First puppy interview iffy
 

Well, I went last night to meet a 4 month old yorkie (by the way I'm having to shop for a second hand puppy this time) that a family is selling. His name was Toby, and I had it in my mind that at 4 months he would definitely be smaller than my Izzy (8months). Here I was worried that she would be too rough on him or something, and boy was I wrong. He weighed at least 5 pounds, maybe more, and was quite a bit bigger than her. I was a little shocked. His tail wasn't docked, and both ears flopped forward . Now, if you weren't particuliar about breed standards and what not, he was actually friggin adorable. Soft soft dark coat that didn't tangle, cutest little face, and he was just so sweet and gentle and playful. And izzy loved him. I just can't seem to get over his size. If he's that big at four months, I can only imagine how big he would be full grown. And the tail kind of threw me off. She paid $400 for him, wants to sell him for $500. Really??? But he was so sweet that I'm still considering it. He was really energetic, but then if I stayed cooped up all day I'd probably be pretty spastic when I was let out, too.
So now I'm waiting for 9:30 to roll around so I can go meet up with a lady about her Yorkie. He's same age as izzy , and from the pictures looks about the same size. She readily admitted that they don't groom him and that he'd been shaved recently. From the pics I can tell it was definitely a home cut, because they seem to have forgotten to trim his face at all. He looks scruffy. Needs some love. But she says he has all his papers and she paid $2000 for him, is asking $500. I guess their other older Yorkie female doesn't tolerate him well. That's the reason for re homing. So hopefully this one will be the one that catches my attention. Because I know me, and if neither of them turn out to be what I'm looking for, I will end up buying whichever one is in a more miserable setting just for the sake of saving them from it. That's how I roll. So we shall see...wish me luck

I have no idea if these are reputable people that you are buying from, but a word of caution......all of my puppies go to their new homes and it is CLEARLY understood in the contract if the baby needs to be rehomed, it has to be returned to ME! That way, I know where my babies are, and the situation they are in.... Just be sure you do not end up with a baby that was purchased from a breeder that wants that baby returned to them, or a breeder that at least, wants to be consulted on placement of their puppy......you COULD possibly end up in a situation like Ellen DeGeneras (sp?) found herself in with rehoming a dog she had rescued then decided to "re-home".

Well, I know for sure that the first pup came from people that had no idea about yorkies or just didn't care much about where they went. Just from the story I got on how they got him. This one I will ask about that since it seems to me that if she actually as much as she says she did for him that the breeder would indeed have a contract on it. But I will find out here in a few. By the way, not sure if you've ever been in New Mexico, but nothing is ever really done the right way here. Everything is off the books and a little shady. Seems to be the Albuquerque way. It's sad really. I miss Texas .

:D Oh my goodness....are you sure Toby isn't British :eek: ....big with floppy ears and an undocked tail (docking is illegal over here).....

He sounds very much like my Harry - except Harry was 10lbs at 12 weeks - double EEK! He's almost 4 years old now, and weighs 20lbs, but still seems small to me, without an ounce of fat on him :)

Sweet and gentle and playful sums up both Toby and our Harry - plus your Izzy loved him, and to me that counts for everything :)

Good luck in your (difficult!!) decision! Sally + Harry :aimeeyork x

I think Magnus was that weight when he was that age... Undocked tail as well as floppy ears. Here's a pic for comparison from puppy to adult.

Attachment 401826 Attachment 401827

We didn't think he'd end up to be 16 lbs... But in his defense, I think I fed him little TOO well. LOL

Why not look at a yorkie rescue or a shelter if your wanting to rescue a dog?

Wow. Maybe he is British. .. cause he sure looks exactly like your dog. Just darker. That's crazy.
Well. .. just got back from the meeting with the second puppy. They live on base so we met at a park. And oh my god did that dog need to be groomed. Poor thing looked so ragged. And he was smaller than izzy. He seemed thin to me. And through his home haircut I could see one wound that she says came from him and their other female fighting. She said he had come with a 6 month health guarantee. But he's almost 9 months now so she says it no longer applies. When asked why he was so thin she started that he is a "micro yorkie" and they have more frail of a build than"toys" like mine. From my understanding there isn't actually different degrees of yorkie based on size, right? I just wanted to grab him and walk away and take him home and feed him for the love of God. And I'm not even religious. He had a huge mat under his chin and his hair was butchered while the hair on his face was long. I know everyone is going to tell me not to buy that dog but how can I just walk away and let him continue to live in that condition with a clear conscious ? He's obviously no more than an afterthought in their home. Now I'm all stressed out. This sucks.

Well, I hadn't intended for it to be a rescue. .. but it seems to be ending up that way. The first one was in excellent health, very well taken care of, just lonely. This one just needs someone who cares that it exists it seems. I don't know. He could be pretty if groomed right . And with some weight on him and a home where he's not having to fight like that might do wonders. Or I might buy a dog that will just break my heart by being sick or something.

