107Barney I really appreciate your directness. I think I'm about 90% there. It's that small 10% (fear of losing another little one too soon) holding me back and making me slightly hesitant. If I got a puppy tomorrow it would absolutely be loved and well cared for, but I think it's wise for me to take the extra time I need to feel 100%. Maximo and others gave great advice. I'll take my time to look around and will know when it's just right. On that note, it would be very helpful to me if people could share some recommendations regarding very responsible, recommended CKC/AKC breeders in Eastern Ontario/Western Quebec, Toronto area, northern New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire. I would also look at young adult dogs. I'd also appreciate recommendations for Rescue Organizations. Feel free to PM me if you prefer. Thanks to all of you for your input. I really appreciate it!!!

Go for it....I had to put down my 17 y/o baby girl Oct.2013, I swore no more dogs, loosing them is to over whelming. I donated every dog item I had to my local no kill shelter. 6 weeks later my vet called me, they just picked up a 2.5 y/o surrender. I didn't want another dog, I was crying all the time over my recent loss, I gave the vet all the reasons for not wanting/ couldn't have another dog, she kept repeating "just come in and see him" to appease my vet I went to "just see the dog" because I knew I would never take home a male dog, all my babies were females. Well I went, I saw, I came home with this little guy. He filled that empty hole in my heart, I felt so sorry for this little boy that was just "given away" I wanted to make up to him for loosing his little 11 y/o mistress that I knew he adored. He helped me heal from the loss of my beloved Matese. He rescued me, not me him, he made my house a home again. If you are asking "are you ready" then you are. Find that special little baby that will worm it's way into your heart, will give you belly laughs and put sunshine back into your gloomy days. Don't think about the "what if's" think of the love these precious little imps give, their quirky lil personalities, their zoomy episodes. IMO you are ready if you are thinking of it. Go for it.....

I agree with you completely Matese, beautifully said!

Matese, your story and JadeD's are absolutely wonderful and show such generosity of spirit. I wish someone would call me about a little Yorkie in need of a home. It truly would make it easier for me since I'm a big marshmallow at heart. If I get a puppy, I want to do my best this time to choose a responsible breeder who screens the parent's and offers a health guarantee. I'd like to try to reduce any risks. I know you can't completely eliminate them but it would give me some peace of mind. With Sprite she didn't have any outward features of hydrocephalus at all, so you couldn't tell by looking that anything was wrong.
Speaking of Sprite, last night for the first time since she passed away, I went back and read the final two pages of her thread here. I couldn't stop crying, but this morning I feel so much better. Maybe it was exactly what I needed to do in order to move forward. Cindy, thank you for your encouragement :) I would love another little Biewer but I'd also love a Yorkie. I'll start checking the Kennel Clubs for breeders but I'd really appreciate any personal recommendations as well. I know there are some wonderful rescues as well, so if you know of something in my geographic area please let me know.
Thanks

Five years ago, I lost my little girl, Ashley, close to her seventeenth birthday. We were waiting for the right time to bring another little one into our lives. We knew from past experience that we would open our hearts completely to another baby, so that wasn't a concern. Almost two years later, three year old Katie came into our lives, and our house is now a home again. We were very lonely and unhappy during those two years. With the help of our two close YT friends, who I love dearly, and a wonderful breeder from Aurora (just north of Toronto), Katie joined our family and completely stole our hearts. We could not believe how well adjusted Katie was and how much she helped to heal our hearts. We will always love and miss Ashley and her sisters, but we also have fallen so head over heals in love with Katie. She has the most wonderful disposition and is such a happy little girl. It's so apparent to see that so much love and time was given to her, and she is so impeccably trained.

My two dear friends also have dogs from her breeder, Ilona Rodionova . One, Gemy, has trained with Ilona for about eight years and her little boy, Razzle, is a Canadian and American Champion and now U.S. Grand Champion. She and Jacquelinebabco told us that Ilona was retiring Katie early, and Jackie drove to the Canadian border to get Katie for me. It was very difficult for Ilona to give up her much loved Katie, particularly to a home so far away, but with Gail's recommendation, Ilona entrusted her little girl to me. Jackie has since gotten her little QueTee from Ilona, and she is a little doll. I could not be happier with Ilona and Rigair. She epitomizes what it is to be a responsible, ethical show breeder who breeds for excellent health, conformation, and temperament. She also does agility and obedience with her dogs. This is a link to her website, and the second link is my Katie. She is everything that Ilona described on her webpage and in all of my talks with her and so much more. Her love of Katie is so easily felt whenever I speak with her.

