Breeder Question
 

I heard from my breeder. She is going on vacation on the 24th. She will be gone for over a week. All of her pups have sold and she would really like for me to pick up Noni on the 21st. He will only be 6 and a half weeks old by this time. I am assuming that all the pups will be gone at this point. The mother is getting ready to start dry food training. This is her 4th litter, and is confident in leaving pups in whelping box alone for extended amounts of time between feedings. I read that pups should stay with mom and siblings till 8/10 weeks. I am already in love with this boy and have paid half of his selling price. But I'm afraid of the ramifications of removing him from his pack and mom too early. It sounded pretty set in stone.

It has been MY experience that "breeders" that come up with this vacation excuse to dump puppies at 6 weeks, is nothing but a FARSE! What kind of responsible, ethical breeder plans her vacation then breeds a dog to have babies that will only be 6 weeks old when the breeder is set to go on vacation????? This is a MAJOR pet peeve of mine!!!! This is a tactic that BYB and puppy mills use to dump puppies on buyers before they have to pay for vaccinations and they have invested as little overhead in thae pups as humanly possible. There is NO excusae for a concerned, ethical, responsible breeder to have a dog bred, whelp a litter then tell people she is going on vacation and needs to get rid of the puppies!!!!! This shows NO concern for the new owner or the well being of the puppy!!! If I were you, I would RUN from this!! This is NOT a breeder you want to be dealing with if you take that immature baby home, UNVACCINATED, unsocialized, unprepared emotionally and mentally, and that baby comes down with parvo and dies because she dumped that baby before it was prepared!!!! Soooooo wrong!!!! This breeder $ukz!!!! Hail.........I am still weaning my babies off their momma at 6 weeks!!!! This is a MAJOR red flag for you!!!! Pay attention to what you are looking at!!! Do not support this unethical, irresponsible, uncaring, indifferent, "dog mixer" rather than "breeder"!!!! These people do this all the time...most are cunning enough to say they have an emergency and have to suddenly leave town for some unplanned emergency and all the puppies have to go out NOW......this is 98% of the time nothing but part of their scheme!!! How much did you pay for this puppy??? I bet it is less expensive than what is usually asked for a yorkie puppy because this is what they do!!!! Throw two dogs together, have a litter, then dump the pups before they have to spend any money on the babies.....no overhead invested allows these babies to go cheaper than what a concerned breeder charges, that makes sure her babies are healthy and vaccinated and microchipped before they ever go to new homes....all that costs money that these people dont want to have to spend....so they dump puppies on people that are so excited to get that baby home! Sooooooo wrong!!!!!!!!!!

6 1/2 weeks is way to young. I'm sure the money you paid is nonrefundable, but i would not trust this breeder. So much could happen to this little pup at such a young age and so small. I would ask for my money back since she did not follow through with her end of the deal of when these puppies would go home.

He is non refundable, and he was pretty inexpensive compared to what full bread AKC YT go for. Initially she had said 8 weeks. The mom and dad are registered. I thought I was getting a deal because we work together. She had initially said that she was going to get first shots and deworming. Dew claws and tail trim (?) Now she says claws and tail is done. I'm not looking for a show dog. I'm not looking to breed either. Just a little boy to keep me company since the kids are all but moved out. I'm also thinking that if he doesn't come home with me, he will go somewhere else....to soon. So I think I'll keep him. But what ramifications am I facing at this age?

AS hard as this might be for you to hear, going on vacation is not an excuse or a reason to "dump" puppies at 6.5 wks old!! Vacations like litters are planned. A good breeder does not PLAN a vacation that would co-incide with a litter!!!!

And unless she agrees to keep this puppy at her expense until 2lbs and at least 8wks old, run don't walk from this breeder. I don't know the money you have invested in the 50% down, but that would be a drop in the bucket, compared to getting a sick or temperamentally challenged dog!

And yes breeders do have true emergencies (vacations are obviously not an emergency), but many of us have back up plans, to help us cope with a true emergency!!! This is one reason for breeder networks.

Your number One issue will be getting him to eat, he can never be allowed to go without food. Don't let anyone touch him or play with him for at least 6 more weeks. Don't take him outside until he has all of his shots. It's a huge responsibility so do as the breeders on here advise. I know Royal Canin makes a special food for the newborns, it gets soft when you add water.

I hope you don't care about sleeping ;) Good luck!

Its not fair to you or the other owners to have these pups dumped on you at 6 weeks. I did however get my chachi at 6 weeks and it is doable but your pup may have some socialization problems. As long as you have researched what it takes to raise a pup that young you will be fine. Make sure you have some nutrical in case of hypoglycemia problems

That's a tough one, I can see where you feel you need to rescue this puppy but @ the same time, you're supporting this unethical breeder.
I would somehow try to get the puppy w/out paying the amount owed (like maybe mention the below law being broken)...& please get parvo vaccine right away (a pup as young as 6 weeks can get this shot). Call your vet ahead of time to make sure they have just the parvo shot for your pup bc they usu use the combo. Wrap your puppy in a blanket & don't let her touch the tables @ the vet's office, don't let her come in contact w/anything. Also get pet insurance that covers inherited diseases.