I can tell you that dog came from a bad breeder and well could end up costing you a lot more then just getting a puppy from a reputable breeder. If you have the money for thousands of dollars worth of health issues then why not but if you had that much money why not buy from a reputable breeder? The thing is breeders who breed for " micros" don't care about health at all so they will breed dogs with bad genetic issues just to make sure it's tiny so they can make a lot of money on it. That's why people say that really tiny yorkies aren't healthy because most come from bad breeders who didn't care. Are you able to afforded getting the dog fixed and all the vet bills if you can't afford to get a yorkie from a reputable breeder? Luxating Pattella which is becoming very common in poorly bred dogs can cost between $2,000 and $4,000 for one knee just depends on whether the ACL is torn when getting the knee fixed or not which again ACL tear can happen more easily if the dog as LP. Collapsing trachea medicine costs my mom $60.00 for 30 days worth. Then the is hypothyroidism which is said to be genetic the medicine is pretty cheap but you have to make sure to test there blood several times the first year to make sure the medicine is the right dose and at least once a year after that. Then there is liver shunt surgery which cost a couple thousand. You also will have two dogs so that's twice the heart worm prevention mine costs $74 for a years worth of heartguard, them there is flea and tick prevention which is pretty costsly, yearly blood work, yearly fecal, yearly check up, double the food, double the toys and so on.

At lot of genetic issues will not show up until 2 years old and you can tell about the knees unless you have a vet check them out. So spearing or seeming healthy dosent really mean much.

I mean how could you say this is normal for a yorkie? This is awful. Poor thing

This is so sad. Yes, they both need new homes and if you are happy with an off standard Yorkie and are fully aware of what you may be getting into then hopefully one of these guys will get a wonderful new home.

If you went to a rescue you would more than likely be dealing with a Yorkie that is also from a "bad breeder." Many people buy these dogs and have no idea what they should be looking at, they end up unhappy with their purchase. The poor baby will end up in a rescue if it is lucky or a shelter or some out of the way street if it is not so blessed.

The major problem is that you don't really know about the dog's health history or the history of the parents.

Well, when you put it like that I guess I see your point. But it's sad that that little thing lives with such disregard. Maybe I'll magically come up on $500 at the casino and I'll buy him and give him to a rescue. I can afford all the regular costs of having them, but all that other stuff is just too much . Plus izzy really loved playing with the other one. He can just be my Sumo Yorkie. I'll have to give him a British name though. Lol.

Maybe I should give the name and phone number to animal welfare along with the pictures, and they can make a house call to check on the little guy and decide if he needs intervention. Then I at least wouldn't feel like I completely abandoned him to chance. Cause our animal control out here is no kill, so at least they could get him healthy and he'd have a chance.

oh that poor little thing looks very unhealthy and unhappy....I would take a chance in calling animal welfare....that is so sad.

Yeah , I think that's what I'll do. Cause that's got to be thinnest puppy I've ever seen.

More than likely unless the animal welfare people find evidence of overt cruelty they can't do much to help the little guy. Most states and counties only require that a dog have some shelter and food and water available. Not much of a life for a dog but by law there isn't much that can be done.

Maybe if they are desperate to get rid of him they will come down on the price. Someone can then buy him and then find a better home for him. I have to doubt that they really paid $2000 for him. They would be screaming for their money back if they did.

You would be amazed at the prices people out here will pay for something they end up throwing away. My friend discovered three brand new pairs of heels that had been donated that ranged from $800-$1,400 . They had never even been worn outside. Who does that??? That's just one example. I could give you plenty more. But in a rational world, yes, you'd think she would be screaming for her money back. I have a friend who's in pretty tight with animal control . She usually gets her way when it comes to someone neglecting animals, so maybe I'll just send this her way. She'll have them doing welfare checks and updates so often that that lady will have no choice but to produce improvement in his state. Or get fed up with visits and let the dog go. Ugh it just makes me sick though. The older I get the more disgusted I get with creatures on two legs.
Thank you all for smacking me upside the head with reality and better sense. I do appreciate it.

From the pictures he looks quite malnourished. ...I can't imagine what he looks like in person.

I just wish I had never seen the pics of that pitiful little soul....that will now haunt me......he is malnourished and ill....he wont even hold his little head up, he is so despondent.....I wish I had not gone here, since there is nothing I can do.

He could also be suffering from a liver condition or other genetic illness that would make him fail to gain weight. The angle of his back leg seems odd and I'd be wanting to check for LP. And worst of all is that he is not loved. Such a sad lil guy.

The owners live "on base"? I would contact the branch of military they are on base for and make sure they know how they are being represented. Email the pics and story and also make a call to a different # on base and keep telling the situation until someone will do something.
If you don't have time to, pm me all the details and I'll make calls until someone takes notice...

I will right now

It's so very sad....it's obvious something isn't right health wise....if my pup looked like that and was eating I would have him at the vet to figure out why...because that is not normal!! Our husky was very skinny under all her hair and was diagnosed with an abnormally small liver when she was two. It cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars with blood work and xrays and ultrasounds and another fee for a specialist to go over the bloodwork....money I didn't have but I borrowed...I'm not preaching or patting myself on the back....just saying when something doesn't seem right and people make excuses like "it's because he's a micro yorkie" it's infuriating....it's can't tell you how many cats I saw loaded with flea dirt and pale as can be and the owner said "I didn't know they even had fleas".... I call bull crap. And now they are trying to benefit from the poor thing....i feel sorry for that poor pup and whoever decides to take on the care he deserves.