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I got my pup at six weeks. I feel like had I the choice, I would have waited twelve weeks. It seems like he needed way more attention and caution at that age, and it took that much longer to get him house trained. He was real biter at that age. Sometimes he still gets a little hard mouthed in play and showing affection. A few "no no's" and he remembers "no bite" quite well. He is nine months old, weighs eleven pounds, has had no other issues, house trained to pad and outdoors, and I wouldn't want to lose him for the world! In Oklahoma, you just can't get a reasonably priced locally bred yorkie unless your willing to take him/her home at six weeks minimally. It's rare to find one that is not snatched up or promised to someone six weeks old or younger. I recommend twelve week take home age. |
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Tarring all breeders with such a broad brush isn't fair, IMO. |
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I just got my first Yorkie from a breeder, he was about 9 weeks old. No health problems, he was practically housebroken when he came home and eating solid kibble very well. Of course he was a tiny bit bigger than a lot of these tiny Yorkies going around, he is charting to be around 6-7 lbs. His parents had no health issues and he adjusted and begin running around my house like he owned it on day one. I believe the main reason why many yorkie breeders and other toy breeders keep the pups till 12 weeks old or longer has more to do with the size and how fragile they can be when they only weigh a few ounces. They are also a lot easier to contain, feed, and take care of because the litters are relatively small. I see no difference in my Yorkie's level of maturity or independence, if anything, he was more ready. I never had a puppy that would sleep in a crate night one all night without a peep! Of course, maybe its just him :) I have only had big dogs (Rottweilers, and an Afghan Hound) and they all came to me at 8 weeks which is pretty much normal for 95 percent of dog breeds. My family raised Rotties when I was a growing up and by the time they were 6 weeks old, trust me you were ready for them to go to their new homes but they always left after 8 weeks after they had first shots, wormings, and there was time enough to see if there were adverse reactions from the vaccines or questionable test results. |
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Small dogs are just that, small dogs, they are not a different species. Many mother dogs begin to run for the hills once those little dagger teeth come in because it hurts when they try to nurse. They separate themselves from the pups so not much learning from mom is going on after they are fully weaned. I have seen some moms jump up into the owner/breeder's arms to get away from pups at 5 weeks! As far as illnesses go, if the reason for keeping pups until 12 weeks is to look out for genetic diseases that may not pop up until 2 years then 12 weeks is not enough time, why not hold the dogs until they are 2? The food thing is a simple fix, most eight week old pups are fully capable of eating puppy kibble, if not, just moisten the food or feed them can food until they can eat it better. Some of these tiny 12 week pups can't eat un-altered food all that well either. Like with all dogs, every pup is different and every litter is different and the time to let the pups go should be assessed on a case by case basis. My pup came from a litter of 5, his poor mom was spent, ad he and his litter mates will not be "teacups", they were very sturdy and rough and independent, they all had good appetites and charting to be on the higher end of the scale as adults. He was as big s a lot of the 12 week pups people get. Now with some of these pups that are merely a few ounces at 8 weeks, its best for their safety to stay wit a educated breeder until they can pass certain milestones that are needed to go t a new home whether that be 12 weeks or later. I have read the ytca.org article on age and it honestly does not give any real reasons for keeping the pups until twelve weeks other then "Yorkshire Terrier Breeder will not release a puppy to a new home before it is twelve (12) weeks old. This ensures the puppy is old enough to have had some of its shots, has been checked by a veterinarian, and a health certificate issued" All those things can be accomplished earlier then 12 weeks. It is with most other breeds. Its merely a preference. Now if one is looking for a show prospect, I would not purchase one or take on home until he dog is several months old and the coat has at least begun to grow in, and you could get better idea of the proportions and confirmation. |
I'm in the extreme category. Magnus was only 4 weeks old when he came to me. (I won't go into details but the situation was out of my control.) He's 5 years old and is very healthy. He's also a "teapot" so maybe that helped? I don't know... I'm just counting my blessing that he doesn't have any major health issues. I would NEVER bring home a puppy that's under 8 weeks. I made sure Zoey was at least 8 weeks old before making the purchase but even then, I was paranoid b/c of how small she was. And it was harder to treat her for ANY type of illness b/c of her size. She's 4 years old, no major health issues and only 5.5 lbs. |
Teddy was 8 months old when I brought him home from the breeder and I would do it again this way with a great breeder who is good at training. He was 100% outdoor trained and a dream. :D My first, Max, was 13 weeks. I was scared enough with him at that age and size. On a more serious note, circumstances are unique to each person and puppy. I understand why people advocate for a minimum of 12 weeks. Not everyone is equipped to care for a younger puppy, especially a delicate, tiny Yorkie. A person who works 8+ hours a day, or an inexperienced person, I would not recommend bringing home a younger, tiny Yorkie. |
