Wow, I'm so sorry to hear that.
Yes, 6 weeks is definitely too young, 7 is really pushing it. 8 weeks is the minimum, and 10 even better. When you said it coughed out something, it sounds like it might have choked on something it had eaten. In that case, unfortunalely, I don't thing anything can be done. The breeder might ask for a autopsy before refunding any money. Or, the breeder may replace the dog out of the kindness of their heart:)

Oh Rebecca, what happened to that poor baby is just completely and totally awful. Please tell your friend that I am so, so very sorry to hear about this. It truly does break my heart :cry: That poor sweet baby...

I don't really know what to say as far as advice though. My friend got one of her Yorkie babies at 8 weeks and it did just fine - of course, he is bigger...so not sure if that had anything to do with it or not.

I'm of course not sure, and this is just my opinion, but I highly doubt the puppy died just because it was taken so young. I've heard of people getting puppies at 7-8 weeks (like I said, my friend got her's at 8 weeks)....some even 6, and they were just fine. To me - it sounds like this little one had an underlying health problem that it either wasn't checked for, or one that just went completely overlooked. Or of course, maybe it was just sick with, "something" and because it was so young - it's little body just couldn't handle it :(

Whatever the reason I am just so, so sorry that this has happened. It is so tragic, and so sad :( I really do feel so very sorry for your friend. And I don't care what ANY vet says...SHAME on that breeder for selling that puppy at 7 weeks old!! There would have been NO HARM in letting it stay with it's momma for another 5 or so weeks. It makes you wonder if she just wanted the money :rolleyes:

Gosh, Honestly, she needs to have an autopsy done to determine WHAT caused her baby to die. Have a report by the vet made. Go over, with her vet, the health gaurantee she got (IF she got one) from the breeder . If the death was something that could have been prevented by the breeder or could be linked back to her in any way, YES she can take action. God, that is horrible? Does her town not have a 24/7 Emergency Vet? Luckily, I've never had to use ours but I thank god it is there for the day I may need it.

And yes, 7 weeks is WAY too young. Personally, I don't want them to come home to me any younger than 11 or 12 weeks!

It is way to young however unless there is a local or STate law that says a pup can't be sold that young, the buyer is out of luck.
It really is buyer beware no matter what you buy.

I just want to offer my condolences to the family during this time. I don't know whether Nodak and Heidi are good pet owners or not, but I've always tried to offer advice where I could in hopes it would trickle down and help Tanner.

I truly hope that they will have Tanner checked out immediately to make sure that he had not contracted something from the poor baby girl that passed :(.

It's just such a shame... no one knows if anything could be done and since she was not taken to an ER vet we won't know :(. I truly think they should have an autopsy done.

Since you keep in touch with them, can you please keep us updated on little Tanner? I really do worry about him. I hope they get him checked out and have an autopsy done to make sure he doesn't catch anything.

I do think 7 weeks is way too young to leave the breeder, but my parents actually bought their yorkie that young and he has never had any health problems. He's great with people but does have socialization problems with other dogs. He actually only likes Lacy. So I don't think the age itself caused the puppy to die. I really think the puppy had some type of disease which could have come with it from the breeder or was contracted afterwards. Did they not notice any symptoms before the day the puppy died? The main problem with the puppy being so young was that they can go downhill so much faster than an older puppy and are more susceptible to diseases since they are so little and haven't had all their vaccinations.

But please let us know if they get Tanner checked out. I really hope he doesn't catch anything

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

It is so hard to read posts like this when you have a litter of newborns. My initial feeling is..MY babies are going no where!!!! (which of course is not the case) Please send the owner all of our love and sympathy. I know it is hard to find an emergecy vet on a Sunday, but as a breeder, I list the numbers to my babies new owners of the vets and hours, and where to go incase of an emergency on the weekend like this. You will be in out thoughts and prayers.

This is why you have to screen your potential owners very carefully and weed out those that will not be good parents.

Thanks, everyone!!!!!!!! Alot of people have strong feels about Nodak and Heidi and so I changed the names in the post so I could get an unbiased opinion. I really appreciate all the support and sincere condolences from everyone. Despite all the uproar his posts received, it's nice that people can see passed that in a situation like this. That is what I love about YT. THank you again everyone. I sent Nodak a link to this thread. He and Heidi are taking everything you say in and following your advice.

How awful, i was tearing as I read this. Not only will I never, ever, ever go back to the breeder I went to BUT I think I will only trust a Breeder from YT! Please extend to your friend the condolences of everyone on YT!

my guess is since noone answered the puppy was not taken to the vet when they got it even tho they thought something wasnt right
they had the puppy for days and didnt take him to the vet
i feel very sorry for the puppy :( .................................