Singleton concern- old newbie, new baby
 

Hi everyone,
It's been about 3 1/2 years since I last posted. My username and profile picture are related to my sweet angel Lexi. She was a rescue with an amazing disposition but significant health problems (likely a puppy mill baby), and she succumbed to what the vet believed was a brain tumor on 9/30/17, at 8 years old. My hubby and I miss her so much and so do her cat and dog siblings.

We have put a deposit down on a new Yorkie puppy who is a singleton. I have no issues with behavioral problems because we will face them head on. We have visited the new baby and we were very impressed. The breeder is professional. This puppy is from a champion show line and the breeder had about 7 Yorkies the day we visited- 5 1/2 weeks- (including a 16 week adolescent). There seemed to be no issues. His weight seemed to be spot on. He had a beautiful coat. The dogs are bred for health and temperament. The puppy played well with all of the adults and the 16 week old, and was very sweet. We will pick him up in 3-4 weeks with a health guarantee. And she has retired the father who is 7 years old (he has already been neutered).

As I said, we will deal with behavioral issues if there are any, such as biting and aggression. I believe the breeder has done everything she could to make sure this puppy thrives and he is! But what I have not been able to determine (I didn't ask enough questions at the visit) is, are there any long term health issues related to singletons, once they have been successfully weaned? Thank you in advance. I'm so happy to be a part of this forum again!

Sorry it looks like your post go pushed down to the bottom. Don't be alarmed if your posts don't show up right away because your first 10 post are moderated. I am so very sorry for you loss. I don't think health issues other then normal health issues any dog or pup and get are increased or different with a single pup. The biggest issues I think are normally social but since there are other pups for them to play with and socialize with it seems like that would knock out any of those issues. Congrats on your new pup!

:welcome4: back! I am so very sorry for the loss of your precious Lexi, it is devastating to lose a precious furbaby.

And congrats on your new baby. I wouldn't be concerned about your little guy being a singleton. Since there are other pups around, the hope is that the breeder will give your baby plenty of playtime. Mom will take care of discipline and when he comes home you will have a lifetime to socialize.

Thanks!
 

I am beyond excited about my new baby. I am also relieved to read your thoughts on singletons. :)

Do you have pictures yet? Can't wait to see your new baby.

We are always here to help :D

Congrats on your future pup.
How old will your pup be when you pick it up. 12 weeks is the recommended age for taking a pup from its mom.

I'll take pictures when he gets home. :)

9 weeks. I know... earlier than 12.

Thanks!:)

Reputable breeders won’t let them go home before 12 weeks......

She is a reputable breeder.

Then she would know how important keeping the pup until 12 weeks old and would be doing that.

So you are saying that she is not reputable? She's been doing this 30 years. She has produced dams and sires that are champions. I'm not sure what you are trying to tell me... I wasn't asking if my breeder was reputable.

Non reputable breeders breed for a long time and many say they have champions. Many of the breed standards and even champion dogs have health issues. I thought that she might not be reputable after you saying there were multiple litters. Keeping puppies until 12 weeks is extremely important and it is a red flag. Reputable breeders will follow all the guidelines from the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America (ytca.org). I’m sure you are still going to do what you are going to do so I have a few recommendations. Get pet insurance that covers genetic issues as soon as you get the pup while there are no pre existing conditions. You also need to read about the issues pups taken from their mom to early experience and how to handle them like they could refuse to eat, the change could be very hard on them, socialization things Mom teaches them about, bite inhibition, potty training issues, and they are more likely to develop separation anxiety. I have searched the Virginia, Maryland and DC areas multiple times for a reputable breeder and there are few to none. I’m sure your not going to want to listen to us when we are very experienced in this. Maybe you could talk to your breeder about keeping the pup until 12 weeks.

I don't know where you got that there are multiple litters. I never said that. I did say she breeds champions because she has.

Maybe she's not reputable in your opinion (or anyone else here), but my gut instinct told me to go with this breeder, after I'd contacted a number of them. It feels right, I liked her, and my instinct is usually right. I've already said that I am impressed with her other dogs. I also already said that I am well aware of yorkie issues and their health. When I visited, she told me the puppy could not go before 9 weeks but that she'd see. She may tell me I can't have him yet.

My issue now (I didn't have one before), is that I came here excited about my new baby and pretty much out of the blue, you've told me my breeder is not reputable and that I'm not going to listen to anyone. Thanks for making me feel so welcome.
:confused:

It's probably from where you said that there was a 5 1/2 week old playing with a 16 week old. But please don't take it personally. We've all been put under a microscope at one point or another on Yorkietalk (I know I have), and sometimes admonitions are made for the benefit of people who have never purchased a Yorkie before, and the poster doesn't want newbies to make mistakes that might compromise the health of the puppy. If you say that your breeder is professional and reputable, I see no reason to question that, and the fact the breeder wants to hold on to the puppy until AT LEAST 9 weeks (and maybe longer) is a good thing. Keep in mind that 12 weeks is optimal, and if the breeder will keep the puppy until then, that would be best, but don't let anyone cool your excitement over your new puppy. Welcome to Yorkietalk!

You said your pup was playing with the pups from another litter so that would mean there were multiples. I'm sorry you feel that way I have learned a lot in the 10 years of owning my first yorkie and I can tell you many things make a huge difference. Most people do not want to listen like you said your breeder is reputable to you so that generally means that whatever I try to tell you, you are still going to feel that way. I have a 10 year old yorkie from a bad breeder and I have had to watch her suffer through many many things because of bad breeding and it is extremely hard. I try to save people that as best as possible by informing them of reputable and non reputable breeders. I have seen many many people get their yorkies at 9 weeks and the pups stop eating and then that causes big issues. Reputable breeders follow the guidelines of the Yorkshire Terrier Club of America. The best thing for your puppy is to stay until 12 weeks for so many reasons. If the breeder wont keep the puppy that long I tried to give you some things you need to be prepared for and make sure you are educated on encase they happen. I thought that was helpful but I guess not. The USA puts million of dogs down each year because of over breeding that is also why its important to support reputable breeders and not breeders who are just doing it to do it whether for money or any other reason. With small breed dogs they learn a lot from their mom all the way up until 12 weeks. Most puppies taken from mom to early have biting issues, they can be a bit harder to potty train, can miss out on certain things that their mom teaches them about socialization and separation anxiety can be a big issues. I'm not trying to be mean or unwelcoming I'm just trying to help on what is best for your puppy and I have been down that road and I do know what I am talking about. I rescued a 9 week old puppy from a family who did not want him. Luckily he was going to be bigger then standard and was 3 pounds when I got him so not super tiny. I could not get him to eat anything, he knew nothing about biting and bit pretty hard. He had terrible separation anxiety he didn't want to be alone so bad he would get in the shower with you. You might see this as mean but its not I'm just trying to give you information. I am trying to help.