It is illegal in some states (including CA & Colorado) to sell under-aged puppies.

https://www.animallaw.info/statute/c...ities-act#s108

(k) To sell, transfer, or adopt dogs or cats under the age of eight weeks;

I did mention it's illegal. She has her mother dying from cancer. Needs to take her on a vacation. Something about her bucket list. I stopped listening after I got the gist of "he needs to go by the 21st" I already scheduled his vet appointment for that day. And I don't think I'll ever have him outside. We have a senior cat, up to date on his vacs. Not very animal social. He's been King Tut since day one. So I'm thinking he will keep his distance but I'll disinfect Noni's space before he comes home. I have all his stuff (food, nutri-cal, bed, crate) on order. Like I said, I want the best for him and will take any chastise, but I really need advuce. So thank you.

Sorry, she's a he & love his name! All the best w/Noni.

This is not a good breeder! Yorkies should stay with there moms until 12 weeks. I sure this breeder has also not done the required and nessisary health test to make sure your puppy is not going to have some pretty terrible genetic illnesses that might not show up until 2 years old. I would run from this breeder very fast. All I can see happening here is a massive amount of heart break.

Not eating, hypoglycemia, serious health issues sense this is a bad breeder, socialization issues, potty training issues, bitting issues. Is there anyway the mom could come stay with you until the pup is 12 weeks?

That's not an excuse for breaking the law and she will continue to do this if you let her get away with this. You need to report her!

Personally, I wouldn't take the pup or support the breeder. I know you feel like you have to rescue this dog, but this breeder is going to keep doing this to animals if you support her. I already supported an unethical breeder and will never do it again.

I know you already have your heart set on him, but he's going to come with a lot more responsibility and potential heartache than a pup from a reputable breeder would.

I would be sure to deduct some amount because she is not keeping the puppy as long, to cover the shots she is not providing etc. I would get her to sign a paper saying she will take responsibility for any health problems that occur due to the puppy being too young to leave its mom.


I don't know the puppy lemon law in your state, but I think most cover illness for a certain period of time, and genetic problems for longer. You should get the illnesses covered for longer. For example if ideally a pup is weaned at 12 weeks, and you would have illness covered for 6 more weeks, that would be until 18 weeks, so even though you are taking him at 6.5 weeks,you should still have breeder cover vet care through 18 weeks. Do I make any sense? The word here is compromise. If you are willing to take the baby early, what is SHE willing to do. Also, with a puppy so young YOU will have to be getting up,to constantly check and feed him. That is additional hardship on you. It's like having a newborn baby with night feedings. Even at 8 weeks you would be doing it, but Now you will do it for longer.

Who will be watching the new momma? Why can't the puppies stay and have someone else watching them? I think she is making up a story as others have suggested, to save herself money. If not, she should be willing to work with you.

Good luck.

I am so sorry that you have to face this quandary! Shame on the breeder, but I also know how hard it is to leave "your" puppy.

I am not endorsing the breeder's practice nor do I want to offend anyone with strong "walk away" opinions, but we did get our first yorkie 18 years ago, the day she turned 7 weeks old, put her immediately into the car for a seven hour trip to my in-laws' house. At the time I know they had a cat, and other dogs had lived in the house. We were young(er) and way less educated about how to protect our ball of fluff, who in hindsight was from a backyard breeder. We were just glad to see the parents and know that she had been loved on every day.

We probably did everything "wrong" with our Mercy, yet she lived to be over sixteen years old, and other than an occasional tummy problem, was in pretty good health for fourteen of those years. The last two she was just pitifully old.

I guess the moral is that there are not guarantees, but I wanted to add some encouragement if you do choose to take this little pup. Read all you can. You will be so much better prepared than we were!

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
Excellent idea....although puppy mills and dog mixers do NOT pay attention to laws!!! And this is exactly why these scam artists continue to thrive.....cheap dogs, setting people up to feel guilty or sorry if they dont "rescue" this puppy.....and then when this unfortunate puppy hits the fan, leaving the new owner devastated and heartbroken, that saw all the flags and thought they could surmount any issues or problems, health or psychological..... Better have a nice emergency fund of at least $3000.00 to pay for health issues you may encounter while the pup is less than a year old, as well as paying for trainers and behaviorists to deal with separation anxiety, bitting behaviors, etc.....but like they say, let the buyer beware! There was an old country song about getting stuck on train tracks, bells and whistles and lights flashing as warning, and you get hit by the train, don't blame the train! Have you ever owned a yorkie? Have you ever owned a puppy this young? This "breeder" knew EXACTLY what she was doing....she has done it on every litter she has ever produced. But you get what you pay for......no overhead, minimal time invested in puppies, cheap dogs, .....and BTW, "registration" means very little and is not a guarantee of anything for YOU. Good luck with your puppy....praying for this innocent little trusting soul. Tell that woman you are going to call and see if, since it is illegal for HER to sell a puppy younger than 8 weeks old, is it illegal for YOU to receive a puppy that is sold illegally.....see what she says!