Want to add: the benefits of staying with the mother and litter -- another one that I believe is generally true but not set in stone. I believe Max was born with a sort of independence and good boy sensibility. He has amazing bite inhibition and a great disposition that I think are innate for him. Teddy probably benefited from being part of a pack for longer. |
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We got our Zeus at 10 1/2 weeks. He came with registration documents and vet records. We have had no problems with him so far. He is almost 8 1/2 months old. Don't know what the future holds, but all is well so far. Would I do it again? Absolutely. He is the greatest dog ever as far as I'm concerned. He has a personality that fits right in with me, my husband, and teenage son. He is the light of our lives, and we have seen no consequences to him being 12 weeks. I wonder if something magical happens on the day that they turn 12 weeks that I am unaware of that would make them better than 11 weeks and two days. The gentleman we bought Zeus from is not a bad breeder. He is very particular about who gets his dogs, and he will not sell one to a family with a child under the age of 12. He wanted to meet us first. He has two dogs and breeds each of them (not with each other) once a year until they just become his pets. He has people waiting for puppies to be born. We wanted a Yorkie because my son is allergic to cats and dogs. My sister's Yorkie did not bother his allergies. That is why a full bred Yorkie was so important to us. |
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Yorkie Mom is teaching them exactly what that other dogs breeds are not teaching their dogs. Dogs don't learn to eat solid food from their mothers, they learn that from the breeders who introduce it to them at weaning. Teething and mouthing are part of puppyhood, they all do it on some level, the owner must correct the behavior as it presents itself. As far as "knowledge of the lines, all of that should be known before the dog was ever bred in the first place and as far as genetic testing goes that can be done anytime after birth including when the tails are docked at days old, because every creature is born with the dna they are going to have forever, it does not magically change at 12 weeks. Like I said, the breeder has to assess all litters and each pup on an individual basis. If a pup is particularly small and does not have the jaw strength to crush and crunch kibble, then its best for the dog to stay with the breeder or someone who knows what to do no matter how old they end up because if you are going to send a pup home there are basic things they should know how to do. And lets be honest, all of this "reputable" breeder stuff and "backyard" breeder competition is relatively new, its a poison created by the likes of PETA, and the humane society who have seemingly succeeded in pitting breeders against each other and guilting people from purchasing animals in lieu of already sterilized rescue/pound pups to end breeding of pet animals forever. If a breeder wants to or prefers to keep a litter till twelve weeks or longer for any reason, its their right but its not always completely necessary in every case. |
I totally agree, every puppy is different. Some will be ready before others. 12 weeks does not fit all, some will be ready sooner and some will be ready later. Just because a breeder may let a puppy go before 12 weeks does not automatically mean that they are a bad breeder. There are definitely bad breeders out there and some may even follow the 12 week rule but that doesn't make them good. Each puppy is an individual and has its own needs. |
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I don't live in the United States so the age that is normal for puppies to go is different. I got my puppy at 11 weeks and she is perfect, she is 10 months old now and eats like a horse and has never been sick. She was potty trained within a week. She is the most cuddly baby in the world. To say that 12 weeks is the magic age for all puppies can't be true. Its like saying that every yorkie puppy weighs exactly the same and matures at exactly the same time. We know that can't be true. |
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I got Jackson at 9 weeks. No problems. Admittedly not from a good breeder. So I'm actually glad I had him prior to any more possible "socialization damage" being done from being there. She wasn't an evil person but I just don't believe he would've been better off there, he was way better off with me. We had a pretty instant connection. But I don't think that necessarily was due to his age, just depends on the dog! Sometimes there's "that connection" and sometimes there's not. But I have zero regrets about getting him at 9 weeks old. |
I understand the thinking. But I think that the hostility people are met with, that suggest that their breeder is good even though they have received their puppy before the politically correct age of 12 weeks is not right. There are breeders that are horrible and should not be allowed to operate. But I also hope that there are good breeders that go beyond the typical and look at each puppy that is born individually and don't let them go until they are truly ready. I hope that there are breeders that are not ruled by the 12 week rule. There may be a puppy that is ready at 8 weeks and others that aren't ready until 15 weeks. |
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It's not so black & white, IMO. A breeder letting a pup go at say... 10 weeks, is suddenly going to NOT be a reputable breeder, simply for that one reason? That logic just doesn't make sense to me. There's a lot of crappy breeders who probably keep their pups until 12+ weeks, that doesn't automatically make them a good breeder, either. |
