told the breeder I wanted to stop by & see the puppy I'm purchasing she said she has no problem with me coming to see him he's still young so she said after his first shots at six weeks I can come & see him she feels comfortable with me .. Does this sound less of a red flag now ??

No, for several reasons. The first is that 6 weeks is FAR too young for puppies to receive their first set of immunizations. Even after they do, it takes a full 2 weeks to have immunity present. See the next paragraph for the rest of my answer.

Originally Posted by monet91

Biewer guy I looked up stuff about her but I don't think she's licensed i found her on EBay classified the puppies come with there shots ..de wormed a bag of goodies & a certificate from a licensed vet . No warrantee on health or anything

Great breeders stand behind the health of their pups. You need to be on the look out for a breeder that guarantees against not only genetic defects (heart, liver, hips and knees which can take a year or more to become evident!) but also warranties against parasites and infections like parvo, coccidia and giardia. These infections can be deadly to a young puppy and can be brought out by the stress of being separated from their litter mates in to a new home. Even if you take a pup to the vet the very next day after you get him for a well check, it can be a week or more until the symptoms show up.

The best warranties will cover the cost of vet treatments for those conditions up to the cost of the pup. Some warranties will state that they will only replace a puppy with one of equal value. IMO, that's pretty useless because A) The breeders know you have probably already become attached to the puppy and won't want to give him back and B) would you really want another puppy from the breeder that gave you the sick one?

Take the time to read the link about finding a breeder that was provided to you previously. You will find lots of things to think about when you are choosing. And rather than using ebay to find a puppy, think about going through the YTCA to find a reputable breeder close to you. It may take you longer, but in the end you are more likely to end up with a healthy puppy that is bred not only for health, but looks and personality. You won't be disappointed if you wait.

[SophieKatesMom]

Does the Breeder have a website? Would you be willing to post the breedres name? We have a lot of resources here and someone may know and be able to give you a recommendation based on those two items.

[M4rtin]

It's ineteresting, I'm actually driving around and meeting with recommended breeders in their homes, they invite me on their own, I didn't even think about it on my own.
I get to meet the parents, and see how they behave and how they are raised, the breeders also include health guarantee.
I did not see any puppies, as there were none, but being invited into the home gave me a piece of mind that they have nothing to hide.

Are you not able to visit breeder home at all ? Or you cannot see the puppy only after you put a deposit down ?

[ColesMommy01]

I actually got to visit my breeders home when her pups were 3 weeks got updates every week and put my deposit down at 8 weeks when I felt comfortable with making my decision. The breeder kept me informed and invited me to come to her home several times and I even stopped by once with only a 30'minute notice because I was in her area. Since she is letting you come by to see the pup after his first shots I dont see the harm in going but if she's not willing to offer a health guarantee for at least a year I'd run as fast as my heels would let me lol. If you don't feel comfortable providing the breeders name (understandably) just p.m. someone if you want their opinion on her