You're very gracious. Thank you. I know I should walk away, I have always been a rescuer. (I'm a CNA if that says anything) Our little Bijou was a runt and full of fleas and swollen with worms..... and worth every penny. I knew I needed to walk away, but everything in me said I can't leave this retriever here to rot. 5 years later we lost him to a stomach problem that no one knew he had and to this day still don't know what it was. Even so, we gave him our best years and he brought us so much joy and laughter in those years. I just know Noni is going to be just as special. I can't walk away. Maybe I'm selfish, or maybe it's my instinct, but I just know I can't let him go to someone else that I don't know what will happen to him.

Call me cold hearted but what a load of garbage. :thumbdown

So she bred her dogs to fund her mom's on her bucket list vacation. What a great plan! :rolleyes:

That's a little uncalled for. While I don't agree with what she is doing, I work in the field, so I understand her thought process. It's not the optimal situation by any means, but it is what it is. :thumbdown

What she is doing is what is uncalled for. Dogs and puppies have feelings they are living beings and to treat them as just away to make money is wrong and not something a good breeder or good person does period!

Here is the deal. Whether or not her Mom is dying of cancer or not is a moot point, in so far as you taking on a 6.5 wk old pup. At that age they are just being weaned, and are barely on water soaked kibble and puppy mousse.

You need and I hope you are home 24/7 as this pup will need to be fed 4 to 5 times a day. Also you will need to teach bite inhibition as Momma would only be starting on that at 6wks old. \you will need nutrical on hand, and lets hope this *breeder* will give you all the vet records so far.

The baby will need Pavro shots immediately unless they have already had them sic the vet records.

If you and your family are ready for the HUGE commitment of time and energy, with no guarantees this puppy will survive well then go for it.

If you are willing to take all the health risks associated with what is likely a come by chance breeding, with no health tests, or scrutiny of the lines, well then go for it.

The health risks of Yorkies are many, I can hardly believe this breeder did any screening at all. so LS, LP, FHO, surgeries are anywhere from $2000-$4500 dollars.

You think you are rescuing fine, make sure your are prepared to pay the health costs that may happen to this puppy, not to mention everything else I elaborated as above

did not even read the other responses, 6.5 weeks is WAY to early, run don't walk away from this piece of crap breeder. Breeders like her are a dime a dozen

It's my personal preference to take a puppy home as soon as it's weaned. I know the majority here prefer the breeder to work on things like initial potty training, socialization, bite inhibition, etc. I'd much rather to do it myself in the environment the pup will actually be raised in.

I regard it much like a human baby. We bring our human babies home from the hospital just 24 hours after delivery and care for them by ourselves. A 6 week old puppy is much easier to care for than a newborn human. But just like with a human baby, I feel it's important to be there around the clock for the first few weeks.

I brought ZoE home when she was six weeks old and took two weeks of work to be with her and get our schedule in place. I then had help from family for the following few weeks to ensure that her feeding and pottying schedule was maintained during my work hours.

Regular, around the clock feedings, about every 4 hours are crucial for such a young puppy, with means waking up for a middle of the night feeding & pottying session. I started ZoE on Royal Canin mini baby dog food, which was recommended by ZoE's vet, and then transitioned to RC YT puppy food.

Best of luck with Noni! Bringing home a puppy is such an exciting time :). Enjoy it and take lots of pictures!

It sounds like this "breeder" is really more like a backyard breeder who has a couple pets she breeds? She may be so inexperienced that she doesnt realize that she is putting the pups in danger?

Tough situation.

Here is the food that many breeders use.

MINI Starter / MINI (dogs from 9 ? 22 lb) / Size Health Nutrition / Dog Products / Products / Products / Home Royal Canin USA - Royal Canin

Thanks, I'm excited about him and nervous. I won't be home all the time but my husband and I have over lapping shifts. When he gets up in the morning, I'm headed to lunch. He's fully on board to helping with this guy. And I have done nothing but research on everything yorkie pup. I'm working on making a feeding schedule. With check boxes and all. I'm sure we will get him through. Yorkie Novice or not, I will do my best for this guy. I know I would catch hell, but I didn't think people could be so ugly. I'm trying to help this guy, not hurt him. :confused:

I notice your only responding to the good so I hope you are reading the serious things. I also hope for this puppy some one can be with it 24 hours a day for the first couple of weeks or you may end up with a hypoglycemic pup who dies. This may not be the sunshine and rainbows you want but it's true and serious stuff.

A breeder who is reputable and does health testing isn't going to let there pups go before 12 weeks.......