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I totally agree with you.I don't know if you saw my other posts but that is exactly what I am saying also. |
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The term "reputable breeder" will always fall on deaf ears with me, its just a bunch of hoops and bars people have began to tote to explain why the are selling their "pet quality" dogs for $3,000. The fact is, these dogs can still get sick, and still have behavior issues because life happens. None of that is gonna amount to producing only perfectly proportioned, obedience champs with 14 years of perfect health culminating in a peaceful death while sleeping by a fireplace. Also, who exactly deems breeder "reputable"? Do they get certificate to show people? As far as how dogs look, I have no problem with breeds, the are a good thing in terms of helping people choose a dog that will most likely suit their lifestyle but for most people having a yorkie wit a cotton coat over a silky coat I not going to be that much of a deal breaker, they are probably gonna get the dog spayed/neutered,groomed and clipped to a manageable style anyways. The only place that truly matters is in the show ring and that industry is alive and kicking and is not threatened by the fact that there are less then perfect dogs around playing in backyards. "Reputable breeder" is mostly about competition amongst breeders trying to steer potential buyers towards them over someone else. That's why you always hear it in the same breath as "backyard breeders" and puppy mills. I shopped around for months for my yorkie and was amazed at how a lot of these supposed "reputable breeders" jumped at the chance to throw off on other local breeders A.K.A. the competition. A lot of them did not have a close enough bond to the dogs they kept in their state of he art set ups and whelping rooms. They were too sterile. That's no pace for a dog to grow up in. Plenty of credentials and testing but then they were "re-homing" females that had lived there for their entire lives to make room for a younger brood bitch. With all their championships and ribbons. I could never sell any of the dogs that I have raised. |
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I'm not saying that you personally are being hostile. But I have seen so many posts where people who have gotten a puppy than is younger, treated badly strictly for the age of the baby without any thought being given to the condition which the puppy was living in. I am sure there are bad breeders who sell puppies at 12 weeks but because of the puppy reaching the magic 12 week mark it is never questioned on this forum. By the way I am an expat, I am from the states. Where I live there is a much bigger problem with bad breeders. My babies are not from good breeders, strictly because I could not find a good one here, luckily that is starting to change. But I can look objectively at what is being said and see that for some reason it is only correct to purchase, or sell a puppy at 12 weeks. There is so much more to be considered when selling or buying a puppy than just age. |
Just because some keeps there puppies till the 12 weeks doesn't say they are a good breeder either. There many reasons they are bad at breeding or good. But it like anything. There are certain simple things or guidelines you follow. Yorkies have alot of health issues. There always ppl who are gonna justify there dog or say age doesn't matter . Fine But when shopping for a new puppy. I want to know how they live why they breed them?? For money or they just want puppies? Or are they trying to improve the breed with selective breeding? I'm the one who going to get stuck with the Vet bills if I choose wrong. hat being said you never know. You can get a pppy from the best stock and something can still go wrong |
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Actually, I have spent countless hours volunteering at animal shelters because I love animals, period. I have seen plenty of yorkies, yorkie mixes, and every other breed/ breed combo come through the doors with all kinds of issues, and some with none at all. Genetics is still a very young science, there is so much that we still have to learn. While it is more likely that dogs who have been tested for the handful of genetic diseases that we have discovered, when the gene pools are mixing, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN. Dogs get sick and it is the responsibility of the owner to do what they can to make them better. It’s gonna be a long time before we can truly genetically engineer animals with perfect health and that will probably be done in a lab by scientists and not breeders. I am someone who just lost a dog that was my best friend for the last 13 years. He came from a reputable breeder who did all the testing and shenanigans that go into your definition of a “reputable breeder” But he still got cancer and died in my arms. It hurt but that’s what I signed up for when I bought him, and even if he had some other genetic illness I still would have chosen him just like he chose me. I think you might be putting too much weight on the bells and whistles in breeding, even with all the testing that is available and holding a puppy for 12 weeks, there is no complete guarantee and it’s still a chance you could have ended up looking into the eyes of a sick and dying friend like I did. Bottom line, Breeding is still a crap shoot. Period. Anyone who goes to a breeder and connects with a dog then walks away because it’s a chance he might get sick one day should not be getting a dog in the first place. All dogs deserve homes, love and care, no matter where they come from. All this banter about categories of breeders only keeps good people from good dogs. I’m not for supporting puppy mills or immoral breeders but once the dogs are here, they are here. What shall we do with them? |
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