Rigair Yorkshire Terriers CKC Reg. We breed only top quality yorkshire terriers
CH Rigair Yabba Dabba Doo (Kate)

You were a wonderful mom to Sprite, and you deserve to love again. I hope your dream of a healthy baby comes true for you and that your heart heals. It surely did for me.

Lisaly, thank you so much for sharing your story. Little Katie is absolutely stunning and I'm sure she brings you so much joy. Thank you again also for sharing her breeder information. It gives me confidence in moving forward. Thornhill/Aurora is only a 3.5 hour drive from here so very doable should we be so fortunate.

Kmaria

Every one grieves differently. You have had a lot of loss. Hope you will take your time finding your next baby. You will find your baby when your heart finds her.

Thank you Scrapindee. Yes, I'm absolutely taking my time and this will be a well thought out decision. I have to let you know how much I adore your fur babies :)

Thank you for the compliment. Hope to have a litter towards the end of the year.

I honestly think when it's right you will know it. When I decided to add another pup to our family Mikki just fell into my lap. It was like it was meant to be. And then when I went looking for a puppy, Lily completely stole my heart. She was mine from the first moment I set eyes on her. I think you will know in your heart when it's the right time and whether or not it's the right pup.

It has been several months since I last posted and thought I was overdue to come back and give an update. After all, who doesn't like happy news :)
I had reached a point where I really felt ready for a new puppy after the loss of my special little Sprite, but still felt some anxiety about another Yorkie or Biewer. Not anxiety about the breed at all, but about my emotions tied up with the loss of Sprite. My family encouraged me to broaden the scope a little bit and maybe look at other breeds as well. I felt this was good advice for me. One thing I was determined to do was choose a puppy from a very reputable breeder, one who tested parents, bred for the betterment of the breed, offered a great health guarantee etc. With this goal in mind, I finally ended up making a choice that is different from what I first intended, but I am thrilled with the outcome and I'm sure you'll be happy too! So please let me introduce our newest little Havanese addition to the family. Gracie was born in early September and I first saw a picture of her when she was 15 minutes old. She came home to us at almost 10 weeks and has been an absolute joy. She is very healthy, not shy at all and friendly with people and dogs. She is a sable and white parti colour. Havanese do not have a weight standard, but most fall within 8 to 13 pounds. Her parents are in that range. Our little girl is going to end up on the very petite side, as at 19 weeks she's 3.4 pounds. I think she'll probably end up at about 6-6.5 pounds. Pretty close to a Yorkie. I often feel the presence of my little Sprite when I see Gracie. They have many similarities. So thank you all again from the bottom of my heart for all your support and advice. I will continue to stay attached to Yorkietalk as there are so many happy memories and wonderful people. I've been trying to attach a pic of her but it keeps getting rejected. I'll try to shrink it and attach shortly.

Here we go. Little Gracie at 17 weeks.

I am so happy for you. Gracie is gorgeous, and I love Havanese. It is a breed I considered because of their wonderful dispositions and how much health testing reputable breeders are doing. My littlest angel was named Gracie; she was completely adored, so the name is really special to me. I hope your Gracie brings you the joy, love, and laughter that my Gracie brought to me.

When I lost my beloved Chanel, I started looking for another pup right away, not to replace Chanel, but for companionship. I need a dog in my life to be happy. I don't think there is anything wrong in buying a new dog as soon as yours passes away. If you are going through a difficult grief process, like we all do, a new up will help ease that grief tremendously. With my new pup, Lacy in my life, I don't have time to feel sad and sorry that I am missing Chanel so much.

Lisaly, thank you so much. Yes Gracie does have a wonderful little disposition. Somehow when I saw her I just felt that "Gracie" fit her perfectly. Her registered name is "How Sweet the Sound." I am glad you have such wonderful memories of your special Gracie. The decision was so close between a Biewer, like our Sprite was, and a Havanese, and I finally chose the Havanese because I thought she'll be just a little bit bigger and sturdier. Haha, we ended up with a peanut anyway. Sprite must be smiling down.

SharonSnowbird, these little ones do steal your heart, don't they. I had a difficult time after Sprite passed away, and it took me over a year to even begin thinking about another little one. I think it's different each time you lose a dog. Sprite wasn't the first I've lost, but she somehow effected me differently. Maybe it's because the other's passings were more expected, being older. I too find it difficult to imagine life without a little dog. We still have our other two, and little Gracie has fit in perfectly.